Vegan Chicken Sandwiches, Fried Oyster Mushroom Burgers

Nobody does fast food better than Americans, and this recipe is the ultimate proof: vegan chicken sandwiches, aka fried oyster mushroom burgers.

This is the vegan version of fried chicken sandwiches, and oh boy — it’s just as good as the real deal. The star is undoubtedly the crunchy fried oyster mushrooms. They’re dipped in vegan buttermilk before being coated in a shaggy, KFC-style seasoned flour mix and fried until golden. Talk about umami-packed meaty flavour!

Plus, you won’t want to skip the fresh, crisp slaw. It adds extra colour and an authentic Southern-style touch to the burger buns. Oh, did I forget to mention it? The fluffy buns are slathered in a spicy, creamy sauce … we’re bringing the heat.

I’ve posted a few burgers on Oh My Veg — fusion onion bhaji burgers, vada pav, and mushroom walnut burgers, to name only a few — but I can already tell this will become a reader favourite.

🍔 Ingredients for Vegan Chicken Sandwiches

I’ve tried a lot of vegan fried chicken alternatives. And although I looooooove tofu fried “chicken,” an award for the meatiest recipe has to go to my KFC-style fried oyster mushrooms. They’re a whole new level of tender, moist, chewy, and crispy — everything vegan chicken sandwiches need to be.

Although I’ve posted the complete recipe for our protein (fried oyster mushrooms) on the blog already (you can find it on the link above!), I’ll add the ingredients list here too:

• Oyster mushrooms are our protein. They mimic the texture of chicken unbelievably well, adding a meaty, juicy, almost stringy effect. Buy them, grow them, or even forage them.
• Vegan buttermilk made from plant-based milk (a neutral one is better, like soy or oat) and apple cider vinegar adds that CLASSIC slightly tangy fried chicken flavour and tender texture.
• Plain flour (aka all-purpose flour) gives us the distinctive shaggy texture that makes this oyster mushroom burger oh-so crispy.
• Herbs and spices — specifically, 11 of them, KFC style, add all the extra seasoning you’ll need.

The Remaining Oyster Mushroom Burger Ingredients are Simple:

And I mean simple! You’ll have most of the ingredients you need to make these vegan chicken sandwich condiments, like hearty slaw and simple burger sauce, in your pantry.

• Vegan burger buns are essential for vegan chicken sandwiches! In the U.K., Aldi sells amazing vegan brioche buns, but any vegan option will do.
• Red cabbage finely sliced with a mandoline adds a crunchy texture, earthy flavor, and vibrant colour to the slaw.
• Kale is non-traditional but a real powerhouse ingredient. It’s peppery and slightly bitter, adding nuance to our dish.
• Carrot provides sweetness!
• White onions are crisp and punchy, ideal for pairing with vegan chicken sandwiches.
• Dressing brings the slaw together. I use olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper, and minced garlic to add tons of flavour.
• Hot sauce is vital for the fiery, spicy component. Use your favourite and adjust to taste.
• Vegan mayo adds a creamy, rich mouth feel to the vegan chicken burgers. Use your favourite brand; the U.K. has many, like Heinz and Hellmann, and I’ve enjoyed Follow Your Heart veganaise in the U.S.
• Lettuce is optional considering we also have the slaw, but I can’t do a burger without any! I prefer curly lettuce varieties like frisee.

🔄 Ingredient Subs and Allergies

Firstly, let’s tackle the most important topic: dietary requirements and preferences. Luckily, these vegan chicken sandwiches are of course 100% vegan, dairy free, and nut free.

To make gluten free vegan fried chicken sandwiches, you’ll have to make a few adaptions. Namely, swap the standard bun for a gluten free version (available in most supermarkets). Next, switch plain flour (all-purpose flour) for gluten free flour or, as I do in my tofu katsu curry, use gluten free cornflakes for extra crunch!

To make the vegan chicken sandwich recipe soy free, use non soy-based vegan milk for the buttermilk part of the crispy oyster mushrooms.

Finally, you can swap kale for cabbage if you’re not a fan. I recommend finely sliced white cabbage or napa (Chinese cabbage)! And switch out apple cider vinegar for lemon juice to boost the citrusy flavours while retaining the sour tang.

🧑‍🍳 How to Make Fried Oyster Mushroom Burgers

Making vegan fried chicken sandwiches is surprisingly easy! Most of the work goes into making the KFC-style fried oyster mushrooms, which should only take 30 minutes. After that, whisking together the dressing, chopping the slaw, and mixing the burger sauce is unbelievably straightforward.

1. Fry the oyster mushrooms according to the instructions on my KFC-style vegan chicken recipe.
2. Make the slaw by mixing all the ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Whip up a burger sauce by combining the two sauces and mixing well.
4. Assemble the vegan chicken sandwiches by warming the buns, slathering them with burger sauce, adding lettuce plus the fried oyster mushrooms, and then finally piling them high with slaw.

💡 Expert Tips

Ready to make the BEST vegan chicken sandwiches? Before you grab your pots and pans and scroll down to the recipe, I have a few extra tips for you:

• Use a mandoline for the easiest and quickest method to prep all the vegetables for the crunchy slaw. While it won’t work for the kale, a mandoline will make light work of slicing the cabbage, carrots, and onions.
• Massage the slaw really nicely to get the best flavor from the kale. Massaging the slaw makes it tender, while still retaining that gorgeous crisp effect of raw veggies.
• Use oyster mushrooms with small stems in the burgers. Oyster mushroom stems can be slightly tough, which makes eating the burgers very messy! Use mushrooms with shorter stems or cut them off being battering for the best effect.
• Make all the components ahead of time to save time! Although making the fried oyster mushrooms takes less than 30 minutes, you can make everything in advance and assemble it on the day for effortless, fuss-free entertaining.

That’s it! Now you’re practically guaranteed success.

✨ You’re Going to LOVE These Vegan Chicken Sandwiches Because …

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