My simple recipe makes the crispiest air fryer tofu and it is ready in under 15 minutes! Eat as a snack or add it to salads, bowls and wraps.
The crispiest air fryer tofu
Say hello to the only air fryer tofu recipe you'll ever need! The flavor in this recipe comes from wildly vibrant spices and seasonings, including garlic, paprika, turmeric and lemon juice. The tofu absorbs these flavors like a sponge. Then, in about 12 minutes in the air fryer, it undergoes a complete texture transformation, becoming crispy on the outside while remaining soft and chewy on the inside.
The recipe can't be simpler. All you have to do is:
- Cut the tofu into cubes.
- Toss it with the flavorings.
- Put it in the air fryer.
The flavor of this air fryer tofu is fantastic, but you can also use this recipe as a guide and experiment with seasonings and flavors you enjoy. Substitute the spices with others like ground ginger, ground black pepper, cayenne and ground cumin, or add dried herbs of your choice to come up with your favorite flavor combination.
I toss these tofu cubes into wraps and salads but I also add them to stews, curries and even my vegetable biryani. They are super versatile and I am sure you will find many, many ways to use them in your kitchen.
P.S. There's very little oil in this recipe - just ½ teaspoon for eight servings - but if you are oil-free, I have you covered in the FAQs.
OMG! These are sooo good! I can't stop eating them straight out of the air fryer! I have been struggling to get my protein intake since turning vegetarian, but these cubes are going to change that, they are addictive! - Laura
Would you like to save this recipe?
Enter your email and I'll send this recipe to your inbox!
Recipe card
Air Fryer Tofu Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 oz extra firm tofu (or high protein tofu. If using extra firm tofu, press out the water).
- 1 teaspoon paprika (or cayenne, which will add more heat than paprika)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon avocado oil or any neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut the tofu lengthwise into four slabs, then cut each slab into 12 cubes.
- Place the tofu and all marinade ingredients in a bowl, toss to mix. You can air-fry the tofu rightaway or, if you have the time, let it stand for 30 minutes.
- Place the tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with a bit of space between each cube, and insert it in the air fryer. You might need to do this in two batches..
- Air-fry the tofu for 12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit/190 degrees Celsius. Halfway through air frying remove the basket and toss the tofu cubes around. This helps the tofu cubes crisp up evenly.
Nutrition Information
To print recipe card without images, uncheck "instruction images" after clicking the "print recipe" button.
Recipe FAQs
If you are oil-free add a teaspoon or two of vegetable stock to help the spices adhere to the tofu, then air-fry. Tofu air-fried without oil won't be as crispy but it will still taste delicious because of the seasonings.
You can air fry the tofu without the seasoning, especially if you plan to add it to other recipes like tofu curry. Tofu is bland so add a dash of salt and pepper for some basic flavor.
Air fryer tofu cubes are great for meal prep. Add them to salads, sandwiches, wraps and bowls, like this healthful vegan crack chilli tofu noodle bowl. Use the tofu in stews as a meat substitute (we love it in vegan beef stew and vegan Irish stew), or as a replacement for paneer, Indian cottage cheese, in recipes like Vegan Palak Paneer, Vegan Paneer Butter Masala and Vegan Butter Chicken.
Refrigerate the air fryer tofu for up to four days. Freezing tofu is not recommended because it completely changes the texture. If you do freeze, keep in mind that the tofu will be far chewier. This can be nice in some dishes, like curries.
Reheat the tofu in the air fryer set to 375 degrees for 3-4 minutes or until crispy again.
Freeze the tofu in an airtight container or bag for up to three months. All tofu, cooked or not, will change its texture when frozen and will become more sponge-like. This can actually work great if you want to add the air fried tofu to curries and stews, because the tofu will better absorb the flavors of the sauce.
Vindya Donahue says
Thank you for these delicious vegan recipes. Thank you for your respect for cows. My heart breaks to see their plight too. Thank you for sharing your opinion and your lovely recipes. Would you care to share what is the best vegan milk for coffee. I'm allergic to oat milk. Thank you.
Vaishali says
Hi, I love vanilla soymilk in coffee! Thanks for your kind words.
Luciellenc says
If you don't like flavored creamers (vanilla, hazelnut, etc.) Mocha Mix is a soy based creamer that is unflavored. It actually tastes like cream.
Krista says
Would this work equally well in a convection oven? If so, would I use the same temperature and baking time?
Vaishali says
Yes, I think it would! Use same temp and time.
Julie Fitzpatrick says
I made the air-fried tofu last night and it turned out fine and tasty! This is amazing because I can sabotage almost any recipe without even trying. Not only was it easy-to-make and delicious, one 16 oz. brick of super-firm tofu only cost $3.50 and made five servings with 18 grams of protein in each serving! I had a second serving for lunch in my left-over pasta dish and I still have 3 more servings in the refrigerator. What a great choice! Thank you, Vaishali!
Vaishali says
Awesome, so happy you loved it, Julie. I agree tofu is a really great and economical source of protein, and there are so many things you can do with it!
Minnie says
My favorite air fryer recipe! I just used it again with your veg biryani and it's so awesome in that too. I make this tofu every week.
Vaishali says
So happy you made the tofu and the biryani, Minnie!
Nan says
My favorite air fryer tofu recipe! I love the balance of flavors in the seasonings you recommend and everyone in our family loves it. I make it weekly.
Vaishali says
Hi Nan, that's so great to hear. This is one of my go-to recipes too!