Crispy tofu is a staple for me. I make it once a week (at minimum) and enjoy it both as a snack and as a meal. For years I’ve been crisping it up in the oven, following my Crispy Baked Tofu recipe.
But lately the weather’s been heating up, and running my oven is the last thing I want to do! I finally adapted my recipe to work in my air fryer. Not only does this mean my house stays nice and cool, but it’s also ready in about half the time (no preheating required). Honestly, why haven’t I been doing this all along?
Let’s dig in to this extremely quick, easy, and delicious recipe.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Tofu. Firm or extra-firm work best.
- Olive oil. Or your favorite cooking oil.
- Onion & garlic powder. Optional (but recommended), for extra flavor.
- Salt & pepper.
- Cornstarch. Potato or arrowroot starch will work as well.
How to Make Air Fryer Tofu
This recipe is so ridiculously easy, you won’t believe it!
Step 1. Press your tofu.
Step 2. Cut or tear your tofu into pieces.
Step 3. Toss with oil and seasoning.
Step 4. Toss with cornstarch.
Step 5. Pop in the air fryer.
Step 6. Shake every now and then to ensure even cooking.
👩🍳 Sarah’s Recipe Notes 📝
- Don’t skip pressing your tofu. Removing excess moisture is key to getting a nice crispy coating on your tofu pieces. If you cook tofu often, I highly recommend investing in a tofu press (this one by Tofuture is my absolute favorite). It not only presses out extra moisture but also condenses it for a firmer texture.
- Adjust time as needed based on your air fryer. Every model of air fryer will perform a bit differently. Keep an eye on the tofu the first time you give this recipe a try and feel free to adjust the cook time as needed to achieve perfectly crispy, golden-brown tofu nuggets.
- Mix it up with your favorite spices. Onion and garlic are great additions to any savory recipe (in my humble opinion), but you’re not limited to just those. Try taco spice, jerk seasoning, curry powder, or mala spice.
Ways to Enjoy Crispy Tofu
Just like my Crispy Baked Tofu, this tofu is soooo versatile! You can enjoy it as an easy protein-packed snack, or you can bulk it up with a few other elements to make a whole meal. Here are a few of my personal fave ways to serve these crispy nuggets.
- Toss them in buffalo sauce and serve with a side of plant-based ranch dressing. It’s the perfect quick-and-easy game day snack.
- Stir fry together with peppers, onion and pineapple and toss with sweet and sour sauce (or orange sauce, or sweet chili sauce). Serve with fresh steamed rice for a much lighter spin on a classic takeout menu item.
- Toss with your favorite smoky barbecue sauce and it’ll make the perfect protein source in a Southern-inspired bowl with collard greens, and mac n’ cheese (or mashed potatoes and gravy).
These are just a few ideas for you, but really the possibilities are endless. Check out more recipe ideas below!
My Favorite Air Fryer Tofu Recipes
- Sesame Tofu – This nostalgic dish is better than getting takeout!
- Orange Tofu – Another takeout-style dish: sweet and tangy orange tofu.
- Gochujang Tofu – Crispy tofu chunks tossed in a spicy, Korean-inspired gochujang sauce.
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Easiest Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
Video
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 (14 or 16 oz) block firm or extra-firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil of choice
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (use a little less if you're going to use a very salty dipping sauce)
- black pepper to preference
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or potato starch
Instructions
Press Tofu
- Ahead of time, use your favorite method to press your block of tofu for at least 10 minutes. (A tofu press is my favorite method, but you can also simply wrap your block of tofu in a clean, lint-free kitchen towel and gently weigh it down with something flat, such as a cutting board.)
Season Tofu
- Once your tofu has been pressed, cut it into roughly 1" cubes, or tear it into bite-sized pieces. (I prefer to tear mine, because the irregular pieces develop a nice crispy, craggy texture that holds sauce even better.)
- Place the tofu pieces in a mixing bowl. Drizzle on the olive oil, then sprinkle over the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Give the pieces a toss to coat — try to be gentle so the tofu pieces don't crumble. A flexible rubber spatula can be really helpful here. (Or, if you have a container with a lid, you can simply give everything a gentle shake to coat.)
- With the tofu pieces coated in oil and seasonings, now add the cornstarch and give the tofu another gentle toss to coat.
Air Fry Tofu
- Transfer the tofu pieces into the basket of your air fryer. (You can spray or lightly brush the bottom of the basket with oil if it isn't nonstick.) It's best if you can keep the pieces in one layer with just a little bit of space in between them (so they don't stick together), but it's okay if they overlap a little.
- Air fry for 18-20 minutes at 400°F, or until golden brown and crispy. Give the air fryer basket a shake at around the 8 minute mark. Then give it another shake after 5 more minutes. This will help the tofu to brown and crisp evenly.
- An important note: Each model of air fryer will work a little differently. The first time you make this recipe, I recommend checking on the tofu periodically as it cooks, just to make sure it doesn't overly brown. I tested this recipe with my Ninja Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer and 20 minutes is perfect for us.The tofu may also cook a little faster if you pressed it longer. More excess moisture = longer cook time. Feel free to add extra cook time (1-2 minutes at a time) to achieve the perfect level of crispiness.
- Serve immediately. Toss with any of your favorite sauces or serve with your favorite dips. Some of my favorite ways to enjoy are:-Tossed in buffalo or BBQ sauce to enjoy as a snack with a side of ranch.-Tossed with sweet chili or orange sauce and stir-fried vegetables, and served with steamed rice for dinner.
Crispy, well-seasoned, and super easy to make! Will be my go-to recipe from now on.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind review.
Hi I’m going to make this but I don’t have an air fryer ?? Do you know the temp and time for an oven?
Hi Heather! You can find the instructions for oven-baked crispy tofu here: https://sarahsvegankitchen.com/recipes/crispy-baked-tofu/
Exceptional!! Perfect tofu every time. I will for sure be making this weekly, no doubt. It usually crumbles a bit, but I cook all the big chunks first then I layer the crumbles at the end, and those are tasty too! Great to snack on alone or top salads, etc. I pair it with a Cholula Aioli.
Made this for lunch today. Super easy. Very yummy!
Fantastic!! Quick, easy, delicious and crispy. Very versatile and can be used for so many different things. I used avocado oil but otherwise followed exactly. Thanks for a great recipe!
I’ve been looking for an easy and foolproof recipe for air fryer tofu. This was exceptionally easy. The recommendation for oil, size of pieces, amount of corn starch, and temperature was perfect. The seasonings give good flavor which does not interfere with or overpower any sauce you put on it. I made different size pieces and I could see which size piece best suited my preferences. I know I will make this again and again. This is like the fastest and most versatile dish you could possibly wish for. You can have dinner on the table in 26 minutes, and it’s a hot meal. I will also experiment with putting it in different stir frys and use different sauces and dipping sauce. Thanks for a recipe I’ve been looking for, for a long time!