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    You are here: Home / Entrees / Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu

    LAST UPDATED: December 17, 2018 • FIRST PUBLISHED: December 17, 2018

    Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Teriyaki Tofu

    This crispy teriyaki tofu is better than takeout and easy enough for a weeknight dinner! Crispy tofu nuggets are baked (not fried!) and smothered in sticky sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Serve with rice and steamed veggies for a knock-your-socks-off vegan meal.

    Chopsticks Grabbing a Piece of Tofu From a Plate of Teriyaki Tofu with Broccoli

    My husband and I always seem to find ourselves eating teriyaki tofu while we're on vacation. It's hard to find vegan food when you're away from home, and it can be really hard to to pick a restaurant. There's always this gamble and you might end up eating salad. I eat enough salad at home.

    But Japanese restaurants are usually a safe bet. At the very least, you'll be able to get your hands on some veggie sushi. And if you're lucky, they'll have some delicious vegan tofu dishes.

    We tend to get lucky in the tofu department when visiting Japanese restaurants away from home, and we often end up ordering teriyaki tofu.

    Close Up of Teriyaki Tofu with Broccoli and Rice on a Plate

    On our last trip we were splitting a big plate of tofu teriyaki and I commented on how different all the versions we've tried are. Some are super sweet, some very spicy, most are pretty (deliciously) salty. When we got back home I promptly started working on what I consider to be the ultimate tofu teriyaki recipe.

    So this is my recipe, and personally, I think it's better than every restaurant version I've tried.

    One thing I'm usually not a fan of is silken tofu in savory dishes. I realize silken tofu gives you more of a traditional Japanese dish, and lots of restaurants use it, but I'm just not a fan. I like super crispy tofu with a coating that holds up to sauce!

    I tried a different approach than my usual for making this crispy tofu: I baked it! Normally, I'd say frying is the way to go, but I know a lot of folks swear by baking tofu with cornstarch and just a little bit of oil. I gave it a try, and you know what? It was awesome! Also, it made the dish easier and quicker to throw together, since baking is pretty hands-off once you've got the tofu in the oven.

    Here's how it's done!

    First, dice up your tofu and toss it with some soy sauce for flavor. Add some cornstarch, a little pepper for kick, and a bit of oil.

    Collage Showing Steps for Making Baked Tofu for Teriyaki Tofu: Drizzle Tofu with Soy Sauce and Dredge in Cornstach

    Arrange the tofu on a baking sheet and bake away. You'll be amazed at how crispy it turns out!

    Collage Showing Baked Tofu Teriyaki Before and After Baking

    I cooked up my sauce on the stove while the tofu baked, and then added the tofu to the sauce once it was done cooking.

    Teriyaki Tofu in a Saucepan with Serving Spoon

    You can steam just about any kind of veggie you like to go with this, but I'm a big fan of broccoli with teriyaki sauce.

    FAQ & Tips for Making Awesome Tofu Teriyaki

    • This dish is best served immediately, because the tofu will eventually lose its crispness as it sits.
    • The sauce can easily be made ahead of time.
    • Is this stuff gluten-free? It can be! Just use gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce.
    • Is there a low sodium version of this dish? I'll be frank: with the amount of soy sauce that goes into the sauce, it's never going to get into low sodium territory. But if you'd like to reduce the sodium content a bit, try low sodium soy sauce.

    Overhead View of Teriyaki Tofu on a Plate with Broccoli and Rice

    Like this recipe? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you make it!

    Chopsticks Grabbing a Piece of Tofu From a Plate of Teriyaki Tofu with Broccoli
    4.91 from 44 votes
    Print

    Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu

    This crispy teriyaki tofu is better than takeout and easy enough for a weeknight dinner! Crispy tofu nuggets are baked (not fried!) and smothered in sticky sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Serve with rice and steamed veggies for a knock-your-socks-off vegan meal.

