Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets - Vegan "Chicken" Fingers Recipe (2024)

These Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets are meatless chicken fingers that are tossed in a flavourful barbecue sauce! It’s an easy to make vegan chicken nuggets recipe that is so delicious!

Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets – Vegan Chicken Fingers

If you’ve ever loved the taste of chicken nuggets but you went vegan, vegetarian or just want to eat less meat, then this recipe will be your new favorite for sure! These tofu nuggets are crispy, baked and tasty, so it’s a great way to still enjoy chicken nuggets but without the meat! I totally love this recipe because it’s so simple and if you make a big batch, you can easily freeze them for another day. Just reheat and enjoy anytime!

Homemade Vegan Chicken Nuggets

I‘m pretty sure there are already many vegan and vegetarian meatless nuggets available in the stores which you can buy ready-made. However, such prepared foods are often expensive and/or contain unusual ingredients which I think are not very healthy at all. That’s why I prefer to make everything from scratch when I have the time. This way you always know what ingredients your meals contain and you can adjust them to your taste and preference.

How to make Crispy Tofu Nuggets

Step 1: Press Tofu

Even though these Vegan Chicken Nuggets are baked and not fried, it makes the crispiest and most delicious tofu! Just make sure to use firm tofu for the best results. Simply slice the tofu, and then press out as much of the liquid as you can by wrapping the tofu slices in paper towels (or a clean kitchen towel). Then place a heavy pan or another weight on top and set it aside for at least 30 minutes. This step is very important if you want super Crispy Baked Buffalo Tofu Nuggets! When your tofu slices are well pressed and look dense, cut them into fingers and start with the breading.

Step 2: Crispy Coating – How to make breadcrumbs stick to the tofu

There are several ways to make breadcrumbs stick to the tofu. Instead of using only non-dairy milk or create vegan buttermilk (combine the milk with vinegar, then set aside to curdle), as I prefer to do, you can also stir 1/3 cup of flour and 1/3 cup of non-dairy milk together to make a sticky paste, or whisk 2 flax-eggs (or regular eggs, if you’re not vegan) with a little milk. Just find out which method works best for you!

However, when I make vegan chicken nuggets, I prefer a double coating method by dipping the tofu fingers in vegan buttermilk first, then dip into cornstarch. I do this step 2 times before coating them with the breadcrumb mixture. Continue with the rest of the tofu and place your breaded tofu fingers on a lightly greased baking sheet. That way, they will get super crispy and just perfect!

Step 3: How to make Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

As I mentioned before, these are crispy baked tofu nuggets and not fried nuggets! So they’re healthier because baking requires less oil than frying. Simply pop the breaded tofu fingers into the oven and bake until crispy. Then they’re ready for dipping.

Can I fry Tofu Nuggets?

You could also fry these tofu nuggets if you want, but I find they are absolutely perfect when baked. The breadcrumb coating gets perfectly crispy, and the tofu takes on a delicious texture which reminds me of real chicken nuggets. Even though I have an air-frier at home, I haven’t tried making air-fried Tofu Nuggets yet. However, if you want to give it a try, please let me know how it goes!

How to store and freeze Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

You can store leftovers in the fridge and then reheat in the oven for a few minutes until hot and crispy again. However, I also like to snack on them cold, for example on top of a sandwich or wrapped in a tortilla or burrito. You can also double or triple the recipe if you want to make a big batch of these to freeze for later. Actually, even frozen they reheat perfectly so you can and have homemade vegan chicken nuggets in no time! The baking time may vary when they’re frozen but it makes still a very quick meal or snack!

I hope you’ll love these Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets. These Vegan Chicken Nuggets are:

• Vegan
• Meatless
• Dairy-free
• Gluten-free
• Crispy Baked
• Healthier than fried Nuggets
• Easy to make
• Crispy on the outside
• Tender on the inside
• So delicious!
• The perfect appetizer or snack

Looking for more delicious crispy snacks or appetizers? Then you may also like these vegan recipes:

• Vegan Burrito Samosas
• Crispy Baked Cauliflower Nuggets
• BBQ Cauliflower Wings
• Scallion Pancakes (Chinese flatbread)
• Crispy Spinach Pockets
• Vegan Croquettes with Spinach
• Crispy Eggplant Fritters
• Zucchini Corn Fritters
• Crispy Sesame Tofu
• Vegan Empanadas

If you try these Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets or another of my recipes, feel free to leave a comment on how it goes. And if you take a photo of your pasta dish and share it on Instagram, please make sure to tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka so I won’t miss your post! Happy cooking!

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