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? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

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? ›

I tried coating tofu with various blends of flour, potato starch, rice flour, and corn starch, both pan-frying and deep-frying, and found that the crispest, cleanest-tasting results came from a deep-fry in a simple coating of cornstarch. Crisp fresh out of the fryer, that is.

Is air-fried tofu unhealthy? ›

Air-frying is an excellent alternative to traditional frying methods, as it delivers the same delicious flavor and crispy texture without the added oil. This results in a product that is much healthier, containing significantly less fat and calories.

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 is a substitute for cornstarch in crispy tofu? ›

If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can try a substitute such as potato starch or arrowroot starch. Salt and pepper: You can also add additional seasonings like garlic and onion powder, paprika, nutritional yeast, etc.

How do you keep tofu from sticking to the air fryer? ›

How to Prevent Food from Sticking to Your Air Fryer Basket
  1. Use a Small Amount of Oil. One thing you should do both for crispy texture and to prevent sticking is use a small amount of oil. ...
  2. Spray the Basket Lightly with Vegetable Oil Spray. ...
  3. Make a Foil Sling.
May 18, 2023

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.

Is tofu better pan fried or air fried? ›

While tofu is delicious pan-fried or deep-fried, it's even more delicious made in an air fryer. Besides the fact that the tofu comes out super crispy, it's super easy to make and has minimal cleanup. The secret to making tofu extra-crispy in an air fryer is to coat the tofu with cornstarch.

Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer? ›

Yes, and here's what you need to know. Parchment paper is a safe and effective liner to use in the air fryer. To avoid safety hazards, weigh down the paper with food and keep away from the heating element. Parchment paper can be heated up to roughly 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

What oil is best for frying 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.

What starch is best for frying tofu? ›

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

Soy sauce – Or tamari for gluten free. Cornstarch – This is the secret to the most perfect fried tofu. Cornstarch forms a protective layer around each cube of tofu, which crisps up when added to heat. If you don't have cornstarch, arrowroot powder and tapioca starch also work.

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.

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? ›

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. Also, if the temperature you're cooking at is too low, this could cause the chips to look a little pale.

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.

Why are my fries not crispy in air fryer? ›

Cook the fries at a low heat to start and then turn the air fryer temperature up to give them that crispy texture. Dry your potatoes completely before adding oil. This allows the oil to stick to the potato whereas if it's still wet, it will repel it and they could turn soggy.

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