Vegan Hot Maple Popcorn Chicken is crunchy, flavorful, and easy to make, The sweet and spicy sauce takes only a few minutes. This is a super delicious dinner or lunch served over rice, noodles, or on a bed of greens. Bake in an oven or use an air-fryer for super fast results.
Tofu is so versatile. This popcorn chicken made with tofu and a delicious breading has the perfect texture and flavor. It’s crunchy and has all kinds of crispy nooks and crannies for the sauce to hide in.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Hot Maple Popcorn Chicken for Dinner
This was perfect for dinner. It’s hearty and filling but also is ready in about a half hour or so. Served with some mashed potatoes or rice, it’s true comfort food. I added a side of smashed Brussels sprouts. too. So good!
Ingredients in Vegan Hot Maple Popcorn Chicken
Tofu is the main ingredient in this and it’s a delicious way to make a reasonable facsimile of vegan chicken. I used extra firm tofu here but any firm, not silken, tofu will work. It doesn’t need to be frozen and thawed, the texture straight out of the box is just fine.
Bread Crumbs add crunch to the coating. You can make your own or use regular wheat bread crumbs. I used a gluten-free bread crumb.
Cornflake Crumbs also add a delicious crunch. They’re naturally gluten-free and also vegan. Some cornflake cereals add a vitamin D that’s not suitable for vegans but the commercially available cornflake crumbs seem to be free of that. Try these Gefen Corn Flake Crumbs which are both vegan and gluten-free.
Corn Starch adds a layer to the breadcrumb/cornflake coating and helps everything stick.
Unsweet Unflavored Plant-Based Milk is needed here. Any flavors like vanilla or sweeteners will be apparent in the finished product.
Just Egg is added to the plant-based milk to make the liquid part of the coating. If you don’t have Just Egg, simply omit it and use all plant-based milk.
Spices make this even more delicious. Poultry seasoning is good to use because it has all the flavors already together. I also added a bit of cayenne, paprika, and salt and pepper. A little bit of basil is also delicious here.
How to Make This!
This really is easy. You’ll need a bowl of dipping liquid, a bowl of cornstarch, and a bowl of breadcrumbs and/or cornflake crumbs. It’s a simple four-step process … 1 into the liquid, 2 into the cornstarch, 3 back into the liquid, and then 4 into the breadcrumb/cornflake mix.
Start with the tofu … a 16-ounce block of the extra firm is what I used. I’ve both made and seen recipes where the tofu is frozen and thawed a couple of times for a meatier texture. I didn’t have any frozen tofu, so I just used it straight out of the box and it was great. Don’t cut it though. Jagged edges are better to hold the breading. Tear the tofu into bite-sized, popcorn chicken-like pieces. Roughly an inch to an inch and a half square.
Mix up a dipping liquid made of 2 parts unsweet, unflavored plant-based milk and 1 part Just Egg. Those are rough measurements. It doesn’t need to be exact.
Dip the torn tofu into the dipping liquid and cover it completely. A fork works well to turn it around and dip it in and out. Then put the tofu into a dish of cornstarch and toss to cover completely. Then dip the cornstarch-covered tofu into the dipping liquid again.
Then coat everything with the breadcrumbs mix. I like a combination of breadcrumbs and cornflake crumbs. Added spices make it even tastier!
Then toss the “chicken” into the air fryer or the oven. Spray with a light coating of oil for extra crunch (but this added oil can be omitted). Bake or air-fry at 375 degrees F for about 20 minutes until browned and crunchy.
Spicy Maple Sauce for the Popcorn Tofu
This couldn’t be easier. Just mix together maple syrup, crushed red pepper flakes, finely minced jalepeno, paprika, a little melted vegan butter, garlic powder, and salt.
So delicious!
Vegan Hot Maple Popcorn Chicken (Tofu)
Vegan Hot Maple Popcorn Chicken is crunchy, flavorful, and easy to make, The sweet and spicy sauce takes only a few minutes. This is a super delicious dinner or lunch served over rice, noodles, or on a bed of greens. Bake in an oven or use an air-fryer for super fast results.
Ingredients
- 16 oz firm or extra firm tofu, torn into bite-sized pieces
Breading
- 1/2 cup unsweet unflavored plant-based milk
- 2 tablespoons Just Egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup cornflake crumbs (or 1/2 cup either bread or cornflake crumbs)
Spices
- 3/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Hot Maple Sauce
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon finely minced jalepeno
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F (if using oven)
- Tear 16 ounces of firm or extra firm tofu into jagged, bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare three bowls for dipping the tofu. One with the unsweet plant-based milk mixed with Just Egg and a bit of salt. If Just Egg is not available, just omit it and use only plant-based milk. In the second bowl, put the cornstarch. In the third bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and cornflake crumbs. I like the mix of the two crumbs, but use what you have and what you like.
- Mix together the spices. Divide the mixed spices between the cornstarch and the mixed crumbs and stir in. This gives each mixture some added flavor.
- Dip pieces of tofu into the milk mixture, then into the cornstarch, coating completely. Then dip into the milk mixture again and then into the breadcrumb/cornflake crumb mixture, also coating completely.
- Place the coated pieces in an air fryer tray or on a baking sheet. Spray lightly with oil. Air fry at 400 degrees F for about 13 to 15 minutes, until browned.
- Alternatively, spray with oil and oven bake at 425 degrees F for about 25 minutes, until browned.
- To make the sauce, mix all the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl. heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
- Serve the popcorn chicken tofu by itself or on a bed of greens, rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. Spoon the sauce over the tofu.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
More tofu recipes!
Crispy Crusty Baked Tofu
Easy Vegan Chocolate Pudding
Hello! I’m Lisa, a vegan artist, photographer, author, Vegan Life Coach Educator, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. I love showing others how simple and delicious a plant-based diet can be. I draw and paint, cook, write, take lots of pics, eat lots of chocolate, and practice gratitude daily.