Are you missing chicken? It’s okay, we’re all friends here. So, let’s just get all those food-feelings out in the open, shall we?
Because no one ever said that dramatically changing the way you eat is going to be without challenges! And I’ve got just the solution for your carnivorous craving–it’s your vegan, nutritarian, and gluten-free solution to classic baked chicken: Easy Baked Tofu.
We’re talking three ingredients here folks…
3.
Yup, get ready to make this Easy Baked Tofu, like, a lot.
You’re going to love this super-simple method for making a savory and healthy tofu with no oil and low salt–pinkie-promise!
Cleaning Up Your Comfort Food
If you’re transitioning (or thinking about transitioning) to a whole-foods-plant-based-vegan or a nutritarian-vegan lifestyle, you’re going to be missing that savory and chewy texture you get from meat.
Maybe you’ve even explored a meat substitute like Gardein Chick’n strips.
But, let’s face it, processed meat-substitutes are not ideal foods, especially when you’re following a whole-food plant based lifestyle. They’re overly-processed with lots of unnecessary ingredients (and that’s certainly a polite way of putting it).
Now, tofu is “processed,” since it’s derived from soy milk. But it’s nowhere near as processed as these test tube vegan “meats.” Let’s just compare ingredient lists here–tofu wins hands-down.
Eat Your Easy Baked Tofu Strips Responsibly
WARNING: You will want to eat this whole tray of strips (I should know because I absolutely have)!
Now, these Easy Baked Tofu “strips” are completely nutritarian-compliant but the only thing you have to be mindful of is sodium.
When you’re on the nutritarian plan you to want to keep your total sodium intake under 1,000 mg per day. Dr. Fuhrman says that the fruits and vegetables we eat as nutritarians supply us with about 700 mg of naturally-occurring sodium for the day. So, that leaves us with a balance of about 300 mg.
This recipe uses Coconut Aminos (instead of the more commonly-used liquid aminos) because it’s lower in sodium.
We’re going to use 1/4 cup aminos for 24 tofu strips so the sodium content per strip is about 45 mg. I suggest a portion of 4 to 6 strips.
You can find coconut aminos at health food store like Whole Foods and Sprouts. This is the brand I use:
MAKE IT A MEAL: I love to have a giant salad as my main course and follow it up with these Easy Baked Tofu strips with garbanzo bean pasta (learn more about bean pasta options here) topped with Nutritarian Cheese Sauce.
Let’s Get Baked
Baking releases flavor, it caramelizes the naturally-occurring sugars in your food, and it’s a great flavor-enhancer when you’re eating nutritarian.
This recipe can’t get any easier!
You’re going to press and slice your tofu, then dip it in coconut aminos, sprinkle with no-salt seasoning and bake!

Easy Baked Tofu
Savory, 3-ingredient, baked tofu recipe that's vegan, nutritarian, gluten-free and low-sodium.
Ingredients
- 2 packages firm tofu (you can also sub extra-firm)
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos (you can also sub 2 tbsp. liquid aminos with 2 tbsp. water)
- no-salt seasoning, to taste
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside (or use a Silpat pad).
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Press tofu by removing blocks from packages and placing on a cutting board with napkins on top and bottom. Add another cutting board on top and allow to "press" for at least 10 minutes.
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Discard wet napkins and cut each tofu block into 12 equal slices. Slice the block in half, then slice each half in half again--now you have fourths. Cut each fourth into 3 slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
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Pour 1/4 cup coconut aminos into a small bowl or plate. Place one or two strips of tofu in the aminos for 1 to 2 seconds on each side. Once quickly coated place on prepared baking sheet.
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After all 24 slices have been coated, add any remaining coconut aminos liquid evenly on the strips (you can use your fingers or a kitchen brush). Sprinkle liberally with no-salt seasoning.
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Bake at 375 degrees for at least 50 minutes, the edges will begin to lift off the parchment paper and the strips will be dry to the touch.
