• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

our recipes + your inbox = the eatmail

Join now

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • About
  • Contact

Live Eat Learn

Easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time

free ebook

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • Recipe Index
  • Vegetarian 101
  • Travel
  • Meal Plans
  • Course
    • Breakfasts
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Appetizers
    • Sweets
    • Drinks
  • Diet
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Raw
    • Vegan
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Ingredient
    • Avocado
    • Bean
    • Cauliflower
    • Chickpeas
    • Eggplant
    • Mushroom
    • Tofu
    • Quinoa
    • View All
  • Collections
    • All Time Favorites
    • Air Frying
    • Budget Friendly
    • Comfort Food
    • High Protein
    • Meal Prep
    • Meatless Monday
    • View All
  • Visit our kombucha site
    Visit our dog food blog
Home Eat Dinners

Crispy Air Fried Tofu

4.58 from 401 votes
Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Sarah BondUpdated: Dec 07, 2022 138 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

Crispy tofu recipe in an air fryer - This vegan air fried tofu tastes like it's straight from the deep fryer (while being way lower in fat).

No cornstarch needed to make this deliciously crispy tofu recipe! This vegan air fried tofu tastes like it’s straight from the deep fryer (while being way lower in fat).

Blocks of crispy tofu in a bowl.

It’s the conundrum every tofu-eater has had at some point…”HOW do I get my tofu crispy??” Because anyone who knows what the magic of crispy tofu is like will also understand the turmoil of never getting your tofu just right.

Well no more, friends! I’ve unlocked the secret to ridiculously crispy tofu…air frying!

What the heck is air frying? Great question: it’s essentially cooking food really hot with air, so that the outside of your food becomes crispy (like it was fried) (but with way less fat). We’ve air fried French fries and fried “chicken” and avocados and now…we air fry tofu.

(Curious about which air fryer is right for you? We rounded up the best air fryers here.)

How to Make Crispy Tofu Video

Blocks of crispy air fried tofu on a white plate.

Crispy Tofu Ingredients

There are two main components to this crispy tofu: the tofu (duh), and the marinade.

  • Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu, which has more water squeezed out of it than the soft or silken varieties. Less water = more crisp!
  • Soy sauce: Soy (or tamari for gluten-free) adds a rich and salty flavor that levels up your tofu.
  • Oil: We’ll use a blend of sesame/olive oil to add flavor and enhance the crispiness. I wouldn’t recomend cutting out the oil completely, but you could use sprayable oil if you’re looking to reduce fat.
  • Garlic: I use this for quick and simple flavor in the marinade. Feel free to go crazy with it and at your own blend of spices or herbs!
  • A tofu press: You’ll want to press water out of your tofu before cooking it. I love this tofu press (though you could also use a heavy pan).
Pouring marinade over pieces of tofu.
Marinating tofu in a container.

How to Make Air Fried Crispy Tofu

Okay, I sort of lied before. There are actually two secrets to making crispy tofu without cornstarch or bread crumbs.

Secret 1 – Press the tofu: Pressing your tofu before cooking with it removes moisture (which would otherwise make for soggy, not-at-all-crispy tofu). I recently got this tofu press and absolutely love it, but you can also press your tofu by setting a heavy pan (like a cast iron) on top of your tofu and letting the moisture drain out.

Secret 2 – Air frying: My newest cooking obsession and ultimate way to cook anything that needs to be crispy, air frying! I use this air fryer which has held up well with the many (many) kitchen experiments I’ve thrown in it.

Blocks of tofu in the air fryer.
Blocks of tofu in the air fryer.

Serve this crispy tofu with

  • On Vegetarian Caesar Salad
  • Mixed into Kimchi Fried Rice
  • Sprinkled over Shakshuka
  • Or by themselves with Romesco Sauce
Blocks of crispy air fried tofu on a white plate.
Crispy tofu recipe in a white bowl - This vegan air fried tofu tastes like it's straight from the deep fryer (while being way lower in fat).

Crispy Air Fried Tofu

4.58 from 401 votes
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 165kcal
Servings: 4 servings
Print Rate
No cornstarch needed to make this deliciously crispy tofu recipe! This vegan air fried tofu tastes like it’s straight from the deep fryer (while being way lower in fat).

