Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets with Vegan Ranch Sauce
Looking for a healthy oil-free snack packed full of protein and amino acids? These Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets will hit the spot! Gluten-free, delicious, and quick to make, they pair perfectly with our vegan ranch sauce.
Tofu is an absolute staple in our household. We eat it in some form most days & I find it to be an incredibly versatile ingredient!
But I get it, not everyone is such a fan and I think that it sometimes comes down to a lack of knowledge about how to best prepare and cook it.
Which led me to think about new ways I could serve up this humble little ingredient and make more people love it as much as we do!
One thing I hadn’t experimented much with, is cooking tofu in the air fryer. So I thought I’d give it a try, and oh my goodness, I’m kicking myself for not trying this sooner!
These simple Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets are packed with flavor, have a beautiful crisp shell, are a healthy snack or appetizer, and go wonderfully with a homemade vegan ranch sauce!
How to Cook Tofu in an Air Fryer
The key to cooking crispy tofu in an air fryer is the same as cooking it in a skillet, or in the oven. That is, you want to squeeze out any excess moisture before you cook it.
You can do this manually, by wrapping it in a tea towel and placing it between two flat surfaces, and adding weight on top. This will help any excess liquid drain from the tofu – but you’ll need to leave it for about 20-30 minutes for it to drain properly.
Another option is to buy a custom tofu press, which makes the process a little quicker and more straightforward.
Which Kind of Tofu?
Tofu is sold in many different forms, from silken tofu (that’s great for making chocolate mouse!) to extra firm tofu.
For this Air Fryer tofu recipe, it’s best to opt for the firmest tofu you can find. This will have a denser structure and less water content naturally, but it’s still best to press it first for the crispiest air fried tofu.
Air Fried Crispy Tofu Nuggets Ingredients
This oil-free tofu recipe requires just a few simple ingredients that come together perfectly to form a crisp shell around your nuggets. Feel free to mix up the spices a little to suit your own tastes, and you can sub out the almond flour for panko or breadcrumbs if gluten-free tofu nuggets aren’t a necessity.
- Firm or extra firm tofu
- Almond flour
- Chickpea flour
- Smoked Paprika
- Salt & Pepper
- Dried Parsley
How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Tofu Nuggets
Press the tofu block to remove excess water content.
Cut your tofu into 1/2 inch cubes.
Make your chickpea eggs by whisking together the chickpea flour and water.
Whisk together the chickpea eggs, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
Using a fork, dip each cube of tofu into the ‘egg’ mixture, and then coat it in almond flour.
Place the tofu nuggets into your air fryer in a single layer (you may need to cook them in two batches).
Cook them at 375°F / 190°C for 15 minutes. Check your own Air Fryer directions if needed.
To make sure they cook evenly, you can turn the nuggets over at the halfway point.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
These kid-friendly tofu nuggets are even more amazing when served with ranch dressing. Follow the recipe below to make a quick vegan ranch sauce at home, or take the easy option and have some on hand from the store.
Vegan Ranch Sauce Ingredients
- Vegan Mayonnaise
- Non-Dairy Milk
- Garlic
- Fresh Parsley
- Pepper
- Lemon
How to Make Vegan Ranch Sauce
To make the ranch sauce, simply place everything into your blender and pulse until smooth.
Serve your nuggets with the ranch sauce while still warm.
How to Enjoy the Best Air Fried Tofu Bites
These tasty little nuggets can be served with the ranch sauce as a tasty vegan party snack, a healthy appetizer, or even incorporated into a main meal.
They also work really well on top of salads, in buddha bowls, or as an accompaniment for many Asian-style dishes.
Try These Other Vegan Snack Ideas too:
- Vegan Breaded Mushrooms with Garlic Aioli
- Tasty Vegan Cauliflower Nuggets
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets with Vegan Ranch Sauce
Ingredients
Tofu Nuggets
- 1 pound 450g firm tofu
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3 chickpea eggs 3 tbsp chickpea flour + 3 tbsp water
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
Ranch Sauce
- 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- Pinch of ground pepper
- Juice of one small lemon
Instructions
- Cut your tofu into 1/2 inch cubes
- Make your chickpea eggs by whisking together the chickpea flour and water.
- Whisk together the chickpea eggs, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
- Using a fork, dip each cube of tofu into the egg mixture, and then coat in almond flour.
- Place the tofu nuggets into your air fryer in a single layer (you may need to cook them in two batches).
- Cook them at 375°F / 190°C for 15 minutes. Check your own Air Fryer directions if needed.
- To make sure they cook evenly, you may want to turn the nuggets over at the halfway point.
- To make the ranch sauce, simply place everything into your blender and pulse until smooth.
- Serve your nuggets while still warm.
I tried making this yesterday and it was such a hit, especially to my kids! They’re asking me to make these again this week! The vegan ranch sauce was so delicious too!
I’m glad they turned out great Jessie! And Yes! We all loved the vegan ranch sauce too!
The tofu nuggets turned out so crispy and the ranch dip really made all the difference. Definitely adding this to my go-to recipes!
That dip sounds like the perfect accompaniment. I’m happy you’re having this tasty dish in your lineup, Alana!
So perfect for my diet! It’s fast and easy to make and tastes amazing! Also my first time to try out the vegan ranch sauce and it perfectly pairs with the tofu! Thanks a bunch for this recipe!
Thanks for giving this recipe a try, Melody. I’m so glad you loved them!
Another air fryer recipe for keeps. Very easy. Turned out crispy outside and tender inside. The family loved it.
Awesome, I’m so glad this air fryer recipe was a hit with the whole family! It’s great when you can get that perfect crispy exterior and tender interior texture.
These days I am more interested in trying out vegan food and I was really happy to find this recipe I can use for my tofu I have. I made it for lunch today and it was really delicious. So easy to make and flavorful. Thanks x
I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed it, Greta! Good to know that you are also exploring vegan options.
I’m a big fan of tofu, so I couldn’t resist giving this recipe a shot. Tossed these tofu nuggets on my salad, and they were fantastic: crispy outside, tender inside, and no greasy mess.
As a tofu fan, I’m sure you really appreciated these nuggets delivering great flavor and texture without any of the oil typically needed for frying. Thanks for sharing, Anna!