Crispy Air Fryer Tofu (How to Make Crispy Tofu)
Here’s How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Tofu cooked in just 10 minutes! This tofu is delicious, easy to make and great for meal prep!
Here’s a fact of life, air fryer tofu is one of the easiest and delicious quick meals on this blog. Not only will it help you achieve your crispy tofu dreams, but also well seasoned and meal prepped tofu. Did I mention it takes 10 minutes of cooking time?!
What’s an air fryer?
An air fryer is a small counter top high powered convection oven that through its cooking process, essentially cooks whatever you place in it as if it was being fried, except with air. Our air fryer is our MOST used device in our house and I would highly recommend everyone get one. (affiliate links) This is my current air fryer that I adore, and the air fryer I had before that I also love!
We make everything from fries (that are crispy, delicious and take 20 minutes), to burgers, bagels, toast, crispy roasted breadfruit and even plantain. And today – tofu!
Notes on the Ingredients
extra firm tofu – ensure you’re buying the right tofu! If it says “silken” anywhere on it. that’s not the kind we want to use here. Watch my tofu 101 IG series if you want more details, or my Tofu 101 Blog post! Always press your tofu when using it in this way.
Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ground black pepper and sea salt – these are a few simple seasonings that give your tofu incredible flavour. I’ll share some other seasonings ideas below.
cornstarch – our secret weapon for crispy tofu! Cornstarch helps to draw out excess liquid and gives the tofu a crispy exterior.
light soy sauce or liquid aminos – I prefer light soy sauce (or even liquid aminos) since it’s not as salty. You can also use coconut aminos.
sesame oil or any oil – even though you don’t technically need oil for an air fryer, I find a little bit goes a LONG way with aiding crispiness, texture and flavour.
How to make Air Fryer Tofu (Step by Step Instructions)
Making air fryer tofu is so easy and results in the crispest tofu in such a short time.
In a medium size bowl place the pressed and cubed tofu. Add in liquid aminos and toss to coat.
Add in all of the other seasoning ingredients and toss to thoroughly combine.
Place in your air fryer in a single row, so that all the tofu has a little bit of space around each piece.
Set your air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket after 5 minutes, then continuing to cook.
Remove after tofu is cooked. Allow to cool for a few minutes then serve. Enjoy!
You can serve it alone or with a dip, or literally anything your heart desires.
Expert Tips and FAQ
- Make sure you’re not buying silken tofu! That will yield the wrong texture and will break apart if you try and press it. Check out my Tofu 101 post for more, or watch my tofu 101 IG series.
- If you have a smaller air fryer, you’re going to want to split this into two batches because you definitely don’t want your tofu to be crowded. Give them enough space. In my smaller air fryer, I need two batches.
- I’m sure all air fryers are different, so be sure to see if your tofu may need an extra 5 minutes. Mine was perfect after 10 minutes!
- How to press tofu: I cover this in detail in my How to Cook Tofu 101 post! The prep time includes the time to press the tofu
- You can even switch up the seasoning mix. Here are some ideas as to how:
- Italian seasoning with dried parsley, oregano and dried basil
- Bbq seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- The options are up to you!
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 lb block extra firm tofu, pressed for 30 minutes then cut into 1” cubes, (16 oz.)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ tablespoon light soy sauce, or liquid aminos
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil, or any oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl place the pressed and cubed tofu. Add in liquid aminos and toss to coat. Add in all of the other seasoning ingredients including the oil and toss to thoroughly combine.
- Place in your air fryer in a single row, so that all the tofu has a little bit of space around each piece. Set your air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket after 5 minutes, then continuing to cook.
- Remove after tofu is cooked. Allow to cool for a few minutes then serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure you’re not buying silken tofu! That will yield the wrong texture and will break apart if you try and press it. Check out my Tofu 101 post for more.
- If you have a smaller air fryer, you’re going to want to split this into two batches because you definitely don’t want your tofu to be crowded. Give them enough space. In my smaller air fryer, I need two batches.
- I’m sure all air fryers are different, so be sure to see if your tofu may need an extra 5 minutes. Mine was perfect after 10 minutes!
- How to press tofu: I cover this in detail in my How to Cook Tofu 101 post! The prep time includes the time to press the tofu
- You can even switch up the seasoning mix. Here are some ideas as to how:
- Italian seasoning with dried parsley, oregano and dried basil
- Bbq seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- The options are up to you!
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
Wow! This recipe is the real deal. It actually works. Reminded me of eating (vegan) chicken nuggets. Next time I’m going to freeze and defrost the tofu before including it in the recipe. If you’ve never tried cooking with defrosted tofu—oh boy, best tofu hack ever. Gets all the moisture out and changes the texture to be a little meatier. X
Thanks so much Heidi! We love the texture difference that freezing and defrosting tofu provides! You can definitely do that with this recipe.
I just made these again. I think it might be a bomb-proof recipe. SO GOOD.
Question: what sort of dipping sauce would you recommend?
We love mixing a little vegan mayo, sriracha/ chilli sauce and a touch of maple syrup/ agave. I hope this helps!
Worlds crispiest tofu! I loved the texture. I would love to try adding for myself a little more flavor, but I don’t know what direction, I would lessen the garlic powder, maybe more acidic? I’m excited to play around!
Thank you for this recipe! It came out tasty. My outsides were crunchy, but the insides were still soft. I am new to tofu, and was just wondering if this was normal? Thank you!
Hi Thanks so much Nico! What type of tofu did you use?
Delightful! We made half the batch with almond meal as my husband is keto. What sauce do you typically use?
Thanks so much Blake. Vegan Mayo with a bit of maple/ agave and Sriracha usually pairs really well with this.
Hi, what would the taste be like if I fried it with only cornstarch ?
Hi Jess we haven’t tried doing it with cornstarch only so I wouldn’t be able to advise you on that.
This is my absolute favorite tofu recipe. Great texture, super flavorful, and the easiest recipe ever. I do a little more oil & soy sauce than the recipe calls for (1 T each) to get extra coverage. And I use smoked paprika. So so good!
Thanks. First try in an air fryer for us. Ever. Tofu turned out very good. Pieces fell apart a bit. But still got crisp. Served with jasmine rice and roasted asparagus.
Nice Joel we’re glad you like it. Were you using firm “silken tofu”? that could be why it fell apart a bit extra firm tofu should hold quite well.
No, it was extra firm. Just started to fall apart as I pressed it to remove the extra water. I will find a way to “hold the walls” when I press it next time.
hmm ok I see, thanks for your feedback it really helps.
For dipping I made a Sweet chili and orange marmalade sauce. With a little extra honey.
Sounds incredible!
First time I’ve ever cooked tofu and this was PERFECT. So easy and delicious! Will be making regularly!
I was looking for a protein dense lunch option that I could enjoy while working from home. When I found this recipe, I had to try it! I used a dash of Trader Joe’s spicy chili sesame oil, and smoked paprika and it was DELICIOUS. I also made a peanut sauce for dipping, using peanut butter powder, rice vinegar, sriracha, garlic and maple syrup with a little water to get the right consistency and it was perfect. It was quick and easy, and perfect for snacking while working. My husband ate the leftovers cold and RAVED about them. (He’s going to lose his mind when he gets them fresh lol) This will definitely become a weekly special in our house and has been added to the official recipe box!