We’re on the hunt to find the best vegan chicken burgers available in UK supermarkets that taste so much better than fast-food favourites.
Vegan burgers have taken the supermarket shelves by storm in recent years, with countless options available for those looking for meat-free ‘beef’ patties.
But for those who miss tucking into KFC’s chicken burgers, how do the vegan versions stack up to their meaty counterparts?
We’ve been on a mission to find the best vegan chicken burgers with a succulent texture and crispy coating to help you avoid cardboard-like options that miss the mark.
So, we’ve taste-tested the top vegan chicken burgers you can find in UK supermarkets to help save you from disappointment.
What we reviewed:
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1. VFC Crispy Chick*n Fillets – Editor’s Choice
Plant-based chicken brand VFC is on a mission to disrupt the food industry with its animal and planet-friendly meat alternatives that rival fast-food chains, but how does their vegan chicken burger stand-up in a taste test?
The brand’s Crispy Chick*n Fillets are frozen to lock in the flavour and are made vegetable protein in a crispy southern fried corn flake coating. These versatile patties can be cooked in a number of ways – you can even chuck them in an air-fryer to maximise the crispiness of the cornflake coating. And boy, was adding cornflakes to the mix a stroke of genius!
These crunchy fillets were by far the crispiest burgers we tested with a really thick exterior that crisps to perfection when cooked.
VFC have also added spices to the mix to give them an authentic Southern-fried flavour. I was a big fan of this as the ‘meat’ itself wasn’t as fully flavoured, and for me the crunchy coating is the best bit so it really makes it shine.
The texture of the ‘chicken’ is spot on with a firm yet juicy bite that’s ever-so slightly rubbery, just like chicken. Along with the cornflake coating, this vegan chicken burger was the best of the bunch in terms of its textures.
If I could change one thing it would be the size and shape of the patties as they mimic the uneven nature of a typical chicken burger so the patty doesn’t go to the edges, meaning you do get a few bites of plain bun when you chow down.
However, the chunky thickness of the patty more than makes up for this as it feels really satisfying without being greasy or heavy, and was one of the thickest patties we tested.
- Price: £3.00
- Where to buy: Ocado, Asda, Morrisons, Planty, Grubby, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose
- How to cook: Cook from frozen. Oven bake, air-fry, or deep-fry
- Allergy info: Contains soya, wheat, barley
- Tested by: Rachel
2. Beyond Meat Chicken-Style Patties
Beyond Meat is undoubtedly one of the major players in the plant-based food sector thanks to its hyper-realistic meat alternatives that are loved by vegans and no vegans alike.
Since the launch of its iconic Beyond Burger, the company has continued to push the envelope with its innovative meat alternatives such as its Chicken-Style burgers.
Their Chicken-Style Burgers are designed to offer a satisfying and guilt-free substitute for traditional chicken burgers, but how do they fare in a taste test?
One of the standout features of the Beyond Meat Chicken-Style Burger is its flavour profile. The seasoning is subtle but pleasant, with a hint of black pepper and a juicy chicken taste that would certainly fool even the most ardent of meat-eaters.
The patty itself (which is generously sized in both its circumference and thickness and fills the entire burger bun right to the edge) has a convincingly chicken-like texture, firm yet tender, with a slight chewiness that mimics the real thing. This texture, combined with the crispy breading, makes for a satisfying bite that could easily be mistaken for traditional chicken.
One of the best things about Beyond Meat’s vegan chicken burgers is their versatility as the frozen patties can be pan-fried (after thawing), oven-baked and even air-fried.
I opted to oven bake mine as was pleasantly surprised by how crispy the breaded coating got, particularly compared to other burgers I fried in a pan.
The breading, while not as thick as some other brands, provides a satisfying crunch that gives you a great contrast between the softer elements of the rest of the burger ingredients.
Whether you opt for baking, frying, or air-frying, these vegan chicken burgers are a must-try for anyone looking to create their own takeaway-style burgers at home.
- Price: £4
- Where to buy: Tesco, Ocado, Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury’s
- How to cook: Cook from frozen. Oven bake, pan-fry or air-fry
- Allergy info: Contains wheat
- Tested by: Rachel
3. TiNDLE Chicken Burger
TiNDLE’s vegan chicken burgers have been a firm favourite in my household for several years now and are typically our go-to burger for a Saturday night treat.
Not only do they boast a great texture and flavour, but they’re also a good source of plant-based protein and fibre and contain no GMO ingredients. So they’re better for you as well as being kind to animals.
TiNDLE offers two versions of its vegan chicken burgers: a box of frozen patties and a chilled version. My local supermarket is often sold out of TiNDLE’S chicken burger (which should tell you a lot about how good they are!), so I love having frozen options I can chuck in the freezer to have on hand when I fancy a treat.
Until now, I had yet to get my hands on the frozen version, so I was excited to see whether there was any difference between the two versions.
