These gluten-free vegan chicken nuggets skip the breadcrumbs and flour blends for something better: marinated tofu, a crunchy almond crust, and clear instructions for baking or air-frying. Just solid, crispy nuggets that work every time.
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Today we’re making gluten-free vegan chicken nuggets with actual crunch—no breadcrumbs, no flour mixes, just a savory almond crust and marinated tofu that holds up to any dipping sauce. The texture? Crisp on the outside, hearty in the middle. The flavor? Umami, a little smoky, and not bland like most tofu recipes.
A lot of top recipes just swap in gluten-free breadcrumbs and hope for the best. This one’s built from scratch for gluten-free cooks, tested in both the oven and air fryer, and keeps the steps clear for busy families.
Just like our finger-licking food, orange sesame tofu recipe!
Why do I make these so often? My three boys love anything they can dip, and honestly, even the non-vegans at my table go for seconds. If you’re tired of bland, soggy tofu, this recipe is for you! With tips for beginners and tofu skeptics to give you a flavorful crisy nugget recipe.
Looking for another great recipe for the whole family, or need leftover ideas? I’ve got you covered at the end of this post.
😍Why You'll Love Our Tofu Chicken Nuggets
- Designed Gluten Free From The Start: No swaps, no blends, no guessing.
- No Breadcrumbs, No Flour Blends: Just a tested crust that crisps up every time.
- Tested for both Air Fryer and Oven: Whichever method you use, you get reliable crunch.
- Built for Real Texture and Flavor: Marinated tofu and the right coating, so you get nuggets everyone will actually want to eat.
🌱Ingredients (with notes)
You don’t need breadcrumbs to get crispy gluten-free vegan chicken nuggets, just a few simple ingredients! The key here is pressing extra firm tofu, a quick marinade for flavor, and a light cornflour batter that helps the almond flour crust stick. Here’s what I use and why:
- Extra Firm Tofu: For the best tofu chicken nugget shape and meaty texture, use extra-firm tofu. I always press it for at least 15 minutes (longer is even better) to get out any excess water—this is what gives you those crispy air fryer tofu nuggets without a mushy center.
- Almond Meal: Just a note, we use almond meal, not almond flour, to get the right texture. Almond meal is a bit coarser, more nutty, and has a crunchier texture than almond flour.
- Marinade Ingredients: Tofu is pretty flavorless, but it is like a sponge, so it will soak up lots of flavor! Whenever I cook tofu, I always marinate it to help bring out extra flavor. For this recipe, we will use a mix of olive oil, gluten-free soy sauce, lemon juice, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. This combo gives a salty, savory base that soaks into the tofu.
- Cornstarch Batter: A quick dip in this light batter helps the crust stick and gives the nuggets their crisp coating. We use cornstarch, any plant milk, lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar), and salt. So, no need for eggs or wheat flour. It’s my go-to for crunchy, gluten-free nuggets.
- Crust Ingredients: To get a flavorful, crispy crust, we will use almond meal, nutritional yeast, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Almond meal makes a simple, gluten-free breading that gets crisp and toasty in the air fryer. Nutritional yeast adds a subtle, cheesy flavor and contributes to that perfect, crunchy texture. I season the crust well so every bite tastes like the real deal.
See the recipe card below for exact amounts and step-by-step instructions.
⚠️Celiac Note: Double-check that all your ingredients—especially soy sauce and almond meal—are certified gluten-free and haven’t been processed with wheat. If you’re cooking for someone with celiac disease, watch out for cross-contamination.
🔁Substitutions & Variations
This recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan, but if you need to adjust for allergies or what’s in your pantry, here are a few options that have worked for us:
- Cornstarch Alternative: If you don’t have cornstarch on hand, potato starch or arrowroot powder will do the trick. Add with the same ratio.
- Nut-Free Swap (NO Almond Meal): For a nut-free version, you can sub with equal amounts of GF all-purpose flour, or finely ground gluten-free oats will work. Please note that both will slightly alter the flavor and texture.
- Corn flakes (variation): For a fun twist, pulse some gluten-free corn flakes and add them to the coating mix. This makes the nuggets extra crunchy and gives you something closer to popcorn chicken.
- Soy-Free Version ( No Soy Sauce): Tamari or coconut aminos both work if you’re avoiding soy.
👩🏽🍳How to Make Tofu Nuggets (That Are Actually Crispy)
Step 1: How to Prep Your Tofu
Start with extra firm tofu, anything softer will just fall apart. Drain off all the liquid from the package. Then press your tofu to remove all the extra water inside. It's important to do this to allow the marinade to soak into your tofu! If you don't have a tofu press:
- Place your tofu between 2 plates
- Stack a 1-2 cookbooks or something heavy on the top plate
- Leave it for 20–30 minutes
Step 2: Marinate
Once pressed, cut or tear the tofu into chunky, uneven nugget shapes—aim for pieces about the size of a chicken nugget or popcorn chicken. If you want a more “meaty” look, tearing with your hands gives rougher edges that crisp up even better than clean knife cuts.
Then whisk together olive oil, gluten-free soy sauce or tamari, lemon juice, and your favorite spices (paprika, garlic powder, onion powder). Toss the tofu in the marinade so every piece is coated. Let it sit 10–20 minutes.
Step 3: Set Up the Batter and Crust
Mix cornstarch, any unsweetened plant milk, lemon juice (or ACV), and a pinch of salt for your batter. It should be the consistency of pancake batter, thin enough to coat, thick enough to stick.
