Air Fryer Tofu

Air fryer tofu is a tasty and healthy alternative to meat. You’ll love its chewy texture, crispy exterior, and tender and juicy core.

For more tofu recipes, try our fried tofu, marinated tofu, and baked tofu.

Louise and I have made this crispy air-fried tofu more times than we can count 😋.

It’s our go-to when we want something quick, healthy, and packed with plant-based protein. So, if you’re looking for a satisfying alternative to chicken, this recipe delivers big flavor with minimal effort.

Thanks to the air fryer’s hot circulating air, the tofu turns golden and crispy in just over 10 minutes – way faster than a regular oven. Best of all, the inside stays tender and juicy while the outside gets that perfect bite.

The result? Flavorful, crisp, and chewy tofu pieces that are as versatile as chicken.

We toss air fried into salad recipes, grain bowls, stir-fries, soups, you name it. Once you try it, you’ll see why this is one of our most-loved tofu recipes.

Find the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

• Tofu: Choose firm tofu or extra-firm tofu. Avoid silken tofu, as it will fall apart in the air-fryer.

• Soy sauce: We use reduced-sodium soy sauce. You can substitute tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.

• Oil: A little oil is necessary to help the tofu crisp up. We usually use olive or avocado oil, but your favorite vegetable or light-colored sesame oil can be used.

• Salt: Tofu needs salt to taste good, so add a generous pinch of sea salt or kosher salt.

• Spices: We use garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. You can get creative and use your favorite spices. For example, if you use the air fryer tofu for a curry, you can season it with turmeric or curry powder. Onion powder works too.

• Corn starch: Optional, however, coating the tofu in a bit of cornstarch makes it crispier and tastier.

Find the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Remove the tofu from the package, drain it, and pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove excess water. Please don’t press the tofu, as pressing it will make it dry inside.

With your hands, break the tofu into bite-size pieces.

Tip: I recommend breaking the tofu apart with your hands rather than cutting it into cubes with a knife. The rugged surface of the tofu pieces will grab onto the seasoning much better than clean-cut tofu cubes.

Transfer the tofu bites to a large container and add oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cornstarch.

Toss gently in the marinade, with a spoon, until fully coated.

Brush your air-fryer basket with a thin coat of oil to prevent the tofu from sticking.

Transfer tofu into an air-fryer basket. Arrange mainly on a single layer without too much overlapping.

Air fry the tofu at 400°F or 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes. Halfway through cooking, separate the tofu bits from each other with a fork, and shake the basket.

If you have a small air fryer, you might have to cook the tofu in batches.

Total cooking time may vary based on your air fryer model. The longer you cook it, the crispier and chewier it gets.

• Add to curries: Add it to our vegan butter chicken, tofu curry, vegan curry, eggplant curry, or sweet potato curry.
• Make BBQ Tofu: Check out our BBQ Tofu recipe and BBQ sauce.

• Skip the Pressing (Unless You Like it Chewy): I rarely press tofu—it takes time and dries it out. But if you prefer a firmer, chewier bite, press it for 30 minutes using a tofu press or wrap it in paper towels under something heavy.

• Break It, Don’t Cut It:
  Tear the tofu with your hands instead of cutting it. The rough edges grab seasoning better and get crispier in the air fryer.

• Single Layer? Nice, But Not a Must:
  A single layer gives slightly crispier results, but overlapping is fine. Just shake the basket a few times to move things around.

• Cornstarch: Optional but Worth It:
  Cornstarch adds crispiness and helps the seasonings stick. It also keeps the inside juicy. Skip it if you like your tofu drier and chewier.

Make ahead: air fryer tofu is best right after making it, so it’s crispy and juicy.

Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Freezer: we don’t recommend freezing air-fried tofu, although, if you want, you can certainly do so.

• Baked tofu
• Fried tofu
• Tofu salad
• Tofu soup
• Orange tofu
• Grilled tofu

If you tried this Air Fryer Tofu recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!