Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Tofu

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Our air fryer buffalo tofu recipe is a tasty vegan alternative to classic buffalo wings. It's easy to make with minimal ingredients and perfect for game day or movie night. The crispy tofu bites are coated in spicy buffalo sauce and served with a vegan ranch dipping sauce.

Buffalo tofu on a plate with vegan ranch and celery sticks.

If you're a tofu lover like me, make sure to check out my How To Cook Tofu For Beginners. You'll also love this Tofu Egg Salad Sandwich or this Tofu Tikka Masala.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy to make in an air fryer.
Vegan friendly, cholesterol free and can be made gluten free.
Delicious way to prepare tofu, especially if this is your first time making it.
Crispy and chewy texture
Perfect for game day or movie night.

Ingredient Notes

Air fryer buffalo tofu ingredients laid out on a counter.

Extra-firm tofu: To ensure the tofu is nice and chewy use only extra firm or super firm tofu. Anything softer will come out mushy.
Nutritional yeast: It gives a cheesy flavor to the recipe.
Plant milk: Use unsweetened plant milk. Soy milk, almond milk, oat milk and coconut milk all work well.
Buffalo hot sauce: Use your favorite buffalo hot sauce for the recipe.
Vegan mayo: Use vegan mayo to make the ranch.
Dried dill and parsley: It adds a nice flavor to the ranch.
Bread crumbs - Gives an amazing crunchy layer. I love using Panko breadcrumbs.
Seasonings - Garlic powder and onion powder and Italian seasonings go well in this. I also love smoked paprika, black pepper and salt.
Vegan butter - This helps to make the buffalo sauce a bit more rich.
All purpose flour - This gives a nice outer layer to the tofu pieces.

Substitutions

If you don't have nutritional yeast, you can skip it.
You can skip the dried dill and parsley if you don't have them, or use your favorite seasonings of choice.
Use chickpea flour if you'd like this to be gluten free.
Use gluten free bread crumbs if you want this to be gluten free.

Directions

Make sure to scroll to the recipe card for full step-by-step instructions.

Tofu block being pressed in a tofu press.

Press the block of tofu for 15 minutes in a tofu press to get rid of any excess liquid. You can also wrap it in a kitchen towel or paper towels and place tofu on a plate and top with a heavy object like a heavy pan or books on top.

Tofu block cut in half on a cutting board.

Cut in half, lengthwise, so tofu isn't as thick.

Then tear into bite sized pieces. I love the texture created by tearing instead of cutting.

Mix flour, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and plant milk together in a large mixing bowl until you get a pancake batter consistency. Place bread crumbs in a separate small bowl.

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Dip the piece of tofu into the batter

After dipping them into the batter, dip them into the breadcrumbs.

Buffalo tofu cubes in an air fryer basket.

Place the tofu cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry the tofu for 15 minutes or until it's golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through.

Buffalo tofu cubes being coated in buffalo sauce.

Put the crispy tofu cubes into a bowl and add vegan buffalo sauce. Toss until coated. Put the tofu back in the air fryer basket and air fry for an additional 2 minutes. Serve with vegan ranch.

Tips for Success

Make sure to press the tofu block before using it in the recipe to remove excess water. Use a tofu press to make it easier. Use the code DamnTasty for 10% off.
I love tearing the tofu instead of cutting with a knife to create even more texture.
Freeze the tofu in its package overnight for extra chewy texture. Let it thaw out, then squeeze excess moisture out.
Oil the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
Flip the tofu halfway through cooking for even browning.
Toss the tofu cubes in the buffalo sauce after air frying to prevent them from becoming soggy. Add them back to the air fryer for 1 more minute to crispy them up again.
Let the tofu cool for a few minutes before serving.
Check out my post on how to cook tofu if you want some more tofu tips and tricks!

Variations

You can use BBQ sauce instead of buffalo sauce.
You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the flour mixture for an extra kick.
You can serve the tofu with your favorite dipping sauce.
To make the dressing healthier, substitute the vegan mayo for plain vegan yogurt. It’s just as creamy and delicious and way less refined fat.

Storing and Making Ahead

Store the leftover buffalo bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat in the air fryer to help them crisp up again.
I have't tried freezing these. I imagine the breading wouldn't hold up very well.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with vegan cashew ranch or your favorite dipping sauce. Top a salad with the buffalo bites for a high protein crunch. Serve these in a crispy tofu for lunch.

Recipe FAQs

How do I get chewy tofu?

Freeze the tofu in the package, then completely thaw. Press the tofu in a tofu press for at least 15 minutes to get rid of excess water.

Is this gluten free?

This recipe isn't gluten free, but can be made gluten free by using chickpea flour (besan) or gluten free all purpose flour. Also use gluten free bread crumbs or skip the bread crumbs.

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