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    Home » All Recipes » Tofu Recipes

    Published: Apr 27, 2023 · by Megan · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Crispy Pan Fried Tofu

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    Jump to Recipe
    tofu with text overlay "crispy pan fried tofu, vegan, gf, & 7 easy ingredients!".

    This Crispy Pan Fried Tofu is going to be your new favorite way to cook tofu. With just 7 ingredients, 25 minutes and no tofu pressing required, this recipe is easy, delicious, & packed with flavor!

    wooden spatula scooping up two slices of golden pan fried tofu from a pan.

    We pretty much make this tofu without fail one night a week. Sometimes even two. Or three if we're counting the times I make it as a midday snack.

    It's really that good.

    Not only can this golden tofu make a great snack, but it's the perfect topping for salads, wraps, or pasta if you want to add a punch of protein. With a thin & crispy outer shell and soft interior, this vegan & gluten-free fried tofu recipe truly is a winner!

    Ingredients:

    labeled ingredients including extra firm tofu, oil, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, & pepper.

    Ingredient & substitution notes:

    • Extra Firm Tofu: Extra firm tofu is really going to give you the best texture here, but firm tofu also works.
      • Do not use soft or silken tofu in this recipe.
      • Unlike many of my tofu recipes, we are not pressing the tofu. While we want to remove some of the moisture by drying the tofu, we still need some moisture for the coating to stick.
    • Cornstarch: Keeps the moisture inside this tofu and is the key ingredient to making it SUPER crispy!
      • While I haven't personally tried it, arrowroot powder may work as a substitute.
      • I do not recommend substituting with all-purpose flour.
    • Nutritional Yeast: Gives this tofu a "cheesy" and rich flavor. There isn't a good substitute for it and I don't recommend skipping it for the best flavor.
    • Oil: I used a mix of avocado oil & olive oil to pan-fry the tofu. However, using just one oil works.
      • You can also substitute for other neutral oils, but I find avocado and olive oil give this tofu the best flavor.

    How to pan fry tofu

    Step 1: Lightly dry the tofu (no pressing required!)

    Since we want a slightly moist outside, we are actually NOT pressing the tofu. Instead, we are just lightly drying it off with a towel (or paper towels) to remove some of that excess moisture.

    It's important the tofu stays moist but not super "wet" so that it can really absorb the dry seasoning.

    Step 2: Make the dry tofu batter

    Add the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, & garlic powder to a mixing bowl and whisk together. If you want to add any additional spices, go ahead and add them at this time!

    mixing dry batter ingredients in a mixing bowl.

    Step 3: Slice & Dunk the tofu

    Cut the tofu into 12 evenly sized rectangular pieces.

    slices of tofu on a wooden board.

    Then, dip each tofu nugget into the dry batter until it is completely coated.

    If you have any excess batter after each tofu has been dunked once, go ahead and dunk the slices twice to get extra batter on them.

    dunking tofu slice into a bowl of batter and a plate full of dry batter coated tofu slices.

    Step 4: Pan-fry the tofu

    Add the oil to a pan and let it warm for a minute or two. Then, add in the tofu slices.

    The key to extra crispy pan-fried tofu is to not touch the tofu too much while it cooks.

    You want to let it cook for about 5 minutes on each side before carefully rotating it with a spatula. Do this 4 times to get all of the sides crispy.

    The pan-fried tofu will be ready when it is a golden brown color all around and has a nice crisp exterior.

    tofu slices being pan fried until golden in a pan.

    P.S.- It is very important to use a non-stick pan for this tofu.

    Otherwise, chances are it will stick and the coating could come off. I highly recommend the Caraway Pans (you may notice I use them in pretty almost every recipe where pan frying is required these days!).

    bowl filled with slices of crispy pan fried tofu.

    How to serve crispy tofu:

    When it comes to this crispy tofu my absolute way to enjoy it is as a salad, grain bowl, or pasta topping.

    Here's a few salads & bowls I love adding it to:

    • Vegan Cobb Salad
    • Quinoa Arugula Salad (I usually swap it for the chickpeas)
    • Mediterranean Hummus Bowls
    • Pesto Quinoa Bowl

    Here are a few pasta recipes it works well in as a topping:

    • Caramelized Onion & Roasted Garlic Pasta
    • Spinach Artichoke Pasta
    • Miso Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
    • Green Goddess Pasta Salad

    Lastly, it's great as a snack! In fact, sometimes I whip up these fried tofu nuggets in the middle of the day when I'm hungry, but want something that is a bit healthier.

    It's always so satisfying and is guaranteed to hold me over until dinner.

    hand holding up a slice of crispy golden fried tofu over a bowl of tofu.

    FAQ & Tips:

    How do I store pan-fried tofu?

    Pan-fried tofu truly is best right after it is made as that's when it is crispy. However, it can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 2-3 days, but will lose it's crispy outer texture over time.

    Can I prep this tofu ahead of time?

    Honestly, I wouldn't recommend it. This tofu is crispy right after making it but will lose it's outer crispiness over time. While it still tastes great several days after it's made, it's not a good recipe to prep ahead of time.

    Can I make this recipe without oil?

    Not exactly. This recipe is truly meant to be made with oil to get that crisp golden texture.

