Baked Tofu

Our baked tofu recipe helps you transform a block of firm tofu into mouthwatering high-protein tofu chunks.

You’ll love how easy, tasty, and versatile baked tofu is. Make it for a quick dinner or a meal prep. Add it to salads, curries, stir-fries, burritos, wraps, and sandwiches, or dip it in your favorite sauce.

Tofu is a nutritious soy-based East and South Asian food consumed by humans for over 2000 years.

Thanks to its neutral flavor and impressive nutritional profile, it is an excellent meat replacement and one of the most versatile ingredients we know.

In previous articles, we showed you how to make delicious pan-fried tofu, air-fried tofu, marinated tofu, BBQ tofu, grilled tofu, and tofu scramble.

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to bake tofu to perfection and how to use it in different recipes, from simple tofu skewers and tofu salad to irresistible tofu stir fry with rice, from creamy vegan curry and tofu tikka masala to rich and hearty Italian tofu cacciatore.

Since tofu has a neutral taste and a dense texture that does not allow it to absorb flavor, it’s important to toss it in a tasty sauce or marinade.

To make the sauce or marinade stick, we have two tips for you:

• Pull the tofu apart with your hands instead of cutting it with a knife. The rugged surface of pulled tofu chunks makes it easier for the sauce to stick.
• Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the sauce. Cornstarch is optional, but it helps the sauce stick to the tofu.

Also, while baked tofu is tasty on its own, we recommend serving it with a sauce to drizzle on top or for dipping.

Our favorites are creamy peanut sauce, vegan ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, chipotle sauce, tzatziki sauce, vegan sour cream, and sriracha sauce.

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Firm tofu

You can make this baked tofu recipe with firm or extra firm tofu.

Avoid silken tofu and soft tofu; they won’t keep their shapes as you toss them in the marinade.

Olive oil

We use extra virgin olive oil because it’s heart-healthy and stable at high temperatures. Also, its flavor is delicious with tofu.

Substitute regular olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil for extra virgin olive oil.

Soy sauce

Soy sauce adds a rich, savory flavor often called umami. You can use regular soy sauce, reduced-sodium soy sauce, or a gluten-free alternative like tamari sauce and coconut aminos.

Garlic powder

Garlic powder is for flavor. Substitute with onion powder. You can also use both garlic and onion powder.

Paprika

We love baked tofu with smoked paprika, but you can also use regular paprika.

If you like hot and smoky flavors, add 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder.

Cornstarch (optional)

Cornstarch is an optional ingredient. We add it because:

• It helps the sauce stick to the tofu.
• It helps create a crispy coating.
• It helps preserve moisture in the tofu, making the chunks juicer and more suitable for meal prepping.

Substitute arrowroot starch for cornstarch. You’ll need to double the amount.

Salt and Black pepper

We recommend sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

You can add chili powder or cayenne pepper for a touch of heat.

For the tofu skewers (optional)

We love making baked tofu skewers because they look gorgeous and mouthwatering and because the added veggies make the baked tofu even more flavorful.

To make skewers, you’ll need wooden or metal skewers and your vegetables of choice. We recommend bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion.

Note: you don’t have to make skewers; you can also bake the tofu chunks on a baking sheet.

US cups + grams measurements in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Make the tofu chunks

Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C.

Take the tofu out of its package, drain it, and pat it dry with paper towels, applying gentle pressure on all sides to remove excess moisture.

Tip: there is no need to press the tofu as pressed tofu can turn out dry and crumbly. It’s sufficient to apply gentle pressure with your hands while you pat it dry.

Break the tofu apart with your hands into bite-size chunks and add them to a large mixing bowl or container – we use a Pyrex oven dish.

You can make the pieces as small or as large as you like. Smaller pieces get chewier and more flavorful. Larger pieces are more suitable for making baked tofu skewers.

Tip: pulling the tofu apart with your hands produces rugged pieces that look more appealing, and the rugged surface helps the marinade stick.

You can, of course, cut the tofu with a knife, but you’ll end up with smooth tofu cubes that won’t look as delicious, and the slick surface won’t get as flavorful.

Toss the tofu in the marinade

Add olive oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper.

Toss gently with a spoon or silicone spatula until the tofu is fully coated. Now, you can either bake the tofu chunks or make tofu skewers.

