The Best Vegetarian “Chicken” in Stores
Justina Huddleston
Justina Huddleston
Justina Huddleston is a food writer living in Los Angeles. When she's not busy writing, she spends her time in the kitchen creating both virtuous and decidedly junky vegan food. Buffalo chickpea pizza, anyone? She's also been known to eat a plain block of tofu or beans straight out of the can for lunch, but somehow those culinary adventures don't make it to her Instagram. You can follow Justina on Twitter or see what's cooking in her kitchen on her blog, A Life of Little Pleasures.
Eating vegetarian doesn't have to be a challenge when you have these meatless chicken products on hand. Just as poultry is a go-to dinner staple for families across the country, these faux versions make eating healthy, protein-filled meals that actually taste legit a total cinch. Take a look at our favorite meatless chicken products from grocery stores, then try as many as your supermarket has to offer.
Gardein Vegan Teriyaki Chick'n Strips ($5): For a really quick meal, pick up a bag of these chick'n strips. They come with teriyaki sauce, so all you need to do is add some veggies and a side of rice for a complete meal.
Beyond Meat Vegan Beyond Chicken Strips Grilled ($5): Fill your wraps with Beyond Meat's plant-based chicken. It has as much protein as the real thing, and the taste and texture are pretty spot-on too.
Quorn Vegetarian Naked Chik'n Cutlets ($5): Soy- and gluten-free, Quorn's vegetarian chicken cutlets are made from mycoprotein, a fungi-derived protein. Don't let the fungus aspect scare you — the resulting "meat" is tender, juicy, and tastes pretty darn close to the real thing.
Gardein Vegan Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Wings ($5): If you're in need of a game-day snack, Gardein's got you covered with these tangy barbecue wings.
Trader Joe's Vegan Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels ($3): Skip the take-out and opt for Trader Joe's incredibly addictive mandarin orange chicken-less morsels instead. It will definitely scratch your itch, if you've got a craving for mall food court Chinese food (which we all get sometimes!).
Gardein Vegan Seven Grain Crispy Tenders ($5): Kids and adults will both find themselves craving these crispy chicken tenders that just so happen to be made with whole grains.
Tofurky Vegan Slow Roasted Chick'n Lightly Seasoned ($5): Made from wheat gluten and tofu, this mild vegan chicken substitute can go in just about anything.
Quorn Vegetarian Chicken Strips ($7): Use these strips in place of grilled chicken breast. We love 'em on salads or served as the main protein.
Gardein Vegan Lightly Seasoned Chick'n Scallopini ($5): Any vegan dinner party guest would be excited to dig into a dish of faux chicken scallopine. Serve with a peppery arugula salad and lemon wedges for a light and satisfying nosh.
Follow us on Pinterest for more meatless meal ideas.
Follow us on Pinterest for more meatless meal ideas.
(Photos via Instacart and Trader Joe’s)
Justina Huddleston
Justina Huddleston is a food writer living in Los Angeles. When she's not busy writing, she spends her time in the kitchen creating both virtuous and decidedly junky vegan food. Buffalo chickpea pizza, anyone? She's also been known to eat a plain block of tofu or beans straight out of the can for lunch, but somehow those culinary adventures don't make it to her Instagram. You can follow Justina on Twitter or see what's cooking in her kitchen on her blog, A Life of Little Pleasures.