I’ve got your new favorite quickie dinner – Vegan Southern Style Air Fryer Soy Curls! This recipe is easy, convenient, full of flavor, crunch, and fun to eat as well.
They’re like vegan popcorn chicken, plus are oil-free, gluten-free, and you can change up the seasoning even add in some hot sauce, to suit your mood.
This Is My New Favorite Dinner Recipe!
I hate to tell you this, but I’ve been holding out on you. I’ve been making these Vegan Air Fryer Southern Fried “Chicken” Soy Curls for months!
It’s taken me a while to get the time to take photos and write down this great recipe, but it’s worth the wait.
If you want to get all the details on soy curls, check out my Soy Curl Recipe page.
Looking for a perfect dessert for this dinner? Try my Plant-based London Fog Ice Cream!
What Are Soy Curls?
They are by a company called Butler Foods and are made of non-gmo soybeans, that are basically cooked, then smashed into a vegan chicken tender shape.
They look a lot like TVP and come dehydrated. But when they are reconstituted with water or broth they have a meaty texture like a vegan version of chicken strips.
You won’t find them in grocery stores or Whole Foods on the east coast, but you can order from Amazon no matter where you live.
Since I’m in North Carolina, I order my Butler Soy Curls on Amazon.
If you are in the Pacific Northwest, you may be able to find them in your local health food store. You can also get your bags of soy curls directly from Butler’s Foods.
What are Butler’s Soy Curls made of?
Soy curls are created by dehydrating whole soybeans that have been cooked and extruded. They are a great vegan meat substitute that’s super simple to prepare.
They are made from whole, non-GMO soybeans that have been grown without the use of chemical pesticides.
Are TVP and soy curls the same thing?
Unlike TVP (textured vegetable protein), which is created by pressing and drying defatted soybean flour, these curls are made from whole beans, retaining all of their fiber and protein.
Soy curls can be used as the basis for a stir-fry or, if finely chopped after soaking, in any recipe that calls for vegan ground.
How Do Use Soy Curls?
For this recipe, I rehydrate them with boiling water, but when I use them in a slow cooker or Instant Pot recipes, I usually put them in dry with extra liquid to save time and effort.
Use them in any recipe that calls for meat or sub them for tofu or vegan crumbles.
Do soy curls go bad?
The dehydrated Curls are shelf-stable but using them within 6 months of purchase is recommended.
Rehydrated Soy Curls can be maintained covered in the fridge for up to 4 days before use.
Ingredients
You’ll need a 1/2 a bag of soy curls, finely ground cornmeal, nutritional yeast, and cajun seasoning.
How to make air fryer soy curls?
Place the soy curls in a heat-resistant pan or large bowl over high heat and pour the boiling water or vegetable broth over them.
Allow 5 to 10 minutes for them to soak, or until they become soft and plump.
Pour into a strainer in your sink to drain, then use a big spoon to press out any excess water.
In a small bowl, combine the breading ingredients thoroughly.
In a big mixing bowl, combine the drained soy culls and breading well. Each piece should be coated.
Cook the breaded soy curls in a single layer in your air fryer for 5 minutes at 380 degrees in your air fryer. Shake and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Cook until they are golden brown, have a crispy texture, but are still moist inside.
How Do You Make Vegan Southern Style Air Fryer Soy Curls?
First, pour hot water over the soy curls. In 5 to 10 minutes, they are plump, rehydrated, and ready to go.
Some people soak them in broth, but in this recipe, I add flavor through the delicious coating.
Next, you drain the excess water off. I use a strainer and press on it with a wooden spoon to get out more liquid.
Even after you drain the soy curls, there will be enough moisture to hold on to the coating.
Sometimes some of the coating soaks up some liquid and makes little crunchies separate from the soy curl. These are great on salads.
Do you have to refrigerate soy curls?
Soy Curls are a 100% natural product and do not consist of any ingredients or preservatives. Keep them refrigerated or frozen to keep them fresh.
While they can be stored at room temp, they will last much longer in the fridge or freezer.
