If you’ve tried my Vegan KFC Fried Chicken recipe, you’ll love my Vegan KFC Popcorn Chicken! This recipe is so quick, you can serve these within 20 mins! Although KFC is launching vegan versions, this homemade recipe is still faster to make then jumping in your car or walking to the nearest KFC and waiting for your vegan popcorn ‘chicken’, I’m just saying 😉
Related Recipe: KFC Vegan Chicken
The famous 11-spice seasoning at KFC is such an amazing combination that it’s loved worldwide. Use this mix of seasoning to make any of your favourite vegan chicken alternatives! This recipe is a great appetizer to share with friends or have it with fries and a vegan milkshake for an ultimate vegan junk food experience.
Vegan KFC Popcorn Chicken
DAIRY-FREE | NUT-FREE | MEAT-FREE
These vegan KFC copycat popcorn ‘chicken’ are marinated in no-chicken broth, tossed in aquafaba to coat, tossed in cornstarch to make an extra crispy outer layer, tossed in a flour mixture with the famous 11 spice mix, then fried until golden-brown perfection.
On my youtube channel and on this blog, I’m pretty notorious for veganizing your favourite comfort foods and famous junk foods (see: Vegan McDonalds recipe, Wendy’s recipes, Popeyes recipe, Chick-fil-A recipe, etc). For this recipe, we’re making KFC vegan popcorn chicken using soy curls, which I personally don’t think get enough love. Today, we’re appreciating the mighty soy curl by turning them into KFC popcorn chicken.
Full Recipe is down below!
Interested in making more vegan chicken-style recipes? Check out my recipes on how to make Vegan Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, The Best Vegan Chicken Drumsticks, and Vegan Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Nuggets.
VEGAN KFC POPCORN CHICKEN INGREDIENTS
- boiling water
- Better Than Bouillon no-chicken
- dry soy curls
- soy sauce
- black pepper
- aquafaba
- cornstarch
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- dried thyme
- dried basil
- dried oregano
- celery salt
- dry mustard powder
- paprika
- garlic powder
- ground ginger
- white pepper
- MSG (optional)
- Oil, for frying
TIP: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the seasonings, just use what you have access too! I’ve also done vegan chicken using salt, pepper and paprika as seasonings, which is also good! Obviously these 11 spices will give you a more KFC flavour profile.
VEGAN KFC POPCORN CHICKEN INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large bowl combine hot water and better than bouillon no-chicken until dissolved. Add dried soy curls and toss to coat in broth. Set aside to soak for a minimum of 30 mins. I like to do this overnight to really get the flavour in there.
- While the soy curls are marinating, mix the flour ingredients for dredging.
- To a large bowl, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, mustard powder, paprika, garlic powder, ginger, white pepper and MSG.
- Meanwhile, in another bowl add; soy sauce, pepper, and aquafaba, and toss to coat. Add 1 tbsp cornstarch and toss to coat again. Set aside.
- When the soy curls are marinated; drain in a colander over a bowl to catch the liquid to use in soups or gravy. Using your hands, squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Cut up the soy curls into popcorn-sized bites and place them into a large bowl.
- Give the soy curls a quick toss, and then toss into the flour mixture. Press into flour to coat well, dust off any excess flour, and place on a wire cooling rack.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil to 350F. Cook a few pieces of popcorn soy curls in hot oil until golden brown, about 3-4 mins, turning a few times. Do not overcrowd the oil or else they will not cook properly.
- Remove the soy curls from the fryer and place on a wire cooling rack to allow excess oil to drip off.
- Serve with your favourite dips!
Hey, I’m Candice & welcome to The Edgy Veg! I veganize popular food recipes for vegans, plant-based diets, eco-conscious eaters & people who are trying to eat more plants over… y’know animals or by-products of animals. I hope you enjoy this tasty vegan recipe!
LOOKING FOR MORE VEGAN CHICKEN RECIPES?
- Best Vegan Chicken Drumsticks
- Vegan Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
- Vegan Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Nuggets
- Vegan McDonald’s Chicken Sandwich
- Vegan Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich
- Vegan KFC Nashville Hot Fried Chicken
Vegan KFC Popcorn Chicken Recipe
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1½ tbsp Better Than Bouillon no-chicken
- 1¼ cups dry soy curls (they will double in size)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 6 tbsp aquafaba, whisked until foamy
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup corn starch
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tbsp celery salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tbsp dry mustard powder
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp white pepper
- 1 tsp MSG (optional) you can also sub for 1 tsp sea salt
- Oil, for frying
- In a large bowl combine hot water and better than bouillon no-chicken until dissolved. Add dried soy curls and toss to coat in broth. Set aside to soak for a minimum of 30 mins. I like to do this overnight to really get the flavour in there.
- When the soy curls are marinated; drain in a colander over a bowl to catch the liquid to use in soups or gravy. Using your hands, squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Cut up the soy curls into popcorn-sized bites and place them into a large bowl.