Ingredients

  • 1 16-oz block extra-firm tofu 453 g
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce 30 mL
  • 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil* 15 mL
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil 15 mL
  • 1 clove garlic minced

Instructions 

  • Press: Press tofu for at least 15 minutes, using either a tofu press or by setting a heavy pan on top of it and letting the moisture drain. When finished, cut tofu into bite-sized blocks and transfer to a bowl.
  • Flavor: Combine all remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle over tofu and toss to coat. Let tofu marinate for an additional 15 minutes.
    Pouring marinade over pieces of tofu.
  • AirFry: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F (190 C). Add tofu blocks to your air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to promote even cooking.
    Blocks of tofu in the air fryer.

Tips & Tricks

  • *You can sub the sesame oil for olive oil if needed.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer or a pan for a few minutes. 
  • Which air fryer is right for you? We rounded up the best air fryers here.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 165kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 3.3g (1%) Protein: 11.1g (22%) Fat: 13.2g (20%) Saturated Fat: 1.9g (12%) Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 460mg (20%) Potassium: 178mg (5%) Fiber: 0.5g (2%) Sugar: 0.2g Calcium: 460mg (46%) Iron: 7mg (39%)
Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Pin on Pinterest

Which air fryer is best?

Not sure which air fryer is best? Here are a few of our favorites (complete list of best air fryers here).

Best Basket Air Fryer

Photo Credit: Philips

Philips Airfryer

Best Selling Air Fryer

Photo Credit: Cosori

COSORI Air Fryer

Best Color Selection

Photo Credit: GoWISE

GoWISE Air Fryer

Best Air Fryer Oven Combo

Photo Credit: Breville

Breville Convection and Air Fry Smart Oven

More Air Fryer Recipes

Here are a few more air fryer recipes you'll love (find all of our vegetarian air fryer recipes here).

Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms

With air fried oyster mushrooms and a crunchy coating, this tastes just like fried chicken!

Air Fryer Pizza

Perfectly crispy, easy to make, personal pan pizzas that are about to revolutionize pizza night.

How to Cook Air Fryer Potatoes

How to make baked potatoes, homemade French fries, and potato chips in your air fryer, using both white potatoes and sweet potatoes.

How to Air Fry Any Vegetable

How to air fry virtually any vegetable into perfectly cooked, healthy deliciousness.

Eggplant Bacon

All the flavor and crispiness of bacon and packs it into thinly sliced eggplant!

You may also like...

  • collage of vegetarian air fryer recipes
    13 Vegetarian Air Fryer Recipes
  • Plate full of crispy chickpeas with a wooden spoon.
    15 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas
  • Vegetarian stir fry meal prep recipe idea in mason jars on a red background
    Stir Fry Meal Prep with Cauliflower Fried Rice and Tofu
  • Tofu mocha smoothie in a glass with blue background
    Tofu Mocha Frappuccino
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Rate this Recipe:




  1. bonnie says

    Posted on 5/9 at 1:00 pm

    First time making tofu so I thank you for the starter-level directions with this recipe. Came out perfect! I added a bit of crushed red pepper as well. Now to look for a few more recipes to test 🙂5 stars

    Reply
  2. NOël says

    Posted on 5/15 at 8:42 pm

    Is there any way to make this in an oven since l don’t own a air fryer.
    It looks like it would be delicious. Thank you

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 5/22 at 6:42 pm

      While the air fryer is really the secret here to getting it ultra crispy, you could do the oven. I would go with about 400F for 30 minutes.

  3. Annette says

    Posted on 5/25 at 6:38 pm

    Super good, I did use the sesame oil but left out the olive oil. And added a small spoon of garlic/ginger paste instead of just garlic. It was super delicious.5 stars

    Reply
  4. Gillian Kew says

    Posted on 6/3 at 11:48 pm

    I followed the instructions religiously, with the exception of mixing half dark and half light soy sauce (in Hong Kong, we always use two types; one for saltiness and the other for depth. It is very difficult to buy what westerners think of as soy sauce). I cooked them for only 10 mins at the temperature specified and they were burnt and tough.2 stars

    Reply
  5. susanne p jensen says

    Posted on 6/9 at 12:38 pm

    Crispy tofu the way I love it, but without the oil splatters on my apron, my stove, the counter.