    Course Entree
    Cuisine Japanese
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 185 kcal
    Author Alissa Saenz

    Ingredients

    For the Crispy Baked Tofu

    • 1 (14 ounce) package extra firm tofu, drained, pressed, and cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil (or high heat oil of choice)
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • ¼ teaspoon white pepper (or black pepper, if that's what you've got)

    For the Teriyaki Sauce

    • ¼ cup water
    • ⅓ cup soy sauce
    • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons mirin or dry sherry
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 2 tablespoons chilled water
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    For Serving

    • Cooked rice
    • Steamed veggies
    • Chopped scallions
    • Sesame seeds

    Instructions

    1. To make the crispy baked tofu, preheat the oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    2. Place the tofu into a medium bowl and add the soy sauce, oil, cornstarch, and pepper. Toss to coat the tofu.

    3. Arrange the tofu pieces in a single layer on the baking sheet.

    4. Bake for about 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until browned and crispy.

    5. While the tofu bakes, prepare the sauce. Stir ¼ cup of water, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sherry, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger together in small saucepan.

    6. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the sauce to a simmer.

    7. Lower the heat and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes, until reduced by about ⅓.

    8. Stir the chilled water and cornstarch together in a small bowl or cup. Stir the mixture into the sauce and allow it to simmer for about 1 minute more, until it thickens up a bit.

    9. Remove the pot from the heat.

    10. When the tofu is finished cooking, add it to the pot and stir to coat the tofu with sauce.

    11. Divide onto plates with rice and steamed veggies. Top with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve.

    Recipe Notes

    Nutrition information does not include accompaniments.

    Nutrition Facts
    Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 185 Calories from Fat 79
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 8.8g14%
    Saturated Fat 1.3g7%
    Sodium 1523mg63%
    Potassium 221mg6%
    Carbohydrates 18g6%
    Fiber 1.2g5%
    Sugar 9.6g11%
    Calcium 160mg16%
    Iron 2.2mg12%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    « Quinoa Cranberry Orange Muffins
    Pasta with Mushroom Bolognese »

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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barb says

      December 17, 2018 at 10:29 pm

      5 stars
      As soon as I saw this recipe I knew it was dinner. I made the sauce ahead of time and reheated once the tofu came out. I cheated and used ginger paste and garlic powder in the same equivalent (because, Monday...) but I can only imagine it'd be that much better with the fresh versions. Served it over organic brown rice and steamed broccoli and it was excellent! I'm not even that big of a teriyaki fan but this is definitely a keeper. Thank you, your recipes never fail me.

      Reply
      • Alexandra Kenin says

        April 28, 2020 at 5:04 pm

        5 stars
        This teriyaki sauce was THE BOMB. Thank you!!

        Reply
    2. Connie says

      December 20, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      I made this the other night and it was really good. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        December 20, 2018 at 3:04 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Connie!

        Reply
    3. vivian says

      January 13, 2019 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      I really enjoyed this recipe, both the taste and how easy it was to make. Served with roasted broccoli and jasmine rice and veggie spring rolls. Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        January 20, 2019 at 4:08 pm

        Sounds like a delicious meal! Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
        • Clare says

          March 08, 2021 at 3:03 pm

          5 stars
          This is the best teriyaki sauce I've come across! Will hold onto this recipe. Thank you!

          Reply
    4. John says

      February 14, 2019 at 8:15 pm

      5 stars
      It was my turn to cook dinner, and I found this recipe. We had most of the ingredients, so away I went. I fried the tofu in a frying pan instead of baking it in the oven. It was easier, and faster for me to do it that way. Otherwise, I followed the recipe word for word. We were very happy with the results! Now it's another option for the age old question, "What's for dinner?"

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        February 17, 2019 at 8:41 pm

        Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much John!

        Reply
        • dawn says

          July 11, 2019 at 7:14 pm

          4 stars
          Hi! I’m an amateur cook so this was a bit challenging for me. I found that in the end result the sauce have this weird salty sourly taste and I was wondering what would you recommend to make it more sweeter and less powering.

