Our Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of flavor - the perfect vegetarian alternative to chicken nuggets! Dip in your favorite sauce for a fun meal that the kids love too!
Wrap the tofu in a tea towel and place on a plate. Top with something heavy such as a cast iron skillet and let sit for 20 minutes to press the liquid from the tofu. Alternatively, place the tofu in a tofu press for 20 minutes and drain off excess liquid.
Slice the tofu block in half to make two thinner squares of tofu.
Tear the tofu with your hands into 3/4-inch pieces.
To make the batter:
Whisk together the flour and seasonings in a shallow dish.
Dredge each piece of tofu in the flour mixture just to lightly coat. Set aside on a plate.
Add the milk and vinegar to a measuring cup and stir to combine. Let sit for a couple of minutes to thicken a bit to make buttermilk.
Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour along with 2 tablespoons water and stir to form a batter.
To make the breading:
Add all of the ingredients to a second shallow dish and stir to combine.
To air fry:
Dip each piece of floured tofu into first the batter to coat and then into the bread crumb mixture, pressing the crumbs into the tofu to stick.
Arrange the battered and breaded tofu in a greased air fryer basket in a single layer. Spritz the tofu with oil spray liberally.
Air fry at 380 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until as crispy as you’d like.
Serve hot with your favorite dip.
Notes
For a vegan option, swap the buttermilk with 1 cup of unsweetened almond or soy milk + 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar stirred together. Let sit for a few minutes and then use in place of buttermilk.We often call for flipping food halfway when cooking in the air fryer, but didn’t find it necessary with this recipe.You may need to work in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Rewarm the nuggets in the air fryer for 1 minute, if needed.Serve with a variety of dips, such as ranch, honey mustard, and ketchup.