Baked BBQ Tofu
This super easy Baked BBQ Tofu recipe has only six ingredients, including your choice of BBQ sauce. It’s the perfect meatless main course to serve at summer barbecues that even the meat-eaters will enjoy!
Summertime gatherings typically center around grilled meats as the main course, leaving few options for vegans and vegetarians. However, these crispy morsels of tofu slathered in BBQ sauce are just as delicious as barbecued meats -if not better!
It’s seriously so simple. You’ll make extra firm tofu seasoned with simple spices, then baked until a crispy crust forms on the exterior and the interior is soft and creamy. The most challenging step is deciding which of your favorite BBQ sauces to toss with tofu!
You can pair this Baked BBQ tofu with your favorite classic Southern sides, build yourself a vegan BBQ bowl, or make the best vegan barbeque tofu sandwich. ENJOY!
💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The tofu comes out crispy on the outside and is pleasantly soft and chewy in the middle.
- The BBQ sauce options are endless. Choose your favorite!
- Herbivores and carnivores agree that this baked tofu recipe is the best.
- It’s perfect for plant-based protein bowls, wraps, and sandwiches.
🧾 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Extra Firm Tofu – Extra-firm tofu has less moisture and is less porous than firm tofu, so it’s better suited for baking. No substitutions here.
- Salt – To enhance flavor and to help extract any lingering moisture as the tofu bakes.
- Garlic Powder – Adds savory flavor.
- Black Pepper – Improves the flavor by adding a touch of peppery warmth.
- Avocado Oil – This is my go-to healthy high-heat cooking oil. You can use olive oil or canola oil if you don’t have avocado oil.
- BBQ Sauce – Anything goes! Make homemade BBQ sauce, or grab a great-tasting bottle from the store.
📖 How To Make Baked Tofu with Barbeque Sauce
Prepare to bake tofu: Preheat your oven to 425F, and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Press tofu: Drain the firm tofu and press out any excess liquid using a tofu press (or wrap the tofu in paper towels and place a heavy kitchen pan on top for 15-20 minutes).
Cube tofu & season: Cut the tofu into ½-inch cubes, add it to a bowl with the dry seasoning and oil, and gently toss until fully coated.
Bake: Arrange the seasoned tofu on the prepared sheet pan in a single layer, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the tofu is crispy on the surface, flipping halfway through.
Toss in sauce & serve: Transfer the tofu from the sheet pan to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Drizzle BBQ sauce on top and toss to coat. Serve hot.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe Tips
- The dryer your tofu, the crispier it’ll be. For the best results, use a tofu press to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Uncooked extra firm tofu is delicate, so handle it with care. Gently toss to coat the tofu in oil and spices so the cubes don’t crumble.
- 1/2-inch cubes are the perfect bite-size, but feel free to cut the tofu into larger pieces and bake a few minutes longer.
🌶️ Variations & Serving Suggestions
Sauce: Instead of BBQ sauce, try crispy baked tofu coated in one of these delicious sauces:
- Buffalo Sauce
- Sriracha
- Teriyaki
- Thai Chili Sauce
- Honey (or hot honey!)
- Korean BBQ Sauce
Dry seasoning: Or you can opt for tofu tossed with dry seasonings like BBQ rub or dry buffalo seasoning and serve dipping sauces like blackened ranch or habanero ranch on the side.
Serving: These are a few of my favorite ways to serve BBQ-baked tofu.
- BBQ Tofu Sandwich – Pile BBQ tofu on a soft roll (or slider rolls) with coleslaw, and serve with wh a side of fries or sweet potato fries.
- BBQ Tofu Quesadilla – Make the tofu as instructed, then use it as filling for quesadillas.
- Vegan BBQ Bowl – Serve with your favorite traditional Southern BBQ sides made with vegan ingredients.
🧊 Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store leftover tofu in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For meal prepping, do not add the BBQ sauce until after the tofu is reheated. It’s best reheated in the oven or air fryer at 375 for 5-10 minutes.
Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing baked tofu once it’s tossed in BBQ sauce. However, you can freeze tofu after it’s baked and cooled, and when you’re ready to reheat, there’s no thawing required. Baked tofu can be reheated directly from frozen and then coated in BBQ sauce.
❔FAQ
The precise time and temperature it takes to bake tofu will depend on the size of the cubes. For example, if cut into 1/2″ cubes, tofu takes 45 minutes – 1 hour to bake at 425F.
Yes, and this extra crispy BBQ tofu recipe will teach you exactly how it’s done in the oven.
If properly pressed and seasoned adequately, baked tofu tastes excellent! In addition, it’s the perfect canvas for various sauces, dips, and marinades.
YES! After coating your tofu in oil and seasonings, cook it in the air fryer at 375 for 20 minutes, flipping each piece halfway through.
🍽 More BBQ Recipes
- Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken
- Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket
- Grilled BBQ Pork Chops
- BBQ Pineapple Pulled Pork
Baked BBQ Tofu
Ingredients
- 14 ounces extra firm tofu
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teasoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 4 ounces BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Drain the firm tofu and press out any excess liquid using a tofu press (or wrap the tofu in paper towels and place a heavy kitchen pan on top for 15-20 minutes).
- Cut the tofu into ½ inch cubes.
- Add the tofu to a bowl and gently toss with the dry seasoning and oil until fully coated.
- Arrange the dry seasoned tofu on the prepared sheet pan in a single layer, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the tofu is crispy on the outside, flipping halfway through.
- Transfer the tofu from the sheet pan to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Drizzle BBQ sauce on top and toss to coat. Serve hot.
This was so yummy. Thanks.