          Reply
          • Alissa Saenz says

            July 14, 2019 at 10:52 am

            Hi Dawn! Try adding a bit of extra brown sugar to balance out the salty and tart flavors. Just add 1 tablespoon at a time when the sauce is just about done, until you're happy with the flavor.

            Reply
    5. Jeff says

      February 21, 2019 at 10:18 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight. It was very easy. I had never baked tofu before (I've always fried it) and got rave reviews from the family.

      One of my daughters didn't like it, but everyone else loved it, including me.This will be in our dinner rotation.

      It was a really great change from fried tofu.

      Since you add the sauce last, you can have some tofu for pickier eaters and the sauce for everyone else.

      The sesame seeds REALLY add to the flavor.

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        February 24, 2019 at 4:21 pm

        I'm so glad it was a hit! Thanks Jeff!!

        Reply
      • Nicholas Parkes says

        February 18, 2022 at 2:56 pm

        Should we / Did you use raw sesame seeds or did you toast them?

        Reply
        • Alissa Saenz says

          February 20, 2022 at 8:32 pm

          I prefer toasted (I buy them that way) but raw sesame seeds can work to. Whichever you prefer!

          Reply
    6. Cindy says

      February 25, 2019 at 11:39 pm

      5 stars
      This was the second time I have made this dish. My husband just loves it. Thanks for showing me how to make crispy tofu in the oven.

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        March 03, 2019 at 5:02 pm

        I'm so glad you like it! Thanks so much Cindy!

        Reply
    7. Thom Kolton says

      April 22, 2019 at 7:46 am

      5 stars
      I marinated the tofu in soy sauce before dipping it in the mixture and backing it. Mistake. The tofu browned up very nicely, but didn't get crispy. I think there was just too much moisture in the tofu. Still, it was a absolutely delicious and, while I thought I had increased the recipe too much, there were leftovers. I will make this again and again.

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        April 28, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Thom!

        Reply
    8. Ari says

      May 07, 2019 at 3:34 am

      5 stars
      So yum!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        May 12, 2019 at 4:17 pm

        I'm glad you think so!

        Reply
    9. Evey says

      June 10, 2019 at 9:04 am

      5 stars
      I decided on the spot to make this, so I didn’t have every single ingredient. I either improvised or left a couple of things out (and added mushrooms and skinny sliced red peppers) and it still turned out quite wonderful. Was proud of that homemade Teriyaki sauce! And the baked tofu is the way to go! Thanks for creating this delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        June 16, 2019 at 2:27 pm

        I'm glad it worked out and you enjoyed it! Thanks so much Evey!

        Reply
    10. Paige says

      October 07, 2019 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      I’m not kidding when I say I make this every week for meal prep. It’s about the only meal I can find to eat 5 days in a row. It is DELICIOUS. When I want it spicy I add a tablespoon of Korean-style red pepper. Also add in a few splashes of vegan fish sauce. Absolutely love this recipe. Definitely makes tofu delicious!!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        October 13, 2019 at 11:09 am

        I'm so glad you like it! I'm intrigued by vegan fish sauce - do you buy it or make your own? Now I want to get my hands on some and try it out!

        Reply
        • Alice says

          February 02, 2022 at 7:13 am

          I'm not sure about vegan fish sauce. But kelp powder is usually used for vegan fish flavour in vegan dishes. That I know of anyway. A tiny amount goes a long way and so it lasts for ages. Adds a lot of depth of flavour and is great for anything ""fishy"" you want to make. Or just to add some flavour.

          Reply
    11. Jessica says

      November 24, 2019 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this for a lazy sunday lunch/dinner. Super easy and delicious!!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        November 24, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        I'm so glad you like it!

