This Easy Crispy Tofu that’s made in the air fryer is about to be your new favorite recipe! So simple, quick, and versatile the options are endless! Toss it in your favorite sauce or dip it like a nugget. The choice is yours, with only three main ingredients, what’s not to love?
I’m so excited to share this recipe for my new Easy Crispy Tofu with you. I actually make this recipe all the time for my toddler and it recently occurred to me that I should share it with you all for simple weeknight dinner inspiration that tastes great, but doesn’t take a lot of time. What I love most is that it can easily be paired with your favorite side dishes to make a complete meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Easy Crispy Tofu:
- organic super firm tofu – super firm tofu is a staple in my fridge and it’s perfect for this recipe. If you’re in a pinch, you could also get away with extra firm tofu as well. I would not however recommend silken tofu as it’s much too soft.
- all-purpose seasoning of choice (optional) – if you want to use something other than salt and pepper, try using your favorite seasoning blends. Tabitha Brown’s Sunshine seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, fajita seasoning, taco seasoning, or even curry seasoning!
- cornstarch – this ingredient is the star of the show! it’s what’s going to give your tofu the perfect outer crust. I haven’t tested any substitutes just yet!
- neutral cooking spray – You can use whatever you have available. I’ve used olive oil, vegetable oil, and even grape seed oil.
How to Make Easy Crispy Tofu:
The first thing you’ll want to do to make this recipe is gather up all of your ingredients. There’s nothing worse than starting a recipe only to realize that you’re missing something. Lucky for you there are only three main ingredients that you’ll need to create the best Easy Crispy Tofu! Once you’ve gathered everything you are all set!
You’ll want to start by draining your package of super firm tofu. I find that super firm tofu doesn’t really have a lot of water that needs to be trained from it and oftentimes it only has a tiny bit of water in the packaging itself. So if you were wondering if you needed to press this tofu I guess you could if you wanted, but it is not absolutely necessary. Once your tofu is removed from the packaging you can use your hands or a knife to break it into 1 inch pieces. I like the texture and look that comes along with breaking it up by hand, but if you prefer neat and tidy little cubes then by all means use a knife!
Now that your tofu is prepped, add it to a large container that can be closed with a lid. Spray the tofu with a generous amount of cooking spray on both sides, then add your cornstarch and seasonings of choice. You can totally get away with using salt and pepper, but if you are looking to spice things up a little bit feel free to use your favorite all-purpose seasoning of choice. However, if you plan to toss these in your favorite buffalo or barbecue sauce, salt and pepper will work just fine.
Once your tofu is covered in cornstarch and your seasonings, cover the container with a lid and shake vigorously to coat the tofu on all sides. Now that the tofu is coated, transfer the tofu to your air fryer basket and spray generously on all sides. I find it most useful to spray, then shake up the basket a little bit to get the tofu pieces to flip, and spray again.
Cook your tofu at 400Ā° for 20 minutes or until the tofu is as crispy as you’d like for it to be. I find that I get the best results around 20 to 23 minutes, however I realized that everyone’s air fryer is different so it may take a few minutes less or a few minutes more for you to achieve the results you’re looking for. Once you’ve achieved a crispy brown outer crust, you’re ready to enjoy! You may find that you need to break the tofu pieces apart gently as some of them may have stuck together during the cooking process which is totally fine.
At this point you’re ready to toss your Easy Crispy Tofu in your favorite buffalo sauce or pull out your barbecue sauce to start dipping them. The choice is yours! Enjoy however you like!
Tips for Achieving the Best Easy Crispy Tofu:
- Be sure to spray your tofu as evenly as possible. Though the tofu will likely crisp up without being sprayed in some parts, the end result will be blotchy due to the cornstarch. Spraying the tofu pieces evenly will result in a nice lightly browned finish.
- Don’t overcook the tofu. As I mentioned above, I get the best results by cooking my tofu for 20 to 23 minutes. Be sure not to overcook your tofu because the inside will dry out and it will lose the firm inside texture. Just imagine biting into a crispy piece of air. Yikes!
- Coat evenly. You want to make sure all sides are covered with the cornstarch mixture to ensure the best (and crispiest) results!
Easy Crispy Tofu FAQ:
Can this recipe be made in the oven?
Absolutely! I tested this out myself and though it takes twice as long for the tofu to get crispy, it does work. Instead of adding the tofu to your air fryer basket, transfer it to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spray both sides of the cornstarch and seasoning coated tofu. Transfer the baking sheet to a preheated oven at 400 degrees and cook for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes flip the tofu onto the other side and cook for an additional 20 minutes, for a total of 40 minutes.
Do I have to use super firm tofu?
Super firm tofu is my favorite when it comes to using it as a meat substitute. I’ve only tried this recipe with super firm tofu, so I can’t guarantee that it will work with another kind, however I think that extra firm tofu would work as well. Whatever you do just don’t try this with silken tofu as I am 99% sure it’s not a good idea!
What seasonings can I use to spice this dish up?
It really just depends on your personal preference, however I have used all kinds of seasonings to add some variety to my Easy Crispy Tofu. Tabitha Brown’s Sunshine seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, fajita seasoning, taco seasoning, or even curry seasoning!
How do I reheat this dish?
You can easily reheat this dish by placing it back in the air fryer and spraying it with a little bit of oil, then cook for 2 minutes at 400Ā° using the air fryer setting.
How do I store this dish?
I always find it best to store this dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you are going to toss this tofu in a sauce, your results might be different. I would recommend only tossing the tofu that you plan to eat immediately in a sauce, then store the remaining crispy tofu pieces in the refrigerator.
What makes this dish so crispy?
The star of the show in this recipe is the cornstarch. It works to create a really simple crispy outer layer to the tofu that makes it perfect for dipping and tossing!
I know you’ll love this Easy Crispy Tofu recipe! It’s so simple to make and it tastes great. These bite-sized pieces are perfect for pairing with your favorite sauce or using your favorite seasonings to achieve the flavor you enjoy most. Give this recipe a try and let me know how it goes in the comments below!
More Tofu Recipes You’ll Love:
- Easy Vegan Orange Tofu
- Easy Vegan Tofu Quesadillas
- Crispy Baked Breaded Tofu
- Spicy Chicken Fried Tofu
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Easy Crispy Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe!) [+VIDEO]
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package organic super firm tofu
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- all-purpose seasoning of choice (optional)
- ā cup cornstarch
- neutral cooking spray
Instructions
- Drain excess water from tofu and set aside.1 package organic super firm tofu
- Break the tofu into roughly 1 inch pieces.
- Transfer the tofu to a large container and spray with the cooking spray generously, then add the cornstarch, optional seasoning blend and/or salt/pepper to taste.salt, black pepper, all-purpose seasoning of choice, ā cup cornstarch, neutral cooking spray
- Cover with a lid, then shake vigorously to coat the tofu.
- Transfer the coated tofu pieces to the air fryer basket and spray generously with spray oil on all sides, flipping as needed.neutral cooking spray
- Cook at 400Ā° for 20 minutes.
- Serve as desired. Enjoy!
