Crispy Breaded Tofu Sticks [Pan Fry| Bake| Air fry]- Plant-Based on a Budget (2024)

Make super crispy breaded tofu sticks with just 5 base ingredients and a pan, oven, or air fryer. Delicious, versatile, and easy to make gluten-free and adapt with your seasoning and coating of choice! Plus, they’re ready in just 20 minutes only!

Crispy and Versatile Breaded Tofu Strips

We’re certainly not tofu shy here at PBOAB. We’ve shared pineapple glazed tofu, sweet and spicy tofu, and garlic-ginger tofu (among many others). Now, though, it’s the turn of something crispier with these super versatile crunchy breaded tofu sticks/ nuggets.

We’re using just 5 pantry staples for the base breaded tofu recipe, including cornstarch, nutritional yeast, soy sauce (or a GF alternative), and breadcrumbs. But keep reading for plenty of possible adaptions to the recipe.

First of all, we’ve made these into tofu sticks/fingers but feel free to chop them into nuggets, triangles, or cubes instead. Next, you can swap out the breadcrumbs and seasonings in almost endless variations. Finally, decide whether you want to pan-fry, bake, or air fry the breaded tofu strips until golden. No matter which method you choose, the results are crispy, tender in the middle, and super delicious.

Once cooked, enjoy the crispy tofu as a crowd-pleasing (child and omnivore approved, too!) finger food with your favorite dipping sauces, serve as a side, or even the main protein for any number of meals.

The Ingredients

All you need is five base ingredients for this crispy breaded tofu recipe, plus salt, oil, and water.

• Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu. Use fresh or frozen (and thawed)—though the texture will differ. Check out our tofu guide if you want to learn more!
• Cornstarch: For the slurry mixture to dredge the tofu before breading it.
• Water: To add to the cornstarch mixture. For extra flavor, use vegetable stock.
• Soy sauce: Use regular or reduced-sodium soy sauce. Use tamari or liquid aminos for a gluten-free option.
• Bread crumbs: Use regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs. Panko crusted tofu using panko is wonderfully light and crispy but pricier.
• Nutritional yeast: For a ‘cheesy’, umami flavor booster in the breaded tofu.
• Salt: Adjust the amount to taste.
• Oil: Use a neutral cooking oil like vegetable oil.

We love serving the tofu fingers with BBQ sauce.

The Add-ins and Variations:

• Garlic powder: This is our favorite common addition to this breaded tofu recipe. Add the garlic powder to the batter or breadcrumb topping.
• Dried parsley: Not only looks great but really helps to enhance the flavor in a subtle yet noticeable way we love.
• Other seasonings: There are plenty that you can experiment with.
  • Onion powder
  • Smoked paprika
  • Italian seasoning
  • Curry powder
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Dried thyme, sage, or oregano
  • Red pepper flakes
• Buffalo tofu sticks: Add some garlic powder and smoked paprika to the cornstarch batter and use panko crumbs. Then, halfway through the baking/air frying, toss the breaded tofu strips in some hot sauce (like Frank’s) and continue to cook. Serve with vegan ranch.
• Breadcrumb alternatives: You could coat the tofu sticks with crushed corn chips (including flavored vegan Doritos), corn flakes, or crackers.

How to Make Crispy Breaded Tofu?

First up, how to make pan fried breaded tofu. This is the quickest method but does require more oil.

Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions.

• 1) First, drain and press the tofu to remove excess moisture—follow our guide to pressing tofu, if needed. Then, slice tofu into finger-length strips about ½-inch in thickness.

For even crispier results, you could pre-freeze the tofu (before draining it). As it freezes, the water within expands. When it thaws, you’re left with lots of pockets in the tofu, making it easier to fully drain for crispier tofu and a chewier texture.

• 2) Combine the cornstarch, water, and soy sauce in a medium bowl and whisk until lump-free.

• 3) Then, pour the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, and salt onto a large plate and mix.

• 4) Next, heat a large skillet with the oil over medium-high heat.
• 5) While the oil heats, prepare the tofu nuggets. First, dip a piece into the cornstarch mixture, then press it into the breadcrumbs on all sides until well covered. Repeat with the remaining strips.

• 6) Once the oil is hot, add the tofu to the pan, cooking it until it’s golden brown (around 2-3 minutes per side).
• 7) Remove from the pan, transfer to a clean paper towel to drain excess oil, and then enjoy the fried breaded tofu!

Alternative Cooking Methods

Air fried breaded tofu: Slice the tofu to your desired shape (strips vs. cubes), season, and coat. Then spray with an oil spray and cook in a single layer with space in between for 12-15 minutes at 400F/200C, shaking after 8 minutes.

Cubes will cook in 10-12 minutes generally. Whereas strips take closer to 15-17 minutes.

Baked breaded tofu: Follow steps 1-5 (skipping step 4), spread the tofu across a baking sheet, spray with a bit of oil, then bake at 400F/200C for 40-45 minutes (closer to 30 for small cubes). Flip halfway and spray the top with a little more oil. Enjoy the baked crispy tofu while it’s still warm – delicious!

FAQs

Top Tips For Breaded Tofu

• Properly press the tofu: You need to remove as much liquid from the tofu as possible. Otherwise, it won’t crisp up properly.
• Use extra firm tofu: The method won’t work with softer tofu types.
• Experiments with seasonings: There is plenty of versatility, so have fun trying to find your favorite.
• Cut to your desired shape: Make strips, cubes, triangles, etc. If you make them any thinner or thicker, then adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• To reduce mess: Use forks rather than fingers when battering and breading the tofu pieces to avoid messy fingers.

How to Make Ahead and Store?

You can drain and press tofu in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Once cooked, store the breaded tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. It’s at its crispiest directly after cooking, but you can bring some back when reheating.

You can reheat the breaded tofu either in a pan (a few mins only), oven (10-15 mins), or air fryer (for 3-4 minutes) until warmed through.

Serving Options

There are plenty of ways you can enjoy these crispy tofu fingers, for example:

• As an appetizer with a dipping sauce (such as BBQ sauce, vegan peanut sauce, curry sauce, ketchup, vegan mayo, etc.)
• Add to wraps, pita, and burritos
• Add to lettuce wraps
• Use in tacos
• Serve with curry
• Add to vegan grain and salad bowls
• Enjoy with stir-fried vegetables
• Slice and add to vegan sushi and sushi burritos and bowls
• To add tofu to pasta dishes like this spicy tomato basil pasta
• Serve with french fries

More Vegan Tofu Recipes

• Buffalo tofu sandwich
• Tofu pesto sandwich
• Tofu and rainbow veg sushi
• Yellow tofu curry
• Tofu omelette
• Holy tofu scramble
• Caldo de Tofu (tofu soup)
• Japanese-style braised tofu

Photos by Alfonso Revilla