Bang Bang Tofu

Easy dinner alert! Crispy, sticky, beautiful bang bang tofu piled on top of steamy rice. So easy and SO good!

Recipe by Lindsay Ostrom on May 13, 2026

Prep time: PT15M

Cook time: PT20M

Total time: PT35M

Rating

4.9 stars ( reviews)

Keywords

tofu recipe, bang bang sauce, crispy tofu, tofu bowl, easy tofu recipe

Ingredients

1 block extra firm tofu (I highly recommend the high protein tofu from Trader Joe’s – see notes)
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 clove garlic, grated
sesame seeds and/or green onions for garnish
1-2 cups cooked rice
12 ounces green beans, steamed or sautéed

Cuisine

Asian-Inspired

Steps

Pull the tofu into craggly, bite-sized chunks with your hands.
Toss the tofu chunks with the cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, and salt to coat (I find it easiest to use my hands). Toss again with the soy sauce and oil to coat.
Air fry the tofu at 350 for 10 minutes. Shake or stir, then air fry for another 5 minutes at 375, or until the tofu is crispy and golden.
Whisk the sauce ingredients together.
Place the crisped tofu in a skillet over medium high heat. Add ¼ cup of sauce and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until the tofu is coated and caramelized. The sauce will melt into a glaze-like consistency on the tofu. If you want, you can repeat this process a few times to build flavor.
The tofu should already be sticky and delicious. Plate over rice, and drizzle or dollop the remaining sauce over the tofu (you can add a tablespoon or two of water to the sauce to thin it out, if you’d like). Top with sesame seeds or green onions! I always serve this with green beans. YUM.

Nutitrion

Calories: 365 calories
Carbohydrates: 13.7 g
Protein: 11.7 g
Fat: 29.4 g
Saturated Fat: 4.4 g
Trans Fat: 0.1 g
Cholesterol: 11.6 mg
Sodium: 1089.2 mg
Sugar: 5.5 g

Reviews

Bea Goldstein on 2026-05-13 (5 stars):
Great recipe! Easy and delicious,
Paige on 2026-05-13 (5 stars):
Made this recipe with pre-cubed extra firm tofu and it was delicious! So easy to make and prep on a weeknight. I layered the sauce in the skillet and this is probably the most flavorful tofu I’ve ever had. My partner says this was the perfect meal!
Saskia on 2026-05-16 (4 stars):
Loved it. A new tofu favorite, it was crunchy and saucy at the same time. I can also say that it tasted great with pan fried gnocchi. I added some of the sauce to it as well.
Caroline Wegmann Bell on 2026-05-14 (5 stars):
This was so easy and wow! Delicious. thank you for my new favorite recipe. I can see this with cauliflower or even shrimp next! I didn't have any sweet chili sauce but I used chili crisp and agave instead. Worked just fine!
Felicia on 2026-05-29 (5 stars):
I’ve made this using half mayo and half Greek yogurt. It’s still delicious and cuts down on the mayo taste and calories. I also usually add a good tablespoon of chili crunch for some salt and spice!
fruit merge on 2026-05-19 (5 stars):
I made this last night with a side of sautéed veggies — onions, carrots, cabbage, and broccoli with a splash of coconut aminos — and it turned out amazing. If you’re sensitive to spice, I’d recommend using one to two tablespoons instead of the full three. We absolutely loved it and can’t wait to make it again!
Regina on 2026-05-21 (5 stars):
Made this tonight. So good! Thank you!
Jamie on 2026-05-24 (5 stars):
My husband made this for dinner last week, and I have never been more obsessed with a recipe! He used the Blackstone to cook everything and it was amazing. Going into the regular rotation for sure!
Molly G on 2026-05-26 (5 stars):
Omg! This recipe is sooooo good!!!! I was blown away by the texture and taste. 10/10! If you’re a tofu skeptic, try this recipe - my husband legit thought it was chicken 😆
Cheryl Gunn on 2026-05-27 (5 stars):
If you follow the instructions on air frying the tofu it comes out just amazing. Thank you so much Lindsay . I'm 72 , still cooking for my family and can't tell you how much I appreciate the inspiration, simplicity and tasty meals you post. Keep up the good work.
Heather on 2026-06-01 (5 stars):
So delicious and easy to make! The sauce really makes the dish!
Peg Schrader on 2026-06-02 (5 stars):
Made the Bang Bang Tofu as the first meal in my new air fryer! So darn good. I’ll be making this again!
Holly Cameron on 2026-06-03 (5 stars):
This was so simple and so yummy!! POY is the sauce queen!
Kaylee on 2026-06-14 (5 stars):
This was SO GOOD! We always have the TJ’s high protein tofu in the fridge and it makes cooking tofu so much easier. This meal tasted like it came from a restaurant. 10/10 - so flavorful and the textures were great. This is going in our dinner rotation
Emily on 2026-07-07 (5 stars):
Okay, wow. I was always skeptical of tofu, but something about this intrigued me. I made it last night, and it made a tofu believer out of me! So delicious and SO easy!
Iman on 2026-07-09 (5 stars):
I don’t remember if I commented lol but I found this recipe last month and have made it 5 times already and it’s such a banger. I sometimes substitute half the mayo with yogurt and can’t taste any difference
Sydney on 2026-07-25 (5 stars):
Made this last night and it was so good! We prepped the sauce and drained the tofu ahead of time for an easy Friday night dinner that tasted like takeout. Paired it with cucumbers instead of green beans for a little fresher feel. Will definitely make again!