Vegan Teriyaki Chicken with Crispy Rice Waffle

Skip takeout tonight and make this quick and easy Vegan Teriyaki Chicken recipe! It’s made with ultra crispy vegan chicken nuggets and homemade teriyaki sauce tossed together until glazed to perfection. Serve over crispy rice waffles with sesame seeds and green onions for the ultimate weeknight dinner. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

• Uses store-bought vegan chicken – This shortens the prep time considerably and makes it easy to enjoy the flavours of restaurant quality teriyaki chicken from the comfort of your own home. 
• Only 7 sauce ingredients – Making your own vegan teriyaki sauce and other Stir Fry Sauce Recipes is easier than you think! All you need is a few plant-based ingredients that are easy to find at most grocery stores. 
• A fun twist on rice bowls – Of course a bed of rice is an option, but why not serve over a crispy rice waffle instead? They’re just as easy to make yet have crispy golden brown bits that are beyond delicious. 

Key Ingredients and Substitutions 

• Vegan chicken nuggets – To make the prep work for this teriyaki “chicken” recipe as easy as possible, I opted for a package of store-bought vegan chicken nuggets. I also prefer the texture of breaded chicken in this recipe, but feel free to use a plain chicken strips or make our homemade Vegan Chicken recipe with vital wheat gluten and skip the breading step. 
• Soya sauce – Classic full-sodium soy sauce is best. If you only have low-sodium soy sauce, replace up to 3 tablespoons of the 5 tablespoons of water with additional low-sodium soy sauce to replace the salt to taste. 
• Brown sugar – Adds depth and richness to the teriyaki sauce. If you prefer a sweeter teriyaki sauce, you can increase the sugar. 
• Rice vinegar – Adds a tanginess that balances the sweetness. If you’re out of rice vinegar, swap in white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. 
• Thai sweet chili sauce – While not a traditional ingredient in Japanese teriyaki chicken, I love adding it to my homemade teriyaki sauce recipes because it adds both sweetness and spiciness that blends the flavour really well together. 
• Ketchup – Another non-traditional ingredient that helps add sweetness and a slight tanginess. 
• Cornstarch – The key to thickening the teriyaki sauce into a saucy glaze that sticks to the chicken. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional cornstarch until thickened to your desired consistency. 

How to Make Vegan Teriyaki Chicken

1. Cook the vegan chicken nuggets. Cook the nuggets according to package instructions, or cook them in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F. 
2. Prepare the teriyaki sauce. In a small pot, add the water, soya sauce, garlic powder, rice vinegar, Thai sweet chili sauce, ketchup, and sesame seeds. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for 2-4 minutes. 
3. Stir in cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water until fully combined. Pour the slurry into the teriyaki sauce and stir to combine. Continue to simmer until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. Once thickened, remove from the heat and set aside. 
4. Make the crispy rice waffle, if using. Add the cooked white rice to a well-greased waffle maker. Cook until the rice is crispy and golden. 
5. Toss the vegan chicken in the sauce. When the vegan chicken is cooked, place it into a medium mixing bowl. Pour in the teriyaki sauce and toss until well coated. 
6. Serve. Top the crispy rice waffle with vegan teriyaki chicken and chopped parsley. Enjoy while hot! 

Ideas for Serving

Serving this Vegan Teriyaki Chicken over crispy rice waffles and freshly chopped green onions is my favourite way to take this dish to the next level. 

If you don’t own a waffle maker, you can still enjoy a delicious meal with plain fluffy rice or cauliflower rice and your favourite stir fried vegetables like chopped red bell pepper, red onion, snap peas, mushrooms, and carrots. Use our General Tso’s Stir Fry and Orange Ginger Chick’un Stir Fry as inspiration!

How to Store

For the best, crispy vegan teriyaki chicken, it is best to enjoy this recipe fresh. However, leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. To make it crispy again, reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer until warmed and serve over rice, or as desired. 

I haven’t tested freezing this teriyaki chicken, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Once tossed in the teriyaki sauce, the breading won’t hold up well in the freezer. 

Recipe FAQs 

Is teriyaki sauce usually vegan?

It depends. Traditional versions of teriyaki sauce are typically made with vegan ingredients including sake, mirin, soy sauce and sugar. However, some versions use honey as the sugar or contain additional additives like fish sauce. If you are dining out or purchasing store-bought sauces, it’s always best to ask or check the ingredients when possible. 

Is this vegan teriyaki chicken gluten-free?

As is, this vegan teriyaki chicken is not gluten-free. It can be made gluten-free if you use gluten-free friendly store-bought vegan chicken and tamari instead of soya sauce. You could even use our gluten-free option in these Homemade Vegan Chicken Nuggets.

What other plant-based proteins can I use in place of the vegan chicken nuggets?

Great question. Whenever I’m making vegan chicken nuggets at home, I always use our Easy Vegan Chicken recipe made with seitan. Or if you prefer to use tofu, try these Oven Baked Tofu Bites or these Crispy Breaded Tofu Dippers. Teriyaki Soy Curls might be another great option!

More Vegan Chicken Recipes to Try Next

• Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken (Vegan)
• Vegan Fuego Chicken Strips with Chick-Fil-A Sauce
• Vegan Sweet Lime Dijon “Chicken”
• Pretzel Coated Vegan Chicken with Spicy Maple Drizzle
• Chipotle Lime Chicken Taco Bowls (Vegan)
• Vegan KFC Bowl (Copycat Recipe!)