Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu

This Baked Tofu Teriyaki is one of our favorite quick and easy weeknight meals! Made with super crispy tofu and a sticky sweet homemade teriyaki sauce, this mega flavorful tofu dish is perfect served over rice with a side of veggies. It's gluten-free, vegan and ready in 30 minutes!

Tofu is popular at our house (it wasn't always that way); we eat it several times a week. Along with this tasty teriyaki tofu recipe, some of our favorite dishes include Tofu Peanut Noodles and Vegan Taco Bowl.

Why is this Baked Tofu so Good?

This Asian-inspired tofu dish is the best! The tofu is seriously crispy and the teriyaki sauce is so incredibly delicious it’s downright drinkable! 

If you need more reasons to love this tofu recipe …

• Quick and easy: This recipe requires minimal prep time and only 20 minutes of cook time, and the oven (or air fryer) method is no-fuss and easy on the cleanup. 
• Healthy and affordable: Tofu is a healthy, low carb, low fat, lean plant protein; and it’s super affordable. Find it in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores.
• Mega flavorful: While tofu may be the star of the show, its co-star 'gluten-free teriyaki sauce' brings the flavor. The sauce is thick, glossy with the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Bonus: it’s easy to make and stores well in the fridge for weeks!

Ingredients

Packed full of flavor with only a handful of ingredients that’s what I call maximal flavor for minimal effort! For this tasty tofu teriyaki recipe, you’ll need 2 sets of ingredients: 

• For the baked tofu you’ll need a block of extra-firm or super-firm tofu, soy sauce/tamari, sambal oelek, garlic powder, sesame or olive oil, and cornstarch. 
• To make the teriyaki sauce, gather together soy sauce/tamari, mirin, maple syrup, minced garlic, grated ginger, red chili flakes, cornstarch, and water. 
• Optional garnishes: green onions, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes.

Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

If you’re craving teriyaki tofu but don’t have all the ingredients on hand; don't worry, here's a few substitutions so you can get cooking right away: 

• Soy sauce: to make the teriyaki sauce gluten free, sub in gluten free soy sauce or tamari. Use low sodium soy sauce if desired. 
• Mirin: Mirin is a type of rice wine common in Japanese cooking. Similar to sake but with a lower alcohol content and slightly sweeter. I find it to have a smooth, mildly sweet, tangy flavor. You can buy Mirin at the grocery store in the Asian food aisle, at any Asian grocery store or order Mirin online. A simple pantry substitute for the mirin would be 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar and 2 teaspoons maple syrup/sugar.
• Maple syrup: brown sugar, coconut sugar or vegan honey are good substitutions.
• Red chili flakes: or use a chili paste like sambal oelek (to taste).

How To Bake Tofu (The Easy Way!) 

This is my go-to baked tofu recipe that I batch cook to add to veggie sandwiches, tofu peanut bowls, tofu pasta and so much more. It's super easy, healthy, and versatile - here's how to make it:

1. Cut the pressed tofu into approximately 1 inch cubes and place in a large bowl. 

2. Toss the tofu in the soy sauce mixture (not the cornstarch). Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and toss again. The tofu cubes should be sticky, if not, add another tablespoon of cornstarch until it's sticky and coated.

4. Bake the tofu: Arrange the tofu on a baking sheet (drizzled with oil) leaving space in between. Bake for approximately 20 minutes.

How To Make Vegan Teriyaki Sauce

We're obsessed with flavorful sauces, and trust me when I say this teriyaki sauce is incredible on EVERYTHING. It’s quick and easy to make while the tofu is baking:

1. Combine the ingredients: Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring up to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium.
2. Make the slurry: Whisk together the cornstarch and water (slurry) until combined. Pour into the teriyaki sauce whisking until smooth, thick, and glossy. Thin with extra water if it becomes too thick.
3. Toss teriyaki sauce with tofu: Once the tofu is baked, toss together with the teriyaki sauce until coated. Garnish with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately with rice, noodles or veggies to complete the meal.

Expert Tips

Making tofu that tastes good is pretty easy. Here are a few tips that will help ensure your tofu is delicious and flavorful:

• Use extra firm tofu: For this recipe extra firm or super firm tofu is best. For a deep dive into choosing, preparing, seasoning, and cooking tofu, check out my How to Cook Tofu that Tastes Good guide - you’ll be a pro in no time!
• Don’t forget the secret ingredients: The secret to making crispy tofu is a dusting of cornstarch, a hot oven, and for extra crispiness - oil!
• Air fryer option: If you don’t want to turn on your oven (especially when it’s hot out), use your air fryer to make crispy tofu! See the recipe card for details.
• Last thing to do before serving: The teriyaki sauce adds a ton of flavor, but don’t add it too soon or your tofu will get soggy. Have everything else ready so that once the tofu is finished baking, you can toss it with the teriyaki sauce and serve immediately.
• Dinner for one or meal prep tips: If you're meal prepping for the week, don't add ALL the tofu to ALL the teriyaki sauce right away. As well, if you are making a dinner for one, put a single serving of baked tofu into a bowl and add only the amount of teriyaki sauce you need. Store everything else in separate containers in the fridge. This way you can crisp up the tofu in the air fryer, on the stove or in the oven before serving on subsequent days.

FAQs

Is teriyaki sauce vegan?

Yes! Teriyaki sauce is usually a combination of soy sauce/tamari, sugar, vinegar, and spices like garlic and ginger making it naturally vegan. 

What tofu should I use?

For crisp, baked tofu, I recommend extra-firm or super-firm tofu. It’s already compressed and therefore has a low water content. Depending on the brand, it may not require any additional pressing (see notes).

How To Store 

Of course, the tofu will be crispiest when served right away; however, leftover prepared teriyaki tofu lasts in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. Although not as crispy, the tofu texture is very meaty (much like chicken) and the flavor is delicious - very enjoyable. 

• Storing: Store any leftover baked tofu and any leftover teriyaki sauce in the fridge in separate containers for up to 7 days. 
• Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing. 
• Reheating: Reheat leftover tofu already mixed in teriyaki sauce in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave. If the teriyaki sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to thin it. 

Serving Suggestions

We love serving this tasty teriyaki tofu as an appetizer at family get-togethers and potlucks with just a sprinkle of green onions and sesame seeds - everyone devours it!

Of course it makes a delicious, healthy, weeknight meal served with a few side dishes like basmati or jasmine rice, couscous, steamed veggies (broccoli is a favorite) or a crunchy rainbow salad. 

Next Up!

Try these flavorful vegan recipes next:

• Italian Crusted Tofu Pasta
• Eggy Tofu Scramble
• Vegan Bolognese
• Vegan Mushroom Pasta

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