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 air fryer? ›

First, too much water. If you don't press the water out of your tofu, it can easily become soggy. Second, temperature. Cooking your tofu at a low temperature won't allow it to crisp properly.

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.

What temperature do you air fry tofu? ›

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. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes of cooking, as the exact cooking time will depend on your specific air fryer. That's it!

Why is my fried tofu soggy? ›

Your fry temp is too low. You can start in slightly cold oil but a minute max but after that you're doomed to soggyness. Less time than that ND the heat will eventually push the oil out and make it crispy.

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

How to Improve Your Air Frying
  1. Pat foods dry. Before air frying, pat dry anything unbreaded that you want crispy or browned, such as meat, fish, and vegetables.
  2. Avoid overfilling the basket. ...
  3. Check food often. ...
  4. Flip the food as it cooks. ...
  5. Experiment with homemade favorites.
Feb 5, 2024

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 can I coat tofu with instead of cornstarch? ›

If you want a crispy outer coating for your tofu, flour can be a great substitute for cornstarch. Simply coat the tofu cubes or slices with a dusting of all-purpose flour before frying. The flour helps create a light and crispy texture while ensuring the tofu stays tender on the inside.

Should you coat tofu in cornstarch before frying? ›

it in olive oil. It gives it a crispy crust when you coat it.

What is the best temperature for air frying? ›

If setting the fryer manually, use temperatures of around 350 degrees F for leftovers. And always watch the food carefully. You want it crisped on the outside and just heated all the way through, so check it every 3 to 4 minutes.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch for 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.

How do you know if tofu is cooked enough? ›

If you're cooking slices or cubes, cut the tofu into slices, layer them between paper towels and weigh down the individual slices. The finished tofu should be spongy yet dry (you'll need to weigh it down for 30 minutes to 2 hours).

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.

How do you're crisp fried tofu? ›

Reheat leftovers: You can re-crisp any leftover tofu on a tray in the oven, or in an air fryer. Bake or air fry for about 10 minutes at 350°F, or until crispy.

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

After the hot water soak, it's still important to completely blot the pieces of tofu dry so that they don't stick to the air fryer. Combining the soak, thorough blot drying, and a good dusting of arrowroot powder will get you nicely crispy results! It only takes about 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

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 is my air fryer not crisping fries? ›

It's essential that you spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and that you leave a little space between each one. If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches.

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

Air Fryer Vegetables Tips

If these pieces are too large, they won't cook through by the time the zucchini and peppers are tender. Don't crowd the air fryer basket. The #1 rule of air frying! In order for the vegetables to become caramelized and crisp, the hot air must be able to contact them on all sides.

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