    One tip: these guys really shrink up, so I put more in my air fryer than the photo shows (they were even a bit crowded, though not stacked) I didn’t feel like doing three batches. This time, laziness did not result in disaster.5 stars

    Reply
  6. Krista says

    Posted on 6/11 at 6:45 pm

    Prepared exactly as described, was not crisp at all2 stars

    Reply
  7. Anthony Meola says

    Posted on 6/19 at 7:00 pm

    Sarah once again you’ve helped me out. I’ve made this 3 or 4 times and it’s my go to prep for tofu. Moist but crispy and not greasy in only 15 minutes. I prep this way and stir into stir fry last minute or like tonight, I serve with a peanut sauce instead of cooking it with the sauce. This sauce from spruce eats is the best I’ve ever had.5 stars

    Reply
  8. TRACY JORDAN says

    Posted on 7/31 at 4:11 am

    Prepared just as instructed. Not at all crispy and tastes awful. I feel like it needs a sweetness of some sort added, but regardless of the flavor it was definitely NOT crispy!

    Reply
  9. DJ says

    Posted on 8/8 at 12:46 am

    Love this recipe and I’ve been using it for several weeks. However, I have high blood pressure and all this sodium isn’t good for me. Do you have any less salty alternatives to this? Thank you!5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 8/8 at 6:23 pm

      You can use a low sodium soy sauce! 😀

    • Kay rumson says

      Posted on 3/13 at 4:22 pm

      Try a flavored vinegar. I used balsamic and loved the result.

    • Sean says

      Posted on 8/26 at 8:30 pm

      Liquid Aminos from Bragg

  10. Jess says

    Posted on 8/9 at 5:24 pm

    So crispy and yummy5 stars

    Reply
  11. Brian says

    Posted on 8/21 at 6:28 pm

    I followed your recipe to the letter and it most definitely is not like fried with cornstarch.1 star

    Reply
  12. Débo says

    Posted on 8/24 at 5:14 am

    Really tasty and easy, thank you for the recipe <35 stars

    Reply
  13. Karen E Brokken says

    Posted on 8/25 at 9:14 pm

    I got FlavorWave Turbo air fryer I don’t know how to use. Search for user’s manual video only let me choose how to cook animal flesh. Made my skin crawl. Are there any videos how to use the FlavorWave Turbo air fryer using only vegan food?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 8/26 at 10:53 am

      I’m not sure about that particular model, but most air fryers work similar to each other, so you could probably make any of these vegetarian recipes in it!

  14. Jen says

    Posted on 8/31 at 8:10 pm

    I just used olive oil, garlic powder and salt. Delish!5 stars

    Reply
    • Alex says

      Posted on 9/1 at 6:38 pm

      I’m new to the world of tofu and have been experimenting with different ways to prepare it. I marinaded my tofu in soy and rice vinegar and followed your directions on cook time and WOW! These turned out amazing. Thank you so much. So far my favorite (and easiest) method to cook tofu.

  15. Kristin says

    Posted on 10/24 at 4:31 am

    Sorry but this was really bad. Like really, really bad. I wanted it to be good so desperately but it simply was not. The tofu is not crispy, it’s just really dry but also rubbery at the same time. And now I have to clean out my air fryer so it doesn’t smell like soy sauce for eternity. It’s so bad I’m laughing while I chew the rubbery tofu squares. If you’re reading this, please save yourself the tragedy and just coat your tofu with flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger and pan fry it.1 star

    Reply
    • Reba says

      Posted on 6/5 at 7:42 pm

      Wow I did not experience that at all mine was terrific. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.5 stars

  16. Nan says

    Posted on 10/27 at 8:40 pm

    I fixed this for dinner tonight. I used less than half the oil, (only 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame oil) and it turned out awesome. My air fryer took 18 minutes. My picky granddaughter ate all 6 pieces of hers and asked if anyone didn’t want theirs. Thank you!5 stars

    Reply
  17. Ash Nigam says

    Posted on 11/26 at 10:21 pm

    You can microwave your tofu pieces for ~3 minutes. This will remove most of the excess water, and then air fry. You will not need to use a tofu press in this process. You have to use firm or extra firm tofu.

