The Best Vegan Chicken Nuggets Are... (13-Nugget Taste Test)

For many of us, chicken nuggets conjure nostalgic childhood memories. So while faux-chicken nuggets may not be the healthiest snack food option, they can definitely satisfy those cravings for something familiar. Vegan versions of chicken nuggets are also easy to find in most grocery stores, and easy to prepare, so they're perfect when you don't have a lot of time.

Well, I got together with a friend (Dominique, also vegan) to try 13 brands. Of course, with so many options, it was a difficult task just to narrow it down to just 13 nuggets for our taste test.

Together we break down the taste and texture of each nugget's vegan meat and breading for you. We'll also tell you how much they taste like the real thing, if that's what you're looking for. (Because we think that there's also a place for nuggets that don't taste like chicken, but still taste good in their own right).

If you're interested in some of our other vegan food taste tests, we've also tried:

• The best vegan cheese for grilled cheese

• The best vegan coffee creamer (sweetened and unsweetened)

• The best vegan mac and cheese

• The best vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe

• The best vegan cheese for pizza

• The best vegan vanilla ice cream pint

Testing Methods

I prepared each nugget according to the package instructions. Many of these vegan nuggets offer a variety of ways to prepare them, so I baked most of them on a baking sheet in the oven. Only Daring didn't provide a baking option, so I pan-fried those nuggets.

This was not a blind taste test. Both Dominique and I tasted all of these nuggets knowing which brands they were. I had not tasted any of these nuggets previously, but Dominique had tried a few of them.

We tried each nugget on its own to get a pure sample of the flavor, texture, and breading. But I also prepared a vegan honey mustard sauce (made by replacing the mayo with vegan mayo and the honey with maple syrup) for dipping.

Vegan Nugget Similarities and Differences

Most of the nuggets we tested contain both soy and wheat. However, Like Meat Like Nuggets is gluten-free and wheat-free. Beyond Chicken tenders also doesn't list soy in its ingredients list, but it does say "may contain soy." So you should still avoid these tenders if you have an allergy. Field Roast Classic Nuggets are soy-free as well, but we don't recommend those.

We used a broad definition of "nuggets" for our taste test; while most of the vegan chicken we tried is nugget-shaped, we did include a couple of options that are tender-shaped, and one that's similar to popcorn chicken in size.

Traditional chicken nuggets usually use ground chicken pieces rather than whole pieces. And many of the meat-free nugget options here try to replicate that processed texture. However, several also went for a texture more like whole, unprocessed chicken pieces.

The serving size on the package of each of these products is different, which makes it more difficult to compare price and nutrition. So for comparison purposes, I estimated the nutrition facts below using an 85-gram serving size. Therefore, the nutrition facts you see will vary slightly from the package.

Note: I've seen a few taste tests on the internet that include Quorn nuggets as a vegan option. Please be aware that as of the time of this writing, Quorn nuggets are only vegan in the UK, and the Quorn nuggets in the US are still made with egg and milk.

Taste Test Results

Please keep in mind that these results are based on our own personal preferences; your opinion might vary!

1. Winner: Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Nuggets

These nuggets are approximately the size of popcorn chicken, but their small size packs an impressive taste. These nuggets are so chicken-like that if they were served to us in a restaurant, we might think they gave us real chicken instead. Gardein Ultimate Nuggets are made with non-GMO soy, wheat, and pea protein, which produces a texture with just the right amount of fibrosity. The vegan chicken also springs back without being overly rubbery.

In all aspects, from the texture to the flavor to the appearance of the "meat" as well as the flavor and texture of the breading, we simply couldn't ask for more from a vegan chicken nugget. They're hands-down the best vegan chicken nuggets in our taste test, and we enthusiastically recommend them, 10/10.

The bag itself is on the pricier side, but the bag is quite large, so the Gardein Ultimate Nuggets work out to be middle-of-the-road (price by weight) compared to most of the other options in our test.

1. Overall rating: 10/10 (best)

2. "Meat" texture: 10/10 (best)

3. "Meat" flavor: 10/10 (best)

4. Breading texture: 10/10 (best)

5. Breading flavor: 10/10 (best)

6. Price (US): $7.92-9.99*

7. Package size: 14.7 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.61-2.04* (approximately average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, air-fryer

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 170 (lower than average)

    2. Fat: 7 g. (lower than average)

    3. Sodium: 520 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 14 g. (lowest)

    5. Protein: 13 g. (higher than average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat, pea protein

2. Runner Up: Daring Breaded Plant Chicken Pieces

If it's true that we eat with our eyes first, The Daring Breaded Plant Chicken Pieces are quite convincing. Each piece is a slightly different size and shape, and the "chicken" texture inside resembles whole chicken. (Of course, if you prefer the processed nugget texture, then this one might not be the plant chicken for you.)

