We’ve been LOVING this Crispy BBQ Tofu Sandwich! Crispy tofu is slathered in BBQ sauce, topped with avocado & a cool cilantro cabbage slaw- a tasty vegan meal in under 30 minutes! Video. Plus 50+ Amazing Tofu Recipes!
Need a quick healthy meal? This is hands-down one of the tastiest Tofu sandwiches ( or tofu burgers) I’ve ever had! I keep thinking if we still had our restaurant this would for sure be on the menu this week! It’s a fast easy meal, and oh so satisfying!
I’m pretty sure even tofu skeptics will love this one too. If you are on a sandwich kick like we have been, you might also enjoy this Tempeh Reuben Sandwich ( which can be made vegan with vegan mozzarella) it is also yummy!
WHY this Tofu Buger Works!
- It’s super fast!
- Simple, affordable ingredients.
- Over the top in the flavor dept- tangy, subtle heat, smoky, delicious!
- Great texture- warm crispy tofu, cool crunchy slaw- a perfect marriage.
- The slaw adds nutrients! I’d suggest making a double batch.
- It’s vegan!
- Will make anyone love tofu. Guaranteed.
Crispy BBQ TOFU SANDWICH VIDEO
Ingredients in BBQ TOFU Sandwich
- Tofu – firm or extra firm, organic, if possible
- olive oil or coconut oil
- BBQ Sauce- find a brand with no high-fructose corn syrup (or make your own)
- Sriracha or Red Chili Paste (optional)
- Cabbage- green or purple ( use pre-cut cabbage if pressed for time)
- Onion- red is nice
- Cilantro- fresh
- Vegan Mayo- or use regular mayo
- AC vinegar- or white vinegar
- Fresh cilantro
- Salt and Pepper
- Soft, toasted buns- store-bought or make your own!
- Avocado- optional
How to make BBQ Tofu Sandwich
Step One:
Cut the tofu into two slabs, one-inch thick, perhaps trimming to fit the bun. Pat gently with paper towels.
Step Two
Season a skillet generously with oil, salt and fresh cracked pepper and heat it up.
Step Three
Sear the tofu on both sides, until deeply golden and crispy.
Step four
While the tofu is cooking, make the quick and easy slaw, using precut cabbage if pressed for time. Cilantro and onion add great flavor here.
Step five
Mix BBQ Sauce and red chili paste (or sriracha) in a bowl and brush it liberally on the tofu, getting the bottom too.
Let the sauce caramelize just slightly in the pan, before turning the heat off.
Step five
Toast the buns and assemble! Feel free to add avocado if you like- a bit messier, but oh so tasty!
And voila! You’ll have a delicious meal on the table in under 30 minutes! This recipe makes two hearty sandwiches.
MoRE DINNER WORTHY sandwiches!
- Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe ( vegan adaptable!)
- Caprese Sandwich
- Curry Chickpea Salad Wraps with Toasted Coconut
- Smashed Chickpea Avocado Sandwich
- Herby Chickpea Salad Sandwich
- Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich
My husband Brian totally devoured this and proclaimed he would happily eat this anytime I wanted to make it.
So with a tofu skeptic, I would just plop it down right in front of them, and not even say anything. I’m pretty confident, that if they like BBQ Sauce, one bite is all it will take. 😉
Enjoy the summer weekend!
xoxo
Sylvia
More Recipes you may like:
- 50+ Amazing Tofu Recipes
- Grilled Tofu
- Easy Tofu Sofritas
- Tofu Paprikash
- Black Garlic Tofu
- Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
- Quick Sourdough Buns
- How to make Vegan Mayo!
- BBQ Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Grilled Corn with Chipotle-Lime Butter
Crispy BBQ Tofu Sandwich
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2
- Category: sandwich, vegan
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Crispy BBQ Tofu Sandwich topped with cool, creamy cilantro cabbage slaw and avocado, that can be made in under 30 minutes. Vegan!
Ingredients
- 1 block tofu- organic, extra firm, drained
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce (aim for one without high fructose corn syrup, or make your own)
- 1 teaspoon chili paste or sriracha
- 2 soft buns, (like brioche buns) toasted
- Avocado- optional, messy but good. 😉
Creamy Cilantro Slaw:
- 4 ounces shredded cabbage- about 3 cups packed
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 3–4 tablespoons vegan mayo (or regular mayo) or make your own
- 1 tablespoon vinegar- Apple Cider or white, more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Drain the block of tofu, pat dry, and cut into one-inch-thick slabs. Trim if needed to fit the bun. You can get 2, maybe 3 out of one block. Pat dry again.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, and sprinkle the salt and pepper over the oil. Once the pepper is fragrant, carefully add the tofu. Sear until crispy and deeply golden- do not move it around in the pan, let it develop a crust, so it will release itself. Lower heat if splattering- this will take about 12 minutes.
- Mix the BBQ sauce and red chili paste in a small bowl and set aside.
