Many ingredients can be added to gratin, but chicken is one of them that adds umami and richness to the entire gratin.
Vegetables alone are delicious, but the quality of the gratin is enhanced when chicken is included.
However, there are times when you don’t have any chicken when you try to make it. But when you try to make it, you may find yourself saying, “I don’t have any chicken!
Oh no! I don’t have any chicken to put in the gratin. What should I do?
In this article, I would like to introduce you to “substitutes for chicken in the gratin.
If you are having trouble finding chicken, please refer to this article!
12 substitutes for chicken in your gratin
1) Ground chicken
If you have ground chicken at home, you can use that instead.
It’s not as chewy as chunky chicken, but since it’s original chicken, it will give you the perfect flavor and umami.
When using ground chicken as a substitute, you can follow the usual procedure for making a gratin.
Even small children who don’t like chunks of meat can easily eat it, so they will be happy to eat it!
2) Pork
Pork also has strong umami and a rich flavor, so it can be used in place of chicken.
When substituting pork, you can use the same procedure as usual to make the gratin.
Some people may be concerned about the smell of pork, but you can prepare it with cooking sake.
This will not only remove the odor but will also make the meat tender and delicious.
3) Sausage
Sausage, which can be used as a side dish for lunchboxes or breakfast, is also a good substitute for chicken.
Although it is originally made of pork, it has a rich and umami flavor that makes it delicious to use.
When using sausage as a substitute, you can use it in the same way you normally make a gratin.
If the sausage is too long or too big, you can cut it to the size you like and add it to the gratin!
4) Bacon
Bacon, with its robust saltiness and rich fat, can also be used in place of chicken.
Frying it will add a savory flavor and make the gratin more quality.
When substituting bacon, you can use the same procedure as usual for making gratin.
It goes well with white sauce and potatoes, so you’ll have a delicious gratin!
5) Salmon
If you have salmon at home, you can use that instead of chicken.
If you have salmon in the house, you can use it as a substitute for chicken. It is often used as a filling for gratin and is a very tasty substitute.
When substituting salmon, you can use the same procedure as usual for making gratin.
However, if you don’t want the flesh to fall apart, you can cook the salmon separately from the other ingredients before placing it on the gratin plate.
You can also substitute salted or fresh salmon, but if you use salted salmon, be careful not to use too much salt when frying the other ingredients.
6) Shrimp
If you have shrimp, either frozen or fresh, you can use that in place of the chicken.
If you have shrimp, frozen or fresh, you can use it in place of the chicken for a delicious gratin full of the unique flavor of shrimp.
When substituting shrimp, you can use the same procedure as usual for making gratin.
You can use shrimp in the same way you make gratin.
7) Crab
If you have crab, that is also a good substitute for chicken.
When substituting crab, it is best to remove the meat from the shell before using it.
You can make a delicious, slightly richer gratin.
Not only fresh crab, but also canned crab can be substituted, so if you don’t have chicken, please give it a try.
8) Scallops
Scallops, which are thick and full of shellfish flavor, can also be used in place of chicken.
You can make a delicious gratin with just a hint of the flavor of the sea!
9) Seafood Mix
Frozen seafood mix with squid, shrimp, clams, and other ingredients is also a good substitute for chicken.
A variety of seafood makes a great gratin.
When substituting seafood mix, you can use the usual procedure for making gratin.
Since you can enjoy a variety of seafood, you won’t feel deprived even if there is no chicken in it.
10) Crab Sticks
If you don’t have crab in your refrigerator, but you do have crab sticks, you can use them. If you don’t have crab but you have crab sticks, you can use crab sticks instead.
If you don’t have crab but have crab sticks in your fridge, you can substitute crab sticks for chicken, which is not crab but has a strong umami flavor.
When substituting crabmeat, I recommend placing it on top of the gratin dish before cooking the gratin.
Be careful not to fry the crabmeat with other ingredients, as it can be eaten as is and may spoil the flavor.
11) Chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets, which are used in lunch boxes, breakfast dishes, and snacks, can also be used in place of chicken.
Since they are originally made with chicken, they will be a tasty substitute with lots of chicken flavor.
When substituting chicken nuggets, you can use them as a garnish as they are, but if you feel they are too big, you can cut them into your desired size.
If you feel they are too big, you can cut them into pieces and use them as a garnish. They also go well with white sauce, so you can make a delicious gratin!
12) Meatballs
If you always have processed meatballs on hand for emergencies, that is also a good substitute for chicken.
There is a gratin with meatballs as a filling that is very satisfying and can be enjoyed by both adults and children.
When using meatballs as a substitute, you can follow the same procedure as usual for making gratin.
However, some meatballs are well-seasoned, so think carefully about whether or not they will work with the gratin before substituting them.
If the condiments such as ginger are well seasoned, it is safe to avoid substituting chicken in the gratin, because it is not a good match for the white sauce.
Summary
- For chicken substitute in gratin, it is better to choose the one with umami and richness.
- The following 13 substitutes for chicken in gratin are recommended.
- Ground chicken, pork, sausage, bacon, salmon, shrimp, crab, scallops, seafood mix, crab sticks, chicken nuggets, Spam, and meatballs.
- Ground chicken is recommended because it has a very similar flavor to the chicken in gratin, and is easy to eat.
- Sausage is a readily available substitute that many people keep in their refrigerators.
- Salmon is seafood, not meat, but it matches well with white sauce and can be eaten by people who do not like meat.
- Chicken nuggets are processed chicken meat that has been minced once and is full of chicken flavor. They also taste good in gratin.