        Reply
    12. Ramie says

      December 28, 2019 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for sharing this incredible recipe. I added some red pepper flakes and the meal was delicious. Thank you thank you!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        December 29, 2019 at 3:07 pm

        Sounds delicious! Glad you like it!

        Reply
    13. Kate says

      January 06, 2020 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      It's not that easy to find such repices in German language. Most of Japanese food isn't vegan in my country so I enjoyed this recipe so much. I am so in love with that sauce, I added more garlic and it's so perfect.
      I am going to cook it more often.

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        January 12, 2020 at 11:06 am

        Yay! Very welcome! I'm so glad you like it!

        Reply
    14. faith says

      January 14, 2020 at 10:33 pm

      5 stars
      We LOVED this recipe! I've made it twice now. The second time I must've used too much cornstarch in the sauce and it was slimy... so watch out for that! Otherwise, this was easy, quick, cheap and DELICIOUS!!!

      Reply
    15. Catherine says

      January 15, 2020 at 4:51 pm

      4 stars
      I will definitely be baking my tofu from now on. We all loved it. The sauce, however, was very salty (and I’m a salt fiend) but I possible simmered it for too long. I’ll add more sugar and water next time. Having said that, serving it with rice, broccoli and sugar snaps was perfect. Will be making this again.

      Reply
    16. Alison Forness says

      January 26, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      The recipe sounds delicious! My only concern is the use of canola oil, probably the worst oil there is for human consumption. As a holistic health coach I would never recommend it. Avocado or grape seed are better alternatives

      Reply
    17. Kristine Bacharach says

      January 31, 2020 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      I made this for my family last night after stumbling onto your site. My New Year’s resolution this year was to incorporate at least one vegetarian meal per week. This was a hit! My husband and mother-in-law both said it was really good, and both were reluctant when I told them we were having tofu for dinner. The texture was good and the sauce was amazing! I served it with jasmine rice and snow peas. Thank you for a great recipe that was quick and easy to prepare

      Reply
      • Kellyn says

        August 16, 2020 at 9:23 pm

        3 stars
        I used half the soy sauce and replaced the rest with water and it was still profoundly salty, but the end result was a beautiful looking teriyaki sauce. The flavor would have been better if it was so ridiculously salty. I plan to make this again with 2 tbsp soy sauce and ¾ cup water and not toss the tofu in soy sauce.

        Reply
    18. jancrs says

      March 01, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe— thanks! I fried the tofu in sesame oil and added lots of stir fried vegetables (onion, sweet peppers, and snow peas in addition to the broccoli). It was a big hit! I am excited to try your other recipes.

      Reply
    19. Seema Kumar says

      March 24, 2020 at 2:17 am

      5 stars
      We are a vegan family , My son is a very picky eater and likes variety in his food , that is why experimenting with other cuisines . It was super easy and absolutely delicious. Tofu was very well done and the end product was better than restaurant style , Will try other recipes as well from your site .

      Thanks again for making my day !

      Reply
    20. Sue Gordon says

      May 03, 2020 at 9:21 pm

      With the covid virus,I’ve not been able to get any dry sherry to make this recipe. I have all the other ingredients. What would you advise as a substitute? Thanks for any help you can provide. I’m hungry!!!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        May 04, 2020 at 9:01 am

        You could try using dry white wine if that's available. If not, I'd just skip it! It adds flavor, but the sauce should still be delicious without it!

        Reply
    21. Michelle Neff-McCormack says

      May 17, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      5 stars
      I make this on the regular. Usually for our weekday lunches. Such a great flavor and super easy to make!

      Reply
    22. Alyssa says

      May 25, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! I've made it twice, once I fried the tofu instead of baking, it was delicious but even better when I had extra time to put it in the oven. I use it in sushi bowls with cucumber, avocado, seaweed, imitation crab and sircacha mayo.

      Reply
    23. Melissa says

      August 05, 2020 at 12:20 am

      5 stars
      It was perfect even though I didn’t have dry sherry or mirin. I also had to sub cornstarch for potato starch. Still delicious and perfect consistency and flavor.

