5-Ingredient Crispy Oven-Baked Tofu

May 22, 2020 (Last updated Jan 7, 2025) by Hannah Sunderani

5-Ingredient Crispy Oven-Baked Tofu

Learn how to make golden, crispy baked tofu in the oven with this easy recipe. This recipe uses extra-firm tofu and arrowroot powder (or corn starch). Ready in 35 minutes!

Hey everyone, how’s it going?? I hope you’re doing even better now you’ve stumbled upon this delicious recipe for how to bake tofu. If you haven’t tried cooking tofu in the oven, boy you are in for a treat.

In fact, used to always rely on crispy pan-fried tofu for our protein with dinner, instead of baking it. So experimenting with this recipe was a treat for me too! And much to my surprise, I loved it!!

Turns out, baking tofu in the oven is really easy. In fact, it’s even easier to pan frying because you can prep the tofu, toss it the oven and walk away.  Instead of hovering over the frying pan, checking often to see if it’s gone crispy.

This crispy baked tofu recipe is made using just 4 ingredients! It’s easy, crisp, golden and full of flavour. Enjoy this baked tofu recipe topped on salads and buddha bowls, or added to saucy dishes/marinates for a comforting dish.

So, let me tell you exactly how to bake tofu, so you can enjoy this recipe pronto!

Crispy baked tofu recipe

The ingredients

It takes just 5 ingredients to make this flavourful crispy baked tofu recipe. That’s right, six! And since it’s made with pantry staples, it’s likely you already have what you need.

For this recipe, we will use:

• tofu
• avocado oil or olive oil
• corn starch (or arrowroot)
• sea salt
• garlic powder
• pepper (optional)

It’s no doubt that a few ingredients go a  long way to making this baked tofu ultra crispy and flavourful. The corn starch or arrowroot starch aids in its crispiness, while the the sea salt, pepper and garlic powder gives it so much flavour.

And once you feel like you’ve mastered this simple recipe, I urge you to try my Crunchy Tofu Nuggets, which are also baked and a delicious alternative to chicken nuggets – great for kids!

How do you make crispy baked tofu?

Watch me make this crispy baked tofu on Vegan Afternoon with Two Spoons!

And, see below for all the details on how to ensure your tofu is ultra crispy.

What kind of tofu should you buy for crispy tofu

Firstly, if you’re new to cooking tofu, it’s important to know that tofu comes in various consistencies. From smooth silken tofu (great for sauces, creams and desserts), to firm and extra-firm. Each variety can be used for different methods of cooking.

Check out this article for all the full guide on tofu varieties, and how to use them.

Now, for baked tofu recipes – I like to use the “extra firm.” This is because extra firm tofu holds its shape better. It has less water content so you’ll get those crispy golden cubes when baking.

So, when shopping for tofu for baking, make sure you pick the package that reads “extra firm” on the label.

Do you have to press tofu before baking?

Yes. In order to get this tofu nice and crispy, it required pressing your tofu before baking.

So, what does it mean to “press your tofu?” It means to press out all the water content before cubing and seasoning. Which will result in a crispier and more golden baked tofu.

Contrary to belief, you do not need any fancy gadgets to press your tofu.

Yes, are many tofu pressers on the market, from best to budget picks, if you’re interested in buying a tofu press. But it’s not necessary to make deliciously crispy tofu.

In fact, my preferred method for pressing tofu is to wrap the tofu in a clean dish towel, and set a few heavy books on top. Lean the books against your countertop backsplash for support and leave for 10 minutes.

This presses out the excess water so you have a drier tofu to work with. Which in turn will result in a crispy bake tofu when cooked.

How to season baked tofu

A few key ingredients go a long way to making deliciously seasoned tofu that’s crispy and flavourful.

Firstly, corn starch helps to make your tofu nice and crispy! You will notice a major difference to your tofu when baking with and without corn starch.

You can use corn starch or arrowroot powder in this recipe. Both work great for making crispy tofu!

Keep in mind, when using arrowroot powder, consistency may be affected if you’re adding the baked tofu to sauces or stews, since arrowroot powder is more gelatinous when wet.

As for flavour, we are keeping it simple: adding sea salt, pepper and garlic powder. You won’t believe just how much flavour these three simple ingredients can make. It’s hard not to pop them into your mouth like popcorn chicken!

Most often, I will serve the crispy baked tofu recipe just as for my protein portion of the meal. It’s great alongside salads and buddha bowls.

In fact, I use this baked tofu as the base for my Crispy Peanut Tofu Bowl with Roasted Broccolini in The Two Spoons Cookbook.

Baked tofu recipe vs. pan-fried

Now this is the big debate…

Which is better? Baked tofu vs. pan fried. I’m not going to lie, I’ve always loved a good and crispy pan-fried tofu! It’s quick and easy to create, with minimal ingredients, and packed with flavour.

However, since experimenting with how to bake tofu; I must say that I am hooked.

Although baked tofu takes longer to cook (about 25 minutes vs. 10), it’s actually easier because we don’t need to watch over it like we do with pan-fried tofu recipes. Instead, just pop this recipe in the oven and walk away.

Plus, with baked tofu we don’t need to worry about the tofu getting stuck to the pan, and it uses way less oil.

Of course, whether you prefer baked vs. fried tofu is based on preference. I urge you to try both! This baked tofu recipe vs. my crispy pan-fried tofu, and let me know which you prefer!

Can you make crispy baked tofu ahead?

This recipe is best enjoyed right away while warm and crispy. However, you can gently reheat the leftovers in the oven or microwave.

The leftovers, although delicious, are not as crispy as they are when freshly baked.

What to serve with crispy baked tofu:

As I’ve mentioned, I really like this crispy baked tofu just as is, with no extra steps or frills. Top on salads and buddha bowls and enjoy! Or try it dipped into my 5-minute thai peanut sauce.

You can also add baked tofu to sauces for comforting and wholesome dishes, like my vegan butter chicken, or add to asian-inspired marinades. Check out Silvia’s blog post for 3 flavourful tofu marinades.

Other recipes you might like:

If you’re digging this baked tofu recipe, you might also like these:

• Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu
• Vegan Butter Chicken
• Easy Vegetable Lo-Mein
• Vegetable Tempeh Spring Rolls
• Quick and Easy Pho with Creamy Miso Broth

So, there we have it. Your simple and straight forward guide for how to make crispy baked tofu that golden and flavourful! I know you and your loved ones are going to enjoy this recipes as much as we do.

And, if you do make this recipe please let me know in the comments below what you think! I love hearing from you. And of course, tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.

Click here to see the step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!