Crispy, flavorful air fryer tofu - Simple Vegan Recipes (2024)

Published: Nov 22, 2019 · Modified: Oct 16, 2021 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy, flavorful air fryer tofu is perfectly crispy, just like deep fried, without cups and cups of oil. Serve it up with rice or noodles or on your dinner salad!

Wondering how to get your tofu crispy without boiling it in oil or baking it for close to an hour? Air fryer tofu takes half the time it takes to make baked tofu, and you get a crispier result than baking.

What is an air fryer?

If you're new to air frying, it's basically some kind of magic. The air fryer uses circulating, super hot air to "fry" your food.

An air fryer is sort of a super-charged convection oven that makes food delicious and crispy with little to no oil. Because of its small size, it heats up quickly, meaning no waiting for it to preheat and a faster cooking time.

This crispy air fryer tofu is a great recipe to get you started with your air fryer and a staple recipe in my house.

Basically anything you can make in the oven, you can make more quickly in the air fryer with crispier results. I love using mine to make this tofu and to make:

• french fries
• Brussels sprouts
• avocado fries
• buffalo cauliflower

Recipe notes

Y'all, my family eats this air fryer tofu at least two to three times a week. We use it in sushi bowls, mashed potato bowls, on top of salads...anywhere you want some crispy tofu.

It is super quick, easy, and so, so delicious!

You need about five minutes to slice the tofu and toss it in the marinade, then another 10 minutes or so to marinate and 20 minutes to air fry.

In a pinch, you can even reduce the marinating time to save yourself some time. Your tofu will have a milder flavor, but it will still have that perfect texture.

This recipe is really all about the cornstarch. Tossing the marinated tofu in cornstarch before frying is what gives it that crispy coating you crave.

Yes, you can get a somewhat crispy tofu without cornstarch, but if you truly want that deep fried-style texture, cornstarch is your friend. I sometimes make this recipe without the cornstarch. It's still delightful, but it's definitely not as crispy.

Marinade variations

Think of the marinade in the recipe card below as a jumping-off point. I like this particular marinade because it has only five ingredients that I almost always have in my kitchen, and it tastes amazing.

But please don't feel beholden to these flavors!

You can really adapt your own air fryer tofu recipe with any flavors that you like.

Feel free to marinate in your favorite sauce or dressing to customize it, as long as the total liquid amount is about the same. Three tablespoons to a quarter cup is ideal.

Here are some variations to try:

• ¼ cup of your favorite homemade or bottled vinaigrette
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon sunflower oil, ½ teaspoon each of salt and black pepper

Whatever marinade you choose, that cornstarch is what's going to bring the restaurant-style crispiness to this party.

Serving suggestions

I mean, really, how would you NOT want to use it?

My family loves piling air fryer tofu onto a grain bowl with our favorite veggies.

To make a grain bowl, start with your favorite whole grain (or noodles!), then pile on raw and/or cooked veggies of your choice. Add some green onion, avocado, and a good sauce, and you have got supper in a flash.

Here are some easy sauce recipes that work great in this kind of situation:

• Magical Tahini Dressing
• Blender Peanut Butter Sauce
• All-Purpose Coconut Curry Sauce

It's also lovely as a main dish with mashed potatoes and your favorite veggie or a kale salad on the side. Or stuff it into a pita pocket or wrap for tofu on the go.

For a lovely, light meal, dish up your tofu over salad greens with your favorite salad toppings and dressing. It's delightful in a Seaweed Salad, too!

📖 Recipe