Crispy Buffalo Tofu Nuggets are like hot wings for vegetarians. Made in the Air Fryer or with baked tofu nuggets drenched in Buffalo sauce, these are perfect in a salad, a wrap, or as a game day appetizer.
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As a kid, I found buffalo wings to be one of the hardest concepts to get my head around. I did not get it.
Honestly, as an adult I haven't come much further. Buffalo's don't have wings! And who decided that hot sauce mixed with butter tastes like a buffalo?
Ok, I kid. Turns out that Buffalo sauce was invented in Buffalo, New York, hence the name.
But I maintain that if buffalos can have wings, then so can tofu! It's the perfect game day snack or appetizer, so let's get into it!
What is buffalo sauce?
Buffalo sauce is a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce that's mixed with melted butter, and is typically used to coat fried chicken wings. Frank's Red Hot sauce is the most popular option, but any vinegar-based hot sauce will do.
Is buffalo sauce vegan?
Traditionally, Buffalo sauce is not vegan as it contains melted butter. But this is easily replaced with a vegan butter substitute such as Earth Balance if you want to make vegan Buffalo sauce.
Today we're using Buffalo sauce to coat Crispy Tofu Nuggets and are making Buffalo Tofu!
Ingredients:
You'll find specific quantities of ingredients for these Buffalo Tofu Bites in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, but let's take a quick look together. You're going to need some:
- Tofu --> Firm or extra firm is what we're after here.
- Nutritional yeast --> This adds a ton of flavour to the breading.
- Panko breadcrumbs --> For crunch!
- Oat milk --> Or your milk of choice.
- Flour --> For making the batter.
- Smoked paprika --> Because it's the best.
- Salt and black pepper --> As one does.
- Hot sauce --> Use a vinegar-based hot sauce like Frank's Red Hot.
- Butter --> Or your favourite vegan butter substitute.
Equipment:
I have included instructions in this post for making oven baked tofu nuggets or crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets. Both techniques turn out great and are perfect for Buffalo Tofu, but you can't beat the Air Fryer for both speed and crunch. This is the model that I have (<-- affiliate link).
For oven baked Buffalo tofu I strongly suggest lining your baking sheet with parchment paper (affiliate link).
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
First up, we're going to make breaded tofu.
Start by slicing your tofu into pencil-thick slices, and then arranging them on a paper towel to dry a bit while you're preparing the other ingredients. Pat off any excess moisture with another paper towel.
Whisk together the flour and oat milk, and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, mix together the panko, nutritional yeast, flour, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Use your hands to tear each slice of tofu into smaller pieces. I find that this gives the tofu a more "nuggety" appearance when it's done. I prefer rectangles to cubes, but you do you.
Add the tofu to the bowl with the batter, and gently stir to coat the pieces.
Then, one by one drop the tofu into the bread crumb mixture, and toss to coat. Arrange the breaded tofu on a plate or cookie sheet until you've finished breading them all.
Arrange the tofu nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and lightly spray with a bit of oil - this is optional, but helps provide a much crispier crust.
Air fry for 10 minutes, flip the tofu nuggets over, spray with a bit more oil, and air fry for 5 minutes more. Your nuggets should be golden brown on both sides, crispy, and delicious.
Make your Buffalo sauce:
All you need to do is melt the butter (or vegan butter substitute) in a saucepan and combine with your hot sauce.
Pour this magical mixture over your crispy tofu nuggets, and you've got Buffalo Tofu!
What do buffalo tofu nuggets go well with?
Literally everything, my friends.
First up you can serve your Buffalo Tofu straight up, with nothing but a plate of crunchy cool celery sticks to go with. Or serve with your favourite dips!
If you're not vegan, I really must insist you try them with this Blue Cheese Sauce from Always Use Butter. Please not that this recipe makes an absurd amount of sauce and I almost always make a half batch. If you're not into blue cheese dressing, go for a vegan ranch sauce instead.
I love having leftover Buffalo Tofu with a salad, like this Vegetarian Caesar Salad with Kale. Or go for a classic combo like this Creamy Healthy Coleslaw Recipe from Sustainable Cooks.
These vegan buffalo tofu wings would also be an amazing side dish to go with this Creamy Cauliflower Bake.
PRO TIPS / RECIPE NOTES:
- What's the best kind tofu for nuggets? I prefer to use firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe. Medium or soft tofu would likely fall apart as you toss with the breading or try and turn the nuggets. Firm tofu that has been frozen and then thawed and pressed has a great chewy texture and is also perfect for making nuggets.
- Do I need to press tofu? Nope, not for this recipe! Simply slice, pat dry, and you're good to go.