Thankfully, the same generous size and great taste of the original burger has been retained in the frozen version. They’re exceptionally tasty with a proper chicken flavour that’s savoury, salty and well seasoned with a peppery note to the breaded coating that any good chicken burger should have.
I opted to fry my burgers in a pan as I think this gives the breaded coating a crunchier texture which I enjoy the contrast of against the meaty centre.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about the TiNDLE burgers is their super juicy texture. They’ve really nailed the slightly stringy texture that chicken has, while retaining a delicious succulence.
With the frozen version, I did find the texture was not quite as enjoyable as the chilled version. They’re less succulent so after a few bites the ‘meat’ became a bit dry so they required more chewing.
The frozen packs also come with 3 burgers in a pack, so it’s a slightly awkward number for families or couples hoping to squeeze a couple of meals out of a box.
However, the wonderful taste, crispy coating and generous size of the patties mean I will be making sure my freezer is always well stocked with a box or two.
- Price: £3.50
- Where to buy: Morrisons and Mighty Plants
- How to cook: Cook from frozen. Oven bake or fry in a pan
- Allergy info: Contains soy, wheat, and oats
- Tested by: Rachel
4. Fry’s Plant-Based Chick’n Burgers
Founded in 1991, Fry’s has been making plant-based meat alternatives for decades, and the family’s passion for great-tasting vegan foods shows in the products they make.
The chicken-style burger is one of Fry’s ‘OG’ products, but the recipe has recently been refreshed and the new and improved burger features a succulent wheat, soy, and pea protein blend coated in a thicker, crispier breadcrumb coating than previous versions.
This burger is full of flavour, even bordering on being spicy. There’s a layer of strong herbs and spice underneath the crumb which can catch you off guard if you’re expecting a simple chicken-style burger in plain breadcrumbs.
The ‘chicken’ inside is juicy with a strong umami flavour, a little like the chicken flavouring you might get in instant noodles or soup.
But all this flavour comes at a cost, and these burgers are quite high in salt – almost double the amount of some other brands.
The blend of plant proteins used in this burger offer a tender, juicy texture which makes it feel more like a freshly cooked chicken breast than a frozen burger.
There are visible shreds of ‘chicken’ that look quite realistic, especially when you pull the burger apart, but there’s no hint of stringiness when you eat it.
Eaten on its own, this burger could be described as ‘pungent’, but when served in a bun with salad and vegan mayo the overall flavour is much more mellow.
Eaten as intended, as a burger with all the trimmings, the intense flavour of the burger is a strength, as it makes that ‘chicken’ flavour really stand out. There are no bland burgers here!
- Price: £3.00
- Where to buy: Tesco, Asda, Iceland, Ocado
- How to cook: Oven bake, air-fry, pan-fry
- Allergy info: Contains wheat, gluten, soy
- Tested by: Helen
5. The Vegetarian Butcher Happy Go Clucky Burger
The Vegetarian Butcher is one of the most pioneering meat alternative brands having turned its hand to creating hyper-realistic alternatives for everything from cod fillets to chicken breasts and hotdogs.
With so many great vegan chicken alternatives in its range, I was excited to see whether they’d nailed their burger recipe – and happily they have.
Biting into it, the texture of the ‘chicken’ is very soft and juicy and almosts melts in your mouth. It was somewhat akin to firm tofu which is great for those who find the stringiness of some vegan chicken burgers off-putting.
One thing that really impressed (and surprised!) me was the smell of this burger. It was so realistic and smelt just like a chicken breast, which may be off-putting to some but shows just how much thought and attention The Vegetarian Butcher has given to the creation of its vegan chicken burgers.
The flavour of the meat is relatively mild in comparison to the smell and not overly synthetic which I enjoyed. But it’s not just the taste of this burger that gives it top marks – it boasts some impressive nutritional credentials too as its fortified with vitamin B12 and iron, and is a good source of protein and fibre.
The breadcrumb coating was very well seasoned, although I would’ve liked more of the crunchy coating as while it was flavoursome it was thin in places and less crunchy than other options we tested.
I opted to oven bake mine and did find the parchment beneath was quite oily, which did mean that the breadcrumb coating had a tendency to slide off the chicken.
One of my bugbears with some vegan analogues is the need to make them odd sizes and shapes to mimic their animal counterparts. However, the Happy Go Clucky burgers are generous in size and perfectly round so fill up the burger bun right to the edge, allowing you a bite of the patty in every mouthful. But, they were also one of the thinner burgers we tested.
You can opt to bake the patties in the oven or to grill them, meaning you can even pop them on the BBQ at your next summer party.
- Price: £2.75
- Where to buy: Sainsbury’s, Coop
- How to cook: Cook from frozen. Oven bake or grill
- Allergy info: Contains soy, wheat, oats, and celery
- Tested by: Rachel
6. Birds Eye Green Cuisine Chicken-Free Burgers
As a big fan of the meat-free burgers in the Green Cuisine range, I was excited to see whether the brand had managed to recreate the magic with its plant-based chicken version.
