Vegan Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Baked Tofu Parm with Pasta (2024)

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5 from 8 votes. Leave a review!

This vegan chicken parmesan recipe, served with pasta, is packed with delicious flavors. With breaded and baked tofu in place of chicken, this simple recipe uses ingredients that are relatively accessible!

Vegan Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Baked Tofu Parm with Pasta (1)

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Make Vegan Chicken Parmesan with Baked Tofu

I love using tofu as a replacement for chicken in any recipe like this baked tofu parmesan!

Marinating the tofu before baking packs in lots of flavor to ensure the final meal is just as tasty as a non-vegan option!

If you don’t like tofu, just use a store-bought vegan chicken breast or breaded chicken.

You can bread store-bought vegan chicken the same as tofu in this recipe. If you’ve bought breaded vegan chicken, simply top the vegan chicken with tomato sauce and vegan cheese!

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Sauce for the Vegan Chicken Parm Recipe

A good vegan chicken parm requires a fantastic sauce. Since there’s lots of flavor in the breaded tofu, I kept the sauce simple and classic.

A fresh tomato sauce flavored with garlic, basil, salt and olive oil is the perfect pairing for a vegan chicken parm recipe! Strained tomatoes keep the flavors fresh along with tomato paste to thicken the sauce and add a boost of tomato flavor.

When cooking, make the sauce first so it can simmer while you bread the tofu parmesan!

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Make Vegan Parmesan

Most of the cheese flavor in this tofu parmigiana recipe comes from the vegan mozzarella cheese rather than from Parmesan itself. However, for full flavor, a sprinkling of vegan Parmesan before serving is needed.

You can certainly use store-bought vegan parmesan, but I always keep some homemade vegan parm in my fridge. It’s a simple recipe, using only three ingredients and takes just a couple minutes to make!

In my house, we call vegan parmesan cheese “sprinkle cheese” because it’s so delicious to sprinkle on anything, especially a recipe like this! I make this two ways, either with cashews or sunflower seeds as the base ingredient.

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Mozzarella for Vegan Chicken Parmesan

As mentioned above, much of the cheesy flavor in this vegan chicken parmesan recipe comes from the vegan mozzarella cheese shreds. Broil the shreds on top of the breaded and baked tofu pieces.

There are countless brands of vegan mozzarella, so select whichever you prefer or have access to.

Not all vegan mozzarella cheese shreds melt nicely. Don’t broil the tofu parmesan too long otherwise it’ll burn; keep careful watch over your tofu at this point!

For this recipe video, I’ve used “pizza style” shreds which taste pretty mild (and don’t melt well, but crisp which I find tasty). They are fortified with calcium which is nice!

I honestly buy whichever vegan cheese happens to be on sale at the time since I’m not picky (but I am frugal, haha).

Vegan Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Baked Tofu Parm with Pasta (5)

Vegan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Vegan chicken parmesan is best served with a side of pasta! Since this recipe makes a large enough batch of tomato sauce, the pasta can easily be served topped with sauce and a sprinkling of vegan parmesan cheese.

Any type of pasta you have is perfect to serve with tofu parmigiana. I typically select whole wheat pasta but feel free to make what you like!

I hope you enjoy this vegan chicken parm recipe as much as I do. This is seriously one of my favorite things to make, even though some work is required (the hardest step is simply getting the tofu breaded, but I use a vegan breading technique that works really well).

📖 Recipe

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Vegan Chicken Parmesan (Baked Tofu Parmesan)

Despite looking like a lot of steps, this is a fairly straight forward vegan chicken parmesan recipe to make. Easy to substitute for store-bought options to simplify as needed for a delicious tofu parmigiana!

5 from 8 votes. Leave a review!

Prep Time 50 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 365 kcal

Cuisine Italian-inspired, Vegan

Ingredients

Vegan Chicken Marinade

Vegan Chicken Breading

  • ¼ cup starch
  • ¼ cup plant-based milk
  • ¾ cup panko
  • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dry basil
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • oil spray

Vegan Chicken Parmesan Sauce

  • 3 cups strained tomatoes
  • 155 mililitres tomato paste (5.5 oz can)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (or ½ teaspoon dry basil)
  • salt (to taste; about ¼ teaspoon)

To Assemble

  • ½ cup vegan mozzarella-style cheese shreds
  • cooked pasta
  • vegan Parmesan cheese
  • fresh basil , extra (optional)

Instructions

Vegan Chicken: Marinade

  • Slice the tofu into 8 thin square pieces (or whatever shape/ thickness you want).