Baked tofu chunks

Transfer the tofu chunks to a baking sheet – you can line it with parchment paper if you like.

Arrange them on a single layer without overlapping. Drizzle the sauce that’s leftover in the dish over the pieces.

Bake at 400°F or 200°C for 30 minutes or until the pieces are browned and chewy.

Baked tofu skewers

To make tofu skewers, you’ll need to chop an onion and bell pepper into chunks.

Make the skewer starting with a piece of onion, then add a piece of bell pepper, and finally a piece of tofu.

Repeat with the onion, bell pepper, and tofu. You should be able to fit 3 pieces of each.

Arrange the tofu skewers on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 400°F or 200°C for 30 minutes.

You can use baked tofu like you’d use chicken pieces.

They are excellent for turning any dish into a high-protein vegetarian meal. For example:

Baked tofu on salad

Add the baked tofu pieces to your favorite salad. They turn any salad into a fulfilling, nutritious, high-protein meal.

We like drizzling with our vegan ranch dressing and adding quick pickled red onions for extra tang.

Baked tofu in a wrap

Use your favorite wrap or make your own with our homemade roti or flatbread recipe. Add roasted vegetables, baked tofu chunks or skewers, and pickled red onions or jalapeños.

Top with vegan sour cream, peanut sauce, and some sriracha sauce for heat.

Finish with some fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner.

Baked tofu with dips

Baked tofu chunks and skewers are perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce. We recommend:

• Creamy peanut sauce.
• Tzatziki sauce with yogurt, garlic, and cucumber.
• Vegan sour cream with cashew nuts.
• Smoky and spicy chipotle sauce.
• Homemade BBQ sauce.

Sauces

Peanut Sauce Recipe

Sauces

Tzatziki

Sauces

Vegan Sour Cream

Sauces

BBQ Sauce

Baked tofu with tikka masala marinade

We developed this recipe for our vegan butter chicken and tofu tikka masala, two Indian recipes that will make you fall in love with tofu.

The tofu is coated in a yogurt-based marinade that packs it with flavor. To make the marinade, you’ll need:

• ½ cup (120 grams) Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil swap avocado or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 inch (2 cm) ginger grated
• 2 cloves garlic grated
• 1 teaspoon garam masala or curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or chili powder

Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add the tofu chunks and toss until coated in the marinade.

Arrange on a baking tray lined with parchment paper on a single layer. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F or 200°C for 30 minutes and enjoy with rice, in a wrap, or on a salad.

Baked BBQ Tofu

This recipe is for baked BBQ tofu with a bold, smokey, sweet, homemade BBQ sauce that perfectly hugs the small bites of crisp and chewy tofu.

It’s delicious in a burger with coleslaw salad. It’s one of the tastiest ways of eating tofu.

Check out our BBQ Tofu recipe.

Air-Fryer Tofu

Make our crispy air-fried tofu with the same ingredients as our baked tofu but in half the cooking time.

Compared to baked tofu, air fryer tofu is chewier and meatier, with almost a jerky-like texture.

Check out our crispy air fryer tofu recipe.

Make ahead: baked tofu is an excellent recipe for meal prep as you can keep it in the fridge for days, ready to be warmed up and consumed for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner.

Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezer: you can freeze baked tofu in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months.

Thaw & Reheat: Defrost it in the fridge for several hours. Warm it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

Get more easy and delicious tofu ideas with these simple recipes:

• Tofu soup with mushrooms and green onions.
• Orange tofu with a sweet and sour orange sauce.
• Kung Pao Tofu, a classic Chinese stir fry, is better than takeout.
• Braised tofu in a delicious Chinese-inspired sauce.
• Tofu meatballs with marinara sauce with bold Italian flavors.
• Vegan egg salad is a quick recipe excellent for a sandwich.

Soups

Tofu Soup

Tofu

Orange Tofu

Tofu

Kung Pao Tofu

Tofu

Vegan Egg Salad

• BBQ tofu.
• Tofu curry or vegan curry.
• Tofu tikka masala.
• Vegan butter chicken.

Tofu

Tofu Curry

Tofu

BBQ Tofu

Tofu

Tofu Tikka Masala

Mains

Vegan Curry

For many more tofu ideas, check out our tofu category page.