The patty itself is generously sized, thick, and round, making it perfect for filling a burger bun right to the edges, although it was one of the thinner burgers we tested. Its texture is a standout feature, offering a delightful crunch from the breadcrumb coating that holds up well with the other elements in a burger.
Made from wheat protein, the patty has a fantastic, bouncy texture with a slight stringiness that convincingly mimics chicken with a proper juicy bite.
However, I found the flavour to be quite underwhelming. The chicken taste is quite mild, and the breadcrumb coating could benefit from a bit more seasoning to enhance the overall flavour.
Despite this, the nutritional profile is impressive, with a hearty 12g of protein and low saturated fat content. The ingredients list is also one of the simplest, with no artificial colours or flavours.
It’s also oven-baked, which means no additional oil is needed, making it a healthier and less processed option compared to some other plant-based burgers on the market.
Overall, while the Birds Eye Green Cuisine Chicken-Free Burgers could use a bit more flavour, they offer a great texture and a healthier option for those seeking a plant-based chicken alternative. They are certainly worth trying, especially for their nutritional benefits and satisfying crunch.
- Price: £2.50
- Where to buy: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda, and Ocado
- How to cook: Oven bake from frozen or grill
- Allergy info: Contains wheat
- Tested by: Rachel
7. Plant Revolution Southern Fried Chick’n Burgers
At only £1.99 for two decently chunky patties, the price is definitely right with these Southern fried chicken-style burgers.
From Plant Revolution, Morrisons’ own label vegan range, they are one of the more affordable burgers we tested, but they are harder to get hold of if you don’t usually shop in Morrisons.
The burgers feature a chicken-style patty made from plant proteins, coated in seasoned breadcrumbs.
The breadcrumb coating on these burgers is thick and even, and it is crisp and golden when cooked.
It has a strong peppery taste that builds on the tongue, but sadly I found it lacks the deep, herb and spice flavour I have come to expect from similar Southern-style products.
Inside, the chicken has a good meaty texture. It’s slightly soft, but has a satisfying bite and holds up well in the bun. The ‘chicken’ is made from a combination of rice flakes, wheat protein, and soy, which gives it a fibrous texture that emulates the stringiness of well-cooked chicken.
I did find that these burgers were a little more dry than some others on the list, which made that stringy chicken texture a little more apparent.
Some people may enjoy this, so I don’t think it’s a negative point, but I personally prefer a juicier chicken-style burger with a more tender ‘meat’.
Overall, these burgers are a little bit bland and don’t hold up against pricier ‘Southern-style’ products. However, they are great value for money and serve as a delicious chicken burger alternative if you don’t want something too spicy.
- Price: £1.99
- Where to buy: Morrisons
- How to cook: Oven bake
- Allergy info: Contains wheat, gluten
- Tested by: Helen
8. Quorn Crunchy Fillet Burgers
Quorn’s Crunchy Fillet Burgers promise a takeaway experience with their signature crunchy coating, but do they live up to the promises in reality?
In my experience, sadly not. I found both the taste and texture were lacking, particularly compared to other burgers in this review.
Because the burgers are oven baked, they lack the crispy crunch that makes a good chicken burger. I also found it difficult to detect any flavour apart from the breadcrumbs, so the overall flavour of the pattys was very bready.
Similarly, the texture of the ‘chicken’ was very soft without much bite or flavour, meaning the flavour from the lettuce, cheese, and tomato overpowered it.
While I appreciate the effort taken to make it mimic a breaded chicken breast, the oblong shape isn’t the best for burgers as it pokes out the edge of a standard bun and means the edges of the burgers are patty-free.
However, I like that you simply cook the burgers in the oven as it makes them healthier than frying them in oil. They’re also lower in calories and fat than other comparable options, so they’re a great option if you’re looking for a lighter meal that still feels like a treat.
- Price: £3.15
- Where to buy: Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda, and Ocado
- How to cook: Oven bake from frozen
- Allergy info: Contains wheat, soy-free
- Tested by: Rachel
How we tested
To cook the vegan chicken burgers, we followed the manufacturer’s instructions to achieve the perfect crispy texture.
Some of the plant-based patties needed to be baked in the oven, while others recommend frying them until crisp in a pan with a small amount of oil.
Usually, our vegan chicken burgers would include tasty toppings like vegan cheese, gherkins, fresh red onion, and avocado. But to ensure we could really test the flavours of the burgers we opted to keep it simple with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.
We believe that a great vegan chicken burger should have a crispy coating, a soft yet slightly chewy centre, and plenty of flavour. So, these were the key elements we were looking for when deciding which were the best vegan chicken burgers on the market in the UK.
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Featured photo © Vegan Food & Living