    Reply
  18. PAUL says

    Posted on 12/30 at 11:21 am

    I normally make crispy baked tofu in the oven with soy sauce, olive oil and cornstarch. This recipe was way better. Question though. Do you use both olive oil AND sesame oil? I assume so. That’s what I did and it was great. 10/10. Will use in stir fry tonight. Thanks.5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 12/30 at 11:50 am

      Yes I do use both! The addition of sesame oil is for flavor 😀

  19. robert p says

    Posted on 1/16 at 10:16 am

    Hi Sarah, I’ve attempted and failed many times pan frying tofu cubes to achieve crispy tofu. It appears that I’m not the only one left disappointed by the pan method even tried various types of food startch. The air fryer method rocks, thanks for the instructions. Found using the freeze / thaw method for my tofu saved the need for pressing and achieved better results.

    Reply
  20. t says

    Posted on 2/14 at 5:15 pm

    This is great, can make a lot of substitutes, sriracha, teriyaki sesame seeds ect.5 stars

    Reply
  21. Brittany Kogovsek says

    Posted on 2/20 at 4:06 pm

    Absolutely delicious!! WhAt is a serving size? How many grams would consider a serving. The whole 16oz block cut?5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 2/21 at 7:33 pm

      This recipe serves 4, so with a 16 oz block of tofu, that would be 4 oz servings 😀 Happy you liked it!

  22. Natalie says

    Posted on 3/5 at 5:40 pm

    Lacks flavour and the tofu did not turn out as crispy as expected. Could be a lot better1 star

    Reply
  23. Kay Rumson says

    Posted on 3/13 at 4:18 pm

    I loved this recipe. I love fried tofu and this turned out as good as any restaurant’s. I substituted safflower for olive oil and used a flavored vinegar and a little salt instead of soy sauce. I cooked it at 390 degrees by mistake, but the tofu came out perfect.

    I served it with vegetables flavored with a sauce similar to the tofu marinade but with added spices and sun-dried tomatoes.

    My new air fryer is my new best friend and will pay for itself vs. restaurant prices. Thank you.5 stars

    Reply
  24. Karl says

    Posted on 4/7 at 6:04 am

    Delicious! Had mine on a wrap with humus, roasted peppers and red onion! Dry nice!5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 4/7 at 8:58 am

      YUM! That sounds like a delicious way to enjoy this crispy tofu! Enjoy! 😀

  25. Ree says

    Posted on 5/1 at 2:02 pm

    Awesome! I now make this every time I have tofu.5 stars

    Reply
  26. Reba says

    Posted on 6/5 at 7:38 pm

    This recipe came out great and was quite tasty! It will definitely be one of my regulars. I’m always looking for good ways to cook tofu and this is definitely a winner.5 stars

    Reply
  27. Krista Holt says

    Posted on 6/19 at 7:22 am

    I followed this recipe exactly and it was no where near crispy. I upped the temp to 400 and left them in their for additional 20 minutes. Still not I would call crispy but I gave up. I have a power xl air fryer that works fine. I did eat them but they definitely needed dipping sauce.2 stars

    Reply
  28. Andrea Mehrer says

    Posted on 6/28 at 12:14 am

    I don’t want to cook the tofu, just dehydrate it and store it so I can have it as needed. My air fryer also dehydrates so what would the direction/recipe be for that? Thanks!4 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 6/30 at 12:58 pm

      I haven’t tried dehydrating anything using an air fryer so I really can’t say – sorry about that!