    350 grams extra firm tofu

  • Place the tofu into a container with a lid (that seals well) and add marinade ingredients.

    1 cup vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon dry oregano, 1 teaspoon dry basil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

  • Place lid on container and shake to coat the tofu in marinade. Make sure the marinade coats all layers of tofu.

  • Marinate for at least 1 hour (best to marinate overnight if possible).

Vegan Chicken Parmesan: Sauce

  • Mince some garlic.

    3-4 cloves garlic

  • Heat olive oil in a sauce pot. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until the garlic starts to soften and is fragrant.

    2 tablespoons olive oil

  • Pour strained tomatoes into the pot and allow to simmer for ~10 minutes (may need to increase heat to medium-high to achieve a simmer).

    3 cups strained tomatoes

  • Add tomato paste, sliced fresh basil leaves and salt to taste. Stir well and allow to simmer for another 5 minutes.

    155 mililitres tomato paste, ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, salt

  • You may want to simmer for longer to help the sauce thicken (depends on how thin your strained tomatoes are).

  • Set sauce aside while you bread and bake the tofu.

Vegan Chicken: Breading

  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F.

  • Set up 2 plates and 1 bowl for breading the marinated tofu.

  • On one plate, pour about ¾ of the starch (save some dry starch for the end to add to the plate as needed).

    ¼ cup starch

  • On the second plate, mix panko breadcrumbs with spices.

    ¾ cup panko, 1 teaspoon dry oregano, 1 teaspoon dry basil, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt

  • In the bowl, pour in plant-based milk.

    ¼ cup plant-based milk

  • Take a piece of tofu and lightly coat in starch; brush off excess.

  • Coat starch-covered tofu with the plant-based milk, then place into breadcrumbs. Lightly press breadcrumb mixture onto each side of the tofu. Repeat for all 8 tofu pieces.

  • Place breaded tofu on a parchment lined baking sheet. Lightly spray the tofu with oil then bake for 12 minutes.

    oil spray

  • Take tray out of the oven, flip each tofu piece, spray other side of the breaded tofu with oil, then bake for another 12 minutes or until both sides of the tofu are nicely browned and crispy.

Vegan Chicken Parmesan Assembly:

  • Place tomato sauce onto each piece of breaded and cooked tofu. Top the sauce with vegan mozzarella cheese shreds.

    ½ cup vegan mozzarella-style cheese shreds

  • Turn the oven broiler to 450 °F and broil the breaded tofu until the cheese is melted, about 2-3 minutes (this can start to burn within seconds so keep a very close eye on it – depending on the brand of vegan cheese you use, it may not melt very well).

  • Optional to top the tofu with extra fresh basil.

    fresh basil

  • Serve with a side of cooked pasta and top everything with extra sauce and a sprinkle of vegan Parmesan cheese.

    vegan Parmesan cheese, cooked pasta

Notes

Prep and cook time do not include time for marinating the tofu.

Accuracy of nutrition information cannot be guaranteed (certain ingredients may not have all nutrients listed in the database); amounts may vary (and will vary depending on brands of ingredients used); all nutrition fact values rounded to the nearest whole number.

Nutrient analysis does not include serving with pasta, Parmesan cheese or fresh basil (just includes marinated breaded tofu, full batch of tomato sauce and vegan Mozzarella cheese).

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving (¼ recipe)Calories: 365 kcalCarbohydrates: 40 gProtein: 19 gFat: 17 gSaturated Fat: 2 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5 gMonounsaturated Fat: 9 gSodium: 1359 mgPotassium: 1162 mgFiber: 7 gSugar: 13 gVitamin A: 1540 IUVitamin C: 23 mgCalcium: 524 mgIron: 6 mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Vegan Main Meal Recipes

Like this recipe? You should also try:

  • TVP Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Bolognese)
  • Vegan TVP Chili Recipe (High Protein)
  • Teriyaki Tempeh Recipe (with Homemade Sauce)
  • Vegan Sushi Bake Recipe (with Chickpea “Tuna”)
Vegan Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Baked Tofu Parm with Pasta (12)

About Nicole Stevens

Nicole is a long-time vegan with a Masters of Science in Food and Nutrition.

She helps people thrive on a vegan diet with balanced recipes.

Vegan Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Baked Tofu Parm with Pasta (2024)

FAQs

Does chicken parm always come with pasta? ›

In the United States and Canada, chicken parmesan is often served as a main course, and sometimes with a side of, or on top of pasta. Many restaurants also offer chicken parm sandwiches.

