Pan-Fried Soy Curl Chicken
This flavor-packed, pan-seared soy curl recipe is the simplest of simple soy curl recipes! These marinated pieces of sauteed vegan chicken pieces are sure to become a regular fixture in your cooking routine. They’re perfect for meal prep or even just as a high-protein snack.
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I love when easy recipes you just sort of throw together turn out to be so good in so many dishes. And that’s exactly what happened here! These pan-seared soy curl pieces are the vegan version of flavorful bites of rotisserie chicken or a seared cutlet.
They’re perfect in every way! They’re easily made and absolutely made for meal prep. Plus, soy curl chicken can be frozen for up to two months, so it’s available when you need it. And of course, they have such a great flavor and meaty texture.
The best part is they’re SUPER adaptable! Use them in salads, wraps or sandwiches, in pasta or rice dishes, in protein grain bowls, on tacos.. The possibilities are just about endless!
Why You’ll Love Pan Fried Soy Curls:
- Soy Curl chicken is so easy to make with only a few ingredients.
- They can be used as a main ingredient in so, so many ways. From salads and sandwiches to pizza and pastas.
- These vegan chicken pieces are perfect for a variety of meal prep possibilities.
- They are a fantastic source of vegetable protein.
Ingredients for Chicken Soy Curls
You only need 4 simple ingredients to make these easy pan-fried soy curls!
You’ll need:
- Soy curls – These are our favorite vegan chicken substitute. They come dehydrated, have a great chewy texture when rehydrated, and are a great plant-based protein that can be flavored to mimic a variety of meat dishes. See more about soy curls in the next section.
- Vegan chicken bouillon powder – We used our homemade vegan bouillon powder which is a great way to add the perfect chicken flavor to the soy curls!
- Boiling water – Use this to plump up the dehydrated soy curls.
- Olive oil – For flavor and a nice sear.
What are soy curls?
Soy curls are a dehydrated, minimally processed soy product made from whole soybeans available through Butler Foods. A good source of both fiber and protein, they’re a 100% natural food that is vegan and gluten free.
Soy curls are often used to mimic the texture and (when marinated) flavor of chicken for use in a tremendously wide variety of vegan and vegetarian recipes.They are available in some health food stores (like V Marks the Shop here in Philly!), on the Butler website, and through Amazon.
We have also used them in a vegan beef and broccoli and as plant-based clams in our Vegan Linguine and Clams in a White Wine Sauce with truly great results. For more answers to your soy curl questions, check out this informational post about what soy curls are and how to use them.
Substitution Options
If you need a substitution for one of the above ingredients, here are our best tips. Please keep in mind that substituting any of the ingredients may lead to a difference in the final product. This difference may not always be a pleasant one! Let us know in the comments if you try any subs and how they work out for you.
Substitute for soy curls: Outside the US, you can find a product similar to Butler soy curls labeled “TVP chunks” or “TVP strips”. They’re slightly different in texture, but either will work for this recipe!
For the bouillon powder: You can sub half as much vegan chicken bouillon paste or 1-2 ground up bouillon cubes.
For the olive oil: The olive oil adds great flavor, but you can use other oils too. Avocado oil or sunflower oil are great options to replace the olive oil. I have not tried oil-free options for this recipe and do not recommend it. The fat in the oil is what gives this vegan chicken a tender, meaty component that really sells it!
How to Make Vegetarian Rotisserie Chicken (from soy curls)
This is an easy soy curl recipe that’s perfect for beginners and can be adapted and used in a variety of recipes that call for vegan chicken.
Step 1: Rehydrate the soy curls.
The first step is to place the soy curls in a large bowl. Add the vegan chicken bouillon powder and hot water. Stir well and cover for 10 minutes until the soy curls are fully rehydrated.
How to Serve This Soy Curls Chicken Recipe
Serve these pan-seared vegan chicken strips hot or cold. They’re great for a meal prep or a quick dinner! They have a mild flavor to them, but you can also add some of your favorite seasonings and sauces to make your own creations. Your taste buds will thank you!
Serving Ideas:
- On some pasta with our creamy vegan garlic sauce – or even a vegan white pizza with a little red onion and sun-dried tomatoes!
- Add a little soy sauce or teriyaki sauce and use these as part of a stir fry or vegan sesame chicken
- As part of a grain bowl with bell peppers green onions, or with mashed potatoes and vegan mac and cheese
- In a vast variety of wraps or sandwiches
- Add some Mexican-inspired spices and grab your favorite taco toppings for the perfect vegan chicken taco
- Atop a simple salad, vegan Caesar, or make a classic chicken salad with them using vegan mayo
How to Store Leftover Soy Curl Chicken
In the fridge: You can store these pan-seared soy curls in an air-tight, sealed container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
To reheat from the fridge: Place soy curls in the microwave and reheat at medium-high heat for 2 minutes, stir, then heat on high for 1 more minute.
In the freezer: These cooked soy curls will last in the freezer for 2 months. Let them cool completely before freezing in a freezer-safe and air-tight bag or container.
Souper Cubes: We love to freeze this soy curl chicken in 1/2 cup Souper Cubes to prep easy-to-defrost portions. Just pack the cubes tightly with fully cooled soy curls and freeze. Once frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer-safe bag.
To reheat from freezer / Souper Cubes: When you want to eat, remove as many as you need from the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge or defrost from frozen in the microwave at 50% for 5-6 minutes. Stir to loosen the soy curls and heat again on high for 2-3 minutes. Time will vary depending on how much you’re reheating and microwave wattage.
More Easy Soy Curl Recipes
We can only list some of our best soy curl recipes here, but we have plenty more on the site. Check out our soy curls guide for more!
- Buffalo Soy Curls
- Vegan Pot Pie Casserole
- Linguine and Soy Curl Clams
- Classic Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
I hope you find this great recipe as easy as you do enjoyable! I honestly cannot get enough of it and all the different things I can make with it!
When you make it, let us know how you used it. And don’t forget to leave a star rating and review on the recipe below. That helps more people find our recipes, and we love crowd-sourcing more ideas of how to use these delicious pan-seared soy curls!
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Until next time!
Vegan Rotisserie Chicken (Soy Curls)
Ingredients
- 4 oz dry soy curls
- 2 Tbsp bouillon powder for rehydrating + 1 tsp for sauteing
- 1.5 cup boiling water
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Rehydrate the soy curls: Place the soy curls in a large mixing bowl. Add the 2 Tbsp bouillon powder and hot water. Stir well and cover. Allow to rehydrate for about 20 minutes.
- To serve/store: Serve these pan-seared pieces atop rice salads or in a grain bowl or wrap. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
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