This air fryer tofu nuggets recipe is simple to make, easy to adapt, and freezer-friendly.
Tofu chicken nuggets are crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. They're full of flavor and the texture is unbelievable!
Why you'll love this recipe
It's no surprise I love tofu, but if you're still on the fence about it – these nuggets will make you a believer. Learn how to air fry tofu nuggets without oil.
- Cooking tofu in an air fryer ensures the perfect crunchy bite every time!
- This recipe uses common plant-based pantry items. These nuggets are dairy free, egg free, and can easily be made gluten free.
- Crispy tofu nuggets are extremely versatile! Enjoy them as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce or add to salads or wraps for a wholesome, protein-packed entree.
- Once they’re done cooking, you can even coat them in buffalo sauce for the ultimate spicy game day snack. (Check out my recipe for buffalo tofu nuggets!)
Equipment
- Tofu press: Pressing the tofu squeezes out excess liquid, so that the tofu can soak up all the tasty flavors of the marinade. You don't want to skip this step!
- Mixing bowls: Every kitchen needs a sturdy set of glass mixing bowls. These are durable and dishwasher safe.
- Air fryer: I love my air fryer toaster oven so much! I truly don't know what I'd do without it. It's large enough to fit everything I need in comfortably, but compact enough to store easily on the countertop.
Ingredients
To make air fried tofu nuggets, we're going to start with a simple homemade marinade, batter each piece of tofu, then roll them in seasoned bread crumbs. Here's what you'll need:
For the marinade
- Tofu: For this recipe, I recommend using firm tofu or extra-firm tofu. These hold up the best and have superior texture for nuggets.
- Soy sauce: We'll mix soy sauce with water to give the nuggets a savory taste.
For the batter
- Flour: Your standard all-purpose flour works great here!
- Dairy free milk: Use milk of choice. I typically use oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk.
- Apple cider vinegar: The acidy from ACV causes the non dairy milk to slightly thicken.
For the breading
- Bread crumbs: I suggest using panko bread crumbs, as they have a lighter, dryer, and flakier consistency compared to regular bread crumbs.
- Nutritional yeast: Also known as nooch, nutritional yeast has a nutty and savory flavor. Do not use active dry yeast as a substitute.
- Seasoning: Additional seasonings include Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
Why tofu?
I love cooking with tofu, as it's relatively inexpensive and comes in several varieties, from silken tofu to extra-firm tofu.
It's one of the most versatile and healthy vegan foods! You can cook it to be smooth and creamy or crisped and crackly. Play with spices and seasonings to make it sweet, spicy, or savory.
A couple of my personal favorite tofu recipes include this tofu scramble tater tot casserole, that's perfect for breakfast and my sesame tofu with broccoli stir-fry, that's a family-favorite for weeknight dinners.
Substitutions
This recipe is simple to make gluten free and allergy friendly!
To make vegan and gluten free tofu nuggets: Instead of soy sauce, use tamari or liquid aminos. Replace all-purpose flour with gluten free 1:1 flour, and ensure your breadcrumbs are gluten free.
How to make air fryer crispy tofu
The full directions for this tofu nugget recipe are in the printable recipe card below.
To make vegan tofu nuggets, start by pressing the tofu. I like using my tofu press but you can just as easily stack tofu, a clean kitchen towel, a baking sheet, and top with something heavy like a cast iron skillet or stack of books.
Pressing the tofu removes excess liquid, so it's able to soak up all the umami marinade flavors. Let tofu press for at least 30 minutes for best results.
As the tofu sits, grab a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk together soy sauce and water. Once tofu is pressed, tear the block of 1-inch pieces and place into the bowl.
You could slice your tofu with a knife, but I've found tearing it with your hands gives the tofu a better texture, plus ends up looking more like nuggets rather than uniform cubes.
Let the tofu chunks marinate in the mixing bowl for 15 minutes. As the tofu marinades, prepare two separate mixing bowls – 1 for the batter and 1 for the breading.
Create an assembling line with the marinated tofu, batter, breading, and air fryer basket. Coat the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray and let's get cooking! You can use homemade panko bread crumbs or buy a container at the grocery store.
Working one at a time, take a piece of tofu and dip it in the batter, gently shake off any extra batter. Roll the battered tofu in the breading until fully coated. Place in the air fryer basket and repeat with remaining tofu.
Give the nuggets a light coating of oil spray. Make sure tofu nuggets are in a single layer and not touching each other. This will ensure they cook evenly, without sticking. Air fry vegan nuggets at 400F for 10-15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Expert tips
- If the batter is too thick, add an extra splash of dairy free milk and stir until desired consistency is reached. You don't want it to be too thick or thin, just enough coating to fully cover the tofu before adding the breading.
- If the batter is too thin, add extra flour one tablespoon at a time and stir together.
- Depending on the style and size of your air fryer, cooking times may vary. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on your tofu nuggets as they cook.
Serving suggestions
Dunk golden vegan chicken nuggets into your favorite dipping sauce. I suggest ketchup, BBQ, or honey mustard!
Storage and reheating
I love meal prepping vegan nuggets! You can make a large batch, store or freeze them, then reheat as many as you'd like when you’re in need of a quick and easy vegan meal.
How to store leftovers
Store leftover vegan nuggets in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How to freeze
Let nuggets cool completely, place in a freezer-safe bag, freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to dig in, no thawing necessary!
How to reheat
To reheat, pop in the oven or air fryer at 350F for 8-10 minutes, until hot and crispy. If reheating from frozen, you may need to add a couple extra minutes to the cook time.
Frequently asked questions
To avoid soggy tofu and to make the best vegan nuggets, you really need to press the tofu before getting started. It takes just 30 minutes! If you don't have a tofu press, stack a clean kitchen towel and heavy skillet on top instead.
Air fry nuggets at 400F for 10-15 minutes. Cook time can vary based on the type of air fryer you have.
Serve tofu nuggets with ketchup, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Yes! Use tamari or liquid aminos in place of soy sauce. Use gluten free flour and bread crumbs.
Store nuggets in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350F for about 8 minutes, or until warmed throughout.
Yes. Cook baked tofu nuggets in the oven at 425F for 25-30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Related recipes
Want more easy air fryer recipes? Try these next:
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
- Air Fried Pickles
- Crispy Air Fryer Apple Chips
- Tacos in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
Equipment
Ingredients
For the marinade
- 1 (16-ounce) block of extra-firm tofu
- ¼ cup soy sauce (substitute with tamari, if gluten-free)
- ¼ cup water
For the batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (substitute with 1:1 GF flour, if gluten-free)
- 1 cup dairy-free milk (oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc.)
- 1 ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional)
For the breading
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Remove the tofu from its package and drain the liquid. To avoid soggy tofu, press the tofu either in a tofu press or by stacking a heavy object on top, like a cast iron skillet. Press tofu for at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together soy sauce and water in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Once tofu is pressed, tear off 1-inch pieces and place into the bowl. Give it a stir and let tofu marinate for 15 minutes.
- Using two separate mixing bowls, combine the batter ingredients in one and the breading ingredients in the other. If the batter is too thick, add an extra splash of dairy-free milk and stir until desired consistency is reached. Set up an assembly line with the marinated tofu, batter, breading, and air fryer basket.
- Coat the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Working one at a time, take a piece of tofu and dip it in the batter, then roll it in the bread crumbs.
- Place each piece of breaded tofu in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure no pieces are touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Give the nuggets a light coating of oil spray.
- Air fry tofu nuggets at 400F for 10-15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Leave a Reply