Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Recipe (2024)

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Crispy tofu nuggets a.k.a. the ultimate “ vegan chicken nuggets “ air fried without any oil and good for you. Finished with a simple panko bread crumb and nutritional yeast coat for the ultimate tasty crunch.

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Dip them in your favorite bbq or tomato sauce, mustard dip or plain old ketchup, stuff them in a sub, top your vegan mac and cheese or just snack on them popcorn style. These little nuggets are every kid’s tasty dream come true, let’s make some!

For all of you awesome parents who are trying hard and doing all you can to get your children to eat a clean plant based diet: you won’t everhave to buy any chicken nuggetsever again. I’ll show you how toeasily prep these cruelty-free goodies in advance so you can make them anytime you want without much trouble.

The secret to meaty tofu nuggets texture ?

The frozen defrostmethod!

By pressing thetofu then freezing it and defrosting you’ll achieve aperfectly meaty texture that will leave you saying: I can’t believe that’s not chicken!

Enter my favorite kitchen tool: the air fryer!

Come to think of it some of my most favorite recipes here on the blog are now made in the air fryer without the use of any oil at all. We’ve come a long way from deep frying you guys. You’ll also wanna try my famous air fried orange tofu , and out of this world peanut tofu with noodles too.

These Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets are Divine:

perfectly crunchy

homemade

popcorn style

healthy & oil-free

meaty texture

WFPB vegan

simply the best.

Super easy to make:

  1. Press tofu
  2. Freeze and defrost
  3. Coat in spices, batter and panko crust
  4. Air fry to perfection!

Crispy Tofu Coating Ideas:

  • Panko bread crumb
  • Brown rice cereal
  • Corn flakes cereal.

P.S. If you make this recipe please come back here to rate it, snap a photo andtame with #VeggieSociety on Instagram, it always makes my day ~ Florentina Xo’s

Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Recipe (8)

4.75 from 4 votes

Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

Crispy tofu nuggets a.k.a. the ultimate “ vegan chicken nuggets “ air fried without oil, and good for you. Finished with a simple panko crumb and nutritional yeast coat for the ultimate tasty crunch.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Pressing + Freezing:10 hours hrs

Total Time:25 minutes mins

Ingredients

the Batter:

  • 3/4 cup plant milk
  • 2-3 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Drain the tofu, wrap it in a tea towel and set on a plate. Place a heavy pot/pan/dish on top of it and allow it to press for a couple of hours. You can do this on the kitchen counter or in the fridge.

  • After you have pressed the tofu try to pat some more moisture out of it. Transfer to a freezer safe glass container, cover with a lid and freeze. You can do this step in advance and prepare a dozen blocks of tofu at once for future use if you'd like.

  • Defrost the tofu block and repeat pressing as much moisture out of it as possible with a tea towel.

  • Use your hands and tear it into 1 inch irregular pieces. Set aside.

  • In a bowl combine together the tapioca, sea salt, black pepper, garlic and onion powder. Add the tofu pieces and toss to coat well.

Prepare the Batter & Coating:

  • In a small bowl whisk together the plant milk, whole wheat flour and sweet paprika until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

  • In a separate bowl combine the panko bread crumbs and nutritional yeast.

Air Fry:

  • Dip each nugget in the batter until coated then toss in the bread crumb mixture. Shake any excess and place them on a parchment lined air fryer tray without touching each other. Repeat with all the nuggets.

  • Air fry the tofu nuggets at 375”F for 15 minutes until golden and crispy flipping them half way.Serve hot with your choice of dipping sauces.

Notes

  • To make these gluten free just use a brown rice flour in the batter and swap the panko bread crumbs for crushed puffed brown rice cereal or corn flakes.
  • Thoughthese nuggets require absolutely zero oil, I know some of you are still going to insist on using some. I totallyunderstand, in this case please try to use an olive oil spray to coat the nuggets before air frying.Believe it or not you will end up using way less fats than youwould by brushing or drizzling it on top. Plus the coverage is so much better too.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Calcium: 415mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Tofu Nuggets

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 361kcal

Author: Florentina

Tofu Recipes:

Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tofu not crispy in the air fryer? ›

If the cubes are too crowded in the basket, they won't crisp up as they cook. Feel free to work in batches if necessary! Air fry at 400°F for 11-15 minutes, tossing halfway so that the tofu cooks evenly on all sides. The tofu is ready when it's crisp and browned around the edges.

