Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu
Sheet pan BBQ tofu cooks up with crispy, jagged edges, and a crunchy coating with bold, smoky flavors, before it's tossed with a sticky blanket of sauce.
Serves2 to 4
Part of tofu’s charm is its chameleon-like ability to soak up any and all flavors it’s paired with, and boy does this sheet pan supper really show it off. Between the crispy, jagged edges; bold, smoky flavor; and sticky blanket of BBQ sauce, this recipe is going to make you see tofu in a whole new light.
Dry Rub + Sauce for Maximum Flavor and Crispiness
This recipe relies on both a dry rub and a generous slick of BBQ sauce to bring a big punch of bold flavors and crunch to this sheet pan supper. Start by first cooking the chunks of tofu with a coating of olive oil and dry spice rub — this allows them to dry out and crisp up around the edges, while absorbing the flavors of the spices. Once cooked, toss the hot nuggets of tofu with sauce as soon as they come out of the oven, and dig in!
Tear Your Tofu for More Crispy Edges
I used to cut my tofu into evenly sized squares or neat triangles, and then our Copy Chief, Lauren, mentioned she’d been tearing her tofu into jagged pieces after making a recipe from Bon Appétit. I tried it for myself almost immediately, and haven’t cut a block of tofu since. Now each piece of tofu has more crispy edges, thanks to the jagged peaks and nubby sides tearing tofu creates.
Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu
Sheet pan BBQ tofu cooks up with crispy, jagged edges, and a crunchy coating with bold, smoky flavors, before it's tossed with a sticky blanket of sauce.
Serves 2 to 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 14 to 16 ounces
extra-firm tofu, drained and patted dry
- 1 1/2 teaspoons
paprika
- 1 teaspoon
ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon
chili powder
- 1 teaspoon
garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons
olive oil, plus more for the baking sheet
- 1/4 cup
barbecue sauce
Instructions
Wrap the block of tofu in a few layers of paper towels, then set on a dinner plate or cutting board. Weigh it down with a heavy object like a skillet, pot, or large can while the oven preheats. Tear the tofu into bite-sized pieces.
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 425°F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.
Meanwhile, place the sweet paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Pour in the oil and stir to combine. Add the tofu and gently stir to evenly coat. Place the tofu in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Roast, stirring every 10 minutes so it cooks evenly, until the tofu is crisp all over, 30 to 35 minutes total. Drizzle the tofu with the barbecue sauce and toss to combine.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The tofu can be pressed and torn up to 1 day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Storage: Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.