Tofu Chicken Nuggets

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Tofu chicken nuggets are easy to make and come together in about 30 minutes. These lightly crispy vegan nuggets are packed with protein, taste delicious, and are the perfect finger food for dipping! They're also a great chicken substitute in your favorite dish.

Vegan nuggets on a white plate with a bowl of dipping sauce.

If you're looking for vegan nuggets that are perfectly crispy and flavorful with a tender inside, this recipe is just the thing. These nuggets are coated in a flour breading keeping them from being too crunchy.

Bake, air-fry, or pan-fry them. Instructions for all three are in the recipe below so you can choose which cooking method works best for you.

Enjoy vegan chicken nuggets as a party appetizer, a kid-friendly lunch, a versatile protein source for your dinner, or a simple plant-based snack. They're sure to be a hit with the whole family.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Tofu chicken nuggets are made with simple pantry staples (no Panko breadcrumbs required). Here's what you'll need:

Bowls of ingredients to make tofu chicken nuggets.

Tofu - For the best texture use super firm tofu. As a replacement, extra firm tofu that has been pressed can be used. But anything softer is not desired for this recipe.

Cooking spray - A spray oil works best for coating the tofu. I used avocado oil cooking spray to coat each nugget. If you don't have a spray oil, you can drizzle any vegetable oil over the nuggets then toss them around to coat.

Soy sauce and olive oil - For the marinade, I used a mix of soy sauce, olive oil, and water giving the tofu a savory umami flavor. Use tamari sauce to keep it gluten-free or liquid aminos as a substitute.

Flour - The breading is made with all-purpose flour and seasonings. To make this recipe gluten-free, use a 1-to-1 all-purpose gluten-free flour.

Cornstarch - This helps crisp up the breading without using breadcrumbs. It can be replaced with flour or potato starch.

Nutritional yeast - I added nutritional yeast to the breading for another savory element. You can leave it out if you don't have any, but you may want to increase some of the other seasonings.

Seasonings - Paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder add flavor to the breading. You can make the breading your own with any other seasonings you like. I've included a few suggestions in the notes of the recipe below.

Salt - Any salt you have on hand will do. I used Himalayan pink salt.

Black pepper (optional) - Add the black pepper if you want a bit of pepper heat in the tofu chicken nuggets. Or leave it out to keep them savory for the kids.

Full ingredient amounts and the printable recipe card are below.

What kind of tofu should I use?

Super firm tofu, extra-firm tofu that has been pressed, and frozen tofu are the best options for this recipe.

I prefer super firm tofu because it is ready to go right out of the package. You can see below how dense it is without needing to be pressed.

And the denser the tofu, the better the texture!

A block of pressed extra firm tofu and a block of super firm tofu side by side on a plate.

I tried this recipe with all three tofu options to find the best texture and the easiest preparation.

Below are my findings:

Super-firm tofu

This is my favorite option because there was no prep work, it was easily ready in about 30 minutes, and it had a nice texture.

The super-firm tofu comes vacuum-sealed. It's the firmest tofu there is. Because it is so dense, I was able to pat it dry right out of the package and start making the nuggets.

The final texture of the baked nuggets was very pleasing. The centers were firm and tender which paired perfectly with the light and crispy breading.

Extra-firm tofu

I pressed the extra firm tofu using my tofu press.

As you can see in the image above, the extra firm tofu has been compressed and is smaller than the super firm tofu. However, it still wasn't as dense.

Instead, it was slightly squishy when I pressed on it.

Therefore, with this method, the baked tofu nuggets had the softest inside but were still flavorful and delicious.

Frozen tofu

I also used extra firm tofu for freezing (firm tofu can be frozen as well).

Freezing the tofu gave the baked nuggets the meatiest texture with a perfectly tender bite.

The biggest problem I had with this method was finding the time to freeze and defrost the tofu. But, if you find the time or want to impress your family, give it a try. Otherwise, super-firm tofu has a great texture with no prep.

How to Make Tofu Chicken Nuggets

These flavorful nuggets are easy to make and can be ready in about 30 minutes.

Step 1: Prepare the tofu

If you're using super firm tofu you can simply pat it dry with a paper towel.

For extra firm tofu, you'll want to press out the excess water for a firmer texture. You can use a tofu press or wrap it in a clean kitchen towel, or a few paper towels, and place a plate with a slightly heavy object on top.

If you're using frozen tofu that has been defrosted, you can simply squeeze it with your hands to drain the water. Then pat it dry with a towel.

Step 2: Tear the tofu

Use your hands to tear the tofu into nugget-sized chunks. You can make finger-food-size nuggets or smaller-sized popcorn chicken nuggets. I tore it into smaller chunks.

Add the pieces of tofu to a large bowl as you break them off.

Step 3: Toss the tofu in the marinade

Soy sauce mix being poured over chunks of tofu.

In a small bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients (soy sauce, water, and oil). Pour the marinade over the tofu nuggets.

