Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (2024)

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Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.

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Updated on 10/7/21

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Fool your kids with a meat-freetofuchicken nugget dinner, reminiscent of the favoritefinger food they love to dip in ketchup, barbecue sauce, or ranch dressing.

In this recipe, extra-firm tofu is coated with a seasoned panko bread crumb mixture. Then, just like chicken, it's baked or fried to crispy, addictive perfection.It's suitable for vegan eaters because it's plant-based, and uses nutritional yeast to mimic the nutty, cheesy taste of Parmesan cheese in the breading.

If you've never cooked with tofu, this nugget recipe is a good way to try it, as the flavors mimic the taste of chicken nuggets. Just make sure to followthe directions carefully, taking care to press the tofu before cooking. Tofu is packed in water and absorbs a lot of it. Pressing it out helps the tofu absorb the seasonings, which makes it taste better, but it also helps the tofu retain its shape during cooking.

Then, decide on a cooking method. For all-out flavor, go fried. For a low-fat preparation, go baked; we present both methods here. Whatever way you choose, tofu (not) chicken nuggets make a perfect snack or dinner for veganeaters and maybe even the pickiest of kids, too.Serve with a green salad, roasted broccoli, or homemade french fries.

Ingredients

  • 1 block tofu, firmor extra-firm,well pressed

  • 1/3 cup soy milk,or anothernondairy milk substitute

  • 2 tablespoons mustard

  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley, or Italian seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

  • 3 tablespoons high-heat vegetable oil, orcoconut oil

Steps to Make It

Press the Tofu

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (2)

  2. Remove the tofu from its package.

  3. Pat the block of tofu dry and place it in between two layers of paper towels.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (4)

  4. Place a small cutting board (or flat-surfaced item) and a weight—like a pot or a brick—on top of the tofu.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (5)

  5. Let the tofu sit for 30 minutes, replacing the paper towels when they become saturated.

Prepthe Tofu

  1. Once your tofu is pressed, slice itinto 1-inch cubes or nuggets (about the size of a frozen chicken nugget).

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (6)

  2. In a wide, shallow bowl,whisk together the soy milk, mustard, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powders, dried parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (7)

  3. Place thepankobreadcrumbs in a separate bowl.

Pan-Fry the Tofu

  1. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (8)

  2. Take one piece of tofu and dip it in the liquid mixture. Then carefully dip it in the breadcrumbs until well coated.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (9)

  3. Add it to the pan and repeat the process.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (10)

  4. Fry the pieces of tofu, turning them often, until golden brown on all sides.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (11)

  5. Serve and enjoy!

Bake the Tofu

  1. For a low-fat alternative cooking method, bake your tofu nuggets on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (12)

  2. Preheat your oven to 350 Fand then bake the tofu for 25 minutes, turning once, until golden brown.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (13)

  3. Serve your vegetarian tofu nuggets with ketchup, barbecue sauce, or Sriracha hot sauce and enjoy.

Variations

  • If you don't have nutritional yeast or don't want to use it, feel free to substitute equal amounts of Parmesan cheese. It won't be vegan anymore, but it will be delicious.
  • Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the herbs and spice mix.
  • Use regular milk instead of nondairy choices.
  • Use coarsely crushed crackers, breadcrumbs, or cornflakes instead of panko.

How to Store and Freeze Breaded Tofu Nuggets

You can keep leftover tofu nuggets in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Reheat in a low oven on a baking sheet, or in a pan with oil over medium heat.

You can also make these nuggets and freeze any leftovers. Simply reheat in the oven for best texture and taste.

You may also use frozen tofu in this recipe. (Yes, you can freeze tofu!) Defrost, press out the extra moisture as you normally would, and proceed as directed.

26 Tasty Tofu Recipes to Try Now

  • Dinner
  • Vegetarian Mains
  • American Food
  • American Mains
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
263Calories
18g Fat
14g Carbs
15g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories263
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g23%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 465mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 14g5%
Dietary Fiber 3g10%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 382mg29%
Iron 3mg19%
Potassium 250mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Tofu
  • entree
  • american
  • back to school

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Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the tastiest way to make tofu? ›

Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

What makes tofu stick together? ›

To Keep It Together, Think Dry and Firm

One of the most important steps in preparing tofu is drying out or firming up its exterior in some way to help it hold together. For pan-frying, draining it and then drying and pressing the exterior with paper towels works well.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

How to make fried tofu like Chinese restaurants? ›

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. One piece at a time, dip the tofu into the cornstarch to coat both sides, then into the beaten egg. Immediately transfer to the skillet for pan frying. Cook until both sides turn golden brown.

What is the best way to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Pan-frying is the easiest, least fussy way to cook up a batch of ultra-crispy cubes of tofu. After pressing and draining as much liquid from the block as possible, cut the tofu into cubes, sticks, or wedges, then toss it with cornstarch until all the pieces are well-coated.

Is it better to fry or bake tofu? ›

Baked, Not Fried.

My method for baking tofu produces tofu that's chewy, but it's cooked in the oven, making it much healthier.

What does adding cornstarch to tofu do? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

What is the best sauce for tofu? ›

Blend mayonnaise with Sriracha sauce, lime juice, and a dash of garlic powder for a creamy and fiery sauce. A combination of toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar creates a zesty and aromatic sauce that adds depth of flavor to pan-fried tofu.

Why can't you eat spinach and tofu together? ›

As tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively, the combination of the two will form kidney stones. But in fact, only prolonged and volumionous consumption of tofu and spinach at the same time will pose this risk.

What do you season tofu with? ›

Most seafood seasonings include celery seed, paprika, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper. Add lime juice to the tofu marinade to bring forward more of that classic seafood flavor. 5. Soy sauce: Marinating tofu in soy sauce helps the tofu absorb flavor quickly.

How do restaurants make tofu crispy? ›

First, tossing cubed tofu with cornstarch will help you get a crispier exterior when baking or stir-frying. Pressing the block of tofu to eliminate excess moisture also helps. And you'll want to make sure you're using high enough heat.

How do you're crisp fried tofu? ›

Reheat leftovers: You can re-crisp any leftover tofu on a tray in the oven, or in an air fryer. Bake or air fry for about 10 minutes at 350°F, or until crispy.

What is crispy tofu made of? ›

Mix the cornflour, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Unravel the tofu from the paper, cut in half through the centre, then cut into triangles, cubes or strips. Toss the tofu pieces in the spiced cornflour to coat all over. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat.

Does homemade tofu taste better than store-bought? ›

Making tofu at home is such a rewarding experience! It definitely takes time and effort, but it's so cool to see how the process works. The flavor profile is even more mild than store-bought tofu and it works perfectly in any tofu dish.

Does homemade tofu taste better? ›

It's much tastier than store-bought tofu.

That's because preservatives, coagulants, and extra ingredients added for uniform texture can easily drive out the natural, earthy soy flavor, My says. Homemade tofu can be made with just soybeans, water, and table salt when you reuse soy whey as a coagulant.

How do you make tofu taste like meat? ›

seasonings / marinade

The marinade employs staples like soy sauce, nutritional yeast and pantry essentials, If you can, use some Beefless Broth, Gravy Master, and Marmite. However, you can also substitute with things like Steak Sauce, Vegan Worcestershire and Tomato Paste.

References

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