Making takeout at home is made simple with this sticky teriyaki tofu stir fry recipe! Tasty fresh crisp vegetables and baked tofu coated in a sweet & spicy teriyaki sauce... Doesn't get better than this.
This Sticky Tofu Stir Fry is healthier than takeout, easy to make, flavorful, and made with whatever veggies you have on hand!
Sweet, spicy, and delicious sticky tofu stir fry will be your new go-to weeknight dinner.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Sweet, spicy, tangy homemade teriyaki sauce
- Chewy baked tofu that has a crispy coating
- Delicious fresh crisp vegetables
- Easy, quick dinner perfect for busy weeknights
Main Ingredients
Forget the takeout tonight and make this easy sticky tofu recipe instead!
- Homemade Spicy Teriyaki Sauce
- Stir Fry Veggies
- Extra Firm Tofu
- Cornstarch
Kitchen Essentials:
This delicious sticky tofu recipe is easy, quick, and requires no fancy equipment!
The homemade teriyaki sauce comes together simply with a saucepan and whisk. And the tofu can be baked, air-fried, or pan-fried so the options for equipment vary.
The Best Stir Fry Veggies:
This delicious takeout-inspired teriyaki tofu recipe is sure to be added to your weekly dinner rotation! You won't even need to take a trip to the market because you can make this dish with whatever leftover veggies you have, the easiest vegan teriyaki sauce recipe is made with pantry staples and baked or pan-fried tofu.
I love using snow peas, thinly sliced carrots, red bell peppers, and green beans.
What other veggies can I use for a stir fry?
- Red Onion
- Mixed Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Baby corn
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
Substitutions:
- Tofu: Substitute with tempeh, vegan chicken seitan, or soy curls.
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce: Simply substitute with store-bought teriyaki sauce.
- Stir Fry Veggies: Pick any and all veggies from the list above. I recommend choosing at least 2-3 different vegetables.
How to Make Spicy Teriyaki Sauce
This truly is the best homemade spicy teriyaki sauce recipe EVER!
You’ll never get store-bought again! You simply brown some ginger and garlic in a frying pan, whisk together all the sauce ingredients then thicken in a pan for a few minutes. Ingredients and full instructions can be found in my blog post for Spicy Vegan Teriyaki Sauce.
Note: I recommend prepping ahead and making the spicy teriyaki sauce (that can be made mild or super spicy) while the tofu is pressing or baking so that this dish comes together fast and more efficiently.
How to Make This Recipe
Making this easy tofu stir fry comes together in just a few simple steps and is super customizable!
Step 1:
Drain and press the block of tofu for at least 15 minutes. Cube the tofu and add to a large bowl. Toss in soy sauce and then add the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper.
How to Press Tofu
Investing in a tofu press changed my tofu game! You can buy an inexpensive tofu press or create your own DIY tofu press by wrapping it in paper towels or clean dishcloths and placing it in a shallow bowl. Then, stack heavy items on top to drain the excess water. Press for 15-30 minutes.
Learn more about pressing and cooking tofu in my Ultimate Guide to Cooking Tofu.
Step 2:
Spread the tofu out on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake for 25 minutes or until golden and crispy. Alternatively, heat a large pan on medium-high heat and pan-fry the tofu until golden and crispy or air fry.
Step 3:
Prep the stir fry vegetables. I recommend choosing at least 2-3 vegetables from the list above that cook quick. You'll want to pick veggies that you enjoy eating slightly cooked but still crisp.
Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil and sauté the veggies for a few minutes to soften. You want them to be soft but still crisp and colorful.
Step 4:
Add the baked tofu to the veggies and pour in the homemade teriyaki sauce. Toss until coated and then serve over rice. Top with cilantro and green onions. I like adding fresh cucumber on the side as well. Enjoy!
How to Cook Tofu
How to Bake Crispy Tofu
Press a block of extra firm tofu for 15-30 minutes then cube and toss with a splash of low sodium soy sauce. Then, toss with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and any other desired seasonings then bake @ 425F for 20-25 minutes or until crispy and golden.
How to Pan-Fry Tofu
Press a block of extra firm tofu for 15-30 minutes then cube and toss with a splash of low sodium soy sauce. Then, toss with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and any other desired seasonings then fill the base of a medium pan with neutral oil and pan-fry until crispy and golden brown on each side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of the time teriyaki sauce is vegan but it can vary based on the recipe or brand. Some recipes call for honey and certain types of sugar aren’t vegan-friendly. But my recipe for teriyaki sauce is vegan, contains less sugar than store-bought, and can be made gluten-free!
I recommend reading through my blog post How to Cook with Tofu. It outlines all the common issues that can occur and how to fix them!
More Tofu Recipes You Might Like:
- Crispy Tofu Nuggets
- Tofu Steamed Buns
- Sweet Chili Tofu
- Crispy Tofu Rice Bowl with Peanut Sauce
- Vegan Orange Tofu
If You Make This Recipe:
I would greatly appreciate if you share your review in the comments below and leave a star rating. Don’t forget to add if you made any fun substitutions. Thank you!
Sticky Tofu Teriyaki Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 Block Extra Firm Tofu pressed
- 1 tablespoon Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- ½ tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- Pinch of Black Pepper
- 1 Batch Teriyaki Sauce
- Stir Fry Vegetables
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Drain and press the block of tofu for at least 15 minutes.
- Cube the tofu and add to a large bowl. Toss in soy sauce and then add the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper.
- Spread the tofu out on a parchment lined baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and crispy. Alternatively, heat a large pan on medium-high heat and pan-fry the tofu until golden and crispy. While the tofu bakes, prep the veggies and the teriyaki sauce.
- Prep the stir fry vegetables. I recommend choosing at least 2-3 vegetables from the list above that cook quick. You’ll want to pick veggies that you enjoy eating slightly cooked but still crisp.
- Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil and sauté the veggies for a few minutes to soften. You want them to be soft but still crisp and colorful.
- Add the baked tofu to the veggies and pour in the homemade teriyaki sauce. Toss until coated and then serve over rice. Top with cilantro and green onions. I like adding fresh cucumber on the side as well. Enjoy!
Adrian Cois says
So yummy. Very easy to make and gave the perfect sticky toffee like texture to the sauce. It stretches a long way too. I've done it for soy curls and the recipe covered a whole bag including veggies. Also fun to try out different types of citrus - I've don't lemon and mandarin. Keep up the good work Liv!!
Liv says
So glad you enjoyed the teriyaki sauce! I love the idea of replacing the citrus with lemon or even lime would be good. I'll have to try that out. Thank you!
Alli Smith says
Soo delicious recipe!! I made the cubed tofu in the air fryer and it was so easy!! this will def be a staple dinner for me now (:
Liv says
I'm so happy you enjoyed!! 🙂