- To the large bowl add soy sauce, pepper, and aquafaba, and toss to coat. Add 1 tbsp cornstarch and toss to coat again. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, in another bowl add; flour, ¼ cup cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, mustard powder, paprika, garlic powder, ginger, white pepper and MSG.
- Give the soy curls a quick toss, and then toss into the flour mixture. Press into flour to coat well, dust off any excess flour, and place on a wire cooling rack.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil to 350F. Cook a few pieces of popcorn soy curls in hot oil until golden brown, about 3-4 mins, turning a few times. Do not overcrowd the oil or else they will not cook properly.
- Remove the soy curls from the fryer and place on a wire cooling rack to allow excess oil to drip off.
- Serve with your favourite dips!
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I’m a recent vegan convert and new to soy curls. Great flavor, super satisfying crunch. Even my “I don’t eat tofu” husband said they were good. I followed the recipe except used Just egg (vegan egg replacement) instead of aquafaba. I wanted just a hint more salt…maybe I should have used the aquafaba. But definitely going to be a-go-to recipe. Thank you so much.
Hello. My gluten free wife absolutely adored these making it with gluten free powder. Questions, though:
– I’ve often seen other recipes for “authentic” KFC use garlic salt, not garlic powder, why that here?
– Why the baking soda and baking powder?
– Has anyone tried this air fried or baked? Any changes needed?
While we didn’t use it, other online recipes seem to suggest that the MSG does make a big difference in flavor. Thanks!
Made these tonight for thee first time. We are a vegan family and try a lot of recipes like this. This recipe is one of the BEST. Spot on delicious and frying in a pan with an inch of oil was super easy and not too messy. Very easy to make and cook quickly. Super delicious…I almost ate them all as I was cooking them. I used the recipe as is, but rehydrated a whole bag of soy curls and there was plenty of flour to coat them.
Hi … could you make a bulk of these and store the “uncooked” battered/crumbed tofu nuggets in the freezer? Then when you need them, pop them straight into a pan fry situation? How long from frozen do you think they would take to cook??
can you do this in an air fryer? can’t wait to try!
Absolutely try this in the air fryer!
This recipe is so so sooooo good. My family couldn’t stop eating it. (And theyre all meat eaters!) thank you for making so many amazing recipes!
Made this hungover, saved my life
Hi! What would you suggest using in place of the better than boullion? I cant find it, I could order online but if there’s a replacement that would be easier 🙂
You can substitute with any vegetarian bouillon powder, paste or cube. They should be easy to find at most grocery stores
Can you airfry or bake?
I never put a wet batter in the air fryer. There is nothing to set it so the batter just drips off while the food is cooking, sometimes making quite a mess. If you’re looking for the crunch without frying, I suggest dredging the soy curls in flour, a prepared vegan egg replacer, the breadcrumbs instead. I’d recommend the same for baking. Or at least batter then breadcrumb. Hope this helps!
This was so easy and yummy to make! I substitute the flour for gluten free flour (Pamela’s baking GF flour) and just used whatever spices I ended up having. 1st time using soy curls but for sure not the last. We vegans don’t have to miss out on a thing with recipes like this one! Thanks!!!
I love making these because I can use them in many different meals! My hubby loves dipping them in marinara sauce or the edgy veg’s creamy dill sauce that’s a household fave! I fill a large skillet less than halfway and re-use the oil to fry (just keep it in a sealed mason jar). highly recommend anyone to make this recipe if you’re craving some delicious vegan and homemade “chick’n” bites!
This recipe is INCREDIBLE. My husband and I ate the entire thing in about 5 minutes. Super messy, so so so worth every moment of it. This is a must try and I can’t wait to make it again.
Whoa. Seriously amazing. I’ve been searching for a “nugget” recipe for a long time, trying to replicate chick fil a so my kids can stop asking for an equivalent. Tried cauliflower versions, tofu versions … none that were universally accepted… until tonight! Everyone devoured. I save a small handful to put in the freezer and see what happens with re-heating.
Thank you so much!
growing up I use to go to KFC as a kid and after seeing your video on youtube I really wanted to try these so I bought some soy curls on amazon and HOLY OMG THESE ARE DELICIOUS! a must for anyone craving or wanting to surprise your partner or kids with vegan popcorn chicken
These have me shook. Like, how was this not real popcorn chicken? Can I give these 10 stars? It all came together super easy. In fact, the hardest part was finding soy curls, but now that I know where to get them locally I’m all set. Candice is queen.
I couldn’t find soy curls, but I have soy chunks so I used those instead, and just didn’t cut them. These were amazing, and come together so easily. They’re good on their own, and I also used them in a ‘chicken’ Caesar wrap and it was delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
How much oil do you find you need and what kind do you use? What do you do with it after?
I fill a large skillet less than halfway to the top. When I’m done frying I strain the oil once it’s cooled and reserve it in a glass jar to use the next time I need to fry.