But the goodness doesn't stop with the Daring's appearance. When we tasted them, we found that the breading on these plant pieces is flavorful and crunchy. And the plant chicken inside (made from soy protein) has a tender, juicy texture and flavor that resembles chicken. However, the texture is not as fibrous as chicken, and it's a bit chewier than real meat.

Despite the fact that it's not a dead ringer for actual chicken, it definitely gives us chicken vibes and tastes mouth-wateringly good. It may not fool anyone, but even omnivores should still enjoy these vegan chicken pieces. Overall, Daring gets our stamp of approval.

1. Overall rating: 9/10

2. "Meat" texture: 8.5/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 8/10

4. Breading texture: 10/10

5. Breading flavor: 10/10

6. Price (US): $5.94-6.99*

7. Package size: 8 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $2.22-2.62* (higher than average)

9. Preparation options: pan-fry**, air-fryer

10. Per 85 g.:

    1. Calories: 180 (lower than average)

    2. Fat: 7 g. (lower than average)

    3. Sodium: 610 mg. (highest)

    4. Carbohydrates: 19 g. (higher than average)

    5. Protein: 10 g. (lower than average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

3. Great Option: Beyond Chicken Plant-Based Breaded Tenders

If you're looking for chicken flavor in a vegan tender, Beyond Chicken Tenders have it. Not only does it have a lot of chicken flavor, but the flavor tastes more authentic than many of the others that we tasted. (For example, the Like Chicken Nuggets have a similar amount of chicken flavor, but the flavor tastes more fake by comparison.)

The plant-based meat texture is also quite good, although not as good as the Daring or Gardein. Made from non-GMO faba (aka fava) bean and wheat protein, the vegan chicken texture is a little bit on the rubbery side, which is made more noticeable because the pieces are so thick.

All-in-all, we recommend the Beyond tenders. Their flavor and texture are both good, making them significantly better than the next-best option in our taste test, (despite the higher price tag).

1. Overall rating: 8.5/10

2. "Meat" texture: 7.5/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 9/10

4. Breading texture: 9/10

5. Breading flavor: 9/10

6. Price (US): $6.29*

7. Package size: 8 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $2.36* (higher than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, air-fryer, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 220 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 13 g. (higher than average)

    3. Sodium: 480 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 16 g. (approximately average)

    5. Protein: 12 g. (approximately average)

11. Allergens: pea protein, wheat, may contain soy

4. Good Fast-Food-Style Option: 365 Chicken-Style Plant-Based Nuggets

These nuggets don't resemble chicken at first bite, but they do somehow get a little closer the more you chew them. They have a meatier flavor than many of the other options on this list, and the plant chicken is juicy, not dry. Made from non-GMO soy and wheat protein, the texture of the vegan meat is closer to the ground chicken that you'd see in a traditional chicken nugget, so this is a good option if you prefer that type of nugget.

These nuggets are also on the oily side, which can be good or bad depending on what you like. They're definitely giving McDonald's-nuggets vibes in taste and texture, rather than a gourmet-style nugget.

The breading on these is just okay. It's not bad, but it is a little thin, and lacking the crunch of some of the others. Despite its shortcomings, we still felt that the 365 nuggets are an overall good option that even non-vegans would enjoy (even if they won't be fooled by it).

The 365 nuggets also happen to be the least expensive option (by weight) on this list. So they're not only a good fast-food-style option, but they're our best budget option as well.

1. Overall rating: 7/10

2. "Meat" texture: 7/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 7.5/10

4. Breading texture: 5/10

5. Breading flavor: 7/10

6. Price (US): $4.19*

7. Package size: 10.5 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.19* (lowest)

9. Preparation options: oven**

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 150 (lowest)

    2. Fat: 6.5 g. (lowest)

    3. Sodium: 450 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 14 g. (lowest)

    5. Protein: 13 g. (higher than average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

5. Unique Taste: Jack & Annie's Crispy Jack Nuggets

The texture of the plant chicken in the Jack and Annie's nuggets is slightly meaty, but has elements of a fruity texture as well. Chewing through the jackfruit-based chicken doesn't provide the resistance that ordinary meat would.

