Summer is right around the corner, and that means BBQ picnics! You'll be the envy of the party showing off this Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich!
I was visiting Port Angeles, WA last week and discovered a hidden gem of a restaurant called New Day Eatery. I was completely shocked to see they had a full page of vegan options on their menu!
I ordered their BBQ CHYKEN SANDWICH - Vegan smoked chyken, topped with BBQ sauce and honey poppy coleslaw, served on a toasted brioche bun with a side of fries or side salad.
I thought to myself, "I can totally recreate this at home using my own Creamy Vegan Coleslaw and some Butler Soy Curls!" And I did 😄!
Jump to:
Why You're Going To Love This Sandwich!
❤️ It's made from minimally processed whole food! Soy curls are just non-GMO soybeans that have been steamed and shaped.
❤️Soy curls are also packed with protein and everything about this sandwich is completely oil-free.
❤️How many BBQs have you been to where there's absolutely nothing there for you to eat (well, besides my carrot dogs)? With this sandwich you'll be fighting off everyone who wants a taste!
❤️And with the right bun you could absolutely make this gluten-free too.
Notable Ingredients
The "Chicken"
- Butler Soy Curls (available at co-ops, Whole Foods, Butlerfoods.com, and amazon)
- A homemade chicken-like seasoning mix that includes nutritional yeast, garlic & onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, basil, sage, brown sugar, and poultry seasoning. For extra "chickeny" flavor you can saute the soy curls in a "no-chicken broth" if you like, or just use veggie broth.
The BBQ Sauce
- I like Stubbs and I've heard good things about Bone Suckin' Sauce but ultimately, choose whatever BBQ Sauce you like.
The Cole Slaw
- A 14oz bag of premixed coleslaw (near the salads in the produce section of your store)
- A homemade dressing made from vegan yogurt, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and dijon mustard
- My coleslaw has its own blog post but I'll include the instructions here
*See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact quantities and detailed cooking directions.
How To Make A Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich
You can follow these step-by-step photos with helpful tips, or scroll down to the bottom of this page for the easy-to-print recipe card.
Step 1
The Seasoning
Combine all chicken seasoning spices into a glass jar and mix thoroughly. This will make enough for 3-4 batches of "chicken".
Step 2
The Coleslaw
Add the coleslaw mix to a large bowl. Whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour over the top. Mix well and set aside in the fridge until needed.
Step 3
The "Chicken"
Add 4 oz of soy curls to a bowl and cover with water to soak for at least 15 minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much moisture as you can, then add 2 tablespoons of the the seasoning from step 1 and mix thoroughly.
Step 4
BBQ Chicken!
Place the seasoned soy curls into a skillet and saute over medium heat in a little bit of either low-sodium veggie broth or "no-chicken" broth until most of the liquid has evaporated. Then add up to ⅓ cup of BBQ sauce and stir to mix well.
Step 5
Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich Assemble!
Start by toasting the bun of your choice and then slather on a heap of that creamy vegan coleslaw we made earlier. Then add a pile of this amazing BBQ chicken and top it all off with another drizzle of BBQ sauce.
Yum!
Recipe FAQs
Soy curls have the most resemblance to chicken that I have seen, but you could try substituting jackfruit or shredded King Trumpet instead.
I find the non-fortified brands (like Sari Brand) taste better. All of the others that are fortified have a metallic after-taste to me. With that said, Butler Foods also has a chicken-like seasoning you can buy from their website at butlerfoods.com.
I use 2 Tbls per 4 oz of soy curls. You can add more or less to your own taste. With this ratio you should have enough to make at least 4 batches. You can store leftover seasoning in a sealed mason jar.
If you choose a gluten free bun or bread - yes this sandwich can be gluten free.
The soy curls will freeze fine, but I would avoid freezing the coleslaw as it will probably be pretty mushy when it thaws. In the fridge these should both keep for 4-5 days.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Print
Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe
- Prep Time: 40 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4-6 sandwiches 1x
- Category: BBQ
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Summer is right around the corner, and that means BBQ picnics! You'll be the envy of the group showing off this Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
The "Chicken"
- 4 oz. Butler Soy Curls (½ bag)
- Veggie broth or no-chicken broth for sautéing
- BBQ sauce
- Buns
The Seasoning
- ½ c. nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp each of oregano, thyme, & basil
- ¼ tsp each of rubbed sage, black pepper, & brown sugar
- pinch of cayenne
The Coleslaw
- 1 bag (14oz) organic coleslaw mix
Dressing
- ½ c. non-dairy yogurt Forager's or Kite Hill)
- 1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbs dijon mustard
- 1 Tbs brown sugar (or sweetener of choice)
- 1 ½ tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp celery seeds
Instructions
- Place 4 oz of soy curls into a large bowl and cover with water to rehydrate while we make the seasoning and coleslaw.
- Mix all of the seasoning spices together in a glass jar and set aside.
- Prepare the coleslaw by placing the coleslaw mix into a large bowl, then whisking the dressing together and pouring it on top. Mix well and set aside in the fridge until needed.
- Drain the soy curls and squeeze out as much moisture as you can. Add 2 Tbs. of the seasoning mix and mix well.
- Place the seasoned soy curls into a skillet and saute in a little veg broth or no-chicken broth until slightly browned and all of the moisture has evaporated.
- Add ⅓ c. (or so) of the BBQ sauce and mix well.
- Assemble the sandwiches by laying a layer of coleslaw down on your favorite bun (toasted if you like), followed by a heaping pile of the BBQ chicken, and then top it off with a little more BBQ sauce.
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Stacey
This was my 1st time trying soy curls; love them! Thx for sharing! What other ways can I use the extra seasoning?
JoAnn
How long do you soak the soy curls and water temp
Chuck Underwood
Warm water is ok. Hot water is ok. Doesn't really matter. And if you soak them first before you make the seasoning or the coleslaw they should be ready by the time you get to them in the recipe.