Here we go! Today’s recipe is a crispy pan-fried tofu you can use for all your chicken style needs. Or, if you don’t have chicken-style needs, it’ll help round out your nugget, sandwich, stir-fry, wrap and bowl deficits.
This is one of my tip top favorite ways to prepare tofu, and it’s really easy and especially handy if you need quick meals. I usually cook the tofu on demand, a couple of slices at a time, since it’s just fine hanging out in the fridge. Same goes with the seasoning mix, I just mix it up and keep it in a bag in my fridge or freezer.
The chicken style I’m sharing today is great on sandwiches (just wait for the savory waffle recipe I’ll be sharing soon!). You can also cut the tofu into smaller pieces and make nuggets, cube it, or serve as a main with sides like greens, mac, and mashed potatoes and gravy. It’s great stuff!
This recipe can also be adapted with other flavors! I often make a pepper version of this tofu, which I cube and pile on top of stir fry (cook in coconut oil for maximum yumz). I adjust the marinade by adding extra garlic, ginger and a little sesame oil, and I switch out the spices in the seasoning mix with a little turmeric, ground white, black, Szechuan and cayenne pepper, and add black sesame seeds.
If you’re looking for more tofu inspo, don’t forget our free Air-Fryer tofu book! There are ten flavors in the book, and each has its own marinade, which could be easily adapted for this method of tofu cookery.
Please don't skip or sub out the potato starch, as it's what makes the foo delightfully crisp without being heavy.

Servings |
- 14 oz tofu, extra firm
- 3/4 cup water, or vegetarian chicken style broth
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 3 tablespoons tamari
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- a grind of freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 1/4 cup potato starch
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch cayenne, or Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, for pan frying
- salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Ingredients
Marinated Tofu
Seasoning Mix
For Cooking
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6 slices
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- Rinse the tofu and slice into 6 even pieces (or cube it).
- In a medium bowl, put the water, nutritional yeast, tamari, lemon juice, granulated onion, rosemary, garlic, and a grind of black pepper. Stir to combine and add the tofu, be sure it's submerged. Refrigerate and marinate the tofu for at least an hour and up to a couple of days.
- In a small plastic bag, put the nutritional yeast, potato starch, granulated onion, poultry seasoning, black pepper, salt and cayenne.
- Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat and add about half the oil. Place 2 to 3 slices of tofu into the bag of seasoning, close it tightly, and shake well until each piece is evenly covered.
- Transfer the tofu to the hot pan and cook on both sides until crisp and golden brown. Repeat with the remaining tofu. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper and eat immediately.
We hope you love this recipe! If you make this, or any of our other recipes, please tag us so we can see! #JulieandKittee!
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xo Julie & Kittee
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Thank you! I was just trying to figure out what to make for dinner.
:)))))
Any thoughts on whether or not this will work in the air fryer?
I haven’t tried it! My guess would be if you spritz it really well! The seasoning is dry and needs some oil to crisp up.
Looks so good Kittee! Thank you for sharing.
Or maybe bake it? I usually purchase a 4 pack of tofu from Costco and make 1 package/week. Love it since it’s so tasty and easy.
So good! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
This was SUPER tasty and very easy to make! I will definitely be making it often.
Thank you!! ?
We love it! It’s super tasty even withou the seasoning mix! Thank you for sharing.
This recipe is a forever keeper!!! I loved this so much. It was seriously hard to resist eating all the tofu! I made a couple adjustments based on what I had at home. I have more marinating in the fridge. I can’t wait to have it for dinner tonight!