How long do you soak soy curls?
Allow 5 to 10 minutes for them to soak, or until soft and plump.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Air Fried Vegan Beignets with an Oven Option
- Air fryer potatoes
- Air Fryer Cajun Pecan-Crusted Gardein Fishless Filets
- Air Fryer Bow Tie Pasta Chip
More Soy Curl Recipes to Try
- Instant Pot Vegan Mac and Cheese with Soy Curls
- Instant Pot Caballero Bean and Soy Curl Chili
- Oil-Free Vegan Butter Chicken Soy Curls
- Date-Sweetened Teriyaki Soy Curls
- General Tso’s Soy Curls
- Super Easy Soy Curl Tacos
Vegan Air Fryer Southern Fried “Chicken” Soy Curls
Ingredients
- 1/2 bag Butler Soy Curls 4 ounces
- 3 cups boiling water
Breading
- 1/4 cup fine ground cornmeal can sub flour
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put the soy curls in a heat proof pan on the stove and pour the boiling water over them. Let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes, or until soft and plump.
- Pour into a strainer in your sink to drain, then press the extra water out with a large spoon.
- Mix the breading ingredients together well in a small bowl.
- Add the drained soy culls to a large bowl and mix in breading well. You want to coat each piece.
- Place the breaded soy curls into your air fryer and cook at 380 degrees for 5 minutes. Shake and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Serve as is with fries or over mashed potatoes with a golden gravy.
Dianne says
I just happen to have half a bag of soy curls in the fridge, so these will be happening later this week!
Kathy Hester says
Be sure to let me know how they turn out for you.
Laurie B says
Hmmm. No air fryer, but the recipe sounds so good. How do you think they would be if baked in the oven at 400 or so for ….. some amount of time? Any tips?
Kathy Hester says
I think they will be fine in the oven. I’d check them every 10 minutes or so.
Sarah De la Cruz says
These look fabulous! My husband has been hinting that an air fryer would make a good mother’s day gift, so I’m saving this recipe. We LOVE soy curls! I’m in Seattle and haven’t seen them at any local stores, other than our vegan market. I order mine on Amazon too, but hopefully soon they will be more widely available!
Heidi says
Hi, Sarah,
You may want to check the bulk bins at Whole Foods. That’s where we get our soy curls. ????
Vegan Newbie says
Hi neighbor! Have you checked Whole Foods and Vegan Haven? I’ve seen the Butler brand bag at Whole Foods and believe I did at Vegan Haven too. I got mine at Marlene’s Market & Deli in Tacoma (also located in Federal Way) for far less than what they cost at Whole Foods. We switched to a vegan lifestyle about 2 years ago now and I have long been curious about this product. Decided to take the dive this weekend and used this recipe to also break in my mom’s brand new air fryer. It was a HIT instantly and glad I grabbed two bags when I did. Ended up making another HUGE batch the very next day. They want me to go get more but I’m afraid they’ll burn out on it too fast so I refuse (hahahahaaa).
Kathy Hester says
That’s great! I’m jealous of you guys in the pacific northwest. They are definitely not in North Carolina Whole Foods yet.
rebecca says
You can get them off of Amazon! I got a 3-pack for $15 and 1-day shipping. https://amzn.to/2tlXB8e
Carla says
This was the first recipe I cooked in my airfryer. What a treat!! My 2 year old is being raised vegan as well and she cleans her plate every time:) Thanks for this healthy and delicious recipe!!
Nancy says
Order soy curls from Butler directly. Even with the cost of shipping, it’s cheaper than Amazon. Additionally, you sometimes get samples of new products and you always get a handwritten “thank you”.
Lauren says
Agreed! I ordered directly from Butler and got a bag of jerky (delicious) and taco mix (haven’t tried yet). Cheaper than Amazon and included 2 freebies!
