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Air fried tofu nuggets are a quick and easy, plant-based and kid-friendly meal option. Ready in under 20 minutes, they’re high in protein and fiber!

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I like to push back against the common joke that kids only eat mac and cheese and chicken nuggets.

Because as a dietitian and mom, I’m a huge proponent of serving foods new and different foods.

Totally okay to have chicken nuggets on the backburner some nights, but it’s also great to serve them what you’re eating to get them comfortable with new and different foods.

And if you haven’t introduced tofu to your toddlers yet, these air fryer tofu nuggets are a great way to do so – or try my high protein tofu pesto sauce.

They’re quick, easy, crispy and flavorful. And while they aren’t exactly like the dinosaur chicken nuggets you’ll find at the grocery store, they are made in your own kitchen with just a few ingredients – major win!

Tofu is actually pretty magical and can transform in so many ways.

I love tempeh (and this crispy air fryer tempeh!), but I think tofu takes the prize for versatility in soy protein.

Why You’ll Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

• Ready in no time – These tofu nuggets are ready in under 20 minutes. This is key for a busy, chaotic household with hungry kids running around.
• Vegan – If you need a vegan, plant-based option for your typical chicken nuggets, these air fryer nuggets made with tofu are the perfect replacement.
• Only 5 ingredients– You only need five main ingredients to make these crispy tofu air fryer nuggets! Minimal ingredient recipes are the best. This one is rather clean, so it’s great for letting your kids help.
• Great for meal prep – You can make these in bulk, or serve half on Monday night and the rest on Wednesday. You can even freeze them for later! We do this often with our ninja double stack since they freeze well – A great freezable toddler meal option!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for these tofu nuggets in the air fryer.

• extra firm tofu – These crispy tofu nuggets require extra firm tofu. While I love silken tofu for silken tofu brownies, we need firm to make these nuggets crispy!
• cornstarch – This helps with that special aforementioned crispness.
• avocado oil – You could also use olive oil or canola oil.
• garlic powder
• oregano
• salt and pepper
• tofu press – optional to remove excess moisture from the tofu
• ninja double press – This is the air fryer I have that helps me make extra tofu nuggets for meal prep!

Depending on the flavor you want you could also add smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or even nutritional yeast if you want a cheesy flavor, as well as additional protein and micronutrients.

I also love to use ketchup, a mixture of ketchup and mayo, ranch or a Primal Kitchen dip for dipping.

AIR FRYER ESSENTIALS – I love to keep some go-to’s on hand for my air fryer recipes. Here’s what I recommend using:

Fast Instant Read Thermometer – You’ll use this more than you know! It works for meat on the grill or stove or oven, too. It’s super fast and the large screen is easy to read.

Reusable Air Fryer Liners – I love these for easy cleaning!

Plate Gripper – This is great for HOT things when they come out of the air fryer. Take care and don’t burn yourself.

Tongs – Tongs can be helpful for transferring seasoned items and then hot items after cooked in the air fryer.

How to Make Air Fried Tofu Nuggets

The first step to make crispy air fried tofu nuggets is to drain your tofu adequately.

To do this, place your tofu block on a deep bowl or plate and layer paper towels or a dish towel over it.

Then, place a can of beans or a book on top of the barrier to provide some weight over the tofu block. This will help remove the excess moisture.

You can also use a tofu press if you have one!

Then, dice your tofu to your desired shape (1″ cubes are what I usually do).

Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.

Mix well, being delicate not to crush or smush the tofu blocks.

Transfer marinated tofu to air fryer set at 390 degrees F and air fry for 15-17 minutes, or until reaches your desired crispness.

Make sure the tofu is spread out enough and not overcrowding. You may have to do 2 rounds.

Tips for Success

• You don’t have to cut the tofu in exact 1-1.5 inch squares. In fact, you can leave them a little bigger to make them “nugget” shape – all depends on your personal preference.
• When air frying, ensure the tofu pieces aren’t too crowded or they won’t crisp up. Make sure there is enough room around them, even if it means doing multiple rounds. This is why I love my ninja double stack air fryer!
• I love to serve these with a veggie and dipping sauce, which is usually a must for kids. We typically do ketchup, ranch, Primal Kitchen special sauce, or a homemade special sauce (a mixture of mayo and ketchup). A fun veggie to serve are these air fryer butternut squash fries!
• Make sure you drain your tofu as best you can beforehand. I like to do this earlier in the day. You can do this with a tofu press, or by placing something heavy (canned goods or a book) on top of a few paper towels that you layer over your block of tofu.

• Air Fryer Pizza Bites
• Air Fryer Parsnips
• Air Fryer BBQ Salmon
• Tempeh Buddha Bowl

Servings 4 servings

Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN

Air fryer tofu nuggets are a delicious, plant-based and kid-friendly meal option. Ready in under 20 minutes, they're high in protein, fiber, calcium and so much more.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• 1 extra block firm tofu, drained
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions 

1. Remove tofu from package and drain the water. To do this, place tofu on a deep bowl or plate, layer 2 paper towels on top of the tofu block, and then place a can of beans on top. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes. You can also use a tofu press to remove excess water.
2. Dice the tofu into ~1.5 inch cubes.* You can even make bigger pieces to make them more similar to “nugget” shape.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add diced tofu, avocado oil and spices. Mix well, being delicate not to crush or smush the tofu blocks.
4. Use an air fryer liner or lightly spray the bottom of your air fryer tray with cooking spray. Transfer the marinated tofu to air fryer tray.
5. Air fry at 390 degrees for 15-17 minutes (flipping once), or until tofu reaches desired crispiness. 
6. Serve with ketchup, honey mustard, or favorite dipping sauce. I love this dipping sauce (2 Tbsp ketchup, 2 Tbsp mayo). 

Notes

*The cubes don't have to be exact. You can make them bigger to get more of a "nugget" shape if you'd like.

This recipe doesn't account for the 15-20 minutes needed to press/drain the tofu. I like to do that earlier in the day!

Equipment

Air Fryer Paper Liners, 125PCS Non-stick Disposable Liners, Baking Paper for Air Fryer Oil-proof, Water-proof, Food Grade Parchment for Baking Roasting Microwave (8inch-Square)

Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil 16.9 oz., Non-GMO for High-Heat Cooking, Frying, Baking, Homemade Sauces, Salad Dressings and Marinades

Onuva’s Corn Starch (12 oz, 340g) – Gluten Free – Vegan – Thickener For Sauces, Soup, & Gravy

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 152kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 12gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 296mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!