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 are oil-free, gluten-free, and you can change up the seasoning 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 awhile to get the time to take photos and actually write down the recipe, but it’s worth the wait.
What Are Soy Curls?
They are made of non-gmo soybeans, that are basically cooked, then smushed into a chickeny tender shape. They look a lot like TVP and come dehydrated.
You won’t find them in stores 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.
How Do Your Use Soy Curls?
For this recipe, I rehydrate them with boiling water, but when I use them in slow cooker or Instant Pot recipes, I usually put them in dry with extra liquid to save time and effort.
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 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.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Air Fried Vegan Beignets with an Oven Option
- Air Fryer Cajun Pecan-Crusted Gardein Fishless Filets
- Air Fryer Bow Tie Pasta Chip
More Soy Curl Recipes to Try
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.
Nutrition
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
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.
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
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!