Eli says
Exactly! I did that and Butler Foods gave me sample foods etc… I currently have the giant box of soy curls…
Sheila says
I live in Vancouver, WA, and they carry soy curls at Fred Meyer. I’m sure that you could find them there, and they definitely carry them at Whole Foods. My experience is that sometimes you have to ask twice, because the clerks aren’t always aware that they carry them : ). Also, you can order directly through Butler – https://www.butlerfoods.com/orderonline.html – 6/8oz bags for $19.95 plus $11.00 shipping. You can order in bulk and save more.
janet Jones says
I live in Vancouver too! Chucks on Mill Plain has them in the bulk bin!
Kathy Hester says
Lucky you!
Heidi says
Kathy, thank you for posting this. I’m on the cusp of purchasing an air fryer, and this recipe is going to be one of the first things I try.
Jeff Scott says
These are probably one of the best things I have made since going vegan. And I have made some really awesome recipes. Thank you so much.
Kathy Hester says
That is wonderful to hear!
Christine says
Hey Kathy, just wanted to thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I ordered the soy curls and just made your Southern Fried Chicken.. Popeyes ain’t got nothing on this great recipe. I decided three weeks ago to go completely plant based Vegan. This recipe was a sight for sore eyes!!!! Thank you for the save!!!!!
Kathy Hester says
I love hearing that!!
Iris says
Did you add any other ingredient to make th3 soy curls taste like Popeyes? Mine came out rather bland.
Kathy Hester says
You could add more Cajun spices and cayenne. I think that’s what that chain uses. You could reconstitute in broth too if you want.
kristin says
holy moly! i love soy curls, and these look so good!
Liz says
Just made this, oh my so good, did not want gravy so made a cheese sauce (plant based) poured on them yummy. Tomorrow going to make up some tortilla chips, black beans, my chicken strips and smother with cheese sauce.
Kathy Hester says
That sounds good!
Ella says
What poultry seasoning would you recommend. Not sure what to look for.
Kathy Hester says
It’s a blend like Cajun spice or Italian seasoning. I have my recipe for it in this video: https://business.facebook.com/veganslowcooker/videos/1560711087323377/
Margaret says
I bought a few bags from Butler’s themselves and they sent extra freebies. Very nice.
Sue says
Hi made these just now – yummy! made my own Cajun spice as I guess
I do not have it!
The only thing I changed was adding, Jada Spices Chicken Salt – it is VEGAN.
These are delicious thank you for a different recipe for the family!
Shari says
These tasted good but when I pressed the soy curls with a large spoon to drain the excess water, they broke into small pieces. Any thoughts?
Kathy Hester says
Some of them do break, but if all of yours did I wonder if they didn’t get tossed around more during shipping.
Diane says
These are awesome … the grand kids thought they were chicken strips….
Sue says
This is an amazing recipe to make in the air fryer with soy curls – have made it several times with different spices – it is a keeper!
Jill cLAY says
Wonderful recipe! My doctor wants me to eat a high potassium diet, and I thought soy curls were high in potassium. However, your nutritional list shows only 174 mg of potassium in 1/4 bag of soy curls. Is that correct? One cup of soybeans has 3342 mg of potassium. Aren’t soy curls ONLY whole soy beans?
Kathy Hester says
I go by the labels on the bags or by what’s in the nutritional database that I use. Butler don’t list potassium on their label. I suspect you are correct, though I wouldn’t be qualified to guess a soy bean to soy curl ration in it. https://www.butlerfoods.com/soycurls.html
Valerie says
Potatoes are high potassium. Serve with mashed or baked potatoes. 😁
Russell says
I made a Japanese version of this. Used flour salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and 1/4 tsp of s&b Japanese curry spice. It tasted just like the Japanese karrage chicken wings. Huge hit!
Kathy Hester says
That sounds awesome – I need to try it!
Barb Bucher says
Just found out about soy curls and made this today. WE LOVED THEM! Thanks for the great recipe!!
Brenda says
Excellent! So easy and great flavor. I just made a batch and will make chicken sandwiches. These are seriously good!