A glass bowl with chunks of tofu tossed with a soy sauce mix.

Using a rubber spatula, toss the tofu with the marinade to coat.

Step 4: Breading the nuggets

A shallow bowl with a flour mixture for breading.

In a shallow dish, whisk together the dry breading ingredients.

Tofu chunks being tossed in a flour breading and a plate of breaded tofu.

Roll each tofu piece around in the flour breading until coated. Tap off any excess flour and place the nuggets on a large plate.

Tip: Placing them on the plate keeps the excess flour off the baking pan. I've noticed the nuggets cook better this way. If you're in a hurry you can place them straight on the baking pan after breading.

Step 5: Baking the nuggets

A baking sheet lined with parchment paper and a plate of breaded tofu.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray a light coating of oil across the paper.

Breaded tofu nuggets on a baking sheet being sprayed with cooking oil.

Transfer the nuggets to the baking sheet and spray each one with oil.

Tip: Cooking spray gives the best coverage for coating the nuggets. If you don't have any you can drizzle them with oil and toss them around the baking sheet for an even coating.

Breaded tofu nuggets on a baking sheet before baking.

Be sure to generously coat each one in oil (as shown above) so they crisp up during baking.

Tofu chicken nuggets on a baking sheet after baking.

Bake at 425ºF for 12-18 minutes. If needed, use tongs to flip each one halfway through the cooking process.

Enjoy this tofu chicken nugget recipe with your favorite dipping sauce. Or use it in one of the suggestions below.

Looking down on a plate of tofu chicken nuggets with a small bowl of BBQ sauce.

Serving Suggestions

I love this recipe because it is so versatile.

These tofu chicken nuggets make a great party appetizer, dinner, snack, or kids' lunch.

For the Kids: Make larger, finger food, nuggets so they are easier to hold and dip in their favorite sauce.

As a Party Appetizer: Make a double batch of nuggets and serve them alongside a variety of dipping sauces. A few of my favorite sauces are ketchup, vegan ranch, honey mustard, and BBQ sauce.

For Dinner: This recipe makes a great vegan chicken replacement in your favorite Buddha bowl, stir fry, or Asian dish. Serve bite-sized popcorn nuggets over rice topped with your favorite Asian sauce. I find it delicious with teriyaki sauce, General Tso sauce, or as a vegan replacement for orange chicken.

These dippable nuggets also make a great vegan copycat Chick-fil-a meal. Serve popcorn-sized nuggets with vegan honey mustard dip and a side of waffle fries. It will be a hit with the whole family.

For a healthier meal, pair this recipe with a baked potato or mashed potatoes and gravy and steamed veggies. Enjoy them with fries and macaroni salad or pasta salad for a weekend dinner treat. Or top a salad with leftover nuggets and BBQ ranch dressing.

Let us know in the comments below how you enjoyed your vegan nuggets!

A pile of tofu popcorn nuggets with small bowl of dipping sauce.

Helpful Tips

Shake off the excess flour breading: A light coating of breading will keep the outside crispy. Extra flour can cause the breading to be soft so be sure to tap off any excess.

Tear the tofu: This helps the marinade and flour breading to stick. It also gives the edges a rougher more natural look.

Best tofu to use: For a meaty texture and the quickest meal prep, use vacuum-sealed super-firm tofu.

Flour breading: I went with a flour breading so the tofu nuggets would be crispy without being too crunchy. Sometimes a breadcrumb coating can be too crunchy, especially for the little ones.

A hand holding a tofu nugget and a bowl of dipping sauce.

A hand dipping a tofu nugget into a bowl of BBQ sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make tofu chicken nuggets in the air fryer?

Sure! This recipe is perfect for air-frying. Instructions are in the recipe card below.

Do the baked tofu nuggets freeze well?

Yes! Place them in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat the frozen nuggets in the oven or air fryer.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Absolutely! I've made it easily adaptable to gluten-free Ingredients you'll have on hand. Simply replace the flour with an all-purpose gluten-free flour and switch out the soy sauce for tamari.

Will freezing the tofu give it a meatier texture?

Yes! When I tested this recipe with 3 kinds of tofu, the frozen tofu had the meatiest texture. It was chewy yet tender. It also quickly absorbed the marinade. So if you're looking for the meatiest texture and have the time, freezing the tofu is the way to go.

A hand showing the inside of half of a tofu nugget.

More vegan tofu recipes to try

Tofu chicken nuggets on a plate with BBQ sauce for dipping.

Reasons you'll love this recipe

Only a few simple ingredients are required, no Panko breadcrumbs!
Super simple to make and comes together in about 30 minutes.
Can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free all-purpose flour and tamari.
It's a delicious and versatile recipe that can be used in many different dishes.
And best of all, the kids love them with their favorite dip!

We'd love to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this vegan recipe, please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Vegan Finger Foods

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5 from 9 votes (9 ratings without comment)

Tofu Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients and Substitutions