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Vegan Chicken Big Mac (McDonald’s Copycat)

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This Vegan Chicken Big Mac combines “chicken” patties, Vegan Big Mac Sauce, and the iconic Big Mac toppings piled on your favorite toasted buns for the ultimate chicken sandwich. You won’t want to miss this McDonald’s inspired sandwich!

food photograph of saucy vegan chicken Big Mac with black background featuring pickles, onion and lettuce.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • The new Chicken Big Mac, but vegan! McDonald’s has recently released a highly anticipated, new twist on one of their most classic menu items. Instead of beef patties, this Big Mac features their crispy chicken burgers. Of course I had to make it vegan at home and this version does not disappoint!
  • Features our iconic Big Mac sauce. We didn’t miss the opportunity to feature our delicious copycat Vegan Big Mac sauce. Once you give it a try, you’re going to want to drizzle it on everything.
  • The ultimate way to crush a craving. If you’re craving some good ol’ fast food but want to make it at home, this chicken big mac is the perfect thing. It’s savory, crispy, and packed with so much flavor. It hits the spot!

close of food photograph of saucy vegan chicken Big Mac with black background featuring pickles, onion and lettuce.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Vegan chicken – We make our own chicken patties from scratch using our tried and true vegan chicken recipe. It’s quick to make from simple ingredients, but if you’re short on time, you can always use your favorite store-bought vegan chicken patties, too.
  • Burger buns – Most burger buns are naturally vegan friendly, but always check the ingredients for milk, eggs, or honey.
  • Vegan cheese – Our favorite cheese slices to use are vegan American cheddar slices by the brand Violife, but feel free to use your favorite vegan cheese slcies.
  • Vegan Big Mac sauce – We’ve got the BEST homemade big mac sauce or special sauce for you to use.

overhead food photograph of saucy vegan chicken Big Mac with on a plate featuring pickles, onion and lettuce.

How to Make a Vegan Chicken Big Mac

Make the Crispy Vegan Chicken Patties

  1. Whisk together the dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, add the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, and chickpea flour. Whisk together well until combined.
  2. Add the broth. Pour in the vegan chicken broth or vegetable broth then stir until a dough ball forms. It should be a bit rubbery.
  3. Knead the dough. Lightly knead the dough a few times with your hands until the seitan dough has no dry spots.
  4. Cook the seitan. Add about 3 cups of broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker. Rip the seitan into two equal chunks and flatten them into the shape of a “chicken breast” or “chicken patty.” Place the chicken patties directly in the broth on the bottom of the Instant Pot and cook on manual high pressure for 15 minutes.
  5. Quick release the pressure. Once the pot has come to pressure, then cooked for the full 15 minutes, immediately release the remaining pressure by switching the valve on the lid of the pot from “sealing” to “venting.”
  6. Make the breading. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, panko breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  7. Slice the chicken patties into two thinner patties. Remove the vegan chicken patties from the pot and carefully slice them lengthwise into two halves. This should create a total of 4 thin “chicken” patties.
  8. Coat the vegan chicken in the flour mixture. Once the chicken is cut into your desired size, toss it in the mixing bowl with the breading mixture and toss until completely coated.
  9. Pan fry the seitan. Add your favorite neutral frying oil of choice to a large skillet or frying pan. Once hot, add in the seitan pieces and fry for about 5-6 minutes on each side. I like to flip them a few times to help them get super crispy.
  10. Drain the excess oil. After the breading has become crispy, place the vegan chicken pieces on a paper-towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil.

Assemble the Big Macs

  1. Toast the burger buns. Spread vegan butter on each bun. Heat a medium frying pan over medium heat. Lightly fry until golden brown and crispy.
  2. Layer your ingredients. Start by spreading 2 tablespoons of vegan big mac sauce on the bottom bun. Follow this with onion, shredded lettuce, vegan American cheese, and 1 seitan “chicken” patty. Repeat this same process for the top layer, then top with 2 tangy pickles and an extra tablespoon of vegan big mac sauce.
  3. Serve and enjoy! Close the big macs with the finally burger bun then enjoy immediately while warm and crispy!

instructional graphic on how to make a vegan chicken Big Mac with numbers and food photography

Ideas for Serving

It’s no secret that these big mac sandwiches are filling and hearty. But if you ask me, you can’t eat a chicken big mac without a side of fries. Try it with classic fries, sweet potato fries, vegan steak fries, or your favorite seasoned curly fries. You can also serve with our Vegan Animal-Style Curly Fries if you want the ultimate meal!

