Crispy Buffalo Tofu Nuggets are like hot wings for vegetarians. Made in the Air Fryer or with baked tofu nuggets drenched in spicy Buffalo sauce, these are perfect in a salad, a wrap, or as a game day appetizer.
Let's jump on the buffalo bandwagon
I don't know who decided that hot sauce mixed with butter tastes like a buffalo, but I do know that that person was a freaking genius. Ok, I kid. I do know that Buffalo sauce was invented in Buffalo, New York. But I maintain that if buffalos can have wings, then so can tofu!
Today we're using Buffalo sauce to coat HNL community fave impossibly Crispy Breaded Tofu Nuggets. You can make them in the air fryer if you have one, but they're equally delicious oven baked as well. These spicy Buffalo Tofu bites are the perfect game-day snack or appetizer, and as a nutritionist, I love that it's a healthier option.
My favorite is dunking 'em in creamy Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing (ranch dressing is kind of my love language), but they're equally good stuffed into a wrap, tossed in a salad or just eaten straight from the pan.
Let's make Buffalo Tofu Bites together!
Step 1: prep your coating
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.
Step 2: prep your 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.
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.
Step 3: bread and air fry (or bake!)
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. Alternatively, you can bake your tofu nuggets in the oven until nice and crispy.
Step 4: make 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!
Step 5: serve 'em up!
Serve your Buffalo Tofu Nuggets hot, straight from the pan. Dip 'em in ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or whatever your favorite sauce is. Don't forget the celery sticks on the side!
Crispy Breaded Buffalo Tofu Nuggets
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 says
Soooooo crispy with the perfect kicky sauce!