In another bowl, combine almond meal, nutritional yeast, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt for the crust.
Step 4: How to Layer and Coat Nuggets
Take each piece of marinated tofu and dip it in the batter so it’s covered on all sides. Next, press it into the almond meal crust, making sure the coating sticks. This is key to getting the perfect texture. Lay each coated nugget on a baking sheet or air fryer basket in a single layer.
Step 5: Cook, Oven vs Air Fryer
I usually opt for the air fryer because it effectively locks in a crispy texture without much oil or fuss. But if you don’t have one, the oven still gets the job done. Regardless of the method you use, arrange your vegan tofu nuggets in a single layer, flipping them halfway, and cook on high heat until you get that golden brown crust (full instructions are provided in the recipe card).
Cooking Tips for Crispy Tofu Nuggets:
- Keep nuggets in a single layer, don’t crowd the tray or basket.
- Flip or shake halfway through so both sides get crispy.
- Use high heat for that golden brown finish—don’t be shy.
🥡Storage and Meal Prep
These gluten-free vegan chicken nuggets s are best enjoyed fresh for that perfect crispy texture, but you can make them ahead if needed. Here’s how to keep them tasting their best:
- Short-Term Storage: Store leftover nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. Any longer, and they’ll start to lose that crisp coating and get soggy. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven on high heat to bring back some of the crunch.
- Meal Prep Storage: If you want to prep ahead, keep the batter, crust, and marinated tofu in separate containers in the fridge. When you’re ready, just assemble, coat, and bake or air fry. This way, you get delicious nuggets with a crispy texture, even on a busy night.
- Don’t Freeze: Freezing changes the texture of tofu and makes the nuggets chewy instead of crunchy.
❔FAQ
Most likely, your tofu wasn’t pressed enough or you crowded the pan, so they steamed instead of crisp up. Make sure you really get the water out of your tofu, and always cook in a single layer at high heat. Don’t skip the oil spray if you want extra crunch.
Yes, and honestly, it’s the best way to get a crisp coating fast. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) in a single layer, shake or flip halfway, and don’t overcrowd the basket.
Ripping works better if you want a more nugget-style. It gives you jagged edges, so the batter and crust stick better and crisp up more. But my kids LOVE when I cut them long and thin (like thick fries). We tested both versions, and they both work well.
Our vegan chicken nuggets are shaped and sized just like classic chicken nuggets, with a crisp coating and meaty texture that feels familiar. They’re perfect for dipping in any sauce, and because they’re baked, not fried, they’re never greasy—making them a hit even with kids who usually turn up their nose at tofu.
🥣Make This Next: More Vegan Recipes
Check out these other gluten-free vegan recipes that are just as easy and crowd-pleasing as these air fryer tofu nuggets. Need more easy air fryer recipes? Check out our spicy noodle spring roll made with air fryer tofu, it's my favorite!
👋🏼 Até logo, amigos! Hope you love our gluten-free vegan chicken nuggets as much as we do. Cooking is always better when shared, so enjoy every bite and keep bringing good food to the table. Até a próxima! 🎉
📖 Recipe
Crispy Gluten-Free Vegan Chicken Nuggets (Air Fryer or Oven)
Ingredients
- 2 blocks extra-firm tofu about 800 g
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Batter Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsweetened plant-based milk see recipe notes
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Crust ingredient
- ¾ cup almond meal
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast Optional
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prep Tofu: Drain and press extra firm tofu for at least 15 minutes to remove excess water.
- Cut your Tofu: Choose the shape of vegan chicken nuggets you want and cut or tear your tofu. -Nugget Shape: Tear or cut tofu into chunky, nugget-sized pieces (jagged edges get crispier).-Finger Shape: Slice tofu into thin strips for classic "chicken finger" style
- Marinate: In a large bowl, mix olive oil, gluten-free soy sauce, lemon juice, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add tofu pieces and toss gently to coat. Marinate 10–20 minutes minimum or up to 2 hours.
- Preheat: Whithe tofu sits in the marinade, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) or air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare Batter & Crust: In one bowl, whisk together the batter ingredients (cornstarch, plant milk, lemon juice or ACV, and salt) until smooth. In another bowl, stir together crust ingredients (almond meal, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt).
- Coat the Nuggets: Dip each piece of marinated tofu in the batter, letting excess drip off. Press each piece into the almond crust mixture until well coated. Then arrange nuggets in a single layer on a lined baking sheet or air fryer basket.📍 Tip: Don’t crowd the nuggets. Air flow is what makes them crisp.
- Cook: Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway. For extra crunch, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end.📍Air Fryer: Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
- Serve: Let nuggets cool for a couple of minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
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- Always use pressed tofu and pat it dry before marinating.
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- Coat each piece fully in batter, then roll in the crust. Don’t skimp on the crust.
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- Arrange nuggets in a single layer—never stacked or crowded.
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- For the perfect, crunchy texture, lightly spray or brush with olive oil before baking or air-frying.
Hannah Grist says
How long do these keep for?
atmytable says
In the fridge, they last about 3 days. You can try freezing them but the texture may change slightly.
Kanwaldeep Kaur says
The crust is to die for 😊
atmytable says
Thank you! It's a pretty delcious crust! And super easy to make!
Kanwaldeep Kaur says
I will definitely try with chicken or cottage cheese, as I am not a big Tofu fan 😊
atmytable says
For sure. But you should try this with tofu, you may change your mind
Kanwaldeep Kaur says
Alright this one with tofu 😊🤞