This air fried tofu is extra crispy and tastes like it’s been fried but is completely oil free! All you need is 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes to make perfectly crispy fried tofu every time!
Ingredient notes
For today’s easy air fryer tofu recipe you only need 5 ingredients! Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements.
Low-sodium soy sauce—infuses a savory, salty flavor and is the base of the marinade. Tamari or liquid aminos work too if you prefer gluten-free options.
Maple syrup—adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the soy sauce. Agave syrup also works or you can omit completely for a sugar-free option.
This tofu marinade is very similar to my stir fry marinade and makes a great base for flavoring tofu. It’s also really easy to customize by adding different seasonings, hot sauce, miso paste, bbq sauce, whatever your heart desires!
This particular flavor profile goes well in most dishes from curries and stir fries, to salads and tacos
How to air fry tofu
This step by step walk-through shows the process of making this crispy air fryer tofu recipe. Exact times and temperatures are available in the recipe card at the bottom.
1. Start by draining the tofu and press out excess water. If you don’t have a tofu press you can do this by wrapping the block of tofu in a clean lint-free cloth or paper towels and setting a plate or cutting board on top with weighted objects. Allow the tofu to press for at least 10 minutes, then slice into 1 inch cubes.
2. Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Transfer to a shallow dish along with the tofu and allow the tofu to marinate in the sauce for 10-15 minutes.
3. Preheat oven or air fryer to 400F degrees. If using an air fryer, evenly spread out the tofu and cook for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
If using an oven, place tofu on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden, flipping halfway.
PrintThe BEST Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce *
- ½ tbsp maple syrup or agave syrup
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 16 oz extra firm tofu or firm tofu
Instructions
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Drain the tofu and press out excess water by wrapping in a clean lint-free cloth or paper towel and setting a plate or cutting board on top with weighted objects. Allow the tofu to press for at least 10 minutes.16 oz extra firm tofu
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Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. When the tofu is ready, cut into cubes and place in a shallow dish. Add the sauce to the dish and allow the tofu to marinate for 10-15 minutes.1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp garlic powder
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Preheat oven or air fryer to 400°F (205°C). If using an air fryer, evenly spread out the tofu in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway. If using an oven, place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden, flipping halfway.
Notes
In order to be gluten-free, use liquid aminos instead.
Work in batches if your air fryer is smaller and won’t allow for the entire batch to be in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You don’t want any tofu touching each other so that they cook evenly and allow each edge to become golden and crispy!
If not all the marinade was absorbed you can use it to flavor rice or add to a stir fry!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. To reheat, throw them in the air fryer for a few minutes to crisp up again.