Becky says
I gave this recipe 5 stars even though I used brown rice flour instead of cornmeal because I didn’t have any and I left out the cajun. Lol.
I’ve made it a few times and put together my plant based version of KFC bowls. “Chicken” soy curls, mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy. Yum!!! My niece said they tasted like chicken. I’m winning her over!
Thank you Kathy!!!
Kathy Hester says
Thank you for your kind words! It’s one of our family favs too 😉
Krystal says
Can I fry them in regular oil also?
Kathy Hester says
I’m sure you could, but I haven’t tried it.
Carlisa says
I just made these and they are great. I am eating them with Brown rice and a salad. I use barbecue sauce as a dip.
Kathy Hester says
I’m glad you liked them!
Donna says
Just ordered soy curls and can’t wait to try this recipe. When you say nutritional yeast do you mean Bragg’s nutritional yeast seasoning or a nutritional yeast flake? I’ve never tried either so not sure what I should use. Thank you.
Kathy Hester says
I believe that Bragg’s nutritional yeast seasoning is just branded nutritional yeast flakes. I’d buy which ever one is cheaper near you.
Sharon says
Great recipe! I used matzo meal since I can’t tolerate corn. Came out great and crispy.
Kelly says
What about in the Breville oven Kathy? What temp and time would you recommend?
Kathy Hester says
I would use the same temp and it may have to cook a little more time though.
Paula says
These are wonderful! I just made them for the 3rd time and have used them in sandwiches, salads, with rice or with French fries. Delicious every time! I use my home made chili powder and poultry seasoning but after reading these reviews I will try adding onion powder too.
Monica says
Oh. My. Mercy. I just made this. I swear I just stood over the air fryer basket picking them out and eating them. I’m NOT PROUD of how many I devoured. Husband loved them too (what I managed to share with him). I rehydrated them in better than bullion no-chicken stock and then used the Butler chicken flavoring as well in the dry seasoning. OMG. I’m making them again this week and we’re doing KFC bowls with mashed potatoes, vegan gravy and corn.
THANK YOU!! I will never, ever do soy curls any other way again. You have quite literally changed our lives.
Kathy Hester says
Yay!!
Jenny says
These are awesome!!!! Even my 4-year-old gobbled them up. Thank you for the recipe!
Kathy Hester says
So glad you like them!
Michele says
Do I just remove the stirring paddle from my T-Fal air fryer or will it work to let these site constantly? Thx so much
Kathy Hester says
I think you can use the stirrer.
Lori says
I used flour, but next time I’ll try cornmeal. I cooked as directed, but will cook them a few minutes longer as I liked the crispier bits the best. I added 1/2 teaspoon of Weber Kickin’ Chicken spice and a 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder. I dipped mine in Frank’s Buffalo Wing sauce and it was delish! I will be tossing the rest in wing sauce for a Buffalo Chicken salad. These are incredibly easy to make and so versatile. Can’t wait to make a KFC bowl with them. Thanks for a great recipe, Kathy!
D'Arla Nowlin says
I don’t usually comment on recipes, but this is the best recipe for soy curls that I have ever come across, and also the easiest and most fool proof! I didn’t have great hope, as I have been disappointed before and it, frankly, seemed too easy. The only thing I changed was the temperature used for cooking, as my Ninja Foodie with the air fryer in the lid didn’t have a 380 temp, so I cooked them at 375. They were very, very good, and I was both shocked and delighted! Even the meat eating members of my family who tried them thought they had a good flavor, but we all thought they tasted a lot like either crispy catfish or clam strips. Thank you so much for this recipe! Maybe now I will finally use the bags and bags of soy curls in my freezer that I got in bulk from Butler foods.
Dharma says
Oh. Em. Gee. These were AMAZING! This went above & beyond anything I could have expected! I used veggie stock with 1 TBS of chickenless bouillon to hydrate the soy curls because the last soy curl recipe I made was a little bland. I had to make my own Cajun seasoning & I used a combo of flour, cornmeal, & panko breadcrumbs.
