Seitan Roast (Instant Pot or Baked)

Name: Vegan Seitan Roast (Instant Pot or Baked)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups vital wheat gluten; ¾ cup Cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (Or sub pintos or other white bean.); ⅓ cup raw walnut halves (For nut-free, sub 2 Tbsp olive oil.); 5 cloves garlic; 1½ teaspoons onion powder; 1½ teaspoons poultry seasoning (store-bought or homemade); 1½ teaspoons dried rosemary (Not powdered. ); ¼ teaspoon ground sage; 1½ teaspoons fine sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 3 to 3½ cups vegetable broth, divided (1½ cups are for the roast, the rest is for cooking.); 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon prepared mustard; 1½ tablespoons maple syrup; 1 teaspoon liquid smoke; 1½ teaspoons dried parsley; ½ teaspoon dried thyme; ½ teaspoon paprika, sweet or smoked; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; freshly cracked black pepper; 1 teaspoon oil (I like to use refined/deodorized coconut oil for this step, but any neutral oil will do.); 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided; 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Making a Seitan Roast from scratch is easier than you might think! This flavor-packed vegan roast is tender, juicy, and perfect for any occasion, from dinner parties and holiday gatherings to weekly meal prep! Bake it in the oven or cook it an Instant Pot in half the time!

overhead shot of roast and vegetables on a platter

If you've never made seitan before, I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be complicated.

Of course, there are recipes that are more involved than others, incorporating various processes like washing your own flour to strip away the starch instead of simply starting with store-bought vital wheat gluten.

There are also various kneading and cooking techniques you can use to create a shredded "meat" texture like I did in my vegan turkey roast.

But today's recipe doesn't involve any of that because today's recipe is all about simplicity and easy-to-find ingredients.

In fact, this roast only takes about 20 minutes to get prepped for cooking in your choice of the oven or an Instant Pot.

For more simple seitan recipes, check out my all-purpose seitan, vegan andouille sausage, and vegan meatballs next!

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Seitan Roast Recipe
Ingredient Notes
How to Make a Seitan Roast
Serving Suggestions
Equipment You'll Need
FAQs
Helpful Tips
More Seitan Recipes
Recipe
💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Seitan Roast Recipe

Perfect Texture: It turns out moist and meaty, like vegan roast beef!
Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses ingredients you can find in most grocery stores.
Easy to Make: It's as easy to prepare as kneading pizza dough!
Great for Various Dietary Needs: This roast contains no tofu or nutritional yeast and can be made nut-free.
Amazing Flavor: I may be biased, but I think this homemade version tastes SO much better than store-bought vegan holiday roasts!

Ingredient Notes

Vital Wheat Gluten: This is the main ingredient in seitan and is what gives the seitan roast its structure and chewy, meat-like texture.
Cannellini Beans: These add moisture and help soften the texture of the seitan, making it more tender and less dense. Feel free to use any type of white beans or pinto beans instead.
Walnuts: Provide a rich, nutty flavor and a bit of texture to the roast. For nut-free, use olive oil or tahini instead.
Fresh Garlic: Adds depth of flavor to the roast.
Dried Seasonings: The combination of onion powder, poultry seasoning, rosemary, ground sage, fine sea salt, and black pepper creates a classic, authentic flavor typically found in meat-based roasts.
Vegetable Broth: The broth is used both in the dough and during cooking to add moisture, infuse flavor, and help create a tender, juicy texture.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a bit of acidity, which helps to balance the flavors.
Mustard: Adds a slight tanginess and contributes to the savory flavor of the roast.
Maple Syrup: Provides a touch of sweetness that balances the savory and smoky flavors.
Liquid Smoke: Adds a rich, smoky flavor, mimicking the taste of traditional smoked meats.
Herb Rub: I used dried parsley, dried thyme, paprika (sweet or smoked), sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper for the herb rub and a bit of refined coconut oil for coating the roast with the seasoning mixture. Feel free to use any neutral oil you'd like.
Glaze (optional): A combination of olive oil and maple syrup can be brushed onto the roast before serving, if desired.

See the recipe card below for amounts and step-by-step instructions.

How to Make a Seitan Roast

Dry ingredients in a bowl and wet ingredients in a blender.

Add the vital wheat gluten to a large bowl and blend the remaining roast ingredients.

Stirring together the seitan dough in a large bowl with herb rub nearby.

Pour the blended mixture into the vital wheat gluten, and stir until a dough forms.

Forming the seitan into a long roast and rubbing the outside with herbs and seasonings.