The flavor is also not super chicken-like. But considering the flavor on its own, without comparing it to chicken, we really enjoyed the taste of this nugget. We also liked that this nugget is fairly juicy because some of the other options were too dry.

The breading on these was a bit mushy when prepared in the oven, however, the texture of the breading doesn't take away from the nugget (the way the Impossible breading does). On the other hand, it also doesn't add much. If you have an air fryer, you may get a better result, though. Dominique has made the Buffalo flavor before in the air fryer, which produced a much crunchier breading.

Ultimately, whether you like these nuggets will depend on your expectations. If you're looking for a vegan replica of a chicken nugget, you'll probably be disappointed. But if you consider this as a unique food option, the flavor and texture are quite enjoyable.

We also like Jack & Annie's nuggets because they have jackfruit as their first ingredient, rather than depending entirely on processed food to recreate the texture of meat. This option feels like the healthiest of the bunch to us. We gave these nuggets the 5th-place spot because of this, but if you're going on chicken-like flavor and texture alone, it would drop a couple of places. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that because it contains less soy than the others, it doesn't have as much protein as the other options on this list.

1. Overall rating: 6.5/10

2. "Meat" texture: 5/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 7/10

4. Breading texture: 4/10

5. Breading flavor: 7/10

6. Price (US): $5.99-7.39*

7. Package size: 10.1 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.77-2.19* (higher than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, air-fryer, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 180 (lower than average)

    2. Fat: 9 g. (approximately average)

    3. Sodium: 410 mg. (approximately average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 18 g. (approximately average)

    5. Protein: 7 g. (lowest)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

6. Meaty & Gluten-Free: Like Meat Like Chick'n Nuggets

These vegan nuggets are the only gluten-free option in our test, and fortunately, they're a good option. The vegan chicken does taste quite chicken-like. Our only complaint was that they might have gone a little overboard with the chicken flavor, and the flavor isn't quite right (in an artificial way).

The texture of Like Meat's vegan chicken (made from non-GMO soy) is not quite as meaty as the flavor is, and it's a bit too firm. However, it's still not a bad texture.

The breading is a really unique one in this bunch; it's made with cornflakes for a crispy but flaky and all-around good breading. The breading also doesn't fall off of the vegan chicken when you're trying to eat it (major plus). If breading is important to you, the breading on these Like Chick'n Nuggets beat out the 365, Jack & Annie's, and Impossible breadings.

Overall, we thought that the Like Chick'n Nuggets should be ranked about the same as the Jack & Annie's nuggets, but for different reasons. This one bears more of a resemblance to actual chicken, while the Jack & Annie's nuggets are enjoyable because of their unique flavor and texture.

We ranked the Like Chick'n Nuggets above the Impossible nuggets because they have more chicken-like flavor and better breading. However, the Impossible nuggets do have a more convincing vegan chicken texture.

I purchased the Like Chick'n Nuggets frozen like all the other nuggets on this list. However, these are the only nuggets that need to be defrosted in the refrigerator before baking. You might want to keep this in mind if convenience is a major factor for you.

1. Overall rating: 6.5/10

2. "Meat" texture: 5/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 7.5/10

4. Breading texture: 8/10

5. Breading flavor: 7/10

6. Price (US): $5.99*

7. Package size: 7 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $2.57* (highest)

9. Preparation options: oven**, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 190 (approximately average)

    2. Fat: 8.5 g. (approximately average)

    3. Sodium: 370 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 21 g. (highest)

    5. Protein: 10 g. (lower than average)

11. Allergens: soy

7. Good Option: Impossible Chicken Nuggets

The soy-based vegan chicken in these Impossible nuggets is pretty good. It has a very meaty texture; meatier than the 365 nuggets (but not as good as the Daring pieces). While the flavor resembles chicken, many of the others, including Gardein, Daring, and 365 have a more pronounced chicken flavor.

Unfortunately, Impossible lost us with the breading. The breading has a texture that's almost sandy and crumbled into little sandy pieces in our mouths, which was a bit of a weird experience. If it weren't for the breading, this one definitely would have ranked a few spots higher. But the breading is pretty important in a nugget, so the Impossible nuggets ultimately landed in the middle of our rankings.

Although I was able to find these nuggets at many different stores, the price varied widely from store to store (from $7.69 to 9.99). So if you want to try these, it might be worth checking the prices before you go.

While the Impossible nuggets aren't a standout nutritionally as far as calories, fat, and protein, they do have quite a few added nutrients, including Vitamin B12, which is notoriously difficult to find in vegan foods.

