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

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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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Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (1)

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.

    Easy Breaded Tofu (Not) Chicken Nuggets Recipe (3)

  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.

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  3. Place thepankobreadcrumbs in a separate bowl.

Pan-Fry the Tofu

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

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

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

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  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.

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.)

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

FAQs

How do you make breadcrumbs stick to tofu? ›

Here are some things I do to make sure that the breading stays on:
  1. Dry tofu. The tofu needs to be very dry before you dredge it in the wet mix. ...
  2. Coat then freeze. ...
  3. Oil must be hot enough. ...
  4. Don't crowd the stuff you're frying. ...
  5. Dont force it to flip.
Aug 13, 2022

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 do you keep tofu from falling apart? ›

However, in recipes calling for tofu to hold its shape, it's critical that you press the tofu to remove enough water so that it will hold its shape when used in recipes for salads, stir-fries, or grilling. Unless you do this, the tofu will fall apart and lose all shape.

Why is my tofu never crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Marinate it: Tofu can be marinated in a variety of flavorful sauces or spices. You can use soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other seasonings to make a simple marinade. Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours) before cooking or grilling.

How do you get cornstarch to stick to tofu? ›

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.

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 is the downside of eating too much tofu? ›

The significant disadvantages of Tofu may cause allergies in some people. The symptoms of soy allergies include skin rash, inflammation, itching, fainting, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain and throat swelling. In rare scenarios, Tofu may cause osteoporosis and estrogen-related cancer.

What pairs with tofu? ›

Try combining baked tofu with veggies and your favorite noodles plus a premade sauce or a few seasonings for flavor. Here are some ideas: Ramen noodles with frozen Asian vegetables and light soy, tamari, Thai peanut, or vegan tikka masala sauce.

How do restaurants make tofu crispy? ›

There are a few tricks to perfect tofu. 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.

Why is my panko not sticking to my tofu? ›

You can use a tofu press to remove excess water from the tofu or cut the tofu into slabs, place on some paper towels and cover with additional paper towels and place something heavy on top like a textbook to press out excess water for a few minutes. If your panko is not sticking, the crumbs might be too big.

Does milk make breadcrumbs stick? ›

Can you use milk instead of eggs? As long as you coat the cutlets in a layer of flour first, you can substitute milk in place of eggs for the next layer. The combination of flour and milk will create a sticky coating that breadcrumbs can adhere to.

How to make breadcrumbs stick without eggs vegan? ›

Coconut oil

And it can be used to replace eggs when you're breading foods, such as tofu, before baking or frying. Others oils, such as vegetable oil, can also be used to replace eggs. However, anything with a strong flavour will affect the end results.

What can I use instead of egg to make breadcrumbs stick? ›

Milk or Buttermilk:Dip the meat in milk or buttermilk before coating it with the breading. This helps the breading adhere to the meat. You can use dairy or non-dairy alternatives like almond milk or soy milk. Yogurt:Plain yogurt can serve as a good substitute for eggs in breading.

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