These sticky, crispy Buffalo Tofu Fries are a delicious and spicy high protein snack. They can be made in the air fryer or oven and are extra tasty served with vegan ranch dressing or mayo for dipping. You can also serve them as a protein-rich filling in wraps, on salad or tacos.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Spicy, crispy and a little sticky – these tofu fries are a delicious hot appetizer or snack. Perfect for a night on the couch.
- Higher in protein than your regular potato fries, tofu fries are very filling. Plus, you can use them not only as a snack, but as a filling for wraps, tacos or as a topping on a salad.
- Quick to make, they’re ready in just 25 minutes but taste like they came from a restaurant kitchen.
- They can be made in the air fryer or oven – use whichever appliance you prefer.
Ingredients
Here’s a shopping list of everything you’ll need to make Buffalo Tofu Fries. Now this list might look long, but don’t let that put you off! A good portion of these ingredients are spices you probably already have in your pantry.
- Extra firm tofu (make sure it is labelled as ‘extra firm’, or ‘hard’ tofu. Anything labelled as ‘firm’ or ‘classic’ will not be dense enough and will fall apart when handled).
- Cornstarch
- Unsweetened plant-based milk (I use soy but any will do)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Panko bread crumbs
- Frank’s RedHot sauce (or hot sauce of your choice)
- Soy sauce
- Vegetable oil or melted vegan butter
- Maple syrup
- Chives
- Vegan ranch or mayonnaise
Check out the recipe card at the very bottom of this post for exact measurements needed.
How to Make Buffalo Tofu Fries
Step One: Press the tofu to remove excess water, then slice into finger-sized pieces. For convenience I like to use my ToFuture tofu press. I used this Crinkle Cut Chopper to make them look even more like regular fries.
Step Two: Mix the batter ingredients in a bowl and add the tofu. Gently toss or rub with your hands to coat.
Step Three: Place the panko crumbs in a tray to coat the tofu fries in.
Step Four: Coat the tofu fries in the panko crumbs.
Step Five: Air fry or oven bake the tofu fries until mostly cooked.
Step Six: Mix the buffalo sauce, toss the cooked tofu in the sauce, and cook again briefly.
Step Seven: The fries will be crispy around the edges and a little sticky after the second round of cooking. Remove from oven or air fryer and transfer to a serving plate.
Step Eight: Serve with dipping sauce of choice, garnish with chives or green onion and enjoy!
Check out the recipe card at the very bottom of this post for exact timings and temperatures.
Expert Tip
Pressing tofu is essential for removing excess moisture, which helps it absorb the batter better and become crispy when cooked. There are a couple of different ways to press tofu, and both are very easy. If you eat a lot of tofu like me, you might find it handy to buy a tofu press for convenience – I use this one from ToFuture. Another way to press tofu is to simply place the block between kitchen towels (to absorb the moisture), and weigh it down with heavy objects like a cast iron pan or books. This step only takes an extra 10 minutes or so and can be done while you measure out your ingredients to avoid adding extra prep time. It really makes a big difference to the end result of the fries, so please don’t skip it 🙂
Substitutions
- Plant-Based Milk: Any unsweetened plant-based milk will work in this recipe, such as almond, oat, or soy milk. Just ensure it’s unsweetened to avoid altering the flavor.
- Frank’s RedHot Sauce: Any other hot sauce can be used in place of Frank’s RedHot. Choose one that matches your preferred level of heat. A word of caution though – I have made this recipe with sriracha before and found it to be too spicy. I suggest starting with 1 tablespoon of hot sauce at a time and taste-testing a tiny drop on your finger as you go to check the heat of the sauce.
- Soy Sauce: For a gluten-free alternative, use tamari. Coconut aminos can also be used for a soy-free option, though it will add a slightly sweeter flavor.
- Vegetable Oil: Melted vegan butter or any neutral oil can replace vegetable oil in the buffalo sauce. Olive oil will also work.
FAQs
I don’t recommend using regular breadcrumbs as they are much denser than panko crumbs and the fries will be much less crispy.
Yes, pressing the tofu is important to remove excess moisture, which helps the tofu get crispy when cooked. It also compacts the tofu and makes it nice and dense so the fries are less likely to break when handled as you batter and crumb coat them. Pressing doesn’t take much effort – just wrap the tofu in some kitchen paper and pop it under heavy objects for 10-20 minutes. Check the recipe card for detailed instructions.
Yes, you can bake the tofu in the oven, there is an option included in the recipe instructions. I prefer to use the air fryer as it achieves a crispier outer texture without drying out the tofu too much, but the oven will still work fine.
Any hot sauce you prefer can be used as a substitute. Just keep in mind that the flavor and heat level may vary. I have made this with sriracha before however it was very spicy – if you’re using a different hot sauce to Frank’s then add the hot sauce a tablespoon
Serving Suggestions
- Dip It: Serve these buffalo tofu fries with vegan ranch or mayo for a classic snack pairing.
- Wrap It: Add the tofu fries to a tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, red onion and mayo for a spicy buffalo wrap. This is one of my favorite ways to eat these! It’s a filling and fresh lunch combo.
- Salad Topper: Use the tofu fries as a vegan friendly protein addition to a creamy Caeser salad like this one from Nora Cooks.
- Bowl It: Pair with quinoa, avocado, and roasted veggies to make a nourish bowl for a balanced and filling dinner.
More Vegan Snack Recipes
If you love a good hot snack, then you should also try my Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower – it went viral on TikTok and is so simple to make. This 5 Minute Silken Tofu is another quick and easy tofu snack that is high in protein and super simple. Or, you can also try these Oven Baked Carrot Fries a crispy, satisfying snack.
Video – Watch Me Make This Recipe
I hope you love these Buffalo Tofu Fries – let me know what you think in the comments section or by leaving a star rating. You can also follow me or tag me in your photos on Instagram – my handle is @glowdiaries___ I love to see what you’re cooking up and how it turns out.
Buffalo Tofu Fries
Equipment
- Air fryer optional
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra firm tofu approx. 400g
- ⅓ cup cornstarch approx. 40g
- 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk such as soy (60ml)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs approx. 50g
Buffalo Sauce
- ¼ cup Franks red hot sauce (60ml)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (25ml)
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil or melted vegan butter
- 1 tsp maple syrup
To serve
- Chopped chives finely sliced; optional
- Vegan ranch or mayo; for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel or paper towel and place a heavy object (like a cast iron pan or stack of books) on top. Let sit for 10–20 minutes to remove excess moisture.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray. If baking, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Cut the pressed tofu into 1/2-inch thick sticks. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, plant-based milk, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Place the panko in a separate shallow bowl. Dip each tofu stick in the batter, letting excess drip off, then coat in panko, pressing lightly so it sticks.
- Air Fryer: Arrange tofu fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- Oven: Arrange on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, flip, then bake another 10–15 minutes, or until crisp and golden.
- While the tofu cooks, whisk together the buffalo sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- Transfer cooked tofu to a large mixing bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over and toss gently to coat. Return to the air fryer or oven for another 5 minutes to set the sauce.
- Let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped chives if using and serve with vegan ranch or mayo.
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