Cozy Vegan Chicken(less) Stew

Get this vegan chicken stew recipe on your weekly meal plan STAT. It makes the perfect cozy winter dinner and will immediately transport you back to childhood. This creamy vegetable stew with meaty soy curls is easy to make using common ingredients, methods, and hidden vegetables too! This vegan stew recipe is also freezer-friendly and the perfect plant-based meal prep recipe. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily made oil-free.


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FRIENDS.

I have something for you, and I think you’re gonna love it.

Behold, my newest recipe obsession: Vegan Chicken Stew.  OMG.

I can’t stop staring at it, or eating it, or stirring it around in the pot as I reheat leftovers and gaze longingly at all that warm and comforting deliciousness, stealing quick tastes every chance I get.

Click here to Pin this recipe for later.

This vegan chicken stew makes the perfect cozy winter dinner. This creamy vegetable stew with meaty soy curls is easy to make using common ingredients, methods, and hidden vegetables like cauliflower! This vegan stew recipe is freezer-friendly and the perfect plant-based meal prep recipe. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily made oil-free.

Creamy Vegan Stew Ingredients

Oh, and did I mention the BEST part?!  That creamy sauce is made from – drumroll, please – CAULIFLOWER!

Yes! I know it is really hard to believe, but it is 100% true. Cauliflower.

So basically you get big bowl of warmth and comfort, AND you get a massive dose of veggies?  You all know that has my name written allllllll over it.

This vegan chicken stew is also another kickass way to use our homemade vegan bouillon powder.

The flavor the bouillon adds to this dish is so perfect I could scream with joy! And I have, let’s be real. 😋

This vegan chicken stew makes the perfect cozy winter dinner. This creamy vegetable stew with meaty soy curls is easy to make using common ingredients, methods, and hidden vegetables like cauliflower! This vegan stew recipe is freezer-friendly and the perfect plant-based meal prep recipe. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily made oil-free.
This vegan chicken stew makes the perfect cozy winter dinner. This creamy vegetable stew with meaty soy curls is easy to make using common ingredients, methods, and hidden vegetables like cauliflower! This vegan stew recipe is freezer-friendly and the perfect plant-based meal prep recipe. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily made oil-free.

To make this dish animal-free, we used soy curls to replace the traditional chicken. Soy curls are a total pantry staple in our house, and they are the perfect texture for vegan chicken stew!

If you don’t have soy curls, fret not though! We have also had success using homemade chicken-style seitan, as well as many store-bought vegan chicken like Gardein + Tofurkey.

The main thing you want to remember with store-bought vegan chicken is to use something without breading.  Check the freezer aisle at your local grocery store for ideas!

Honestly, this vegan chicken stew would even be great without any vegan chicken at all, whatever your preference! I can’t believe I of all people just said that, but it is 100% true. 🙂

This vegan chicken(less) stew is the PERFECT winter comfort food! It's warm and soul-healing but also FULL of surprise veggies and flavor. It's also freezer-friendly and has a gluten-free option. #vegan #stew #veganrecipes #cauliflower #comfortfood // plantpowercouple.com

How to Serve Vegan Chicken Stew

This stew is wonderful served with a simple roll and vegan butter.

But, if you really want to “fancy” things up a bit, go ahead and make yourself some puff pastry triangles. (See pictures for context.)

These are T’s FAVORITE. They make take a tad longer to throw in the oven, but they are just about as simple as getting a roll and buttering it up.

As for leftovers, they’ll keep for up to a week in the fridge or a month in the freezer. This is one of our go-to freezer recipes, actually!

We hope you’ll try this cozy, delicious vegan chicken stew and we know you will fall in love with it just like we have!

If and when you do give it a go, we would love for you to rate it and leave a comment below or tag us in your tasty photos on Instagram. If you’re not already following along, we’re @theplantpowercouple with the “the”.

And if you want to be sure you never miss a Plant Power Couple recipe, don’t forget to sign up for our email list!

Enjoy!

Other Cozy Vegan Dinners You’d Love:

This vegan chicken(less) stew is the PERFECT winter comfort food! It's warm and soul-healing but also FULL of surprise veggies and flavor. It's also freezer-friendly and has a gluten-free option. #vegan #stew #veganrecipes #cauliflower #comfortfood // plantpowercouple.com

Creamy Vegan Chickenless Stew

Brittany Roche
Get this vegan chicken stew recipe on your weekly meal plan STAT. It makes the perfect cozy winter dinner and will immediately transport you back to childhood. This creamy vegetable stew with meaty soy curls is easy to make using common ingredients, methods, and hidden vegetables too! This vegan stew recipe is also freezer-friendly and the perfect plant-based meal prep recipe. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily made oil-free.
4.99 from 51 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dinner
Servings 5 bowls of stew
Calories 259 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Add the olive oil to a large pot and turn heat to medium. When hot, add the onion, garlic, and a large pinch of salt and saute for about 5 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Pour in 2 cups of the water along with the cauliflower. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork-tender.
  • Whilst the cauliflower cooks, make your cashew cream: Drain your soaked cashews and add them to a blender with 3/4 cup water. Blend until smooth and creamy. Then, set aside until you're ready to use it.
  • When the cauliflower is tender, use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Then, add the remainder of your ingredients (including the cashew cream and remaining 3 cups of water). Stir to combine and cover/cook for another 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. If your stew is too thin, allow to cook a little longer uncovered. If it's too thick for your taste, add the optional sixth cup of water. Serve with puff pastry or a big slice of rustic bread. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

TO MAKE IT OIL-FREE: Saute the onions and garlic in some water rather than olive oil.
*Feel free to use whatever vegan chicken you like, but if you’re not using something that comes dehydrated, you will want to cut back on the water (use 4 cups instead of the 5-6 recommended cups).

