• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking with Tyanne logo
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Air Fryer Recipes

    Vegan Crispy Buffalo Tofu in Air Fryer

    Jun 12, 2022 · 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    You can turn a block of tofu into buffalo tofu bites in the air fryer! Even if it is your first time making tofu, you will be successful in making this delicious recipe. Tofu strips coated in a dry mixture of cornstarch and seasonings, tossed in a sauce mixture of buffalo sauce, oil, and more cornstarch. Double air fried for extra texture! Some people think tofu is bland, but with buffalo sauce, it can never be a bland flavor! Mouth-watering, spicy buffalo tofu in every bite! Air fryer buffalo tofu is so easy to make.

    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. 

    buffalo tofu in a pot with basil leaves on top and rice below.

    Why you will love these buffalo tofu nuggets:

    • gluten free-no flour needed in this recipe!
    • affordable-the price of chicken is really high right now, so making buffalo tofu is not only vegan and vegetarian, but also a lot cheaper than making chicken!
    • crispy coating-this may be a vegan buffalo tofu recipe, but this tofu can get just as crispy as chicken making crispy baked buffalo tofu wings. It's like buffalo chicken without the chicken!
    • high in protein-eating buffalo tofu wings does not mean skimping out on the protein in your diet. Tofu has plenty of plant based, nutricious protein.
    • low number of ingredients-not many ingredients means less mess to clean up and more clean eating!
    • low prep time-using the air fryer cuts down on preheating time and cook time.

    What is buffalo sauce made of?

    Common ingredients in buffalo sauce include ceyenne pepper, vinegar, water, soybean oil, spices, and preservatives. If you want to make your own buffalo sauce, there are some great ways to make some.

    What do tofu buffalo wings taste like?

    These taste fairly similar to spicy chicken nuggets. I find them more enjoyable than chicken wings because they are not as stringy as chicken meat is.

    buffalo tofu with a hand holding up a piece on a plate with mozzarella sticks in the background.

    Ingredients needed to make buffalo tofu:

    • firm tofu-extra firm works too. We just don't want any soft tofu.
    • cornstarch-this will help coat the tofu
    • onion powder-adds flavor
    • garlic powder-adds flavor
    • black pepper-adds flavor and color
    • buffalo wing sauce-adds extra spicy flavor and gives the buffalo name
    • olive oil-adds oil to help coat tofu pieces. This recipe is dairy free since it uses oil instead of milk to coat.

    How to make buffalo tofu wings:

    • press tofu-press piece of tofu with a tofu press or in the description I give below of how to press tofu if you don't have a tofu press. I typically cut tofu in half height wise so the contraption won't be so tall while pressing it.
    • dry mixture-in a small bowl, put cornstarch and seasonings. This will help absorb excess water from the tofu. Bake with this mixture on.
    • wet mixture-save dishes by making the wet mixture in the same bowl as the dry mixture! Air fry with this mixture as well so it is double coated in flavor! Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!

    You can use the oven to make this easy baked buffalo tofu. Preheat to 400 degrees, and follow the directions the same, just add 3 minutes onto the air fryer basket time for each section.

    Common questions while making tofu:

    Where is tofu in the supermarket?

    I either find it in the section by the premade salads or by the regridgerated dressings in the produce section of the store.

    Do I have to press my tofu?

    Yes, it would be ideal if you pressed your tofu before making this buffalo tofu recipe. If you do not press your tofu, then it does not hold its shape very well while cooking. The shape is what makes the texure taste like it does.

    If you use super super firm tofu, then you might not have to press it as much.

    How to press tofu:

    I place a thin kitchen towel on a cutting board(make sure it is a clean dish towel), 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 serve tofu hot wings:

    There are so many ways to serve buffalo tofu! You can cut them into smaller pieces and make them into vegan buffalo tofu nuggets. This would make a great appetizer for a main dish like french dip or pesto pasta.

    Another option is to make a buffalo tofu wrap. Put the pieces in a wrap with lettuce, your favorite sauces, and a tortilla.

    If you wanted to make a variation of this, you can leave the tofu block as is and not cut it into strips. Just cut it into thin slices height wise so it is still a large slab. Prepare like normal but then serve as buffalo tofu sandwich on a bun!

    Can tofu be reheated?