      Reply
    24. Katy says

      August 27, 2020 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      This is my first review ever for an recipe, but it was sooo delicious and easy to make that I must write one.
      My husband and I are vegan and I've tried many recipes over the last months. We both love the asian kitchen and so I've found your recipe two days ago. I've made it yesterday and today again because this is one of the best recipes ever. I love the baked tofu and will definitely bake it from now on. Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe!

      Reply
    25. Meeta says

      September 02, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      never cooking tofu any other way again! this recipe was wonderful. even my 4 and 5 year old kids couldn't get enough tofu and sauce! thanks so much!

      Reply
    26. Cel says

      October 18, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      YUM!! Teriyaki Tofu has always been my true love, but I had never attempted it until tonight. This recipe is amazing!

      The most perfect lil tofus, I love the crispy outside. I tossed with sunflower oil and it worked great.
      I paired it with some quinoa and pan roasted teriyaki zucchinis!

      Thank you for this amazing recipe, it's my new go-to!

      Reply
    27. Lola Drewery says

      November 04, 2020 at 9:34 pm

      5 stars
      sooo good. Made it with a miso Kale salad and Yam and avocado sushi roll. Will make again!

      Reply
    28. Clare says

      December 03, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      Hello. My girlfriend is Spanish and I’m a vegetarian, difficult mix, she’d never had Tofu before and absolutely loved this!!! Thank you so much! It’s so amazing she gave it a 10/10

      Reply
    29. Anna says

      January 14, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      4 stars
      Delicious!

      Reply
    30. Ali says

      January 19, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      I’m half way through Veganuary and was getting bored, so bought some teriyaki tofu. Delicious with jasmine rice and broccoli, thank you

      Reply
    31. Patricia says

      January 21, 2021 at 10:56 am

      4 stars
      Thank you for this wonderful recipe and for introducing me to baked tofu. My only concern was how salty the sauce was, even though I used low sodium Tamari. I will be trying some of the ideas mentioned to make it a little less salty and hope they don't take away from the wonderful taste too much. Still, the dish was delicious.

      Reply
    32. Mark says

      January 23, 2021 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      I made this with white rice and mixed steamed veggies (carrots, green pepper, baby bok choy). It was very delicious. There's a lot going on at once, but it all came together in a very tasty meal. I will definitely be making this again. I may even use the sauce with other things.

      Reply
    33. Sara says

      February 18, 2021 at 7:02 pm

      5 stars
      The whole recipe is amazing, but the stand out is the way the tofu bakes. I have been vegan for almost 2 decades, absolutely adore tofu and I am a great cook, but this was the first time I had baked tofu come out perfectly (this recipe combines the right amount of coating/right temperature/time in oven #trifecta). It was insanely crispy, the texture was spot on and it held the sauce perfectly. This is going to be the recipe I send tofu hating friends and family, because not only is it easy and delicious but it shows how amazing tofu can be.

      Reply
    34. Joe Thompson says

      April 15, 2021 at 11:24 pm

      Is the simmering down of the sauce necessary? Could I just add less water?

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        April 18, 2021 at 6:11 pm

        You do need to at least simmer it briefly with the cornstarch in order to thicken it. Aside from that the simmering does build flavor, but it's not strictly necessary.

        Reply
    35. Maddie McCoy says

      August 30, 2021 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      I served it with 1.5 cups (dry) brown rice, and microwave-steamed frozen broccoli! It says 4 servings but it was so good that my boyfriend and I ate all of it just the two of us for dinner! :)

      Reply
    36. Emma says

      April 20, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      5 stars
      So good! I made this recipe exactly as written and served over white rice and broccoli as pictured, and it was perfect. I also added a bit of chili crisp to each serving at the end for a little bit of spice. This is going into my regular meal rotation for sure!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors!

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