The Crispiest Air Fryer Tofu (Ready in 25 Minutes!)

This tofu recipe is super tasty and only needs 7 ingredients! It takes just 5 minutes to get ready. The tofu gets crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It tastes a little like chicken because of a yummy spice mix!

You can cook tofu in many ways, like baking it or grilling it. But this air fryer tofu is the best because it’s fast and super crunchy. You can eat it as a snack all by itself. Or you can add it to pasta, salads, rice, wraps, or tacos. It’s so good you’ll want it with everything!

General Information

Particulars	Details
Preparation Time	5 min.
Cook Time	20 min.
Total Time	25 min.
Yields	4 servings
Difficulty	Easy
Total Calories	136 kcal (Per Serving)
Cuisine	American

What you’ll love about this Air Fryer Tofu Recipe

• Easy – It’s so simple! All you have to do is cut your tofu into cubes, pour my yummy sauce on top, and let the air fryer do the work.
• Flavorful – I use a mix of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger to make the perfect marinade. It gives the tofu so much flavor!
• Healthy– This recipe is full of good-for-you plant-based protein.
• Vegan, dairy-free, & gluten-free – It fits so many different diets. Just make sure to use a gluten-free soy sauce like tamari if you need to.

Ingredients

• Extra-firm tofu: Best for holding its shape and not breaking apart during cooking. Firm tofu can be used in a pinch, but softer types likely won’t hold up well.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a crispy coating.
• Nutritional yeast: Adds a savory, cheesy flavor to the dish.
• Soy sauce: Adds umami flavor. Use tamari for a gluten-free option.
• Olive oil: Helps with crisping.
• Garlic powder: Provides a subtle garlic flavor.
• Cayenne: Optional, if you want your tofu with a kick.

How to Make Crispy Tofu in the Air Fryer

Making this tofu is super easy. Just follow these simple steps!

1. Prepare: First, get your air fryer ready by preheating it to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix the coating: While it’s heating up, grab a large bowl. Add the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, and cayenne (if you’re using it). Whisk everything together until it makes a smooth sauce.
3. Coat the tofu: Now, add your cubed tofu to the bowl with the sauce. Gently toss the tofu until every piece is covered in the yummy coating. Be gentle so you don’t break the cubes!
4. Cook: Lightly spray your air fryer basket with some cooking spray or wipe it with oil. Place the coated tofu in the basket in a single layer. It’s important not to crowd the basket! Air fry for 20 minutes. I like to pull the basket out and give it a good shake once or twice while it’s cooking. This helps the tofu get crispy on all sides.
5. Serve: Once the tofu is golden brown and crispy, it’s ready! You can add a little salt and pepper if you think it needs it. Serve it hot and enjoy!

My Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Tofu

I’ve made this recipe a lot, and I’ve learned a few tricks to make it perfect every single time.

• Give it some space: Think of the tofu cubes like they are sunbathing—they each need their own spot! Don’t pile them on top of each other in the air fryer basket. Leaving space lets the hot air move around and makes the tofu crispy. If you crowd them, they will steam and get soft instead of crunchy.
• Skip the pressing: For this easy recipe, I don’t press my tofu. An air fryer is great at drying out the outside of the tofu anyway, so pressing it is just an extra step you don’t need to do. It makes the recipe faster! However, if you want your tofu to be even firmer and crispier, pressing the water out before you start is a good idea.
• Make it your own: You can change things up! If you don’t have olive oil, you can use avocado oil. For a nutty taste, you can add a little bit of sesame oil. You can also try different spices. I think smoked paprika or Chinese 5-spice powder taste amazing on tofu!
• Toss the Tofu With Cornstarch: This is a very important step for getting that crispy outside. I tested the recipe without cornstarch, and it just wasn’t the same. Make sure you get a nice, even coating on all sides of the tofu for the best crunch.
• Coat Your Air Fryer Basket With Oil: Don’t forget to do this! If you have a metal basket, the tofu can stick to it really badly. I like to put a little oil on a paper towel and wipe the inside of the basket to make sure it’s well-coated. This makes getting the tofu out so much easier.

My Favorite Ways to Use Air Fryer Tofu

You might find yourself eating these crispy tofu bites right out of the air fryer basket—I know I do! But they are also amazing when you add them to other dishes.