How to Store

Once assembled, this vegan chicken big mac is best enjoyed immediately. If needed, it can be stored in an airtight container for up to 24 hours, but the buns are likely to become a bit soggy.

Freezing and reheating are not recommended.

food photograph of saucy vegan chicken Big Mac with black background featuring pickles, onion and lettuce.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make the vegan seitan on the stovetop?

Yes, if you do not have a pressure cooker, the vegan chicken patties can be simmered on the stovetop for 45 minutes instead.

Which burger buns are vegan?

Most burger buns are naturally vegan and made from simple ingredients like flour, water, yeast, and salt. The exception to this are brioche buns and pretzel buns – these typically contain added butter and/or eggs. I recommend reading the ingredients. If they contain eggs or dairy, the allergen statement will say so.

Can I prep the chicken patties in advance?

Yes! If you’d like to make the seitan patties ahead of time, I recommend cooking them in the Instant Pot, then storing them in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. Wait to bread and fry until ready to eat!

Similar Vegan Copycat Recipes to Try Next

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close of food photograph of saucy vegan chicken Big Mac with black background featuring pickles, onion and lettuce.

Vegan Chicken Big Mac Recipe


  • Author: Gregs Vegan Gourmet
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 2 sandwiches

Description

This Vegan Chicken Big Mac combines “chicken” patties, Vegan Big Mac Sauce, and the iconic Big Mac toppings piled on your favorite toasted buns for the ultimate chicken sandwich. You won’t want to miss this McDonald’s inspired sandwich!


Ingredients

For the sandwich:

  • 3 fresh hamburger buns (2 bottoms and a top for each)
  • 1 cup finely chopped lettuce
  • 1/4 cup diced white onion
  • 4 sweet dill pickle slices
  • 2 tbsp vegan butter
  • 4 slices vegan American cheddar slices (I used Violife)

For the Chicken:

SEITAN:

  • 1 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp chickpea flour
  • 1 cup vegan chicken broth or vegetable broth

BREADING:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp paprika salt & pepper to taste
    PLUS:
  • 21/2 cups broth for simmering
  • oil for frying

For the Sauce:


Instructions

  1. Make the Fried Chicken: Whisk together seitan dry ingredients until combined. Add the 1 cup of broth and stir until it forms a dough ball. Knead a few times with your hands until dough has no dry spots.
  2. Add rest of broth to instant pot. Rip into two equal chunks of seitan and flatten into a “chicken breast” shape. Add to pot. Cook on “manual” for 15 minutes. Once it is done, quick release steam.
  3. Meanwhile, whisk together breading ingredients.
  4. Remove seitan from pot and carefully slice length-wise into two halves to create two thin chicken burger patties. Dip in breading mixture until thoroughly coated.
  5. Heat a large frying pan with a good amount of oil. When hot, add seitan and fry a few minutes per side until crispy and golden brown. Remove from pan and plate into a paper towel-lined bowl to remove excess grease. Repeat with remaining pieces.
  6. Make the Big Mac Sauce: Whisk together Big Mac sauce ingredients and set aside.
  7. Make the Sandwich: Spread vegan butter on each bun. In a medium frying pan over medium heat, add the three buttered bun halves. Fry until lightly golden brown and crispy.
  8. Begin to build your vegan fried chicken Big Mac by layering the bottom bun, 2 tbsp Big Mac sauce, onion, shredded lettuce, vegan cheese, and 1 seitan chicken patty. Repeat process for top layer. Top with 2 pickles and an extra tbsp of Big Mac sauce and close the sandwiches.
  9. Serve and enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes

4 Comments

  1. What would the cook time be if I don’t have an instant pot?

  2. This was amazing!!!! So good. I think I will be putting the Big Mac sauce on everything! Thank you!

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