- Place the shredded cabbage in a medium bowl, add onions and cilantro, mayo, vinegar, and salt, and toss to combine well. Taste. It should be creamy, tangy and flavorful. Feel free to add more vinegar, salt or mayo to attain this. All mayos are different!
- Toast the buns and slice the avocado.
- Once the tofu is nice and crispy, lower the heat to low, and add the bbq sauce mixture, coating the tofu well. I use all the sauce. Let it caramelize just slightly in the pan, and turn the heat off.
- Assemble the Sandwich. Spread more mayo on the bottom bun if you like, add the hot tofu, and top with cool slaw and a few slices of avocado.
- EAT immediately. 🙂
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one sandwich
- Calories: 527
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 1128.4 mg
- Fat: 30.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 43.2 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 21.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
My new favorite thing to BBQ! I cut my tofu into four pieces so they would sit on the bun. I have never seen instruction to salt and pepper the oil but it seemed to work. The sear time is right on and I poured my sauce over the slabs and flipped them and let the sauce get slightly sticky. Next time, I am going to add a little jalapeno to the slaw.
Great, thanks for letting us know!
This was delicious! Even my husband who usually avoids tofu loved it. I used a storebought BBQ sauce for times sake and added some smoked paprika and a little peanut butter to it. Yum!
Glad you both enjoyed! Thanks for taking time to review, appreciate it!
I’ve made this twice now and it is very good. I’d maybe like to try and marinate the tofu in something to flavor it up a bit, but it’s very good the way it is regardless. The coleslaw is excellent, and the barbecue sauce is incredible! Thank You Sylvia for another great recipe!
You might check out our baked tofu recipes, it may give you some ideas about marinating. Glad you liked this one!
This is SO good and comes together quickly. I use a round biscuit cookie cutter to make the tofu patties. I make it often for my husband and three kids 11, 8, 6. One of those nights where everyone finishes their meal and doesn’t complain! HA.
Awesome Nichole, the BEST when everyone is happy! Thanks for letting us know. 🙂
Amazing sandwich. I’ve made this probably a dozen times now and it’s hands down one of my favorite meals. I top mine with the slaw and my neighbor’s home-grown candied jalapeños and it is a home run every time.
This recipe inspired me to try a bunch more from your blog and every single one has been great. This is first place I go for new recipes when cooking for my family now. You are truly gifted.
Thanks so much for this review! So happy to hear you are enjoying.😊
This sandwich was super delicious. I also made your homemade bbq sauce and it was fabulous with this recipe.
Great to hear MJ! Thanks for letting us know. 🙂
One of our go-to, absolute favorite recipes! The taste, the texture, the mess — on point. My sweetie requests it often!!
Great to hear KJ! Thanks so much for the review!
Made this for dinner tonight. It was so sweet, spicy, saucy, and absolutely delicious. I think this could easily pass for a restaurant quality bbq sandwich, but even better. And the slaw was the perfect combination of creamy and tangy. I served the sandwich with sweet potato fries and it was perfect. Husband was very happy and said it definitely belongs in the “make it again” file.
Oh yay! So glad you gave it a try!
Amazing! I am not a tofu fan, but my partner is vegan so I am often adapting – this is definitely one I will eat. Primal Kitchen makes a sugar free BBQ sauce.
So far we have made this twice, each time changing it up a little depending on what bread we have handy. Didn’t have cilantro on hand, so used dill from the garden instead which was even more perfect in my opinion. We make our own homemade vegan mayo so used that and I added a little dollop of plain coconut yogurt for some tang. The coleslaw makes enough for 4+ servings, and I used the extra throughout the week on various things … or literally ate it straight from the bowl.
Love it Janine! Especially the tweaks to make it perfect for your taste! 🙂
This is definitely a recipe for the tofu lovers out there! I love it! My husb doesn’t like tofu, so he was meh about it but did say the flavor was good. I ended up baking mine. Forgot the sriracha in the mixture so made sriracha Mayo for the buns. This was the first slaw with mayo that I have EVER liked. I will definitely make this again (at least for myself lol)!!!
Awesome, so glad you liked this one EllieMay!
I made this exactly as you described and the sandwiches were so delicious!!!! I love your recipes !!
Thanks so much Mary Jo! Very apprecated!
I try to use less oil/fat.
Can these be grilled like the grilled tofu instead of in a pan with oil?
Love your recipes!
Sure, seems like that would work fine!
Use an air fryer if you have one. The higher the heat the crispier the tofu gets.
Great suggestion Diane! Thanks so much. 😉
These sandwiches are divine! And the slaw plus avocado were perfect additions. Thanks so much for this great recipe.
Happy to hear you enjoyed Kate!
WOW! I never post comments but this is too good not to. Soooo good!!!!
Awesome Carol, so happy you enjoyed!
This is just delicious! And if you have a bottle of BBQ sauce and buy some coleslaw, it is also one of the easiest recipe on this website full of delicious recipes! We love it!
Wonderful Meghan, so happy you are enjoying!
This BBQ tofu sandwich is a flavor-packed delight that satisfies both vegans and meat lovers alike!
Great to hear!