Air Fryer Tofu: Perfect to serve as an appetizer at a party or just to make on a weeknight at home, this recipe could also be made vegan and gluten-free!
Air Fryer Tofu
When my oldest was a wee little one, he was NOT a fan of meat…
And growing up as a cattle farmer’s daughter, that was a little weird.
So I had to experiment and visit aisles in the store that I had never familiarized myself with before.
I found myself picking up things like butternut squash souffle, vegetarian minestrone, and tofu.
Not having a CLUE how to cook tofu, I started having to find different ways to cook it, and growing up with a cattle-farming dad who LOVES everything fried… (pan) fried tofu just makes sense to me.
But then finding out how to cook tofu in the air fryer takes it to a whole new level and it’s definitely something you tofu loves MUST try.
Why Use an Air Fryer?
Well, for one… I’m a bit obsessed with cooking things in the air fryer. (Side note: Did you see the S’mores in the Air Fryer? You’ll definitely want to check that goodness out. And if you’re not a vegetarian, you will love the air fryer cheeseburgers and air fryer bacon for sure!)
Crispy Tofu in the Air Fryer
But the air fryer cooks the tofu by circulating hot air around it, while also keeping it separated from the fats that it would normally be sitting in. So… you’ll get healthy, crispy tofu that is evenly cooked in just 12 minutes!
Plus, it makes for a quick and easy clean up.
How to Cook Tofu in the Air Fryer
For the full recipe ingredients and instructions, you’ll find the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. However, I’d love to walk you through the step-by-step process with images so you can grab more helpful tips along the way!
It is incredibly easy and you only need a few ingredients to make crispy tofu in the air fryer.
Shop these adorable small white prep bowls HERE!
You’ll need:
- 3 – 12.3 oz. packages of firm (or extra firm) tofu
- 1⁄2 cup flour
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄8 teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs
for 6 servings.
You’ll start out by preparing the tofu for cooking.
Cut each package into 12, even (bite-size) pieces. (You’ll want to try and make them the same size so they cook evenly.)
Next, in a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt and pepper.
Dip each piece of tofu in the flour mixture. (This will give the egg something to cling to.)
Finally, dip or brush each piece with beaten eggs which will give the tofu a crunchy golden crust.
Cook the tofu at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Make it Gluten-Free
You can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free flour. However, I find that an all-purpose, gluten-free mixture works best because they contain a blend of flours.
Make it Vegan
There are two ways to make vegan tofu in the air fryer.
- One way is to roll the tofu cubes in panko crumbs and skip the egg drizzle! The panko crumbs will still turn brown and crunchy.
NOTE: If you try to use flour without the eggs, you will wind up with white dusted tofu cubes. So skip the eggs and swap the flour for panko instead. - The second way to make vegan tofu in the air fryer is to completely omit the eggs and breading.
You can flavor the tofu cubes by marinating them in your favorite sauces or tossing them in seasonings and spices.
Still cook them at 350 degrees for 12 minutes!
How to Season Tofu
This recipe makes perfect classic breaded tofu, but if you’re looking to change things up you can add your favorite spices into flour.
To make the tofu spicy, try some cayenne pepper and smoky paprika to the flour mixture.
If you want to make it a little more savory, add some Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or Cavenders to the flour.
This recipe is very forgiving and is a great base for experimenting in the kitchen.
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Tofu
Breaded tofu is best enjoyed immediately after cooking it. But if you do have leftovers you can store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The breading will likely become soft, so I recommend reheating it in the air fryer again to bring back some of the crispy breading.
Dipping Sauces for Fried Tofu
Totally optional of course, but you can serve your favorite sauces alongside this fried tofu. Sauces such as:
- soy sauce
- fish sauce
- coconut aminos
- sweet chili
- bbq sauce
- ranch dressing
Shop these dipping sauce bowls HERE!
Air Fryer Tofu
Equipment
- air fryer
Instructions
- Carefully remove the tofu from the packaging and cut evenly into 12 cubes.
- Mix together the flour, salt and pepper then dip each cube in the mixture. Be sure tocover each side.
- Brush, drizzle or dip the beaten eggs over each cube.
- Place the tofu in the air fryer basket, evenly spacing them apart. You may need to makemultiple batches.
- Cook at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
- Serve with your choice of dipping sauce.
Nutrition
More Appetizer Recipes
If you loved this easy recipe idea, then you’ll absolutely love the other appetizer recipes I have here on the blog. You can almost bet that they’ll be easy, use everyday ingredients and delish!
Browse the other appetizer recipes HERE!
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