Knead the dough for about 5 minutes by hand or 3 to 4 minutes with a stand mixer on low speed. Shape the dough into a log approximately 9 inches by 3 ½ inches. In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the herb rub. Coat the outside of the roast with oil and then rub with the herb mixture.

Showing the uncooked seitan wrapped in cheesecloth and tied with twine.

Cut a piece of cheesecloth large enough to wrap around the roast several times, with plenty of excess on the ends so they can be securely tucked underneath.

Option: For a tied roast, cut a few pieces of twine and tie them around the roast. You want them to be lightly snug but not too tight.

Now, you're ready to cook the seitan using one of the methods below!

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For the Instant Pot Method

Looking inside an Instant Pot at the wrapped seitan roast.

Add just enough broth to reach the bottom of the trivet. Place the wrapped seitan on the trivet, secure and lock the lid, and pressure cook on high for 65 minutes.

Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.

Hint :

Keep in mind that the roast is large, so a 6-quart Instant Pot is the smallest size that will work unless you adjust the recipe to make a smaller roast.

For the Oven Method

Large vegan roast wrapped in cheesecloth, tied and resting in a baking dish.

Add broth to a baking dish and place the roast in the broth. Carefully flip the roast to dampen the cheesecloth and prevent scorching.

A baking dish covered tightly with aluminum foil.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this vegan roast with your favorite roasted vegetables, vegan gravy or mushroom gravy, and fresh sprigs of rosemary or thyme.
Pair it with your favorite holiday side dishes, such as vegan mashed potatoes, savory mashed sweet potatoes, vegan cauliflower gratin, vegan cornbread dressing, vegan corn pudding, roasted brussels sprouts, and vegan mac and cheese.
You can also slice the roast straight from the fridge to make sandwiches. Or chop, dice, or shred the seitan and pile it on salads, noodle dishes, and grain bowls.

Equipment You'll Need

Blender: Any type of blender will work - regular or high-speed.
Cheesecloth: While a lot of seitan roast recipes call for wrapping it in foil, for this particular one I prefer using cheesecloth because it's easier to feel the firmness of the roast after cooking to determine whether it's done. Seitan expands as it cooks, so foil can end up feeling very tight, fooling you into thinking the roast is ready. Cheesecloth is also great for anyone who prefers not to have aluminum foil in contact with their food.
Twine (optional): This gives the seitan the appearance of a tied roast, but it is not necessary. You won't need to use twine as long as the ends of the cheesecloth are tucked underneath, as the weight of the roast will keep it secured.
Stand Mixer (optional): If you prefer not to knead the dough by hand, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook.

For Instant Pot Seitan

I recommend this method because it feels more predictable than the oven. However, you want to make sure the roast will fit inside your Instant Pot first. For reference, I used this 6-quart Instant Pot and the roast just barely fit. An 8-quart Instant Pot has plenty of room.

For the Oven Method

When choosing a baking dish, you'll need to keep the size of the roast in mind. It will be shaped into a log that's about 9 inches long and 3 ½ inches wide. I used this 10-inch Staub gratin dish, which worked perfectly.

FAQs

Can I make the roast gluten-free?

Unfortunately, this recipe cannot be made gluten-free. Vital wheat gluten is the key ingredient that gives seitan its texture, so it's not possible to make seitan without it. However, if you need a gluten-free main dish idea, check out this chickpea loaf or this Beyond meatloaf with stuffing.

How do I store the seitan roast?

The roast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen for longer storage. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.

How do I reheat leftovers?

There are a few ways you can reheat your roast, but use care since seitan can dry out easily. If you have individual slices, you can briefly reheat them in the microwave. You can also reheat portions in the oven - generously baste the seitan with broth, cover tightly to trap the moisture, and bake at 375° F until hot. Alternatively, you can reheat portions on the stovetop as part of sautés, soups, or stir fries.

side angle view of the texture of inside the seitan

Helpful Tips

To test for doneness, use tongs to press the center of the roast. It should feel very firm. It's okay if the center feels slightly less firm than the ends, but if the center feels at all squishy, cook for another 5 minutes in the Instant Pot or 10-15 minutes in the oven. Remove the cheesecloth once cool enough to handle.
For the best flavor and texture, I recommend refrigerating the cooked roast overnight.
If serving as a whole roast, giving it a quick sear in a pan gives it nice color. After browning the "skin," brush on the maple syrup and olive oil glaze just before serving. This gives the roast a dark, golden glisten.