    Yes! How to reheat this buffalo tofu meal and store leftovers is pretty simple! Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to about 4 days. Reheat using the air fryer (5 minutes) or microwave. It should only take about a minute to reheat using the microwave, it just does not get as crispy as the air fryer does.

    Check out my other tofu recipes:

    • salt and pepper tofu
    • pesto tofu
    buffalo tofu with mozzarella sticks in the background with someone dipping tofu in ranch.

    Buffalo Tofu in the Air Fryer

    Turn a block of tofu into a delicious game day appetizer! Also tastes good in buffalo tofu wraps or make bigger slices for buffalo tofu sandwhiches.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 40 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people

    Recommended Products

    air fryer
    small bowl
    rubber spatula
    pairing knife
    thin towel
    cutting board
    heavy object

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 block firm tofu
    • ½ cup cornstarch
    • ½ tablespoon black peppper, garlic powder, and onion powder
    • ⅓ cup buffalo wing sauce
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon water optional

    Instructions
     

    Pressing Tofu:

    • Cut tofu block in half height wise so it is easier to get out moisture. Press tofu as you normally would or follow my directions below:
    • How I press tofu: I place a thin towel on a cutting board, then place my 2 tofu slabs next to each other. The towel soaks up the excess water. Fold over the towel so it is almost hugging the tofu. 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.

    After pressing tofu:

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
    • Cut both tofu slabs into strips about a half inch wide. You can either cut long or short strips depending what you are using these buffalo tofu bites for.
    • Stir together cornstarch, and seasonings in a small bowl. Roll each tofu strip in this mixture and shake excess cornstarch off. Place each strip in the sprayed air fryer basket. Spray tops of tofu with cooking spray. Air fry for about 8 minutes. Do not discard extra cornstarch mixure!!
    • Turn over tofu strips and air fry for 4 minutes. While waiting, pour remaining ingredients in cornstarch mixture bowl. You can add more cornstarch if you find it to be too runnny or you can add a little water if it is too thick.
    • After the 4 minutes, take out tofu strips out of air fryer and roll each of them in the new buffalo sauce mixture. Re-spray air fryer basket and place buffalo tofu bites in the basket. Air fry for about 3 minutes each side.
    • When the buffalo sauce looks like it is dry, you can remove from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite sauces!

    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 buffalo tofu, air fryer recipes, tofu bites, buffalo tofu wrap, buffalo tofu bites
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air Fryer Baked Potato With Olive Oil Recipe
    • Quick Air Fryer Nachos Recipe
    • Air Fryer Bacon Recipe (10 Minutes or Less)
    • Easy Breakfast Nachos with Tater Tots

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy says

      June 16, 2022 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t wait to make this tofu version again!

      Reply
    2. Alexandra says

      June 16, 2022 at 11:51 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great way to prepare tofu!

      Reply
    3. Nora says

      June 16, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious way to serve tofu! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Donna says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:04 am

      5 stars
      Love that this is made in the air fryer, went down a treat!

      Reply
    5. Freya says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      So delicious and crisp!

      Reply
    6. Marcellina says

      June 17, 2022 at 12:28 am

      5 stars
      So simple!

      Reply
    7. Melinda says

      June 17, 2022 at 7:50 am

      5 stars
      Always love a new tofu recipe - and this one has great spice!! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    8. Andrea says

      June 17, 2022 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      love that this is made in the air fryer! so crispy!

      Reply
    9. Addie says

      June 18, 2022 at 10:25 pm

      5 stars
      So crispy and delicious!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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…

    Amazon Store Front

    Click here to check out the kitchen equipment I use on Amazon!

    Categories

    Affiliate Disclaimer

    This blog may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase something, I may earn a small commission from it.

    baked sweet potato fries

    Baked Sweet Potato Fries Crispy

    Shares: 426

    homemade alfredo sauce

    Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce

    Shares: 280

    tomato soup with tortellini in a bowl

    Campbell's Tomato Soup with Tortellini

    Shares: 113

    Shrimp Fried Rice

    Extremely Easy Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice

    Shares: 171

    red enchilada sauce

    Easy Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe

    Shares: 259

    ConvertKit Form

    brewsy wine at home kit

    Copyright © 2023 COOKING WITH TYANNE

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Email
    • Print
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok