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This Air Fryer Tofu comes together with just 4 simple ingredients and results in the most deliciously crisp tofu you will EVER have! And it’s ready in under 20 minutes.
Want more DELICIOUS tofu recipes? Try my Chili Crunch Tofu Bowls, this Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce, and my Tofu Mac & Cheese!
The much anticipated Air Fryer Tofu Recipe is finally here! I’ve been promising this one for a LONG time, I know. I posted a video of how I make it on my Instagram last week and got SO MANY requests for the full recipe. SO here it is.
I’ve posted many, many tofu recipes over the years and after posting my 6 Different Tofu Marinades roundup I started making how-to guides showing you all the different ways you can cook tofu from baking tofu, sautéing tofu, and not how to air fry tofu!
Why air-frying tofu is my favorite way to cook it
- It gets SO CRISPY – I’ve made tofu every single way you can imagine and this is hands down the best way to get it super crispy!
- It’s lighter than frying – while frying tofu in oil does get it pretty crispy, all of the excess oil is annoying + a hassle to deal with.
- It takes 15 minutes – I loe being able to pop this in the air fryer and let it cook while I prep the other parts of my meal.
Ingredients needed
As always, the full written recipe with step-by-step photos is down in the recipe card.
Here’s what we’re working with:
- Super firm tofu – lately, super firm tofu is ALL I have been using. It’s higher in protein, requires no pressing, and simply results in crispy tofu in my opinion. It can often be more expensive BUT I get mine at Trader Joe’s where it is around $2.79.
Firm or extra firm tofu will also work- just be sure to press it first. - Soy sauce & sesame oil – this provides a little saltiness and flavor.
- Cornstarch– this helps get the tofu extra crispy. Arrowroot powder would also work well.
See how to make this Air-Fryer Tofu here
Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 15-16 oz tofu , super firm ideally*
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, or other oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce, (or amino acids)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch, (arrowroot powder also works well)
- OPTIONAL: other spices as desired*
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air-fryer to 400 degrees F (some air fryers go to 390 and that’s ok too).
- Into a large bowl, tear the block of tofu into medium chunks. I am for chunks about the size of a quarter. You can also cut the tofu into cubes, but I preferring to tear it because it provides lots of jagged edges that get deliciously crispy in the air fryer!
- Toss the tofu with the oil and soy sauce. Sprinkle on the cornstarch and toss again so that it’s fully covered. Place the tofu in your air fryer, being careful not to overcrowd it. You want at least a tiny bit of space in between each piece. Work in batches as needed.
- Air fry the tofu for 10 minutes. Toss and air fry for an additional 5-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you want it. I usually do about 15 minutes total.
- Serve with you favorite sauce (or on it’s own!) and ENJOY!
Notes
- Tofu– I prefer SUPER firm tofu (sometimes called high-protein tofu) in this recipe. I’ve tested it with all different kinds and this is my favorite. It also requires NO pressing which I love it for.
Firm or extra firm tofu will also work well, just be sure to press the excess moisture out first. - Other spices – I left this rather plain (but the recipe is still absolutely delicious as written) so that it can be used in a plethora of different ways or with different sauces. BUT, if you’re wanting to enjoy it without a sauce, you can toss on any spices you’d like such as garlic powder, paprika, cumin, etc. Some kind of a spice blend would also be delicious.
- Marinating– I have a whole blog post about marinating tofu including SIX different marinade flavors. IF YOU MARINATE IT, I suggest skipping the soy sauce and oil in this recipe as it should be flavorful enough.
- Optional addition– I’ve made this recipe before several times by adding in 1-2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast. I love the extra flavor it adds but it’s totally optional!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve tried tofu in the air fryer before and it did come out very crispy but it also was fairly chewy. I assumed I overcooked it. Any tips to avoid chewiness? Thanks!
Do you have any suggestions for substitutes for soy sauce? I just cannot tolerate the msg though I love the taste of soy sauce.
you could try out tamari or coconut aminos for a similar taste!