- Can I fry tofu nuggets? You sure can! If you'd prefer to make fried tofu on the stovetop, simply heat a heavy-bottomed skillet with plenty of oil, and fry until golden on both sides.
- Can I make this recipe gluten-free? You bet! Just use gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour and you're good to go.
Can I make this recipe in advance?
Your tofu nuggets are always going to be the their crispiest and most glorious served directly out of the air fryer or oven, but you can certainly make them in advance. One option is to prepare the breaded tofu and then keep it in the fridge until you're ready to make your nugs.
Another option is to make this tofu nugget recipe and then re-heat leftovers gently in the air fryer or oven. You can either add the Buffalo sauce at the time of cooking, or you can add leftover sauce to reheated tofu nuggets later.
Leftover nuggets can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about three days.
HEY NUTRITION LADY, IS TOFU HEALTHY?
You bet it is!
Tofu is a protein-packed plant-based food made by fermenting or coagulating soy milk into a cake. Although tofu is made from soybeans --> soy milk --> tofu, it's made with significantly less processing than soy protein isolates or other commercially prepared soy foods and can be more or less considered a whole food.
Tofu is an excellent source of calcium, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, and omega-3 fatty acids. It's also a good source of iron, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B1. Tofu also provides a range of phytonutrients including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and phenolic acids.
Concerned about soy in your diet? More than likely you don't need to be. If you want to learn more about this sometimes controversial food, I've got a great post on The Soy Situation you can read up on.
Other recipes you might enjoy:
Air Fryer Tempeh
Cheesy Quinoa and Broccoli Nuggets
Vegetarian Poutine
Chickpea Fries
Spicy Garlic Edamame
Baked Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Kale Chips
Air Fryer Nachos
Buffalo Tofu
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 14 ounces firm tofu
FOR THE BATTER
- ¼ cup oat milk or other non-dairy milk
- ¼ cup flour
- salt and pepper
FOR THE BREADING
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE BUFFALO SAUCE
- ½ cup Franks Red Hot sauce Or similar
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter
Instructions
- INSTRUCTIONS
- Slice the tofu into half-inch thick slices, and then use your hands to tear those slices into nugget-sized pieces.14 ounces firm tofu
- Spread the tofu pieces out on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel, and pat them dry. Leave them there to dry a bit while you mix together the other ingredients.
- In a large bowl whisk together the oat milk with the flour, and season with salt and pepper.¼ cup oat milk or other non-dairy milk, ¼ cup flour, salt and pepper
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together nutritional yeast, panko bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons flour, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper.¼ cup nutritional yeast, ¼ cup panko bread crumbs, 2 Tablespoons flour, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Place the tofu pieces in the bowl with the wet mixture, and gently stir to ensure they're all well coated.
- Drop individual pieces of tofu into the breadcrumb mixture and toss to coat. Arrange the breaded tofu on a plate, and repeat with all remaining tofu.
- AIR FRYER TOFU NUGGETS
- Pre-heat your Air Fryer to 180°C / 350°F.
- Arrange the tofu nuggets in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket, and lightly spray with oil.
- Air Fry for 10 minutes, then carefully turn the pieces over, spray with oil again, and air fry for another 5 minutes.
- OVEN BAKED TOFU NUGGETS
- Pre-heat your oven to 200°C/400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the tofu nuggets in a single layer, and lightly spray with oil.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then carefully turn the pieces over, spray with oil again, and bake for another 5 minutes.
TO FINISH
- Combine the hot sauce and butter in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat until the butter is melted.½ cup Franks Red Hot sauce, 3 Tablespoons salted butter
- Pour the Buffalo sauce over the tofu and toss to combine.
- Serve hot, with celery and blue cheese sauce.
Notes
- Nutrition values are an estimate only.
- What's the best kind tofu for nuggets? I prefer to use firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe. Medium or soft tofu would likely fall apart as you toss with the breading or try and turn the nuggets. Firm tofu that has been frozen and then thawed and pressed has a great chewy texture and is also perfect for making nuggets.
- Do I need to press tofu? Nope, not for this recipe! Simply slice, pat dry, and you're good to go.
- Can I make this recipe in advance? Your tofu nuggets are always going to be the their crispiest and most glorious served directly out of the air fryer or oven, but you can certainly make them in advance. One option is to prepare the breaded tofu and then keep it in the fridge until you're ready to make your nugs. Another option is to make this tofu nugget recipe and then re-heat leftovers gently in the air fryer or oven.
- Leftover Buffalo Tofu can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about three days.
Sarah Cook
Soooooo crispy with the perfect kicky sauce!