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–+ servings
Baked tofu ground beef on baking tray.

Tofu Ground Beef

Look no further if you are in search of a versatile, delicious, and easy-to-make plant-based protein option. This Tofu Ground Beef come lightly seasoned but can effortlessly adapt to various dishes like pasta, tacos, burritos, soups, and more!
5 from 10 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Liv King

Ingredients
 

  • 14 ounce Block of Extra-Firm Tofu
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil or other oil
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • 1 tablespoon Low-Sodium Soy Sauce or gluten-free tamari
  • 1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • Pinch of Kosher Salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Press the tofu for 10-15 minutes to remove some of the excess moisture. If you don't press the tofu, wrap in a clean dish towel.
  • Whisk together the olive oil, tomato paste, low-sodium soy sauce, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. At this point, add any additional seasonings--see note for ideas!
  • Crumble the block of tofu and toss in the seasoning mixture until well coated.
  • Spread out the crumbled tofu on to a parchment lined baking tray-- avoid over crowding the pan or it'll take longer to bake.
  • Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. They will firm up a bit more after coming out of the oven. Stir the tofu crumbles halfway and keep an eye on it especially in the last 5 minutes.
  • Remove the tofu from the oven and serve in tacos, burrito bowls, pastas, soups, stir-fries, and more!

Notes

Important Note about Salt: Not all salts are made equal and cannot be substituted 1:1. If you are substituting table salt for kosher salt, you will need to cut the amount called for in the recipe by at least half. 
 
Don't skimp on seasonings! I added smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper for this recipe to keep it more neutral in flavor to ensure that it goes well with a variety of recipes but you can add more depending on what recipe you're making. If you're making pasta, add Italian seasonings. If you're making burritos, add chili powder and cumin.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram!