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Home » Meals » Lunch & Dinner » BBQ Tofu

BBQ Tofu

June 9, 20233 Comments

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BBQ Tofu ~ Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce. Ready to serve in 20 minutes or less! via @thiswifecooks

BBQ Tofu is extra firm tofu tossed in smoky barbecue sauce and pan-seared to perfection. It’s bold, easy to make, and on the table in 20 minutes or less.

Serve with Homemade Barbecue Sauce, baked potatoes, and green beans for an easy, down-home-style plant-based dinner.

BBQ Tofu ~ Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce. Ready to serve in 20 minutes or less!

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Easy BBQ Tofu Recipe
  • Ingredients for BBQ Tofu
  • How to Press Tofu
  • How to Grill Tofu in a Pan
  • Make It Vegan 🌱
  • Storage
  • More Tofu Recipes You’ll Love!
  • BBQ Tofu Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Nutrition

Easy BBQ Tofu Recipe

There’s something special, nostalgic even, that has me craving BBQ flavors throughout the warmer months. And if the weather allows us to eat outside, even better.

I like this recipe because it’s quick, flavorful, and satisfying. The process of pan-frying the tofu until it becomes golden and crispy creates a wonderful texture that contrasts perfectly with the rich and tangy BBQ sauce.

This recipe is also pretty versatile – I frequently serve barbecue tofu on its own as a main dish, but it would also be a tasty addition to a salad or a Southern-style rice bowl with black beans and sweet corn.

BBQ Tofu ~ Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce. Ready to serve in 20 minutes or less!

Ingredients for BBQ Tofu

You will need the following:

  • Extra-Firm Tofu – For the best texture, use extra- or super-firm tofu. Medium firm or silken tofu is much too soft for this recipe and not recommended..
  • Olive Oil – Helps the tofu get a golden, lightly crispy exterior.
  • Salt, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper – Simple seasonings to boost flavor without overpowering the sauce.
  • Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite BBQ sauce for sweet, smoky, or spicy tofu.  

How to Press Tofu

Removing excess water helps the tofu crisp up and hold its shape. Take the tofu out of the package and drain it, then place the block in a tofu press. Let it sit under gentle pressure for 15–20 minutes. Once pressed, it’s ready to cut and cook.

How to Grill Tofu in a Pan

STEP ONE: Prep the Tofu. Press tofu, then slice into 1-inch pieces and pat dry. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Using your hands, gently turn the tofu over in the bowl to coat it with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper then gently toss again to distribute the seasonings.

STEP TWO: Pan Fry the Tofu. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu to the hot pan and cook for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally to lightly brown on all sides.

STEP THREE: Add Sauce and Serve. Add the barbecue sauce and continue cooking for 3 minutes, turning to coat the tofu thoroughly, then serve hot.

Make It Vegan 🌱

This recipe is naturally vegan—just be sure to choose a barbecue sauce made without honey.

BBQ Tofu ~ Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce. Ready to serve in 20 minutes or less!

Storage

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best texture, reheat in a skillet over medium heat.

More Tofu Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Sriracha Tofu
  • Twice-Baked BBQ Tofu
  • Mexican Grilled Tofu
  • Pesto Tofu

Save this recipe to Pinterest! ⤵️📌

BBQ Tofu ~ Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce. Ready to serve in 20 minutes or less!

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for being part of our home cooking community!

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BBQ Tofu ~ Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce. Ready to serve in 20 minutes or less!

BBQ Tofu Recipe

Savory pan-seared tofu combined with the rich smokiness of barbecue sauce!
5 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: 30 minutes or less, barbecue tofu, BBQ, bbq tofu, dairy free, make-ahead, quick and easy, Southern, tofu, vegan, vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 3
Calories: 157kcal
Author: Holly Gray
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Ingredients

  • 1 14-ounce package extra-firm tofu, pressed and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Press tofu then slice into 1-inch pieces and pat dry. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Using your hands, gently turn the tofu over in the bowl to coat it with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper then gently toss again to distribute the seasonings.
  • Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu to the hot pan and cook for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally to lightly brown on all sides.
  • Add the barbecue sauce and continue cooking for 3 minutes, turning to thoroughly coat the tofu, then serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1104mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 54IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @thiswifecooks or tag #thiswifecooks!

This post was updated on June 11, 2025.

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    BBQ Tofu Sandwiches
  • Twice-Baked BBQ Tofu ~ Bite-size tofu seasoned with smoky spices and BBQ sauce. Sticky sweet and perfectly caramelized BBQ tofu.
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Filed Under: 4th of July, Comfort Food, Game Day, Lunch & Dinner, Recently Updated, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: bbq, dairy-free, Father's Day, game day, make-ahead, quick and easy, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jacqui

    June 12, 2023 at 5:01 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe, and used it on our new grill! So good! Totally will be a summer favorite, thank you.

    Reply
  2. nancy

    June 12, 2023 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    i really enjoyed your homemade bbq sauce on these tofu bites! i made this added to my salad!

    Reply
  3. Jenn Freedman

    June 14, 2023 at 2:26 pm

    5 stars
    Yay for vegan summer bbq recipes !

    Reply
5 from 10 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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