Why can't I get my tofu crispy? ›

2) Squeeze out as much moisture as possible.

Water-logged tofu never gets super crispy. The key here is to slice the tofu into pieces before pressing it. Have you ever tried pressing a whole block, or even two halves? They just sit in soggy puddles.

Do you have to press tofu before air frying? ›

Making the best possible crispy air fryer tofu is a matter of four key components. Press the Tofu. This removes excess water that could make the tofu soggy. Marinade.

How do you keep fried tofu crispy? ›

Drying the tofu thoroughly ensures that it crisps up quickly. Using a batter for the tofu ensures that it stays crispy even after getting tossed in sauce. Cooking each component of the stir fry in stages and combining them at the end facilitates even cooking and browning.

How do I get crispy results in my air fryer? ›

A drizzle or a quick oil spray is all you need for restaurant-quality fries and golden brown fried chicken, while other foods don't need any oil, like pizza or leftovers you might reheat. Some advocate for spraying the drawer or rack inside the air fryer, and while it doesn't hurt, it's unnecessary.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What to use instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu? ›

6 Cornstarch Substitutes for All Your Cooking and Baking Needs
  1. Potato Starch. Potato starch is the cornstarch substitute favorite of associate food editor Kendra Vaculin. ...
  2. Rice Flour. ...
  3. All-Purpose Flour. ...
  4. Tapioca Flour. ...
  5. Arrowroot Powder. ...
  6. Xanthan Gum.
Jun 13, 2022

How to make tofu crispy like a restaurant? ›

There are a few tricks to perfect tofu. First, tossing cubed tofu with cornstarch will help you get a crispier exterior when baking or stir-frying. Pressing the block of tofu to eliminate excess moisture also helps. And you'll want to make sure you're using high enough heat.

Is tofu better pan fried or air fried? ›

Air Fryer Tofu is hands down the best way to get crispy, flavorful tofu that cooks in just 10 minutes! Toss it in a buddha bowl or add to vegetable stir fry or salad. This tofu tastes good nearly anywhere! If you love this tofu, you will love my popular Marinated Tofu recipe!

How long should you air fry tofu? ›

Place tofu pieces in one layer in the basket of your air fryer. You might need to work in batches. Air-fry at 390 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 6 minutes. Turn tofu pieces over and air-fry until crispy, about 6 more minutes.

What happens if you don't press tofu? ›

And if tofu is vacuumed packed or firm already, you definitely don't need to press it. Here's why: moisture in tofu is a good thing. Tofu is over 80% water, and that moisture is what makes it such a succulent, juicy source of protein. Pressing it can make the tofu unnecessarily dry and strip it of its intended texture.

What oil is best to fry tofu? ›

If you want a nutty flavor, she suggests trying semi-refined peanut oil (such as Lion & Globe), or blending unrefined peanut oil one-to-one with a neutral cooking oil. Cook the tofu over medium to medium-high heat, searing it for one to two minutes on each side.

How do you get breading to stick to tofu? ›

Pour breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, and salt onto a plate and mix thoroughly. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Dip the tofu strips into the cornstarch mixture until evenly coated and immediately press into the breadcrumbs until all sides of the tofu are completely covered.

Can you use flour instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

Why are things not getting crispy in air fryer? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Why aren t my air fryer chips crispy? ›

So I'm sharing how I made my soggy chips crispy again! Why did chips not brown in the air oven fryer? The most common reasons would be moisture or wrong temperature. Potatoes contain a lot of moisture so you should dry the chips with paper towel before cooking.

Why are my vegetables not crispy from the air fryer? ›

Tips for Roasting Vegetables in the Air Fryer

Don't overcrowd your insert, or else the air fried veggies will turn out mushy. Go light on the oil. Too much, and the vegetables will become oversaturated and not crisp up.

Why are my air fryer fries not crispy enough? ›

If your fries are not crispy, air fry them a little longer. Once all batches are finished, toss them all back into the air fryer (no need to place in a single layer this time) for 1 to 2 minutes to warm and re-crisp any that got cold from the first few batches.

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