Vegan Breaded Tofu Nuggets (Air Fryer)

These Vegan Breaded Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets are a crispy, nugget-style alternative to deep-fried tofu. Made in the air fryer, they're perfect for dipping, kid-friendly, and easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

If you enjoy crispy tofu but don't want to deal with the hassle of deep-frying at home, you must give these air fryer tofu nuggets a try.

Unlike cornstarch-coated tofu, these nuggets use a true breadcrumb coating for a thicker, crunchier bite.

They're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

And they make a great high-protein, plant-based dinner or snack, especially with your favorite dipping sauce.

Ingredients

These breaded tofu nuggets require just a few simple ingredients including tofu, all-purpose flour, panko breadcrumbs, seasonings, and a dipping sauce of your choice!

Extra-Firm Tofu: Extra-firm works best here because it holds its shape and gets crispier. Press the tofu for about 15 minutes using a tofu press or a DIY setup to remove excess moisture. This helps the breading stick better.

All-Purpose Flour: This the base for the batter. A gluten-free all-purpose flour works well as a 1:1 swap if needed.

Plant-Based Milk: I used unsweetened almond milk.

Seasoning: Nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper give the batter more flavor.

Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko creates a light, crunchy coating that's perfect for air frying. Most panko is vegan, but it's always worth checking the label. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed.

Spray Oil: A light spray of oil (I like avocado oil) helps the nuggets turn golden and extra crispy in the air fryer. You can skip it, but the texture won't be quite as crunchy.

See recipe card for quantities.

Helpful Equipment

I suggest investing in a tofu press if you enjoy cooking tofu at least a few times a week. I love the one by Tofuture.

Removing excess water is crucial for achieving the ideal texture. While it may not be essential in every recipe, it is for this one!

You'll also need an air fryer for this air fried tofu recipe, I use the Ninja Air Fryer XL.

Please note that results vary depending on the brand of air fryer so adjust the timing as needed by checking on the tofu every few minutes. Once golden and crispy, it's done!

How to Make This Recipe

Press some extra-firm tofu, give it a nice seasoned coating, cover it with panko breadcrumbs, and air fry until it's wonderfully crispy and golden.

Don't forget to get the dipping sauces ready!

The full written recipe can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a shallow bowl. Pour in the unsweetened plant-based milk and whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Step 2: Coat each tofu bite in the batter and drip off any excess.

Step 3: Toss immediately into the breadcrumbs and coat.

Step 4: Place onto a parchment-lined baking tray. Continue until all the tofu has been battered and coated in breadcrumbs.

Step 5: Transfer half of the tofu bites to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with avocado oil or other neutral oil. Frying in batches will ensure the tofu nuggets evenly brown and get crispy.

Step 6: Air fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes. Continue until all nuggets are crispy and golden.

Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce like vegan honey mustard, tahini ranch dressing, or vegan bbq sauce.

Note: Since air fryers can differ, check the tofu halfway through and again in the final 2-3 minutes to make sure it doesn't burn.

Substitutions & Variations

Tofu: You can substitute the tofu with cauliflower florets, tempeh, or seitan.

Make it gluten-free: Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all purpose flour and substitute the panko breadcrumbs with a gluten-free breadcrumb.

Seasoning: The seasonings are kept very simple in this recipe but can be customized depending on how you decide to serve it.

Serving Ideas

These tofu nuggets can be served as an appetizer, snack, or as a main.

With a dip: My favorite dipping sauce is bbq sauce, vegan honey mustard, and vegan buffalo sauce.

On a salad: Use as the protein element in salads. Serve with maple dijon vinaigrette or balsamic vinaigrette.

Grains: Serve over quinoa, rice, or another grain and roasted vegetables of your choice to make it a heartier meal.

Sandwich or Wrap: Use the crispy tofu as a filling for a sandwich or wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, and your favorite veggies. It would be great with this green goddess tahini sauce.

With a side dish: These tofu bites would be great with air fryer broccolini, air fryer frozen green beans, or vegan mashed potatoes.

Storage

Storage: Store leftover tofu nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 400°F for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy.

Tips & Tricks

Keep in mind that air fryers can differ. Check the tofu halfway through and in the last few minutes of cooking to ensure it doesn't burn.

While a tofu press is ideal, you can make a DIY version. Wrap the tofu block in paper towels or a clean dishcloth, place it in a shallow bowl, and stack heavy items on top. Press for 15 minutes or up to 2 hours to remove excess water.

Spoon the flour into your measuring cup rather than scooping to avoid over-packing. Too much flour will make the batter too thick.

Be sure to allow the excess batter to drip off so the batter doesn't pool around the tofu and knock the breadcrumbs off.

Arrange tofu in an even layer. When placing the tofu in the air fryer basket, arrange the tofu in a single layer with space between each piece. This will help the tofu cook evenly and get golden brown and crisp.

Fry in batches. Frying in batches will ensure the tofu nuggets evenly brown and get crispy.

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