Baked Tofu

This 30-Minute Baked Tofu recipe is my favorite way to make tofu! It's ultra-easy, totally customizable with your favorite seasonings, and surprisingly crispy and delicious.

Prep time: PT5M

Cook time: PT30M

Total time: PT35M

Rating

4.84 stars (80 reviews)

Keywords

gluten free, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Ingredients

1 block (about 14 ounces) extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cuisine

American

Steps

Drain the tofu. Slice your block of tofu into 2 or 3 even slabs (depending on the shape of your tofu block, each slab should be about 3/4 to 1-inch thick). Lay some paper towels or a clean tea towel on a flat surface, and place the slabs side by side on top of the paper towels. Cover with another layer of paper towels. Then place a cutting board on top of the tofu, and stack a bunch of heavy cans or pots or whatever you can safely balance on the cutting board. The idea is to put a lot of pressure/weight on the tofu, which will help the excess water to press out into the paper towels. Let the tofu drain for at least 15-30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat your oven to 400°F.
Cut the tofu. Once the tofu has drained, remove the weights and paper towels. And use a knife to cut the tofu into your desired shapes. I typically just make little cubes (about 3/4-inch each), but you can cut any size of triangles, rectangles, or other shapes that you'd like.
Coat the tofu. Add your tofu to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle evenly with cornstarch, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Gently toss until the tofu is evenly coated.
Arrange on a baking sheet. Turn the tofu out onto a parchment-covered baking sheet, and arrange it so that the tofu is in an even layer (not touching).
Bake until crispy. Bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the baking sheet from the oven, and flip each of the tofu bites so that they can cook evenly on the other side. Return to the oven for 15-20 more minutes, or until the tofu reaches your desired level of crispiness. Remove baking sheet from the oven.
Serve warm. And enjoy!

Reviews

Emma on 2025-04-30 (5 stars):
This has become a meal prep staple for me. I only use 1/4 tsp salt because otherwise it's a bit too much for my taste. I often eat them straight out of the fridge as a snack or warmed up in the air fryer as nuggets :)
Marilyn on 2025-03-20 (5 stars):
A go to recipe for me! How long does it keep for?
Helen Fong on 2024-06-10 (5 stars):
I'm new to cooking. Lol I have not made this dish yet. However, I was so excited to find a recipe that was easy to follow. I appreciate your demonstration on how to squeeze out the water instead of using a tofu presser. Another great tip was adding cornstarch! I definitely will look to you for more recipes! Thank you!
Anna on 2024-06-06 (5 stars):
Just the best way to eat tofu - I have recommended this recipe to so many friends, and make it myself on repeat. THE BEST!
Julie on 2024-03-11 (5 stars):
Love this simple but tasty tofu recipe …it’s on our weekly rotation !
Dawn on 2024-01-17 (5 stars):
Yum! I've been using tofu in recipes for years but this baked recipe is better than any I've found. The simple flavors (I used olive oil, cornstarch, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder) and bite sized cubes are great. Thank you!
Msgemh on 2023-11-17 (5 stars):
Very good. I baked 45 minutes, next time use 1/4. t. Salt, 1/4 t. Garlic powder.
Elizabeth on 2023-11-08 (4 stars):
I used to do this with to fry tofu (same process with more cornstarch + dried oregano, fried in 1/2" oil) - that was my favorite high school snack, dipped in soy sauce. It NEVER occurred to me that this could work with less cornstarch and baked. It does! I mean, not quite as crispy as fried (duh), but still tasty, nice texture, much easier to make and much less oil all over everything :-) Thanks for opening my eyes to new tofu possibilities!
Debbie on 2023-09-09 (5 stars):
This turns out really well every time! And it's tasty, I put in Panang Curry and other sauces.
Joanna on 2023-06-16 (5 stars):
This was perfect! Even my husband and son liked it and they have never been fans of tofu!
Laurel Wirtanen on 2023-05-21 (5 stars):
Miracles happen. Honeys, if you have told yourself you cannot cook, if you have repeatedly failed at making delicious baked tofu...hope lives. What a great recipe. I FINALLY did it right! This will save me a ton of money when I crave tofu done right. Well done. 10 of 5 stars.