What's the difference between parmesan chicken and chicken parmesan? ›

Brace yourself for this one—they're the same dish! Chicken Parmesan and chicken Parmigiana are just different names for the same exact recipe. And, with a name like “chicken Parmigiana”, you might assume that this recipe is Italian. While it has roots in Italy (in a way), chicken Parmesan is all-American.

Why is it called chicken parm if it's made with mozzarella? ›

Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.

What is vegan parmesan cheese made of? ›

Vegan parmesan is made from a mixture of nuts and seeds, nutritional yeast, a couple pantry spices, salt, and pepper. I like to use a particular mixture of nuts and seeds, my favourite combination being: raw walnuts, sliced almonds, and hemp seeds.

Is vegan chicken made of tofu? ›

Vegan chicken is more sustainable, and healthier, and it's made primarily from plant-based products. These include vital wheat gluten, soy protein, pea protein, tofu, and jackfruit, which are rich in protein, calcium, fiber, and sodium—making the substitutes a perfect supplement for real meat.

What is the best pasta to serve with chicken parmesan? ›

A thicker, stout pasta shape, like a ridged rigatoni, works well with chicken parmesan because it matches the heft and satisfying texture of the protein.

Should I put parmesan in pasta sauce? ›

You certainly can add Parmesan cheese to the spaghetti. In fact, it is nice to add about a 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan to your sauce before spooning over the spaghetti. Tip: use a bit of the water from the pot you used to boil the spaghetti when you mix the sauce and pasta together.

What is a good side with chicken parm? ›

Salad: A crisp, refreshing salad can balance the richness of the Chicken Parm. Salads are always a good idea for chicken parmesan sides. You could pair it with a simple Green Salad, a Classic Caesar Salad or if you want something with lots of flavor you can try my That Good Salad recipe!

What is healthier eggplant parmesan or chicken parmesan? ›

Eggplant parmesan tends to be lighter on the stomach and is considered to be more healthy. Eggplant is also less expensive. Restaurants find that it is a much cheaper option for guests.

What is the difference between parmesan and vegetarian parmesan? ›

Is Any Parmesan Cheese Vegetarian? The good news is yes. Because although the enzyme that comprises rennet is always animal-based, there are now vegetable-based enzymes—obtained by soaking plants like artichokes or thistles—and microbial-based substitutes, which are made from mold enzymes extracted in a lab.

What is a better cheese than parmesan? ›

If you'd like a little more kick in flavor, you can enjoy some pecorino Romano as an alternative to Parmesan, but make sure to use pecorino carefully because the flavor is more intense and will make more of a statement.

Do Italians in Italy eat chicken parm? ›

Despite being a staple of Italian-American cuisine, “chicken parmesan” is nowhere to be found in Italy. Instead, Italians nosh on parmigiana – eggplant layered with tomato sauce and cheese.

Can I use shredded mozzarella instead of Parmesan? ›

Can I use mozzarella instead of parmesan in fettuccine? Yes! This is what this mozzarella alfredo sauce recipe helps you do. While it does change the flavor and bit of the texture, it's still got the same elements of the creamy comfort food you love.

What can I substitute for mozzarella in chicken parmesan? ›

The Best Mozzarella Cheese Substitutes – Dairy
  • Gruyère Cheese. ...
  • Cheddar. ...
  • Swiss Cheese. ...
  • Ricotta Cheese. ...
  • Emmental Cheese. ...
  • Comté Cheese. ...
  • Provolone Cheese. ...
  • Fontina Cheese.

What does vegan chicken contain? ›

Although components vary, certain materials are commonly used in meat and meat-free chicken products. These include water, wheat flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and other spices. The main difference is that plant-based chicken is usually made from soy protein and wheat gluten instead of animal flesh.

What is the vegan version of chicken? ›

Seitan. Seitan is a wheat-based protein that has a savory taste and chewy texture similar to processed chicken products like nuggets, tenders, or grilled chicken breast.

What is vegetarian parmesan made of? ›

BelGioioso Vegetarian Parmesan is made with fresh milk gathered daily from our local farmers, and without any animal rennet. Each wheel is aged in special caves for over 10 months. BelGioioso's Master Cheesemakers carefully inspect and hand-turn each wheel to ensure a consistent aging process.

What are vegan chicken tenders made of? ›

Ingredients. Vegan Chicken Tenders: Plant-Based Tender: Water, Canola Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Soy Protein Isolate, Methylcellulose, Wheat Protein, Bamboo Fiber, Fava Bean Protein Isolate, Corn Powder, Peach Powder.

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