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    Home » Recipes

    Easy Pesto Tofu in the Air Fryer or Oven

    Jul 6, 2022 · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Pesto tofu in the air fryer is the perfect weeknight meat that saves the day! 20 minute marinate time that you can spend helping your kids with homework, doing laundry, or reading a book. This tofu pesto recipe is only 3 ingredients and very easy to clean up! You do not have to dirty many utensils in this recipe.

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I may earn a small commission from it. In the footer of this page is my full disclosure policy. 

    pesto tofu with red air fryer mat under.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • Complete meal - plant based pesto tofu makes any meal complete. You can use it as a healthy dinner or it can also make a tasty side dish.
    • Easy to make - only 3 ingredients and it is a sheet pan dinner. Only takes 2 batches in the air fryer if air frying.
    • Vegan or non - vegan-whether you are on a special diet or not, this simple meal is for you. Trade traditional pesto for vegan pesto. It is a very simple swap you can make to customize this recipe for you.

    Easy to make pesto tofu is perfect for:

    • Snacking - tofu pesto makes a great on the go snack. Eat cold or warm it up.
    • Salads - substitute tofu for chicken and get more protein in your salads!
    • Main dish - excellent in pesto tofu buddah bowls
    • Side dish - serve with pasta or on pasta, on pizza, etc. If you make tofu slices instead cubes it could be a sandwich.

    No matter how you are eating this tofu pesto recipe, you can make it using basic pantry items.

    Ingredients:

    • Tofu-small cubes of tofu make a great finger food
    • Olive oil-helps pesto stick to tofu
    • Pesto sauce- the main flavor of this healthy recipe. You can use store bought or homemade pesto.

    How to cook tofu with pesto:

    • Prep the tofu - press the tofu like you normally would
    • Cut the tofu - make tofu cubes
    • Marinate - marinate for 20 minutes to allow flavor to infiltrate the tofu
    • Air fryer or bake - bake until slightly crispy (or golden brown) on a baking sheet (or air fry) and serve with olive oil

    FAQ & Tips:

    How to make tofu taste better:

    Some people find tofu flavorless or really chewy. One way to combat this is to press the tofu longer or harder. Pressing gets the excess water out which assists in the density of the tofu. The less water, the less chewiness. It also gets the water out which allows more room for the marinate to enter the tofu.

    Another way to add flavor is to provide a dipping sauce. These pesto tofu bites taste excellent with olive oil on the side. You can also dip them in more pesto if you would like.

    How to press tofu without a tofu press:

    Not everyone owns a tofu press, but if you do, you definitely can use it. I place a thin kitchen towel on a cutting board, then place my 2 tofu slabs next to each other. The towel soaks up the excess liquid.

    two slabs of tofu on a clean white and blue kitchen towel

    Fold over the towel so it is almost hugging the tofu.

    Tofu wrapped in a white and blue towel on a white cutting board.

    Place heavy object (I use a small storage bin filled with shoes) on top. Press for 20 minutes, then flip over tofu and towel and press again for 20 minutes on the other side. You can put a heavy pan on top and put books on top the pan too!

    tofu wrapped in towel placed on a cutting board on the carpet being pressed by a box of shoes.

    How to store:

    Store pesto tofu in an air tight container in the fridge for up to one week. I do not recommend freezing tofu due to the moisture content.

    More tasty tofu recipes:

    • air fryer buffalo tofu
    • salt and pepper tofu

    Recipe

    pesto tofu with red air fryer mat under.

    Plant Based Pesto Tofu

    Pesto tofu is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that is savory in every bite.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hr
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 219 kcal

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    Ingredients
      

    • 14 oz firm or extra firm tofu
    • ⅓ cup pesto
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions
     

    • Press tofu for 20 minutes each side like you normally would. If you do not have a tofu press, see above notes on how to press without one.
    • In a small bowl or tupperware container, mix together pesto and olive oil.
    • Chop up tofu into bite sized cubes and place in pesto mixture. Gently stir until mixed throughout. Let marinate 10 minutes in the fridge. Stir. Let marinate again 10 minutes.

    If baking:

    • Spray 9 x 13 baking sheet with nonstick spray. Place tofu cubes evenly throughout so there is no over lap. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip over and bake for another 10 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Serve with olive oil for dipping.

    If air frying:

    • Spray air fryer basket. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees. Place half the tofu in the air fryer. Air fry for about 7 minutes, flip and fry another 7 minutes. It will be done when it is slightly crisp and golden brown. Serve with olive oil for dipping.

    Nutrition

    Sodium: 139mgCalories: 219kcalFat: 19.8gProtein: 10.1gCarbohydrates: 3g

    All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Nutritional facts listed are a rough estimate and should only be followed as a general idea.

    Keyword tofu pesto, pesto tofu
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan says

      July 06, 2022 at 10:50 pm

      5 stars
      Such an easy recipe and soooo tasty! Thanks for a simple and quick dish.

      Reply
    2. Nora says

      July 07, 2022 at 3:25 am

      5 stars
      Sounds delicious! I will definitely give it a try! Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
    3. Audrey says

      July 07, 2022 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      I never thought to combine pesto and tofu before but oh my goodness, YUM!!!

      Reply
    4. Alexandra says

      July 07, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious - the pesto is perfect with the tofu, and preparing in the air fryer worked a treat!

      Reply
    5. Nancy says

      July 07, 2022 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      How great is this pesto
      Recipe with tofu. Easy for my health meals

      Reply
    6. Genevieve says

      July 08, 2022 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      I've never thought to make pesto and tofu together, let alone in the air fryer. What a genius idea for an easy weeknight recipe. This one is a must-try for sure!

      Reply

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    About Tyanne

    Tyanne is a self-proclaimed foodie, spicy food connoisseur, pasta lover, and a family woman who believes in easy, flavorful recipes that bring the family together around the table. Her blogging journey began in November 2019 when she decided that she wanted a digital notecard to keep her recipes on. She built her food blog www.cookingwithtyanne.com to not only save her own recipes, but to share them with the world as well. Today, she still runs her food blog, but also has a cookbook titled "Deliciously Fresh Freezer Meals" on Amazon. Read More…

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