• General Tso’s Air Fryer Tofu: You can use this crispy tofu to make my General Tso’s Tofu recipe. Just swap my air-fried tofu into that recipe for a super easy meal.
• Salad: I love adding this tofu to a big Ramen Salad. The crunch is perfect with the noodles and veggies.
• Peanut Tofu: Try swapping out the chicken for this tofu in my Asian Chicken Wraps. Then, drizzle it with yummy Thai Peanut Sauce. It’s also great with the peanut sauce from my Chicken Satay recipe.
• Tofu Buddha Bowl: This tofu is the perfect protein to add to a Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowl. It tastes great with quinoa and avocado.
• Vegetarian “Beef” and Broccoli: You can easily make a vegetarian meal by using this tofu instead of the beef in my Healthy Beef and Broccoli recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Here are a few simple ways I love to serve this tofu:

• Bowls: Serve it on a bed of fluffy rice or quinoa. Add some steamed vegetables like broccoli or snap peas on the side for a full meal.
• Salads: Toss the warm tofu cubes into a salad with mixed greens and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
• Wraps: Put the tofu in a soft tortilla or pita bread with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and your favorite sauce.
• Dips: Serve the tofu like nuggets with yummy dipping sauces. I love using peanut sauce, sweet chili sauce, or even BBQ sauce.

How to store leftover Air Fryer Tofu

I have to be honest: this tofu is the crispiest and most delicious on the day you make it. But, it is still really good for days later, it just won’t have that same perfect crunch from day one. Tofu makes great leftovers, so don’t be afraid to make a big batch to eat during the week!

• Storage: I recommend putting your leftover tofu in a container with a tight lid. It will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you made other side dishes, especially wet ones like cooked zucchini or bell peppers, try to store the tofu separately so it doesn’t get soggy. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months! Freezing tofu changes its texture and makes it more chewy, which is actually really nice!
• Reheating tofu: Even though it won’t be as crispy as day one, you can get some of the crunch back! The best way to reheat it is to put it back in the air fryer for a few minutes or warm it up in a pan on the stove. The microwave will make it warm, but it will be soft, not crispy. Just be careful not to cook it for too long, or it can get hard like little rocks (and that’s not good!).

Recipe Variations

Once you know how to make the basic recipe, you can have fun trying new flavors! Here are some of my favorite variations:

• Honey Garlic Tofu: After the tofu is cooked, toss it in a simple sauce made from a little honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, and a teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with water. Just warm the sauce in a pan until it’s thick, then add the tofu.
• Spicy Sriracha Tofu: If you love spicy food, this one’s for you! Mix some sriracha hot sauce with a little soy sauce and a touch of sugar. Coat the tofu in this mixture before you add the cornstarch and air fry.
• Smoky BBQ Tofu: This is so easy. Just toss your tofu cubes in your favorite BBQ sauce before you air fry them. It gives them a sweet and smoky flavor that’s so good.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of tofu is best for cooking?

I always say extra-firm tofu is the best! It’s strong enough that it won’t fall apart and it gets a great chewy texture when you cook it.

Can I use firm or silken tofu?

Firm tofu will work if it’s all you have, but it’s a little softer. I would avoid using silken tofu for this recipe because it is very delicate and will likely turn to mush in the air fryer.

Do I need to preheat an air fryer?

Yes, I really think you should! Preheating the air fryer helps make sure the tofu starts cooking as soon as you put it in. This helps it get extra crispy and cook evenly.

Why did my tofu not get crispy?

This usually happens for one of two reasons. Either the tofu pieces were too close together in the basket (they need space!), or you didn’t use enough cornstarch to coat them. Make sure each piece has its own space to get crispy!

Do I need to marinate my tofu before air frying?

For this recipe, you don’t need a long marinating time. The sauce we toss the tofu in gives it plenty of flavor right away! It’s a marinade and a crispy coating all in one.

Should I use cornstarch to make the tofu crispy?

Yes, absolutely! The cornstarch is the secret ingredient that creates that light, crispy shell on the outside of the tofu. Don’t skip it!

Final Words

I really hope you love this Air Fryer Tofu as much as I do. It’s such a simple, healthy, and delicious way to enjoy tofu, and it has become a staple in my kitchen. It’s proof that easy recipes can be the most satisfying. Happy cooking!

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