Oven-Baked Crispy Breaded Tofu Nuggets
May 19, 2021 (Last updated Feb 6, 2026) by Hannah Sunderani
Hi guys! Today I’m sharing this recipe for the best oven-baked tofu nuggets (vegan chicken nuggets). They are family-friendly, flavourful, and a great vegan swap for chicken nuggets. Made with simple and wholesome ingredients. These tofu nuggets have a crispy, crunchy, and well seasoned breaded exterior, with a soft meaty-like interior.
This is a great recipe for kids and adults alike! The recipe is flavourful, but not spicy, and reminds me so much of the chicken nuggets I used to enjoy in my childhood. I’m sure your family is going to love this recipe as much as we do.
So, let me tell you exactly how to make it.
How to make tofu nuggets:
It’s very easy to make tofu nuggets. All-in-all, there are 2 simple steps to creating this crispy and crunchy recipe.
1. Prepare the tofu
We begin by pressing and breaking the extra firm tofu into 1-inch pieces. I like to press my tofu by wrapping it in a clean kitchen towel and placing a few heavy books on top. To stop the books from sliding, you can line the tofu up against the backsplash of your countertop. Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes.
Then, break the tofu in half, and then tear into 1 inch pieces. I do this with my hands. You can also do this with a knife, cutting into cubes, but tearing the tofu gives it a nice texture.
Then we will marinate the tofu in a seasoned mixture: a blend of dijon, miso, water, and seasonings. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes.
2. Bread to tofu
Next we will dip the tofu in a milky corn starch blend and roll it in some seasoned breadcrumbs. (It helps to use a spoon to pour the breadcrumbs into all the nooks and crannies).
Once we’ve dipped and rolled all the tofu, we’ll bake in the oven at 425F/220C for 15 minutes, flip and bake the other side for 10 more minutes, until crispy and browned.
So there we have it! A very simple and family-friendly recipe for crispy and crunchy oven-baked tofu nuggets. They are full of flavour, crispy on the outside, with a soft “meaty” interior. Perfect for dipping in ketchup, and serving as a protein-packed dish with dinner. I think you’re going to love them as much as I do.
If you do make this recipe please let me know in the comments below what you think! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.
Oven-Baked Crispy Breaded Tofu Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2 lbs extra-firm tofu (2 packets of 16 oz tofu)
Marinade
- 1 tbsp miso
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
Breading
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Press and marinade the tofu:
- Wrap the tofu blocks each in a clean kitchen towel and place a few heavy books on top. To stop the books from sliding, you can line the tofu up against the backsplash of your countertop. Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes.
- Break the tofu blocks in half, widthwise, and then tear into 1-inch pieces. (You can also do this with a knife, cutting into cubes, but tearing the gives it a nice texture).
- Make the marinade: add the miso to a medium bowl with a splash of the hot water and whisk to combine. Add the remaining hot water, dijon, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt. Add the tofu chunks and let marinate for at least 10 minutes. Stir gently with a spatula from time to time to ensure all pieces are well marinated.
Bread the tofu:
- Preheat the oven to 425F/220C. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Add the corn starch to a medium shallow bowl, add a splash of almond milk and whisk to combine. Pour in the remaining almond milk, little by little while whisking, to make a thick milky mixture.
- In a separate shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt and garlic powder.
- Dip the marinated tofu in the milky mixture and then roll in the breadcrumbs to coat. (It's helpful to use a spoon to pour the breadcrumbs into difficult nooks and crannies). Place the breaded tofu on the prepared baking tray. Continue until you've rolled all the tofu in the breaded mixture.
- Bake the tofu nuggets for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Flip and bake the other side for 10 more minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Serve with ketchup, bbq sauce, or plum sauce for dipping.
Notes
Approvals
Nutrition
LEAVE A COMMENT
AND RATE THIS RECIPE!
We love hearing from you! If you love this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Thank you!
I truly enjoyed these nuggets!! I have previously made tofu nuggets with a different recipe and didn’t enjoy them, so I’m so glad you made this recipe because it’s great! I ran out of the bread crumb mixture so I just cooked the rest of the marinated tofu without coating in breadcrumbs and they were actually really delicious too! I can’t wait to make this again! Thanks for the recipe Hannah!
Aww Krystal I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe! I really wanted to make some tofu nuggets that was a crowd-pleaser (for all ages too!). Thrilled that you like them, and thanks for the sweet comment.