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl of stewCalories: 259kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 15gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 993mgFiber: 11gSugar: 8g
Keyword creamy vegan soup, easy vegan stew, plant based stew, soy curl recipe, vegan chicken, vegan chicken soup, vegan chicken stew, vegan soup, vegan stew, vegan stew recipe, vegetarian chicken stew
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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37 Comments

  1. Made this last night and it turned out VERY well! We added sauteed Morning Star Chik'n Strips and cut them into little chunks. Thanks for the recipe!
  2. My husband and I both agreed this is one of the best meals we have had in a long time! I followed your recipe to a T and it was absolutely delicious. We really needed comfort food today because it's snowing in all directions. We got 4 servings out of it. Thank you for the great recipe!
    1. Hi, Sam! I'm thrilled to hear how much you and your husband enjoyed the stew; that's fantastic! Totally know the feeling when you are in major need of comfort food haha. It's snowing in Philly today, so there's a good chance we'll be making this too! :)
  3. Hi, I was wondering how I would freeze this? I was hoping to use this as a meal when I have my second baby. Thank you!
    1. Congratulations on the baby, Icela! I like to freeze this in large mason jars or air-tight glass pyrex containers. Be sure to leave room (an inch or two) at the top because the stew will expand as it freezes. Hope you find it helpful! :)
    1. Hi, Lynn! The cooking times would be different obviously, but I think you could follow the same method. Cook the cauliflower until fork tender, blend it with an immersion blender, add the rest of the ingredients, cook them until the potatoes are fork-tender. If you try it, let us know how it goes!
    1. Hi, Michelle! I do think this would work well in a crock pot! The cooking times will be different obviously, but the methods should be the same: Cook the cauliflower until fork tender, blend it with an immersion blender, add the rest of the ingredients, cook them until the potatoes are fork-tender. If you try it, let us know how it goes!
  4. Oh. My. Gosh. I thought the chickenless bouillon powder was the best thing ever, but that was before I made the chickenless stew, which was today. Holy cow it was fantabulous. Followed the recipe closely (but sautéed in water instead of oil) and I am officially in love. I haven’t eaten meat, eggs or dairy for 27 years and have been whole food plant based no oil since last June. I have tried many mediocre recipes, good recipes and amazing recipes, but this one is in the top 5 for sure. My wife, who only in the last 10 months has made significant plant based changes to her diet, has gone on and on about it, too. Thank you!
  5. It's such a joy to find this site! There are so many vegan recipe promises of greatness on the internet and I've eaten so much mediocre or downright disappointing food in the past year and a half since starting this journey. I so appreciate you for making recipes that turn out great every time and that I can trust. I cut this in half tonight because I was worried about not being able to eat all the leftovers...and then I nearly ate the entire thing myself. :-D Absolutely delicious.
    1. Ashley, we are SO glad not to have disappointed you, and thank you so very much for the kind words. We also made the mistake of halving this recipe once, lol! We are so, so very happy you liked it!
    2. I think instead of the immersion blender I’m going to use my vitamix for a much smoother texture .., I wasn’t a fan of the texture. Other than that… great recipe added more potatoes also added green beans . Served in homemade bread bowls.
  6. Hi There, would love to try making your stew. Just wondering if the soy curls are added dry! Or should they be rehydrated first? Also how many people would you say it serves? I'm thinking at least 4? Thanks, Leila
    1. Hi, Leila! Actually, we add the soy curls dry in this recipe. They really soak up the flavor without taking anything away from the broth. And I'd think this would easily feed 4.
  7. This was fantastic. I’ve tried so many vegan dishes that disappoint. I’ll be making this forever! I thought it would be too salty but it was perfect
  8. Wow. This dish is pure magic. Immediately transported me back to my childhood. I kept saying "damn" and "wtf" and "holy sh*t" - like mind blown! Husband thoroughly enjoyed it, too. Thank you!
  9. This is absolutely beautiful, perfect for cold winter days or if your suffering from a bit of a cold it will make you feel better.
  10. Absolutely LOVED it. . I'd had soy curls in the fridge for months and didn't know what to do with them..This was perfect introduction to cooking with soy curls...Great meal thanks.
    1. I'm so happy you liked it, Lynn! We use soy curls A LOT around here and have lots of recipes including them, so if you need any ideas on what else to do with them... Thank you also for taking the time to write us and let us know. It's really appreciated!
  11. Not a vegan or vegetarian, just wanting to make more meatless meals. I follow you on Pinterest. I made your "chicken" bouillon and it is fabulous. Made this stew last night and it was UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!! If I didn't make it, I would have thought it had real chicken in it. It was (and is--leftovers) so tasty. You had a hearty endorsement from RunsWithCookies blog, so I thought why not? I am so glad I did. This is a keeper! Thank you!
    1. Oh, I'm so happy you enjoyed it so much! That is one of my favorite dishes, and I'm so glad you liked it too! Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. I really appreciate it!

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