    If you are looking for an oil-free tofu recipe, I'd recommend trying out the baked tofu I made in my Vegan Pesto Tofu. The tofu still gets really crispy, but is a bit more tough & chewy inside if you bake it vs. pan fry it.

    bowl of pan fried tofu slices, top slice missing a bite to show soft interior.

    I can't wait for you to try this easy 7-ingredient Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu! It's a staple in our house, and I truly hope you love it just as much as we do. Enjoy!

    -TSG

    More tofu recipes you will love:

    • Southwest Tofu Scramble
    • a bowl of spinach tofu ricotta with parsley on top
      Vegan Tofu Ricotta
    • crispy browned tofu crumbles in a pan.
      Vegan Tofu Crumbles
    • bowl of pesto pasta topped with cubed crispy tofu basil and pine nuts
      Vegan Pesto Tofu Pasta

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star review on the recipe card. I always appreciate your feedback and support! You can also follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for our newsletter!

    wooden spatula scooping up two slices of golden pan fried tofu from a pan.

    Crispy Pan Fried Tofu

    With just 25 minutes, 7 ingredients, and no tofu pressing required, you will love this easy & crispy pan-fried tofu!
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin
    Course: Snack, Vegetarian Lunch + Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: Megan Horowitch

    Ingredients 
    US Customary - Metric

    • 16 ounce package extra firm tofu strained and lightly dried
    • ¼ cup cornstarch
    • 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic pepper
    • 2-3 Tablespoons oil I like using a mix of olive & avocado oil

    Instructions

    • Start by removing the tofu from its container and lightly dry it with a paper towel. You want the tofu to be moist, but not soaking wet. Set aside.
    • Then, add the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to a mixing bowl and whisk togehter.
    • Cut the tofu into 12 evenly sized rectangular slices and dunk each slice individually into the bowl of batter. Mix until coated. If you have excess batter after dunking the tofu once, go ahead and dunk them in the batter again.
    • Heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Once it has warmed for about 1 minute, add in the dry coated tofu slices.
    • Pan-fry the tofu slices for about 5 minutes on each side until crispy and browned. Then, carefully rotate each slice with a spatula to cook on the next side. Do this 4 times to get all of the sides browned and crispy.
    • Remove the tofu slices from the pan and serve immediately. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Please see the blog post for substitution ideas and more recipe tips.
    • It's very important to use a non-stick pan for this recipe so the tofu does not stick. I highly recommend using the Caraway Pans.
    • While I kept the spice mix simple, feel free to add other spices such as paprika to give the tofu a different flavor.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3pieces tofu | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 654mg | Potassium: 253mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @shortgirltallorder or tag #sgtoeats!

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      Gochujang Tofu
    • lemon platter topped with pasta and crispy lemon tofu with caper lemon shallot sauce, fresh parsley, and lemon slices.
      Vegan Tofu Piccata
    • a portobello mushroom on a plate filled with a leek tofu stuffing with fresh herbs.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David Fuller says

      February 28, 2025 at 6:06 am

      5 stars
      I made this for the first time...delicious. I love agedashi tofu but it is deep fried, this is much healthier.

      Reply
    2. Ariana says

      December 22, 2024 at 2:05 am

      5 stars
      Loved it!

      Reply
    3. Ginny says

      December 06, 2024 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious!! Sliced, then towel dried tofu. Arrowroot mixed with nutritional yeast with salt and pepper made a great dry mix. Sautéed and rotated each piece in EVOO with a bit of sesame oil. It was delicious!

      Reply
    4. Lisa says

      November 18, 2024 at 2:12 am

      5 stars
      These were really delicious! Simple weeknight dinner that's delicious.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 25, 2024 at 7:57 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    5. Carrie Feinstein says

      April 15, 2024 at 4:31 pm

      Yum Yum Yum. I had a little bit of tofu left and this hit the spot!!!! I loved it! What a delicious way to make tofu!!!

      Reply
    6. Betsy says

      February 21, 2024 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was delicious! Even my 9-yr-old cleaned his plate! I used arrowroot instead of cornstarch and they came out perfectly.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        February 21, 2024 at 10:58 pm

        So glad to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    7. Sara says

      December 20, 2023 at 4:53 am

      5 stars
      This has to be the best tofu recipe I've ever made! And now it's going to be my go-to recipe for all my fried tofu recipes <3

      Reply
      • Megan says

        December 20, 2023 at 10:22 pm

        So happy you liked it!! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Nan says

      June 03, 2023 at 11:53 pm

      I baked the tofu instead of pan frying--about fifteen minutes on each side. They came out amazing.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        June 03, 2023 at 11:53 pm

        Love hearing it worked out well baking them too 🙂

        Reply
      • Lee says

        November 17, 2024 at 9:52 pm

        At what temperature did you bake the Tofu?

        Reply
    9. Meredith Banks says

      April 27, 2023 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      YAAAAAAS THIS IS SO DELICIOUS! Low key I’m always trying to get more protein, but I’m a long distance runner and heavy stuff doesn’t work for me. I’ve started making this recipe and I love it so much. Game changer FOR SURE. 10/10!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        April 27, 2023 at 6:45 pm

        Yay so happy you love it so much!! 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 9 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Megan! I believe eating plant-based food can be enjoyable for everyone. Eating plants doesn't have to be hard and it certainly shouldn't be boring. I am here to help you on your journey to eating food you actually feel good about and to make cooking at home fun again! 

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