When it comes to Italian-American comfort food, chicken parmesan is one of the nation’s favorite dishes. With layers of gooey cheese (which, despite the name, is usually mozzarella not parmesan), rich marinara sauce, and crispy tender chicken, it’s not hard to see why.
But this popular dish can get even better—swapping out animal products for nutrient-dense plant-based alternatives arguably takes chicken parmesan to the next level. Keep reading to discover some of our favorite ways to make chicken parmesan without the chicken (or the cheese).
What is chicken parmesan?
As highlighted above, chicken parmesan, also known as chicken parmigiana, is a classic Italian-American favorite. Inspired by the traditional Italian dish parmigiana di melanzane (which is similar to chicken parmesan, but is made with eggplant), it was first created by Italian immigrants who came to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Chicken parmesan usually consists of three ingredients: boneless chicken cutlets, thick marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Sometimes, it also includes parmesan cheese, too. The dish is baked in the oven until the cheese melts and bubbles before it is served with salad, pasta, or inside a sandwich.
Can you make chicken parmesan with vegan ingredients?
All the comfort, texture, and flavor of chicken parmesan can be easily achieved with plant-based ingredients. Store-bought vegan chicken products, for example, from brands like Gardein and Quorn can easily replace the chicken breast (find an extensive list of vegan chicken brands here). But whole foods, like tofu, cauliflower, or the more traditional eggplant, can also work well, especially when breaded to give them that signature crispy texture.
Whole foods can also take the place of the cheese sauce (learn how to make a creamy cashew sauce from scratch here), or you can opt for products from vegan cheese brands, like Violife and Daiya.
5 vegan chicken parmesan recipes
For more guidance on how to make tasty plant-based chicken parmesan, check out some of our favorite recipes below.
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Thank You Berry Much
1 Vegan Chicken Parmesan With Seitan
In this recipe, Emily Wise of Thank You Berry Much swaps out chicken breast for crusted cutlets made with a mix of seitan and firm tofu to get that perfect meaty texture. The cheesy sauce combines ingredients like dairy-free milk and mozzarella, and it all comes together with a rich basil marinara. “I grew up in an Italian-American household, which meant, well… a lot of Italian food,” writes Wise. “This dish is nostalgic and a classic that hits that classic chicken parmigiana craving.”
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Plant Power Couple
2 Restaurant-Style Vegan Chicken Parmesan
Forget dining out, you can get the same restaurant-level quality with this chicken parmesan recipe from Plant Power Couple. It combines simple ingredients like extra firm tofu, vegan cheese, and vegan chicken-style bouillon powder with ultra-tasty results. “I can’t wait to make this vegan chicken parmesan for my family and basically every single person I’ve ever known,” says recipe developer Brittany Roche.
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Rabbit and Wolves
3 Vegan White Bean ‘Chicken’ Parmesan
You might not initially think that white beans can take the place of chicken in chicken parmesan, but this recipe from Rabbit and Wolves is here to prove it can be done. In this dish, she combines the simple legumes with vital wheat gluten and bread crumbs. “Crispy on the outside, super flavorful, and so cheesy,” says recipe creator Lauren Hartmann. “This vegan white bean ‘chicken’ Parmesan is literally exactly like it. A perfect mock-up of my old favorite.”
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Carrots and Flowers
4 Vegan Chickpea Parmesan
Similar to white beans, chickpeas also work beautifully in vegan chicken parmesan, especially when combined with spices, breadcrumbs, and gluten flour. Megan of the recipe blog Carrots and Flowers declares this dish is “delicious, hearty, nourishing, and ready in 45 minutes!”
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5 Vegan Crispy Tofu Parm Melt Hoagies
Chicken parmesan is extra hearty and delicious when it’s served in a sandwich. In this recipe, Six Vegan Sisters will walk you through how to make a nourishing, filling sub with ingredients like panko–covered tofu, herbs, marinara sauce, and lots and lots of vegan cheese.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
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