The EASIEST Crispy Tofu Recipe (Only 3 Ingredients!)

GFGluten FreeGRGrain FreeNFNut FreeOFOil FreeVVegan

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Learn how to make the best Crispy Tofu with this easy and yummy recipe! Made with only 3 ingredients, this Tofu is Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Oil-Free.

Tofu: some people love it, some people hate it. I, however, believe that the people who hate it just haven’t had it prepared in the right way.

But no worries, friends – what if I told you that you could have the best, easiest, and crispiest Tofu EVER…with only 3 ingredients total and super simple steps?! Well, I’m tellin’ ya. This crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside Tofu is about to change. your. life. And become a regular staple in your recipe rotation. 😉

crispy tofu on skewer on grey stone background

Tofu can be bland, and it can be mushy – but it all comes down to the way you prepare it. As a vegetarian since birth, I’ve had more than my fair share of this soy-based protein. I’ve experimented with countless different ways to prepare it, and this method is by far my favorite. 

I’ve included my basic recipe for Crispy Tofu in a few other recipes on this blog, but wanted to make a complete run-down of the steps + method for you all, including my tips and tricks. So, shall we?

Step One: Press and Cube your Tofu

side by side photos of hands pressing tofu and cubing tofu on wood cutting board

You’ll need one 14 oz. block of Extra Firm Tofu for this recipe. Firm will work too, in a pinch. Remove the Tofu from it’s package and drain any extra liquid off, then gently press as much liquid out of it as possible. I like to use a Tofu Press, but you can also use a couple of towels and a heavy object if you don’t have one.

Then, cube your Tofu – I like to cut the thickness of the block in half, then cut each half into 16 “cubes.” These are the perfect bite-sized pieces for your Crispy Tofu!

Step Two: Toss with Tamari, then Nutritional Yeast

tossing tofu in nutritional yeast in large glass bowl

Place the Tofu cubes in a large glass bowl, then drizzle 1 tbsp of Tamari over them. Now that the Tofu has been pressed, it’s much more likely to absorb the Tamari flavor (and taste less bland). I like to use a large spatula to gently toss the Tofu, so the cubes don’t break. I prefer the flavor of Tamari in this recipe, but you can also use Liquid Aminos or Soy Sauce.

Finally, we can’t forget about our third and final ingredient – Nutritional YeastCoating those cubes in at least 2 tbsp of those golden flakes helps to (1) absorb any extra liquid and give a nice, crispy crust, and (2) adds a ton of Umami + depth of flavor to the recipe. Honestly, the more “Nooch” you toss in there, the merrier!

Step Three: Bake Until Crispy!

side by side photos of unbaked and baked tofu cubes on silicone mat

Spread your Tofu on a Silicone Baking Matleaving enough space between each cube. Bake at 425F for 20 minutes, then carefully flip the Tofu and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. I strongly recommend using the Silicone Mat here – it adds an extra layer of caramelization that you just can’t get with parchment paper!

After your Tofu comes out of the oven, it’s all nice, crispy, and ready to devour. I mean….can we look at those golden cubes?

This Crispy Tofu tastes so delicious that I can (have, and will) eat it plain, but it’s also great dipped in to sauce or used as a bowl-topper! If you’re looking for more ways to use it, you’ll also love these Orange Tofu Buddha Bowls, these Banh Mi Bowls, and this Thai Red Curry Soup!

A Few Final Thoughts:

  • I strongly recommend using a Silicone Mat for this recipe; otherwise, your Tofu will not become as crispy.
  • Prefer extra-firm Tofu? Freezing (and then thawing) your Tofu will provide a spongier, chewier texture.
  • Feel free to add in extra seasonings with the Nutritional Yeast! Some of my favorites include Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, or Toasted Sesame Seeds.

crispy tofu in white bowl on gray stone background

Finally, if you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I love seeing your delicious recreations 🙂

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The EASIEST Crispy Tofu Recipe

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5 from 86 reviews

Learn how to make the best Crispy Tofu with this easy and yummy recipe! Made with only 3 ingredients, this Tofu is Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Oil-Free. 

  • Author: Caitlin Shoemaker
  • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 Minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 2-4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. First, preheat the oven to 425F. Drain the liquid from the Tofu and “press” the extra liquid out by wrapping it in a clean dish towel, or by using a Tofu press. Try to get it as dry as possible!
  2. Cut the Tofu into even cubes. I like to cut the block in half lengthwise, then cut each rectangle into 16 even cubes.  (Note: I like to lightly press the cubes with the dish towel if I have extra time/patience)
  3. Add the cubed Tofu to a large bowl, then use a spatula to gently toss it with the Tamari, until evenly coated. Add the Nutritional Yeast, then gently mix until coated. Add more Nutritional Yeast or extra seasonings to taste, if desired.
  4. Transfer the cubes to a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat, leaving space between the cubes. Bake on the top rack of the oven for 20 minutes, then carefully flip the cubes. Bake for another 20-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your tofu. The Tofu will also get slightly crispier as it cools. 
  5. Serve as desired; leftovers will last in the fridge for up to one week.

