The BEST Crispy Tofu (Baked)

Created On: May 5, 2019 | Updated: March 24, 2025 | 70 Comments

This is The BEST Crispy Tofu Recipe! It’s flavorful, uses minimal oil, and is baked to perfection in the oven. It’s perfect for adding to stir-fries or snacking on.

I’m so excited to share this Crispy Tofu Recipe with you today! I’ve been testing it for a while and can now say it’s perfect! I know tofu can be somewhat controversial, but we eat a lot of it and this is my favorite way to prepare it. It really is The Best Crispy Tofu.

My 2-year-old loves just snacking on this Crispy Baked Tofu, and it’s so cute how he says “tofu” 🙂 We probably eat tofu once a week in our house

Baked Tofu Recipe Ingredients

Tofu – I used one 14-ounce container of extra-firm tofu, patted dry and pressed for at least 15 minutes.
Oil – I used toasted sesame oil for the flavor, but you can use olive or avocado oil (or the oil of your choice) instead.
Tamari – Soy sauce will also work.
Spices – Garlic powder and salt.
Maple syrup – I always use pure maple syrup in recipes calling for maple. Be sure you’re not using artificial pancake syrup.
Vinegar – I used rice wine vinegar in this recipe.
Arrowroot powder – I used arrowroot powder here, but cornstarch can be substituted.

What Kind Of Tofu Should I Use for Crispy Baked Tofu?

You always want to use extra-firm tofu when making this Crispy Tofu Recipe. The only time I ever use soft tofu is when I’m using it in vegan desserts; it does not sauté up well. There are a few brands of tofu out there, and any of them will work as long as you get the extra-firm variety. I’ve recently discovered high-protein, super-firm tofu, and it’s my favorite! So far, I’ve seen it at Trader Joe’s and Sprouts. Just like its name, it’s super firm, and it’s not packed in a ton of water, so it doesn’t require any pressing.
That brings me to my next point: If you aren’t using pre-pressed tofu, it’s important to pat your tofu dry and press it. I’m not usually one to take the time to press my tofu, but it’s important to make sure your tofu gets extra crispy! You don’t need to press it for hours; just about 15-30 minutes will do to ensure it’s not waterlogged.

What Makes This The Best Crispy Tofu Recipe?

It’s so crispy! It’s seriously hard to believe that it’s not deep-fried. The recipe only uses one Tablespoon of oil, which isn’t a lot compared to deep-fried tofu.
It’s really easy to make! There are no complicated tricks to this Crispy Tofu Recipe. All you do is mix up the seasonings, coat the tofu, and then mix in some arrowroot or cornstarch. Then, spread it out on a sheet pan and bake until crispy and perfect!
It’s made with healthy ingredients! This recipe does not use vegetable oil. I used toasted sesame oil because it has a nice flavor, but you could also use olive or avocado oil. I chose to use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch, which can also be used.

How To Make The Best Crispy Tofu

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, tamari, garlic powder, maple syrup, and vinegar.
Cut the pressed tofu into bite-sized pieces and place in the oil mixture. Use a spoon or spatula to stir the tofu and make sure it’s completely coated. Next, sprinkle over 1 teaspoon of the arrowroot powder and mix well until all the tofu is coated. Then, sprinkle on the remaining teaspoon of arrowroot powder and give a gentle mix just until you can’t see the dry white powder anymore.
Line a large baking sheet with a non-stick mat or parchment paper. Pour the tofu and arrange it so that none of the pieces are touching each other. Bake tofu for about 25-30 minutes, until golden and crispy, stirring 2-3 times during the baking. Let the tofu sit for a few minutes to crisp up even more before enjoying it.

How To Use This Crispy Baked Tofu

This Crispy Tofu is perfect for so many recipes. You can pretty much use his technique for any recipe that calls for tofu, and it will make it so much tastier!
I honestly eat quite a bit of it plain, just off the baking tray after it comes out of the oven. My 2-year-old really enjoys it that way, too! It’s warm, crispy, and has good flavor thanks to the sesame oil, tamari, and garlic powder.
Another way I love to eat this crispy tofu is to add it to stir-fry sauce and enjoy it over cauliflower rice. I usually use my favorite Stir-Fry Recipe, or I also love this Orange Sauce Recipe. You can either pour the sauce over your meal or mix the tofu right into the pan with the sauce.
This crispy tofu would be great in any stir-fry recipe, over rice, or mixed with veggies or noodles.

Recipe Tips For The BEST Crispy Tofu

You want to make sure all of your tofu is coated evenly with the oil mixture and the arrowroot powder. The arrowroot powder makes it crispy, so it’s super important to make sure it gets on every piece of tofu.
I used arrowroot in my recipe because that is what I had on hand, but you could also use the same amount of cornstarch. I’ve read that arrowroot powder will give the tofu a slightly slimy texture if you add it to a sauce, whereas the cornstarch will not. I personally don’t mind it, but it’s up to you which you want to use.
It’s important to ensure the tofu cubes do not touch each other when you place them on the sheet pan. If the tofu is touching, then the touching part will not get as crispy.
Stir the tofu a few times while it’s baking so that each side gets crispy.

Have a question about this recipe? Ask me in the comments, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Looking For More Delicious Tofu Recipes?

Vegan BLT Pitas

Crispy Tofu Sandwiches

Vegan Orange Tofu

Teriyaki Tofu Bowls