Crispy Vegan Tofu Chicken
Learn to make crispy vegan tofu chicken with an easy oil-free recipe featuring frozen, boiled or pressed tofu with air fryer, baking, or grilling instructions.
Servings: 4
Calories: 114kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounces tofu firm, extra firm, or super firm tofu
- ¼ cup soy sauce Tamari or liquid amino acids
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons vegan chicken broth powder see notes
Instructions
- Press the tofu using a tofu press. Or place it on a plate and cover it with a weighted flat surface. Press for 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can freeze or boil the tofu (see notes).
- Mix the soy sauce, lemon juice, and chicken broth powder in a shallow dish. Tear or cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces, strips, or cubes. Mix the tofu on all sides with the marinade. Marinate for 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the air fryer or oven. Air fry the tofu for 12 minutes at 375 F (190 C), flipping halfway through. Bake at 425 F (225 C) for 15 minutes, flip, and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
Notes
- If not using vegan chicken broth recipe, use 2 teaspoons or 1 cube of vegan chicken bouillon plus 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and onion powder, plus ½ teaspoon of poultry seasoning.
- Freeze tofu in the package for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or boil it for 10-15 minutes. Press it between paper towels by pressing the moisture or use a tofu press for 5 minutes. Frozen tofu has a meaty texture.
- Boiling tofu is another method for removing excess moisture. After boiling for 15 minutes. Press the tofu for 5 minutes after boiling.
- In my experimentation, I noticed that warm tofu tends to marinate deeper. Frozen tofu resulted in a meatier texture, with pressed tofu a close second. Boiled tofu has a creamy, slightly less firm texture.
- You can also freeze marinated tofu in a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw it, then air fry or bake as directed.
- Grill crispy tofu chicken on a preheated grill on medium-high heat. Flip several times until firm and brown.
- Store cooked tofu in an airtight container for 4 days or freeze or 3 months.
- Reheat in the air fryer or wrapped in foil in the oven. Open the foil the last few minutes to crisp the outside.
Nutrition
Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 1412mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 2mg