Publised on 26/09/2024. Last Updated on 06/12/2024 by Richard
My delicious vegan chicken seasoning tastes exactly like roast chicken and is super easy to make! It’s soy-free, gluten-free and is ideal for rubs, marinades and broths.
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Get a load of my vegan chicken seasoning! It’s a flavor-packed seasoning blend that’ll give you that perfect chicken flavor without the actual chicken. Whether you’re making tofu marinades, seasoning soy curls, or putting together a delicious vegan chicken noodle soup, this seasoning will have you coming back for more. Trust me—this stuff is magical. It’s a pantry staple in my kitchen for everything from tofu nuggets to curries and gyros!
A few weeks ago, I whipped up this vegan chicken seasoning to marinate some soy curls for a stir fry, and let me tell you, it was a game changer. It took that basic stir fry and gave it an extra level of savory flavor. Even my non-vegan friend (who usually ain’t that impressed with vegan dishes) was asking for seconds. I knew I was onto something. This seasoning is great in spice rubs, tofu marinades, and it even works wonders as a homemade chicken bouillon powder. Just add boiling water and you have vegan chicken broth! Bonus? It’s super easy to make, and all the ingredients are probably chillin’ in your spice cabinet right now.
The Ingredients
Before we jump into why this is the best vegan chicken seasoning out there (spoiler: cos it tastes ROASTED), let's talk ingredients. The great thing about this seasoning blend is that it’s full of simple herbs and spices you can easily find at most grocery stores. As always, the full recipe is listed at the bottom of this page, so if you’re in a hurry, feel free to scroll down and get to mixing!
- Dried Herbs (Bay Leaf, Parsley, Thyme, Dill, Chives): These simple herbs add complexity to the seasoning, rounding out the savory notes and bringing balance to the mix.
- Nutritional Yeast Flakes: This is where the magic happens! Nutritional yeast gives this blend that cheesy, umami goodness, but I do something special to them that brings that chickeny vibe! See the section below on how!
- Garlic Powder: Is it even a seasoning if garlic isn’t involved? This adds a savory kick that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.
- Onion Powder: Onion powder is another essential in creating that savory flavor reminiscent of traditional chicken broth.
- Celery Salt: Adds just the right amount of salty, herby goodness.
- Sea Salt: Can’t forget this one. Fine sea salt binds everything together and enhances all the flavors.
- White Pepper: White pepper has a milder, more earthy heat compared to black pepper, giving the seasoning a subtle warmth.
- MSG (optional, but encouraged): For that extra oomph of umami. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it—it makes a big difference.
- Sweet Paprika: For a touch of smokiness and color.
Why this Seasoning is the Best Out There
So, why is this vegan chicken seasoning the best out there? First off, it’s versatile. You can use it in everything from tofu marinades to vegan chicken stock. Heck, I’ve even sprinkled it on french fries for a savory twist! The Aussies call this "chicken salt" and they use it on their hot chips! Blummin geniuses those Aussies!
But what really sets it apart is that roasted nutritional yeast. Here’s a fun story: one day I was roasting potatoes and threw some nutritional yeast on them for extra flavor. The smell that came out of the oven? It was like a roast chicken had been roasting away alongside the spuds. That’s when it hit me—why not create a seasoning blend that mimics that smell and flavor? And that’s exactly what I did. Toasting the nooch (nutritional yeast) gives it that unmistakable roast chicken flavor that many of us love.
How to Make this Recipe
Making this seasoning blend couldn’t be easier. Here’s the lowdown in four simple steps:
- Store the mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, ready to use whenever you need it!
- Roast the nutritional yeast in the oven to give it that toasty, chicken-like aroma.
- Mix in the garlic powder, onion powder, and other seasonings while the yeast is still warm (this brings out their flavor even more).
- Use a spice grinder or food processor to grind everything into a fine powder.
How to Customize this Recipe
The great thing about this vegan chicken seasoning? You can totally make it your own. Let’s face it: everyone’s got their own idea of what roast chicken tastes like because everyone roasts it differently. Want more herbs? Add in sage, tarragon, or even oregano. Dill brings a nice, fresh twist reminiscent of chicken noodle soup. Try this recipe as-is first, but don’t be afraid to tweak it to match your version of the perfect chicken broth substitute.
How to Make Vegan Chicken Broth
This recipe makes it super easy to whip up a batch of vegan chicken broth. Just boil 2 cups of water (around 500ml) and stir in 2 tablespoon of my vegan chicken seasoning. The smell will be immediately chickeny and the broth is ready to use in whatever you like! From soups to rice, you name it!
Some Recipes To Try My Seasoning In
Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets: Coat your tofu nuggets in this vegan chicken seasoning before popping them in the air fryer for a crunchy, savory snack.
Vegan Chicken: This seasoning is a game-changer for plant-based chicken recipes. Whether you’re grilling, baking, or frying, it’ll add that familiar chicken flavor without the actual chicken. My advice? Make the seitan and marinate in the broth (see above) overnight!
Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup: Toss a spoonful of this seasoning into your next batch of vegan chicken noodle soup, and thank me later. The vegan chicken bouillon powder works wonders in a hearty broth.
Tofu Fajitas: Sprinkle some of this seasoning blend onto marinated tofu before cooking, and you’ll have yourself some seriously tasty fajitas.
Vegan Chicken Seasoning FAQs
It’s got that savory, roasted chicken flavor without using any animal products. Think of it like a chicken broth substitute but in seasoning form.
Keep it in an airtight container in a cool place, away from moisture, and it’ll last for a long time.
Absolutely! Just add a 2 tablespoon to 2 cups of boiling water for an easy vegan chicken broth substitute.
Yep! All the ingredients in this seasoning blend are naturally gluten-free, so it’s safe for those avoiding gluten.
Sure thing. While it does add an extra umami punch, the seasoning still tastes amazing without it.
In short, this vegan chicken seasoning is everything you need to bring that chicken flavor to your favorite vegan dishes. Whether you’re whipping up stir fries, tofu nuggets, or a delicious soup, this seasoning will not let you down.
If you try this recipe, be sure to take a pic and tag me @schoolnightvegan on social media! I can’t wait to see how you use this seasoning in your favorite recipes. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to my Substack to stay in the loop with all my new vegan recipes. You won’t wanna miss it!
Vegan Chicken Seasoning
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Baking parchment
- Spice Grinder or High Speed Blender
- Air-tight Container or Jar
Ingredients
- 30 g nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon garlic granules or garlic powder
- 1.5 tablespoon onion granules or onion powder
- 1.5 teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon msg optional but encouraged
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1.5 teaspoon light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 165 °C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the nutritional yeast on the prepared baking sheet and roast in the pre-heated oven for 8 minutes. Check the nutritional yeast oven to ensure it’s not burning.30 g nutritional yeast
- Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle the garlic and onion granules over the hot nutritional yeast and leave to cool to room temperature (about 10 minutes).1 tablespoon garlic granules, 1.5 tablespoon onion granules
- Place all the ingredients (including the roasted nutritional yeast mixture) into a spice grinder or a high speed blender and process until smooth and thoroughly uniform.1.5 teaspoon celery salt, ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon msg, ½ teaspoon sweet paprika, Pinch cayenne pepper, 1 dried bay leaf, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried dill, ½ teaspoon dried chives, 2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1.5 teaspoon light brown sugar
- Allow to cool fully after grinding then transfer to a sealed jar. Keep somewhere dry and dark for up to a month, but ideally use within a few days.
Tiffany
OMG!!! Genius!! So darn delicious!! Staple seasoning in my home now.
Tiffany
Genius!