Notes

  • Tamari may be substituted for Liquid Aminos or Soy Sauce (not GF). I do not recommend Coconut Aminos as I find it to be too sweet.
  • I strongly recommend using a Silicone Baking Mat for this recipe; otherwise, your Tofu will not become as crispy.
  • Prefer extra-firm Tofu? Freezing (and then thawing) your Tofu will provide a spongier, chewier texture.
  • Feel free to add in extra seasonings with the Nutritional Yeast! Some of my favorites include Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, or Toasted Sesame Seeds.

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Learn how to make the best Crispy Tofu with this easy and yummy recipe! Made with only 3 ingredients, this Tofu is Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Oil-Free. #vegan #glutenfree #plantbased #tofu #crispytofu #oilfree | frommybowl.com

About the Author

Hey there, I’m Caitlin! I make easy-to-follow, wholesome, and budget-friendly vegan recipes that are mostly gluten-free and refined sugar-free. I’m also an avid yogi, love the great outdoors, am chocolate-obsessed, and enjoy eating almond butter straight off of the spoon.

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Comments

  1. Thank you for this recipe and the details, my efforts yielded an end product that was just like your photos.
    I chose to use my air fryer, no oil, preheated to 400, added a perforated parchment sheet when I loaded the cubes. Cooked in 2 batches. First side for 8 minutes, turned each piece over and cooked for another 5 minutes or so; perfection.






  2. I’m planning on making this tonight, but I only have nutritional yeast seasoning. Would that work the same as nutritional yeast?

  3. This is on constant rotation at my house. It works well with almost anything I make. So easy, healthy and delicious. Thank you!!






  4. Made these tonight and they are delicious!! Thanks for the tip about the silicone mat. They are so crispy and yummy. Definitely going on my rotation. 🙂

  5. This is the best and easiest tofu recipe. SO DELICIOUS! Everyone loves this recipe. Love that it is oil-free also!






  6. It seemed way too simple. I seriously contemplated adding extra seasonings but thought “nope, just try it as written first”. WOW! I LOVE THIS!

  7. Thank you so much! I just tried this (with soy sauce since I didn’t have tamari) and it turned out so well. 🙂






      1. Idk why I haven’t left a review for these with how much I make them. Such an amazing recipe! I whip these up whenever I need to eat something quick and don’t have any other meal planned. This tofu, rice, roasted fall veggies and any type of sauce to go over it is the easiest meal to prepare and so delicious too! My bf (not vegan) always steal these off my plate whenever I make them :p I make them in the air fryer on 400 degrees for 15 minutes and they come out sooo crispy. I use the freezer method to make them turn out great. Will forever use this recipe for tofu! Thank you Caitlin!






      2. So happy you’re getting all the uses out of the recipe! Agreed that you can just incorporate it with anything, especially bowl type meals! Glad you’re also willing to share them with the BF as well.

  8. Not a fan of tofu, but recently started a vegan diet and came across one of your videos with this tofu. WOW! It is seriously so good and it was super easy to make. I had it tonight with your Asian slaw recipe and some brown rice. Yum!! Will definitely make again. Thank you!






  9. First, I’m VERY new to tofu so this is only the second time I’ve ever made it. That being said, I love how crispy it came out and how easy it was. I followed the recipe exactly. When I make it again, and I plan to make it again as soon as I buy more tofu, I’ll experiment with more spices. Thank you for an easy recipe for me to try!






  10. I have been eating tofu for years, and omg this was the best recipe ever! So easy and delicious! I used Bragg’s Liquid Aminos instead of Tamari since that’s what I had, and I don’t have a silicon mat so I used parchment paper, and they turned out awesome! I think I’ll be making this very often! Thank you so much!






  11. I usually pan fry tofu when I want it crispy, but this was really good (and really easy)! I added it to fried rice. I ended making a second batch right after because it was so good (added a little paprika). It’s even good cold. Husband said it tasted like chicken! Hard to believe there is no oil.






  12. Finally managed to try this at my moms place who has a silicon baking mat and Caitlin is totally right it makes a huge difference when it comes to the crispness of the tofu! Definitely invest in one if it is available to you 🙂 I changed up the marinade a bit but the base recipe is great, thank you Caitlin! Love you and your youtube channel also, longtime watcher x






  13. I have never commented on an online recipe before, but was compelled to for this one because it was so easy and SO UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS. A borderline-religious tofu experience. I only had light soy sauce, so subbed that for the tamari, but it came out great. I’ve sent the recipe to loads of friends already! THANKS SO MUCH!






  14. I’ve been looking for a cornstarch free, baked tofu recipe and I’m so happy I found yours! I love tofu, but when I was younger I didn’t because my mom didn’t like it. My mom tried this tofu because she was curious and loved it! I was so surprised, a tofu recipe that a tofu hater approves of! Thanks so much for the awesome recipe!