We had these in a “VFC Bowl” with mashed potatoes, gravy, corn & pole beans & we ate so much we could pop. I’d give more stars if I could!
Connie B says
I haven’t had a soy curl recipe that I haven’t enjoyed and this one did not disappoint. I used arrow root in place of flour and cooked in my air fryer at 400. My air fryer does not have a 380. My only problem is that they stick to the bottom of the basket so I need to use a spatula in order to shake and put it in for another 5. I didn’t know about getting these directly from Butler. I usually get the, from Amazon. Will try that next time.
Bree Bailey says
These turned out so good! Used flour because that’s what I had, would love to try with cornmeal
Laura says
Made this last and I love it! It is definitely a favorite for me now!
Annie says
Great recipe! Had anyone tried them the next day? Are they still good?
Patty says
I made these last night and they were amazing. It was so nice to have these with my kale salad. Will definitely make again. Thank you for this recipe.
Pamela says
Going to try these tonight! If your in Canada, you can find the soy curls at www.veganbulkfoods.ca/shop
Kathy Hester says
Awesome – thanks for letting us know!
lyn says
These are delicious! Curious as to why your recipe called them a “cheat meal.” I am on a whole food plant diet with no oil, and they seem compliant.
Kathy Hester says
It really depends on the whole food plant diet you subscribe to. Some people consider soy curls a once in a while food.
Sandie says
these are amazing!!
Kathryn T. says
My happy first soy curl and first air fryer experience – delicious! The nutritional numbers are off though – 1/8 of a bag (30g dry) is already 120 calories, so 1/4 of the bag is 240. I didn’t work through the total thing but I should have checked before I ate your listed serving – blew my strict calorie count for the day. 😋 But, yes – it was super yummo!!!
Kathy Hester says
I’m working on moving the recipes to a better auto calculate program.
Ali says
I just bought a few bags of Butler’s soy curls. The expiry date isn’t till May next year. Am I supposed to refrigerate or freeze sealed packages or do you suggest doing that with opened packages only?
Kathy Hester says
They last the longest in the freezer and you do not need to open them first. You can leave them out in a cool place, but they will go off quicker.
Wendy says
I’m thinking I may re-hydrate these curls with Frank’s Red Hot Original! 🙂
Kathy Hester says
Great idea!
Wendy says
Wow! That’s what the family said tonight after having these. What a great recipe. We will definitely be making them more. I served them with some mashed potatoes and had some on a Caesar salad.
Stephanie Sansoucie says
So, these are amazing. We made them tonight for dinner, and I used this recipe “as is” without any modifications. For cajun flavor, I went for Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning. These tasty little bites were awesome on their own, and they also paired perfectly with a little dip of barbecue sauce. For my side dish, I cooked up some southern-style green beans and potatoes. This combo reminded me of my childhood, but without all of that unhealthy fried meat!
Barbara says
This is the first time I had Soy Curls. They were tasty, but terribly dried out even though I followed the recipe. Should I have soaked them for 10 minutes rather than 5? Or lowered the temperature. They were crunchy and went down easily like a finger snack would, but I was looking for plump little nuggets. No one else seemed to have this problem. Suggestions on how to correct this? Thanks so much.
Kathy Hester says
They have to be completely reconstituted before you use them. Did you use boiling water? That’s why I do and it takes about 5 minutes.
If you don’t use boiling water it could take. much longer. But wait as long as it takes for them to not be crunchy. They should look like chicken and be soft like the photos.
Emily says
Made this recipe tonight. Came out great! My boyfriend said it reminded him of a southern cat fish fry. I will definitely be making this again!
Pam says
These were DELICIOUS! The only thing, I had to air fry them for 20 minutes to get the desired crispness I wanted. Other than that, I will definitely be making these on a regular basis. Thank you
I dipped them in spicy BBQ sauce — YUM
Kathryn Law says
This is the worst on-line recipe I have ever made. It had such a high rating and I was excited to try it. It took about twice as long to cook as listed in the recipe. The flavor was nothing like southern fried chicken. I don’t know what to equate it to except awful. I’m very disappointed. I have used Butler soy curls successfully in other recipes, so that was not the issue.
