Tofu Ground Beef Crumbles

Toss crumbled tofu with tamari, nutritional yeast, and spices.  Then bake it in the oven to create a unique texture.  The size of the crumbled tofu will determine the texture: larger bits will be softer, while smaller pieces will become crispy.

The tofu meat uses simple ingredients and when seasoned and dried out in the oven, it can give a hearty meaty texture to a variety of dishes. 

The tofu can be used in many recipes as a vegan ground beef alternative.  Add it to tacos, lasagna, lasagna soup, tomato sauce, burritos, tofu burrito bowls, vegan fajita bowls, black bean burrito bowls, or vegan chili. For more tofu recipes, try easy marinated tofu, oil-free crispy tofu, spicy tofu scramble, and peanut tofu Buddha bowl.

Recipe features

• Vegan, dairy-free, plant-based, and oil-free!
• It's an easy recipe using simple ingredients!
• Enjoy the tofu beef crumbles in tacos, lasagna soup, or chili!
• Works great for meal prep and can be frozen!
• No need to press super firm tofu!
• Customizable, change up the seasoning to enjoy the crumbles in a variety of ways!

Tips

• The baking tray will need to be lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper so the tofu doesn't stick to the baking tray, since this is an oil-free recipe.  The parchment paper holds moisture more than a silicone mat, so it will take longer to evaporate the excess liquid. 
• The time will vary depending on the type of tofu, how much liquid it has, and how large the tofu pieces are. Firm tofu has more liquid than extra firm, and extra firm tofu has more liquid than super firm.
• No need to squeeze or pat dry super-firm tofu.
• If you use firm tofu, it may take longer in the oven to dry out, and it will need to be pressed.
• If you prefer the tofu to be softer, then bake it for less time.
• Stir about every 10 minutes, moving the crumbles from the outside of the tray to the middle and from the middle of the tray to the outside.  This is to cook the ground tofu more evenly and to prevent bits from burning.
• Use a large enough tray to spread out the tofu in a thin layer.  Don't overcrowd the tofu; otherwise, it may take longer to dry out.

Video

How to make tofu ground beef

1. Start the tofu crumbles by preheating the oven to 375°F (190 °C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

2. For super firm tofu, simply drain it; there's no need to squeeze or pat dry. For extra firm tofu, drain it, gently squeeze out excess liquid, and pat dry with a paper towel. Firm tofu will need to be pressed for 20-30 minutes and patted dry with a paper towel. In a medium-sized bowl, use your hands to crumble the tofu into small pieces.  

3. Super firm tofu is easy to crumble into small pea-sized pieces.  For extra firm and firm try to crumble the best you can, and when you mix the tofu with the spices, use the back of your spoon to mash any large pieces.

Some bits will end up being the size of bread crumbs as you crumble, but the varying sizes give the minced tofu different textures.  Larger pieces will be softer and smaller pieces will be crisper.

4. Then add the tamari, nutritional yeast, chili powder, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to the crumbled tofu. 

5. Mix thoroughly to make sure all of the tofu is coated.

6. Spread the tofu out in a thin layer on the lined baking tray.

7. Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Keep an eye on it for the last 5 minutes.  

Super firm tofu may take about 25-30 minutes, extra firm and pressed firm tofu may take closer to 30-35 minutes.  If you use parchment paper instead of a silicone mat, it may take 40 minutes or more for extra-firm and firm tofu.  Keep in mind that oven temperatures vary, so it can take your tofu more or less time.

Storage

Refrigerator - Store cooked tofu crumbles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

Freezer - The cooked crumbles can be frozen for about 2-3 months in an airtight container in the freezer.  The texture does soften after being frozen and refrigerated.  

Reheating - Thaw if frozen and heat up in the microwave until warmed through.  They can also be heated in a skillet on the stovetop or in the oven at 325°F until warmed through.  

Serving suggestions

Cook the tofu ground beef per the recipe, then add it to your favorite meals that traditionally have ground beef.  The recipe can be used in a variety of ways, but here are a few suggestions.  

• Add it to Buddha bowls or vegan rice bowls.
• Veggie taco bowls instead of lentil walnut meat.
• Vegan fajita bowls instead of black beans.
• Try it in easy tofu burrito bowls with black beans, rice, corn, cherry tomatoes, and cashew lime crema.
• Add them to black bean burrito bowls with vegan black beans, veggies, and vegan chipotle dressing.
• Use it as a filling for burritos, quesadillas, or on nachos.  
• Make vegan taco meat by tossing the cooked, crumbled tofu with salsa and heating it in a skillet until most of the liquid from the salsa is evaporated, but the tofu meat is still soft.  Then top the tacos with pico de Gallo, guacamole, pineapple corn salsa, or mango corn salsa.
• Add it to sloppy joes.
• Try it in plant-based chili for a meaty texture.
• Add it to lasagna or lasagna soup.
• Mix into tomato sauce for a vegan meat sauce.
• Make a vegan beefy bean and cheese burrito by spreading out oil-free refried beans on a tortilla, topping it with tofu beef crumbles, and then adding a sprinkle of vegan cheese.

Frequently asked questions

Related recipes

• Spicy oil-free tofu scramble with hominy
• Tofu burrito bowls with tofu meat crumbles and black beans
• Vegan chili with tofu meat crumbles
• Hatch green chile tofu scramble with potatoes

I hope you enjoy the recipe!  If you did, feel free to rate it and leave a comment.