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    Home » Vegan Main Dish Recipes

    Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    By Sarah Pilley Updated May 29, 2024 · Published May 29, 2024

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Bowl of crispy baked tofu nuggets with a fork in one piece; text reads "crispy baked nutritional yeast tofu."

    Nutritional Yeast Tofu is crispy and flavorful with a slightly cheesy taste from, you guessed it, nutritional yeast! These crispy tofu bites are easy to make in the oven or air fryer in 30 minutes.

    Nutritional yeast tofu nugget on a fork with more in the background in a bowl.

    These crispy tofu nuggets are the perfect addition to any meal. Plus, their cheesy flavor is possible with just a handful of plant-based ingredients!

    Add these crispy baked tofu bites to your favorite salad, pasta, tacos, or just enjoy them with your favorite sauce!

    I love the cheesiness this nutritional yeast tofu adds to vegan caesar salad.

    And if you're looking for more delicious tofu recipes, you should try BBQ tofu bites, tofu waffles, bang bang tofu, or blackened tofu next!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Nutritional Yeast Tofu
    • Air Fryer Instructions
    • Ways to Serve
    • Storage & Reheating
    • More Vegan Tofu Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    You will need these simple ingredients to make crispy nutritional yeast tofu:

    Ingredients needed to make nutritional yeast tofu with labels: nutritional yeast, olive oil, firm tofu, and seasoning.
    • Firm Tofu
    • Nutritional Yeast
    • Garlic Powder
    • Onion Powder
    • Paprika
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Olive Oil

    Please refer to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.

    How to Make Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the best crispy baked tofu with nutritional yeast:

    Nutritional yeast, seasoning, and olive oil mixed together to form a wet rub.
    1. Mix nutritional yeast, seasoning, and olive oil in a large bowl.
    Breaking the block of tofu apart by hand into smaller bite-sized pieces.
    1. Rip tofu into bite-sized chunks and place in the bowl with the seasoning.
    Tofu coated in the wet rub.
    1. Toss tofu with the seasoning until it spreads evenly over all the pieces.
    Tofu spread across a baking sheet in an even layer.
    1. Spread tofu evenly onto a baking sheet and bake.
    Nutritional yeast tofu partially baked, being flipped over.
    1. Flip the tofu bites halfway through cooking.
    Crispy nutritional yeast tofu in a ceramic bowl with a fork in one piece.
    1. Remove from oven once golden and crispy.

    Air Fryer Instructions

    For faster preparation, cook these tofu bites in the air fryer at 400°F for 16 to 18 minutes! Make sure to cook them in one layer and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper so they don’t stick.

    Ways to Serve

    Here are a few ideas for how to serve crispy nutritional yeast tofu bites:

    • Serve them as nuggets with vegan aioli, homemade ranch, or ketchup.
    • Add them to a vegan caesar salad or kale salad.
    • Serve with vegan coleslaw, vegan gluten-free cornbread, and baked beans.
    • Top a vegan gluten-free pizza with tofu bites for extra protein.
    • Add them to vegan peanut noodles or creamy beet pasta.

    Storage & Reheating

    Store leftover nutritional yeast tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. 

    Reheat leftover tofu in the air fryer at 375°F for 3 to 5 minutes or the oven at 350°F for 7 to 10 minutes.

    Bowl of crispy baked tofu nuggets with a fork in one piece.

    More Vegan Tofu Recipes

    • Crispy golden tofu waffle with a blue and white striped cloth background.
      Tofu Waffles
    • Crispy bang bang tofu on skewers over arugula, drizzled with vegan bang bang sauce.
      Vegan Bang Bang Tofu
    • Tofu scrambled eggs in a bowl with sliced avocado, tomatoes, and bread.
      Tofu Scramble
    • Blackened tofu pieces stacked on a plate with vegan coleslaw, a fork is holding up the first piece of tofu.
      Blackened Tofu

    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

    📖 Recipe

    Nutritional yeast tofu nugget on a fork with more in the background in a bowl.

    Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    Nutritional Yeast Tofu is crispy and flavorful with a slightly cheesy taste from, you guessed it, nutritional yeast! These crispy tofu bites are easy to make in the oven or air fryer in 30 minutes.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: Sarah Pilley
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    Ingredients

    • 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu 14-18 oz
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    • Open a package of tofu and use a paper towel to dry the outside of any excess water, but don’t press it.
    • Mix nutritional yeast, seasoning, and olive oil in a large bowl.
    • Rip tofu into bite-sized chunks and place them in the bowl with the seasoning.
    • Toss tofu with the seasoning until it spreads evenly over all the pieces.
    • Spread tofu evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    • Bake the tofu at 425°F for 27 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Or air fry at 400°F for 16 to 18 minutes.

    Notes

    See more expert tips, pictures, and variations above for making the best nutritional yeast tofu nuggets!
    Yield: about 4 servings
    Serving Size: about 7 to 10 tofu nuggets
    Storage: Store leftover nutritional yeast tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. 
    Reheating: Reheat leftover tofu in the air fryer at 375°F for 3 to 5 minutes or the oven at 350°F for 7 to 10 minutes.
    Did you make this recipe? Share your experience! Mention @AlternativeDish on Instagram or Facebook, or drop a comment below—I'd love to hear from you!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Comments

      5 from 4 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jane says

      May 29, 2024 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      I love adding these tofu bites to wraps! They are so crispy in the air fryer.

      Reply
      • Sarah Pilley says

        May 29, 2024 at 3:22 pm

        Thank you Jane! I love them in the air fryer too. 😀

        Reply
    2. Jeannette says

      November 08, 2024 at 5:29 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it is delicious 😋 I ate half of it out of air fryer warm I will make this often!!

      Reply
    3. Gina Rubio says

      November 18, 2024 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe, I recommend it. I am a vegetarian and this recipe tastes like fried chicken. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!!!

      Reply
    4. Angela says

      March 06, 2025 at 12:05 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t eat tofu much, but this was amazing! I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was tasted similar to breading, but much healthier! It will be a staple for me. Thank you

      Reply
    Headshot of Sarah Pilley.

    Hi, I'm Sarah!

    I’m so excited you stopped by! I'm thrilled to share my passion for tasty vegan food with you on the Alternative Dish. I focus on creating recipes that everyone can enjoy with allergy-friendly tips! 

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