Quick, easy, and budget-friendly, Creamy Vegan Pasta with Air Fryer Tofu is the perfect weeknight dinner. Kid-friendly and made with healthy ingredients.
Air fryer tofu is game changer! It's guaranteed tofu perfection every time. What's more, it takes 10 minutes to make and very little effort on your part.
Pair it with a delicious creamy vegan sauce, and al dente rigatoni, and you have a winner dinner.
This was inspired by my 7-Ingredient Brown-Butter Butternut Squash Pasta, as well as this Peanut Noodle Salad with Chickpeas.
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👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- Tofu
Use extra firm tofu for this recipe. It has the least amount of moisture and gets the most crispy. Medium firm tofu also works, but it will not brown as easily. Press the tofu beforehand, or try to find super firm or sprouted tofu which is pre pressed. Nasoya and Wildwood are the brands I use.
- Tamari
Use tamari, coconut aminos, or soy sauce. Try to find the reduced sodium options, as they will be less salty.
- Nondairy milk
The sauce is dairy-free. Make sure to use unsweetened nondairy milk. Otherwise, the pasta sauce will end up too sweet.
- Flour
Wholewheat, wholewheat pastry, and all-purpose flour will work in this recipe. Wholewheat is the healthiest option, but makes the sauce slightly thicker.
- Oil
One of the benefits of using an air fryer is that it is not necessary to use oil. However, a little goes a long way in getting the most desirable crispiness and texture for the tofu.
- Miso
Miso is a fermented paste that adds a salty umami flavor. Be sure to dissolve it fully in water before adding it to the skillet. Otherwise, there will be chunks of miso in the sauce, which is never a good thing! Use white or mellow miso. This type of miso is fermented for a shorter time, and has the mildest flavor.
📖 Instructions
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the packet until al dente. The pasta will continue to cook in the sauce, so make sure not to overcook it.
Cut the broccoli into bite size florets. Steam the florets until they are just fork tender. Be careful not to overcook them. Mushy broccoli is never a good thing -unless you are blending it into a soup or sauce. Blanching the cooked broccoli in ice water gets it even greener, but it also washes away valuable nutrients.
Meanwhile, prepare the tofu.
Be gentle when tossing so the cubes do not crumble. Evenly coat the cubes with the cornstarch mixture. The oil is optional, but it helps the tofu to brown more easily.
Transfer the cubes to the air fryer tray.
Cook the cubes in batches if they do not fit in a single layer. Overcrowding the tofu will make it steam instead of brown.
Every air fryer cooks slightly differently. Make sure to check on the tofu so it does not burn.
Meanwhile, make the vegan roux. A roux is a mixture of flour and fat used to thicken sauces and soups. Traditionally, it is made with butter, but this vegan version uses oil instead.
Start by heating the oil. Then add the flour and stir constantly. It is essential to keep stirring so the roux does not burn. Add the nondairy milk and continue to stir.
Dissolve the miso in water, and add it to the sauce. Stir to incorporate.
Heat gently over medium-low heat until warmed through. Serve immediately.
🥦 Substitutions
- Broccoli - Instead of broccoli, use cauliflower, asparagus, or green peas. Or add baby spinach directly to the sauce at the end, and warm until just wilted.
- Tofu - Use tempeh instead. See this Tahini Pasta with Brussels & Tempeh Bacon recipe for how to prepare the tempeh.
- Tamari - use soy sauce or coconut aminos instead
- Spices - Switch up the seasoning mix for the tofu as desired. Try Italian seasoning, cajun seasoning, or other spices you have on hand.
- Flour - use wholewheat, wholewheat pastry, or all-purpose flour
- Pasta - use wholegrain for a healthier meal
For more easy, healthy pasta dinners, visit my pasta recipes page.
🔪 Equipment
Air fryers vary in cooking time. In the Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven AirFryer, it took 10 minutes at 400ºF for the tofu to reach the perfect crispiness. This time may vary depending on the brand of air fryer.
If you do not own an air fryer, baking the tofu works great too. Place the cubes on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 425ºF for about 20 minutes, or until crispy.
⏱ Storage
The creamy sauce tastes best when served immediately. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Add water for reheating until it is the desired texture.
Store leftover tofu and broccoli in a separate container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or conventional oven.
These ingredients do not stand up well to freezing.
💡 Top tips
- Stir the roux constantly so it does not burn.
- Check on the tofu frequently as air fryers vary in cooking times.
- Completely dissolve the miso in water before adding it to the sauce. Lumps of miso do not taste good.
Essentially, an air fryer is an amped up convection oven. It does not actually fry food, but uses hot air to produce the same effect with very little or no oil.
It depends on how much you end up using it. I use mine regularly for roasting veggies, cooking tempeh and tofu, and for making the crispiest potato bites! They work great for removing additional moisture from foods so they brown more quickly.
I have not tested many brands. I own the Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven AirFryer, which is great for my needs. It is both a toaster oven and an air fryer, so it has multiple uses. It is also fairly small, taking up minimal counter space. Plus, the cooking tray is stainless steel, and not a toxic nonstick material.
Things to consider when buying an air fryer:
Size - If you have a large family, or do a lot of meal prep, go with a larger air fryer to avoid batch cooking. Overcrowding the air fryer with too much food prevents it from getting crispy.
Material - Air fryers typically use nonstick materials to line the interior. Some are more toxic than others.
Reviews - Always read reviews to see how it performs.
Warranty - Make sure it comes with a warranty in case it is damaged or stops working.
👩🏽🍳 Made This Recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Vegan Pasta with Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry pasta (½ 16-ounce packet)
- 1 medium head broccoli cut into bite-size florets (about 2 ½ cups)
- 7 ounces extra firm tofu (½ 14-ounce block) pressed, cut into ¾-inch cubes
- ½ tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil or neutral flavored oil (optional)
For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose
- 2 cups unsweetened nondairy milk
- 1 tablespoon white miso dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
- Dash of garlic powder
- Dash of onion powder
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to packet directions until al dente.
- Steam the broccoli florets with a tight fitting lid for about 3 minutes, or until just tender.
- Season tofu: Transfer the tofu to a medium bowl. Add the tamari. Toss to combine. Add the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and oil. Toss until the tofu is evenly coated.
- Cook tofu: Air fry in a single layer at 400ºF for 10 minutes. Toss and cook for about 2 minutes more, or until crispy. (Alternatively, bake at 425ºF for 20 minutes.)
- Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk vigorously for 1 minute, or until fully incorporated. Add the nondairy milk and stir to combine. Add the dissolved miso and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened to the desired consistency, stirring constantly. Mix in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Combine and serve: Mix in the tofu and broccoli. Add the desired amount of pasta. Serve immediately.
Notes
- The cornstarch is optional, but it will make the tofu much crispier.
- Cook the tofu in an air fryer or bake on a large nonstick sheet in a single layer. Both will work equally well.
- If you have a smaller air fryer, cook the tofu in two batches. Avoid overcrowding or the tofu will not get crispy.
- All air fryers are different. The tofu may take more or less time to reach the desired level of crispiness.
- Stir the sauce frequently so that no lumps form.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is an ESTIMATE only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.
Catherine
Meals like this are always the best. The sauce is perfectly creamy the way I like it.
Nisha Melvani
I agree! Creamy is always a good think! Thanks for leaving a comment. Have a lovely evening.
Amina
love my air fryer so this dish is so easy to make! Quick, easy & delicious,
Nisha Melvani
The tofu is the perfect texture! So glad you like it. Thank you.
Neena Chandiramani
So quick, easy and tasty!
Nisha Melvani
Yes! Easy too. I love this comforting dish.