Pan Fried Tofu Noodle Bowls

This is the BEST pan fried tofu recipe. This crispy tofu is coated in a simple chili garlic sauce and served with your favorite noodles (or my vegan fried rice) & veggies. Perfect for a quick, healthy vegan and gluten free dinner.

pan fried tofu with noodles, veggies and peanut sauce

Tofu gets a bad rap, but when done properly, it’s really so delicious. I love making tofu in the air fryer or baked in the oven, but sometimes you just need some good old pan fried tofu.

Crispy tofu is easy to make in a skillet and I promise it’s not the boring and bland stuff people commonly think it is! SO flavorful in my tofu vegan ramen noodles.

Since this tofu isn’t deep fried, it’s definitely still healthy. You only need a small amount of oil to coat the pan so it doesn’t stick.

This simple recipe is ready in about 30 minutes and paired with rice noodles, veggies and my popular Thai peanut sauce. If you love this recipe, try my orange tofu or one of my favorite buddha bowls next!

Before we get started…

You can swap the cornstarch for tapioca or arrowroot starch if you prefer.
Extra firm tofu works best here, but firm tofu will work if that’s what you have. Silken or medium tofu will not work here.
I recommend pressing the tofu for 30 minutes to ensure it gets really crispy and not soggy. If you’re in a pinch, you can skip this, but if you have the time, I highly recommend pressing the tofu!

How to make pan fried tofu bowls

Remove the tofu from the package and drain off excess liquid.

If you have time, press for 30 minutes by wrapping in a towel and placing a heavy object on top. This will help it get crispier!

Once pressed, cut in half, then cut into cubes and add to a bowl. Toss with the cornstarch.

Heat a large skillet (I do not recommend cast iron as tofu sticks easily with cast iron) with the sesame oil and vegetable oil, then add in the tofu. Cook on each side for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, whisk together all ingredients for the sauce. Once the tofu is crispy on all sides, add the sauce into the pan and simmer until thick, stirring to ensure the tofu is well coated.

Assemble your bowls with a bed of rice noodles, then add the tofu and veggies and top with peanut sauce. Enjoy!

two images showing how to make the recipe

Air fryer instructions

For a more hands off approach, you can easily make this into crispy air fryer tofu! (I love this air fryer). First, toss the tofu with 1 teaspoon of soy sauce or tamari. Then toss with one tablespoon of cornstarch until well coated.

Add to your air fryer basket and air fry at 370 for 15 minutes, tossing every 5 minutes or so.

While it cooks, make the sauce by whisking all ingredients on the stove until thick. Once the tofu is done, toss with the thickened sauce and enjoy!

pan or air fried tofu with chili sauce on a plate

The best pan to cook tofu

I highly recommend using a non-stick skillet for this fried tofu for best results.

Cast iron skillets and tofu generally don’t mix well, unless you’re making a simple tofu scramble that doesn’t stick as much.

If you don’t have a good non-stick pan, I suggest following the air fryer instructions to ensure nothing sticks!

Do I need to press tofu?

You can, but it’s not 100% necessary. If you have extra time, I do recommend it since it will make the tofu crispier, but if you’re in a pinch and need dinner on the table quickly, just wrap it in a towel and very gently squeeze out the liquid.

up close image of pan fried tofu to show crispy texture

How to store

While baked, pan fried and air fried tofu all do best when eaten right away, this recipe will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, the crispy texture won’t be all that crispy after a few hours, but the flavors will still be delicious.

I don’t recommend it freezing this recipe. Frozen fried tofu will lose its crispy exterior and the texture won’t hold up very well when it’s reheated or defrosted.

How can I add more flavor to tofu?

My personal favorite way is to use delicious sauces! I love baking, air frying or pan fried tofu and then tossing it in sauces like this chili sauce or teriyaki sauce.

However, if you don’t want to use a sauce, you can mix up some herbs into the cornstarch before tossing it with the tofu. I love paprika, garlic and onion, but feel free to use whatever you have!

pan fried tofu in a bowl with chili sauce and noodles

More tofu recipes you’ll love!

If you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on instagram so I can see your creation! Leave a comment and rating below and let me know how it turns out!