Crispy Tofu Chicken Fingers | It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

These Crispy Tofu Hen Fingers are crunchy on the skin, tender and juicy on the within, and full of savory chicken-style taste. The tofu will get marinated, double-coated for further crunch, then air fried or baked till superbly golden. Serve them with vegan honey mustard, ranch, plum sauce, BBQ sauce, or no matter you like to dip!

Tofu is certainly one of my favourite components as a result of there are about one million methods to make it scrumptious, and protecting it in a crispy golden coating is certainly excessive on that listing. For these tofu hen fingers, I marinate the tofu with pickle juice, poultry seasoning, and different savory seasonings, then bread each bit and air fry or bake till golden and crisp. Tender, flavorful tofu + that crunchy coating = SO good.

These are excellent for a straightforward kid-friendly dinner, movie-night snack, or anytime you are craving some crispy consolation meals. They’re full of plant-based protein and even higher served takeout-style with coleslaw, mac and cheese, and your favourite dipping sauce.

Dipping tofu chicken finger into mustard sauce.

Why These Tofu Hen Fingers Are So Good

SO crispy: The flour + panko coating will get superbly golden and crunchy, particularly within the air fryer.
Full of taste: Pickle juice, poultry seasoning, garlic, onion, and vegetable broth seasoning give the tofu tons of savory taste.
Straightforward and versatile: Make hen fingers or nuggets, and prepare dinner them within the air fryer or oven.
Excellent for dipping: Vegan honey mustard is my decide, however ranch, BBQ, plum sauce, or ketchup are all scrumptious.

Ingredients for vegan tofu chicken fingers.

Substances for Tofu Hen Fingers

Additional-firm tofu: The agency texture holds up properly to marinating and breading with out crumbling. There isn’t any must press the tofu for this recipe, simply drain it properly and pat off any extra water. Questioning while you ought to press tofu? Try my How to Press Tofu information.
The marinade: Plant-based milk, pickle juice (or lemon juice), poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, vegetable broth powder, and salt give the tofu that savory chicken-style taste. I like to recommend soy milk as a result of it thickens properly when blended with the pickle juice or lemon.
Flour coating: A easy seasoned flour combination is our first crispy layer. Dietary yeast is non-compulsory, however I like to recommend it for an additional little increase of savory taste.
Panko or cornflakes: Each are scrumptious! Panko offers you a hearty, crunchy coating, whereas crushed cornflakes are a bit of lighter and provides me extra of that basic chicken-finger vibe.
Oil spray: You do not want a lot, however an excellent spray helps the coating get gorgeously golden and crisp.

The best way to Make Crispy Tofu Hen Fingers

Reduce the Tofu: Drain the tofu and lower it into hen finger-sized strips or nuggets.

Marinate the Tofu: In a shallow bowl or sealable container, whisk collectively the marinade components. Add the tofu and gently toss to coat. Let it marinate for a minimum of half-hour, or cowl and refrigerate in a single day. New to marinating tofu? Try my full information to how to marinate tofu.

Tofu strips being coated in flour and panko.

Bread the Tofu: Take away one piece of tofu from the marinade and coat it properly within the seasoned flour. Dip it again into the marinade, then coat it within the panko or crushed cornflakes, gently urgent the crumbs onto the tofu so that you get a pleasant thick coating.

Air Fryer Technique: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Spray the tofu generously with oil, then organize it within the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of room round each bit. Air fry for 16 to 18 minutes, flipping midway by way of, till deeply golden and crispy.

Tofu chicken fingers on parchment lined pan before baking.

Oven Technique: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Organize the tofu fingers on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spray generously with oil. Bake for 25 to half-hour, flipping midway by way of, till golden brown and crispy.

Vegan tofu chicken fingers with bowl of sauce.

Get pleasure from: Serve instantly together with your favourite dipping sauces.

Ideas for the Crispiest Coating

Soy milk works finest: When blended with pickle juice or lemon juice, soy milk thickens right into a vegan buttermilk-style marinade. This helps create a pleasant hearty coating on the tofu.
Press the crumbs on: Whenever you get to the ultimate panko or cornflake coating, gently press it onto all sides of the tofu. Extra coating = extra crunch!
Do not crowd them: Go away a bit of room between each bit within the air fryer or on the baking sheet so sizzling air can flow into round them.
Do not be shy with the oil spray: coating of spray is what offers you that attractive golden colour and extra-crispy end. You can also make them oil-free, they will simply be rather less golden.
Make tofu nuggets: Simply lower the tofu into bite-sized items as an alternative of strips and comply with the recipe precisely as written. Regulate them towards the tip of cooking since smaller items could prepare dinner a bit of sooner.

Plate of crispy tofu chicken fingers, with one broken in half to show interior.

Make-Forward, Storage, and Reheating

Make forward: The tofu can marinate in a single day within the fridge, which makes this very easy to prep forward. You too can bread the tofu, cowl, and refrigerate it for as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking. Air fry or bake simply earlier than serving for the crispiest coating.
Storage: Retailer leftover tofu hen fingers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Reheating: The air fryer is my favourite strategy to deliver again that crispy coating. You too can pop them again within the oven till sizzling and crisp. I would not advocate the microwave except you do not thoughts a softer coating.