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Let the fingers rest for at least 5 minutes before using a spatula to remove.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Use as a baked chicken replacement. Wonderful in sandwiches or pitas, cut into strips for salads or tacos.
If you’re more of a crispy-tofu-type then you’re going to want to check out one of the most popular recipes on this site: Crispy Tofu
If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think–please leave a rating and comment below!
Just wondering about soy and estrogen- I am not completely informed if the benefits of soy out way any increase in estrogen. I just bought my first pack of tofu and also some shirutaku noodles- THanks for you thoughts
Hi Hillary!
So, start by reading Dr. Fuhrman’s article about the myths about soy here! He explains it all far better than I could!
Personally, I eat soy/tofu daily! So excited for you to try tofu and I’ve had those noodles before and like them too!
xo, Kristen
Like Hilary I always thought soy/tofu was ‘bad’ because of the estrogen thing. I’ve never had tofu before but think I’ll give it a try after reading through your link from Dr. Fuhrman 🙂
Hi Sara!
I completely understand, it’s such a commonly-thought thing that I hear all the time!
I’m so happy you found Dr. Fuhrman’s article helpful and that you’re going to tofu a try!! Please let me know what you think!
xo, Kristen
Okay so I have a little cheat for cooking time. I put my tofu in a panini press to cook and its done in under ten minutes ! Also, Ezekiel bread keeps me from losing my mind ! Your site is a Godsend, cant thank you enough.
Your website is so helpful!!!! I have started my 6 weeks last Thursday and I religiously follow your recipes and mostly the salad dressing ones.
I have a question: we are not supposed to have salt but sometimes you use liquid aminos (what we call here in Canada Bragg sauce?) but it is very salty, on the label in the ingredients there is no salt, so why is it so salty and can we use it?
Thank you in advance for you reply and for your wonderful helpful beautiful website.
Can these be stored to heat and use later?
Which no-salt seasoning do you use for this?
Hi Michelle,
I love Costco’s “Kirkland” No-Salt Seasoning brand!
xo, Kristen
This was nothing short of awesome! Thank you so much, this was the first nutritarian recipe I made & I experimented with the seasonings making 1/3 with Kirkland organic no salt seasoning, 1/3 with Mc Cormick Italian seasoning (plus granulated garlic) and the rest with Great Value Salt-free garlic and herb. All were quite good, the Italian seasoning best, in my opinion, then the Kirkland one.
I’m so happy this made so much as I can just grab the leftovers from the fridge.
THANK YOU for this recipe111
Hi Michelle,
YAY!! I’m so, so happy to hear you love this tofu recipe as much as I do and I love the different flavor combinations you tried too! And WOOP WOOP for getting your first nutritarian recipe under you belt!!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and a rating! Wishing you miles of success on your nutritarian journey that I hope is to come!
xo, Kristen
These are so easy and delish! Super to use in salads, with a raw or cooked veggie plate, as well as on a sandwich.
So, so happy to hear you love them as much as I do, Leah!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a recipe review too!
xo, Kristen
This was AMAZING and so so easy to do. I used “everything but the bagel seasoning” (I’m bad, I know) but this was so filling and delicious. This was my first nutritarian recipe and I’m hooked!
Oh Alissa, I bet that was SO yummy!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a rating and review too!
xo, Kristen
These look great. How long do they last, once baked, in the fridge?
Hi Jeanne,
They last for up to 10 days when stored in a glass container in the fridge, just note that you’ll want to toast them up again in the oven when you reheat–as they can get soggy in the microwave.
I prefer the Easy Baked Tofu Strips for prepping for that reason!
xo, Kristen
I was given a box of tofu from the food bank and didn’t know what to do with all of it. I came across this page and gave it a try and OMG GAME CHANGER! These are soo delicious! I am now a tofu fan for life! Thank you for sharing this fantastically tasty and easy recipe. 🙂
I’m SO happy to hear that you gave this recipe a chance and ended up enjoying it! And thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it, Kimberly!
xo, Kristen