Stacy says
Amazing!! This was the first time trying soy curls and I’m simply floored at how good they are!
Lisa says
Absolutely delicious! This is such a simple recipe, quick to make and oh so good. Served with coleslaw and roasted potatoes. Thanks for sharing!
jen says
Is there a recipe for “soy-free” curls?
Kathy Hester says
Not really since it’s a particular product. You could use chickpea or hemp tofu or tempeh instead though.
Tammy says
LOVED this recipe! I made a quick gravy and mashed potatoes to go with it and it was phenomenal! I purchased the 12 lb box of soy curls from Butler and am always looking for yummy ways to use them. This was a hit so thank you!!!
Lauren says
SOOOO good!! I didn’t use cornmeal or a replacement. Don’t love cajun so I used a different mix of spices. Added more seasoning after cooking. Ate them just like that right out of a bowl! yummo!!
Olivia D says
Love this recipe! I stopped eating meat 3 years ago, and haven’t found a delicious replacement for chicken nuggets/strips. On a whim, I bought the soy curls and they’re such a good replacement for chicken! This recipe is delicious!! Def will make again and again,
Tammy says
I am floored. I made this recipe because of the high ratings and how easy it sounded. This is my very first Butler Soy Curl recipe. I made them not really expecting to like them… but was curious.
As soon as they came out of the air fryer I could not stop munching on them. Because I wasn’t sure how they’d turn out I don’t have a meal planned for them so I am going to throw them on top of a garden salad.
My goodness these are so delicious the recipe ideas are flooding my mind.
Thank you so much for this recipe!
PS – I don’t recall who mentioned it in the comments, but they were right, soy curls are less expensive on the Butler’s website.
Diana says
I’m confused. Why would you pour boiling water over the soy curls then place over high heat on the stovetop? Are you boiling them in boiling water?
Kathy Hester says
The instruction is a tad confusing but let me better explain:
Put the soy curls in a heat proof pan on the stove and pour the boiling water over them. Let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes, or until soft and plump.
You are not cooking over high heat – or at all. My habit is to use a heat proff pan which can heat up, so I place on the stove where it can hot and not mess up my counter.
Adenike says
First time using soy curls and I didn’t want to use cornmeal/flour. Just used seasonings and this is going to be a staple! Absolutely delicious!!!
Rosemary says
The first time I had soy curls, I thought yuck. This recipe is sooo delicious even my husband, who has fought my vegan dishes tooth and nail, liked them. Great recipe. Thank you. Now I have a use for all these soy curls I bought.😊
Terri M says
My guest using them thanks to you and Nan Simonsen who recommended your recipe. I didn’t have cornmeal. Used almond flour and spices. Next time I’ll try with the cornmeal.
Terri M says
Typos on my comments. S/B
My first time using soy curls thanks to you and Nan Simonsen who recommended your recipe. I want to try using seafood spices. Do you think that will work?
Beth says
Amazing! This was my first time to use soy curls and it made a wonderful meal! I was skeptical, but I followed directions exactly and was pleasantly rewarded! Thank you for the complete instructions and explanations and this wonderful recipe. My husband and I both enjoyed your recipe and have added to our rotation!
Whack says
In the video after you pulled out the air fryer pan, you didn’t put it back in to cook more.. is / was that deliberate?
I’m going to have to try rehydrating these in Pineapple juice and then trying this again… but these were good…
I get my Butler Soy Curls here: https://lomalindamarket.com/ (you know.. it’s one of the “Blue Zones”)
They’re in the bulk section (yeah, they’ve got the bags too but bulk is the way to go because they seem to refill the bin’s 4 – 5 times a day… )
And if I want soy crumbs, Butler makes those too and they’re in the bulk section as well..
And I’ve discovered they make good taco meat replacements… Rehydrating them with taco seasoning and better than boulian non-chicken chickn broth does wonders..