We Tasted 10 Storebought Vegan Nuggets So You Don’t Have To

The 20th century was full of exciting food innovations. We’re talking chocolate chip cookies, nachos, instant noodles, Oreos, and chicken nuggets (so, basically, the late-night snack market boomed). All of these food creations remain popular today, but the latter was particularly revolutionary. Created by inventor Robert C. Baker in the 1950s, chicken nuggets have become a fast-food favorite, a supermarket staple, and a pop culture phenomenon. In 2020 alone, Americans ate more than 73 billion of them.

But the nugget market is starting to change; today’s food scientists have taken Baker’s original invention and developed it further. Now, many brands sell nuggets that look, cook, and taste like the original recipe, only they’re totally chicken-free. These vegan nuggets are far better for our health, the environment, and the animals than chicken. And as more people choose to leave meat off their plates, they are growing in popularity.

After a thorough taste test, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to vegan chicken nuggets—from which brands to buy to how to make them at home.

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1 Impossible Foods

California-based Impossible Foods is known for its meaty Impossible Burger, but it also sells vegan Impossible Chicken Nuggets, too. Debuted in 2023, the brand claims its nuggets are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. It states that in one blind test, seven out of 10 meat-eating consumers preferred Impossible nuggets to chicken nuggets. Impossible’s nuggets pack in 13 grams of protein per serving and contain 60 percent less saturated fat than meaty versions. And, of course, they’re totally cholesterol-free.
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2 Beyond

Beyond (formerly known as Beyond Meat) offers three vegan chicken products, including Plant-Based Breaded Tenders, Beyond Popcorn Chicken, and Beyond Chicken Nuggets. The latter packs in 14 grams of protein per serving, and has 50-percent less saturated fat than a standard chicken nugget.
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3 Gardein

Whether you want fish, beef, pork, turkey, or chicken-style plant-based meat, Gardein has you covered. The brand has been building its extensive portfolio since 2003, and today offers several different breaded vegan chicken options. In addition to its Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Nuggets, you can also try its Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Tenders and Seven Grain Crispy Tenders.
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4 MorningStar Farms

Originally founded in 1975, MorningStar Farms offers a range of tasty vegan and vegetarian products, some of which are a little different from what you would usually find on the shelves. There are Veggitizers (including vegan Veggie Pepperoni Pizza Bites), Breakfast Bites with Vegan Egg & Sausage, and, of course, classic nuggets. Its Chik’n Nuggets come in regular and BBQ flavors.
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5Bettergoods

6 Trader Joe’s

7 Daring

Jack & Annie’s

8Jack & Annie’s

9 Switch Foods

10Earth Bound

Vegan chicken nugget recipes

It’s incredibly easy to pop down to your local supermarket and buy a bag of frozen vegan nuggets. But sometimes, you don’t want easy, you want rewarding, and maybe something a little less processed. If you fancy making your own nuggets from home, these recipes will help you do just that. 

Jessica in the Kitchen

1 Tofu nuggets

This recipe proves that, with the right cooking method, versatile tofu can taste just like chicken. But to really get that nugget experience, you have to have a crispy coating, too. While you can use breadcrumbs, this recipe also recommends blending up some crispy rice cereal for that ultra-satisfying crunch. 
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Elephantastic Vegan

2 Seitan nuggets

The juicy texture of seitan, which is basically just pure gluten, lends itself very well to vegan chicken recipes, which is why it forms the basis of this recipe. To make moreish (and nutritious) nuggets, combine it with herbs, spices, onion, garlic, and chickpeas. This recipe also calls for sparkling water, which sounds unusual, but will help to give your seitan a light and fluffy texture.
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Not That Kind of Vegan

3 Mushroom nuggets

For those who prefer vegetables over mock meats, mushrooms are an excellent alternative for vegan nuggets. All you need to do is pulse them up with chickpea flour, seasoning, and salt, and you’ll be on your way to getting the right meaty texture. You don’t even need to cook them in oil, as these can be popped right in the air fryer.
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Healthy Girl Kitchen

4 Chickpea nuggets

If you love nuggets but not all the processing that goes into storebought options, this recipe will help to satisfy your cravings. Instead of vegan meat, chickpeas form the basis of these nuggets. And seriously—they’re so tasty, you won’t even notice the difference.
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The Hidden Veggies

5 Cauliflower nuggets

You’ve heard of cauliflower wings, but cauliflower nuggets are also a thing. This is a great way of sneaking in vegetables into your (or your children’s meals) without even thinking about the fact that you’re healthy eating. For the ultimate nugget experience, serve with buffalo or barbecue dip. Happy snacking!
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