1. Overall rating: 6/10

2. "Meat" texture: 8/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 7/10

4. Breading texture: 2/10

5. Breading flavor: 5/10

6. Price (US): $7.69-9.99*

7. Package size: 13.5 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.71-2.22* (approximately average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, air-fryer, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 210 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 11 g. (higher than average)

    3. Sodium: 430 mg. (approximately average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 17 g. (approximately average)

    5. Protein: 12 g. (approximately average)

    6. Note: Also contains added nutrients including vitamin B12 and zinc.

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

8. Decent Budget Option: Trader Joe's Chicken-less Crispy Tenders

The Trader Joe's tenders do have a chicken-like flavor, but the texture isn't quite right. They're made with soy flour, textured wheat protein, and wheat gluten, and the gluten is noticeable in the taste and texture. It's not a bad option, but it's very similar to a meat substitute you might make at home.

The breading is basically a crumb coating, but it's not too thick, it's not mushy, and it doesn't fall off the tender.

The Trader Joe's tenders have more chicken flavor than the Impossible nuggets, and the breading is better too. So we thought about placing them above Impossible. However, the Impossible nuggets have a better meaty texture than these, which we ultimately think is more important.

1. Overall rating: 5.5/10

2. "Meat" texture: 4/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 8/10

4. Breading texture: 6/10

5. Breading flavor: 7/10

6. Price (US): $3.79*

7. Package size: 8.1 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.40* (lower than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, pan-fry

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 190 (approximately average)

    2. Fat: 8 g. (approximately average)

    3. Sodium: 410 mg. (approximately average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 15 g. (lower than average)

    5. Protein: 14 g. (highest)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

9. Decent Snack Option: Simulate Chicken Nuggs

The breading of the "Nuggs" is crispy and the vegan meat is soft, but since they're so thin, the vegan chicken itself is hard to judge. The texture of the wheat- and soy-based vegan meat certainly doesn't bounce back as chicken would. But there are some hints of chicken flavor in these nuggets.

We thought Simulate Nuggs were a middle-of-the-road option, not outstanding, but also not bad. The breading is good and crunchy, but you won't taste too much of the vegan chicken. Still, with a good dipping sauce, they'll make a decent snack.

1. Overall rating: 5/10

2. "Meat" texture: 3/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 6.5/10

4. Breading texture: 8/10

5. Breading flavor: 7/10

6. Price (US): $4.98-5.29*

7. Package size: 10.4 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.44-1.52* (lower than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**

10. Per 85 g.:

    1. Calories: 200 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 10 g. (approximately average)

    3. Sodium: 400 mg. (approximately average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 16 g. (approximately average)

    5. Protein: 13 g. (higher than average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

10. Sauce Required: Morningstar Incogmeato Chik'n Nuggets

The soy-based vegan meat in the Incogmeato nuggets has a fairly chicken-like texture, but it doesn't have any flavor that resembles chicken. (The soy is non-GMO, but other ingredients may be GMO). The breading is also very soft and doesn't have any flavor to speak of.

Despite being a plain flavor nugget, both Dominique and I noticed a mild spiciness to these nuggets.

Dipping them in sauce does help the Incogmeato nuggets to become more palatable. But even with a good sauce, we still noticed that the flavor of the actual nugget is extremely underwhelming.

1. Overall rating: 4.5/10

2. "Meat" texture: 7/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 1/10

4. Breading texture: 4/10

5. Breading flavor: 1/10

6. Price (US): $5.99*

7. Package size: 13.5 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.33* (lower than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, air-fryer, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 180 (lower than average)

    2. Fat: 7 g. (lower than average)

    3. Sodium: 310 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 19 g. (higher than average)

    5. Protein: 12 g. (approximately average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

11. Also Needs Sauce: Alpha Original Chik'n Nuggets

Made from soy protein and wheat gluten, the texture of the vegan meat inside the Alpha nuggets was the toughest out of all the nuggets we tested. On top of that, the nuggets were quite thick, making them a bit hard to bite into. So difficult, in fact, that the breading couldn't even hold on to the nugget as I tried to bite into them with my teeth.

It does have the fibrous texture of chicken that can get stuck between your teeth; we'll leave that to you to decide whether that's a pro or a con. These nuggets were also some of the dryest of the bunch.