  29. vanessa nunez says

    Posted on 7/12 at 8:50 pm

    SO GOOD! highly recommend :))5 stars

    Reply
  30. Jayne says

    Posted on 7/26 at 12:56 pm

    I got an air fryer for Christmas and just started using it about a week ago. I have never had fried tofu so I wan’t sure what to expect. The tofu I used is rated 4 out of 6 for firmness and I did extract a lot of liquid from it (20 minutes under heavy bowls). I air fried it for 20 minutes. I guess I was looking for crouton texture … mine is, for the most part, crunchy on the outside and has a good flavor. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 7/26 at 2:18 pm

      I’m happy to hear it, Jayne! They should be crunchy on the outside and a bit soft on the inside 😀

  31. kc says

    Posted on 8/13 at 8:59 pm

    Followed exactly and did not turn out crispy at all1 star

    Reply
  32. LO says

    Posted on 8/21 at 9:27 pm

    Tastes great but not remotely crispy even at double the time.3 stars

    Reply
  33. Shannon says

    Posted on 8/27 at 6:48 am

    This was delicious! I was so happy with the way this turned out! This will be my new go to recipe for tofu for stir fry’s. Thanks so much!5 stars

    Reply
  34. Sel says

    Posted on 8/30 at 6:51 am

    Was super excited for this and followed the instructions exactly but they got no where near crispy at all.1 star

    Reply
  35. Me says

    Posted on 10/1 at 3:20 pm

    Not so great. Followed to a “t”, but it came out soggy. The whole goal was for crispy! Very disappointed.2 stars

    Reply
  36. Sony Sherpa says

    Posted on 10/12 at 8:44 am

    I like tofu for snack! This simple recipe might be an office hit, and we’ll be adding lion’s mane mushroom powder as sprinkle for the extra protein and nutrient.5 stars

    Reply
  37. Adrienne says

    Posted on 1/16 at 9:07 am

    Easy and delicious! I did add an additional 5 minutes of cooking time totaling 20 minutes. I will definitely make it again, thank you.5 stars

    Reply
  38. GARY S. says

    Posted on 1/16 at 4:02 pm

    I’ve always fried my tofu until I tried your recipe. This method worked well for me. It was faster, less messy and just as tasty. Nutritional yeast makes a great topping too if you just want a tofu snack5 stars

    Reply
  39. Jennifer Rutherford says

    Posted on 1/17 at 4:52 pm

    Thank you for sharing this recipe. I absolutely loved it! I added some crushed red pepper flakes and a touch of black pepper and cooked it for 18 minutes. Definitely one of the best tofu recipes I’ve tried 🙂5 stars

    Reply
  40. Eric S says

    Posted on 1/26 at 3:25 pm

    Made this for dinner tonight followed recipe as directed but added some Mexican Tajin spice. Turned out fantastic! And I absolutely love cooking with the air fryer. Fast, easy and if your a meat eater this makes the fasted chicken or ribs ever and no heavy char like on the grill. Just great tasting ribs.5 stars

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Hello

I'm Sarah

A flavor-loving nutritionist and sensory science specialist showing you how to make easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time.

Let's Meet

Freebie alert!

3 reader-favorite cookbooks delivered straight to your inbox.

Get in now!

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Plate full of crispy chickpeas with a wooden spoon.

15 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Personal size mozzarella pizza cooked in an air fryer

Air Fryer Pizza

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Brussels sprouts on a plate with wooden serving spoons.

The Best 15 Minute Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Kale chips on a white plate.

10 Minute Air Fryer Kale Chips

Dinner This Week

Vegan tikka masala with naan and rice in a white bowl

M

Chickpea Tikka Masala

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

T

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

Vegan Thai red curry in a bowl on a red background

W

Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry

Vegan nachos on a black plate on a white background - These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ "pulled pork" and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.

R

BBQ Mushroom Pulled Pork

Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos

F

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Lemon risotto in a bowl with basil on a yellow background

S

Lemon Basil Risotto

As featured on:

3 bonus books!

Join our Eatmail newsletter to get free copies of our top 3 cookbooks, new recipes, exclusive meal plans, and more!

Follow Along

  • Easy Vegetarian Facebook Group
  • Kombucha Brewers Facebook Group
Back to Top
  • Web Stories
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Collaborate
© 2023 Live Eat Learn
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Support by Foodie Digital
66.4K shares