I whipped this up after getting an email in my inbox containing all of this yummy sauced up buffalo-inspo… warning! That link isn’t vegan friendly, but that’s precisely why I clicked it. Where do you think I get ALL of the hot for food recipe inspiration?! From totally non-vegan images and food porn. My new goal is to recreate all 24 of those buffalo chicken recipes into vegan ones using my wizardry!
This one isn’t complicated. You’ll be feeding your face with this hot mess in about 10 minutes flat! For a similar sandwich filled with buffalo sauce deliciousness, click here.
vegan buffalo chicken melts
Get game day focused and make this hot mess of a sandwich. These vegan buffalo chicken melts are gooey, hot, and just what your Super Bowl party needs this weekend!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sliced white or yellow onion
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 8 oz vegan chicken pieces, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp Frank’s RedHot
- 2 tbsp finely chopped green onion
- sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
- 3 slices vegan mozzarella cheese
- 1 10-inch to 12-inch baguette or 2 small kaiser rolls
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 425°F.
-
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat with 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Sauté onion for about 3 minutes until softened and slightly browned.
-
Add chicken pieces and brown up for 3 minutes, tossing occasionally.
-
Add salt & ground pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
-
Add ranch, hot sauce, and green onion and toss to combine. You can use a pre-made ranch, like the one from Follow Your Heart or make the hot for food ranch.
-
Turn the heat to low and split the mixture into 2 portions if using kaisers or 3 small portions if adding to a larger baguette. Ensure you have something large enough to lift each portion out of the pan once the cheese is melted.
- Place cheese slices on top of each portion and cover the pan with a lid and let it melt for 2 minutes.
-
Then remove the pan from the burner and let it sit off the heat until your baguette or kaisers are toasted.
-
Slice your baguette or kaisers in half and toast in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes in the oven on a baking sheet, or until toasted to your liking.
-
Remove the baguette or kaisers from the oven. Add more ranch to the insides of the bread if you want. Take a large spatula and lift the buffalo chicken mixture with melted cheese on top onto the baguette or portions onto each kaiser. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes
As pictured, I added lettuce, but I think this was a misstep. It got too soggy, too quickly! I just wanted a crunch. But I in that case, I recommend adding in finely diced green pepper in with the onions if you want.
8 thoughts on “vegan buffalo chicken melts”
Would you be able to use Jack fruit for the chicken pieces instead of what you recommend?
sure can!
I made this for dinner tonight and the flavors came together so well. I subbed out mayo for chipotle mayo and added some dill, parsley, and chives, but even with this substitution it was so tasty! I’ll be trying more of your buffalo sauce-themed dishes and snacks for sure. Great recipe, Lauren!
Hey! I was wondering what brand you use for the chicken pieces! I have tried a few but would love to know what has worked for you!
I use Tofurkey slow roasted chicken
What brand of cheese would you recommend?
Do you know that Ranch dressing is not Vegan. It has milk and eggs in it. I only just learned this when I found out my son is allergic to Milk, Eggs, nuts and more. Just wanted to give you and others a heads up.
Lauren’s vegan ranch dip recipe is amazing. I’m guessing since this is a vegan food blog, she assumed folks would use their favorite. You can also find vegan ranch in some grocery stores (Daiya and Follow Your Heart are two brands some folks like – I prefer this homemade one: https://www.hotforfoodblog.com/recipes/2014/02/11/cauliflower-buffalo-wings/)