Vegan Substitutes For Chicken Wings: 4 Vegan Alternatives To Help You Replace Chicken Wings

In this article, we are going to list out the best vegan substitutes for chicken wings that will make your taste buds dance with delight.

You won’t have to give up on your favorite crispy texture and savory taste when swapping the classic wings with these vegan-friendly options.

Now, let’s check it out!

What are chicken wings?

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Chicken wings are simply the wings of the chicken.

Every chicken has two wings that typically contain three parts: the drumette on the top that connects to the bird’s body, the wingette (or known as the flat wingtip), and the wingtip in the bottom with the least meat.

Chicken wings are considered dark meat chicken.

They are mainly made of skin with a little meat.

Dark meat chicken is known to be less healthy than its white meat counterpart like a chicken breast because of the higher saturated fat content, but it will be fine to give it an occasional treat.

Chicken wings can be sold the whole wings, or come in individual sections of chicken drumettes and wingettes without the tips.

They can be cooked in different ways, such as deep-frying, baking, barbecuing, or grilling.

The result is meant to be crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

Raw chicken wings can be found in most local butchers, grocery stores, or supermarkets.

Cooked chicken wings are typically served as an appetizer or side dish at restaurants and bars.

But you can make your own chicken wing dish following a favorite or classic recipe like buffalo chicken wings or honey garlic chicken wings.

Can you substitute chicken wings with vegan alternatives in cooking recipes?

Yes, you can easily substitute chicken wings with other ingredients that are more vegan-friendly.

Normally, these alternatives can resemble the appearance of chicken drumettes or wingettes rather than the whole chicken wings.

Vegan chicken wing replacements are often plant-based or soy-based, and now they are more and more available on the market.

By substituting vegan items for real chicken wings, you can eat healthier without sacrificing the mouth-watering flavor and satisfying texture of the classic crispy chicken wings.

What vegan substitutes can you use in place of chicken wings?

Here are the most common vegan substitutes for chicken wings that we find the best:

1. Seitan

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Seitan is a gluten-based product that is widely used to substitute meat, including chicken.

Seitan has a meaty texture that is soft enough to form chicken drumettes.

You can coat this vegan ingredient with seasoned batter before deep-frying it to achieve a crispy crust like when cooked chicken wings.

Seitan is an excellent source of vegan protein without any fat, so it is lower in calories compared to real meat.

However, it is not supposed to be for people who are looking for a gluten-free diet.

2. Tofu

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Another vegan option to replace chicken wings is tofu.

In this case, use firm tofu so that you can easily slice it into individual sticks that look like chicken wingettes or drumettes.

Tofu amazingly absorbs other flavors from the spices and sauces, therefore, you can season it with whatever you like.

3. A mixture of seitan and tofu

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You can also use a combination of seitan and tofu to substitute for chicken wings.

Don’t forget to form a shape that looks close to a rear wing.

When adding tofu to seitan, the result will be a little richer with the taste of soy.

However, it is not a good choice for those who have soy allergies or want to follow a gluten-free diet.

4. Cauliflower

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Cauliflower is also widely used to substitute for chicken wings, especially chicken drumettes due to their similar appearance.

When coating cauliflower with a seasoned batter and then either baking or deep-frying it, you can have a resulting dish that looks almost like real crispy fried chicken drumettes.

This kind of vegetable is high in fiber, vitamins, and other minerals, but low in fat as well as protein.

Therefore, if you want to complete a hearty meal with a sufficient amount of protein, you better accompany it with other high-protein dishes like grains or nuts (if you are a vegetarian), and meat (if you are not a vegetarian).

The bottom line

We have compiled the list of the four best vegan substitutes for chicken wings that can satisfy different taste buds.

Normally, these ingredients are often breaded and deep-fried to resemble the classic crispy fried chicken wings, and/or tossed into whatever sauce you like for an even more tasty flavor.

As you can see, eating vegan doesn’t need to be bland and boring.

So try these delicious vegan chicken wings substitutes to find out what you like the most.