As far as flavor, the Alpha nuggets are also pretty bland. There's not any flavor here that resembles chicken (or anything else). These taste very similar to the Incogmeato nuggets (minus the mild spiciness), but we ranked Incogmeato higher because the breading doesn't fall off the Incogmeato nuggets when you bite into them.

1. Overall rating: 4/10

2. "Meat" texture: 6/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 1/10

4. Breading texture: 3/10

5. Breading flavor: 1/10

6. Price (US): $6.49-6.99*

7. Package size: 10.9 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.78-1.92* (approximately average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:

    1. Calories: 190 (approximately average)

    2. Fat: 8 g. (approximately average)

    3. Sodium: 270 mg. (lowest)

    4. Carbohydrates: 18 g. (approximately average)

    5. Protein: 12 g. (approximately average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

12. Requires Sauce: Morningstar Farms Veggie Chik'n Nuggets

On first bite, our initial reaction to this nugget was that it doesn't resemble chicken at all. Dominique felt that the "meat" texture was too soft and spongy, similar to overcooked chicken. Aside from the texture, the nugget lacks flavor in both the vegan chicken and breading. The vegan chicken has no hints of chicken flavor. Like the Incogmeato nuggets, the vegan meat in these nuggets is made of non-GMO soy, but other ingredients may be GMO.

On the plus side, the breading does have a good, crunchy texture. With a good sauce, you can possibly salvage these nuggets and make them edible. The sauce won't cover up the subpar texture of the vegan chicken, but it can add some flavor to this otherwise bland option.

The Morningstar nuggets are also more affordable than most of the other options on this list, and their nutrition facts are respectable. Since kids often don't like foods with strong flavors, these nuggets might be a good child-friendly option, just be sure to serve them with plenty of sauce.

1. Overall rating: 4/10

2. "Meat" texture: 3/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 1/10

4. Breading texture: 8/10

5. Breading flavor: 1/10

6. Price (US): $4.58-4.99*

7. Package size: 10.5 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $1.31-1.42* (lower than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, microwave

10. Per 85 g.:***

    1. Calories: 190 (approximately average)

    2. Fat: 8 g. (approximately average)

    3. Sodium: 300 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Carbohydrates: 18 g. (approximately average)

    5. Protein: 13 g. (higher than average)

11. Allergens: soy, wheat

13. Skip These: Field Roast Classic Nuggets

The first thing we noticed about the Field Roast Nuggets is how hard they are. The main problem with these is that the breading-to-vegan-meat ratio is way off, being almost entirely breading. The vegan chicken is made from non-GMO pea protein, wheat gluten, and fava bean protein, but we really couldn't even taste enough of it to give it a fair rating.

The breading being the main part of these nuggets is also not a selling point, because the breading is too hard and it lacks flavor. Yes, you can taste some garlic and paprika, but aside from that, these nuggets are completely bland.

The Field Roast nuggets are the only ones in this test that we would say are not worth buying at all, so they landed at the bottom of our list. They're almost cardboard-like. And they're certainly not worth the steep price tag that they're asking for.

1. Overall rating: 1/10

2. "Meat" texture: 3/10

3. "Meat" flavor: 1/10

4. Breading texture: 2/10

5. Breading flavor: 1/10

6. Price (US): $7.39*

7. Package size: 10 oz.

8. Price per 85 g.: $2.22* (higher than average)

9. Preparation options: oven**, pan-fry

10. Per 85 g.:***

11. Calories: 230 (highest)

    1. Fat: 13.5 g. (highest)

    2. Sodium: 440 mg. (higher than average)

    3. Carbohydrates: 15 g. (lower than average)

    4. Protein: 11 g. (approximately average)

12. Allergens: pea protein, wheat

Conclusion

Overall, we were really impressed with the variety and quality of vegan nugget options available. Even most of the nuggets with lower rankings aren't too bad with the right sauce. Unfortunately for those with soy allergies, we didn't find any soy-free winners.

The Gardein Ultimate is our clear winner, and the only one in our test that could make you think it's actual chicken. The Daring is not far behind, though. And the others each have their strengths and shortcomings, so they may be liked by some and not by others.

Have you tried these, or other brands of vegan chicken nuggets? Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments!

*Note: Prices are based on in-store prices in South Florida in February 2023. These prices may be different in your area or may change over time.

**Note: This is the method I used to prepare the nuggets for this taste test.

***Note: All nutrition facts have been converted to an 85-gram serving size for comparison purposes. Since each brand has a different serving size on its label, you may notice that the exact amounts shown here are different from the amounts on the product package.