This easy tofu ground beef recipe is a game changer for anyone looking for a delicious, plant-based protein alternative. Quick to make with simple ingredients, it’s perfect for tacos, pasta, or any dish that calls for ground beef!
Looking for more tasty tofu-based recipes? Check out my tofu scramble, soyrizo, and Chipotle sofritas, all made with tofu as the main ingredient. These dishes are packed with flavor, protein, and a great way to enjoy tofu in fresh, new ways!
This tofu ground beef is incredibly versatile and can be easily customized with your favorite spices, herbs, or vegetables. Whether you're making a hearty vegan chili, a flavorful stir-fry, or even a vegan Bolognese sauce, it’s a great addition to any recipe that needs a savory, meaty texture.
The best part? This recipe is perfect for meal prepping and saves you time during the week. You can easily store it in the fridge for a few days, making it a go-to option for quick, flavorful meals. It’s an excellent way to have a protein-packed filling ready whenever you need it.
Ingredients for tofu ground beef
- Tofu: Use firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe. These hold their shape and texture, which is perfect for crumbling. If you use soft or silken tofu, it will fall apart and get too watery, which will affect the texture.
- Soy sauce: If you're looking for a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of regular soy sauce. Tamari has a similar flavor but is made without wheat, making it a great gluten-free alternative.
- Olive oil: You can also use other oils like avocado oil or vegetable oil, or just use whatever you have on hand!
- Water.
- Nutritional yeast: It adds a cheesy, savory flavor to the dish. If you don’t have it, you can simply skip it. For alternatives, you can use vegan parmesan or even ground cashews to get a similar texture and flavor.
- Tomato paste.
- Maple syrup: If you want a sugar-free version, you can skip the maple syrup. It just adds a bit of sweetness and extra flavor, but you don’t have to use it. If you prefer, you can substitute it with agave syrup, coconut nectar, or even granulated or brown sugar.
- Smoked paprika: It adds a smoky flavor to the dish. If you want, you can use sweet or hot paprika instead.
- Garlic powder.
- Onion powder.
- Liquid smoke: This is optional, but it's highly recommended! It adds an extra smoky depth to the flavor, making the dish taste even more like traditional ground beef. You can usually find it in the condiments aisle or near the BBQ sauces at most grocery stores. If you don’t have it, you can still make the recipe without it.
- Vegan beef stock powder: This is optional, but definitely recommended for adding a rich, savory flavor to the dish. You can use homemade or store-bought vegan beef stock powder, or even substitute it with vegetable stock powder. If you don’t have any, feel free to leave it out, and the dish will still be tasty!
Find the full recipe with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
How to make tofu ground beef
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If you prefer, cook the tofu in a skillet and skip this step.
Step 2: Remove the tofu from the packaging and pat it dry. Crumble it with your hands and set it aside.
Step 3: In a bowl, mix the remaining ingredients.
Step 4: Add the crumbled tofu to the bowl and toss it with the marinade until evenly coated. For more flavor, marinate in the fridge for 1-2 hours or overnight.
Step 5: Spread the tofu mixture evenly on the lined baking sheet. Skip this step if cooking in a skillet.
Step 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. For a crispier texture, cook a bit longer. Alternatively, cook in a skillet with oil over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and crispy.
Storage instructions
Fridge: Store the cooked tofu in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Freezer: You can freeze the tofu after it's cooked, but the texture may change slightly. Store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2-3 months.
Reheat from the fridge: To reheat, simply warm it in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, or bake it in the oven at 350ºF (180ºC) for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
Reheat from the freezer: Thaw the tofu in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a skillet or oven as you would with refrigerated tofu. Alternatively, you can reheat it directly from frozen in a skillet over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Of course! Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF (200ºC) and place the marinated tofu mixture in the basket in an even layer. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
The best tofu to use for this recipe is firm or extra-firm tofu. These types hold their shape and texture well, making them perfect for crumbling into "ground beef." Soft or silken tofu will become too watery and won't give you the desired texture.
Pressing tofu is not necessary for this recipe, but if you prefer a firmer texture, you can press it to remove excess moisture. If you skip pressing, the tofu will still work perfectly for this dish!
Yes, you can skip the olive oil if you prefer an oil-free version, but keep in mind that the texture and flavor might be a bit different. The tofu may not get as crispy, but it will still be delicious!
You can serve it in many ways! It's great in vegan tacos, vegan burritos, and vegan chili. You can add it to pasta dishes like vegan spaghetti or vegan lasagna, or use it in stir-fries with veggies. It's also perfect for grain bowls with rice or quinoa, or as a filling for wraps, burgers, and vegan sloppy joes. You can even top it on baked potatoes or nachos for a delicious meal!
Tofu Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu, 14-16 ounces (400-450 g)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, optional
- 1 teaspoon vegan beef stock powder, or vegetable stock powder, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If you prefer, you can cook the tofu in a skillet instead, in which case you can skip this step.
- Prepare the tofu: Remove the tofu from the packaging and pat it dry. You can press the tofu if you’d like, but it's not necessary. Crumble the tofu with your hands and set it aside.
- Mix the marinade: In a bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.
- Coat the tofu: Add the crumbled tofu to the bowl and mix it well with the marinade until everything is evenly coated. For a more intense flavor, you can let it marinate in the fridge for 1-2 hours or overnight.
- Transfer to the baking sheet: Transfer the tofu mixture to the lined baking sheet and spread it out in an even layer. If you're cooking it in a skillet, skip this step.
- Cook the tofu: Bake the tofu for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it after 20 minutes, as it may cook faster. For a crispier texture, cook it a bit longer. Alternatively, cook it in a skillet with a little oil over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and crispy.
Notes
- While you can cook the tofu in both the oven and a skillet, it tends to come out better in the oven. Baking gives it a more even cook and a crispier texture, while a skillet can sometimes result in uneven cooking and less crispiness.
- Store the cooked tofu in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
- Keep it in a sealed container or bag in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheat by warming in a skillet over medium heat or baking at 350ºF (180ºC) for 10-15 minutes.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat, or cook from frozen in a skillet for 10-15 minutes.
Jan says
Delicious! This was very easy to make and I don't have much tofu experience. I used for a burrito bowl with rice, black beans, tofu ground beef, salsa, guacamole and a squeeze of lime.
Iosune Robles says
Thank you so much, Jan. I’m really glad you liked it, especially as someone new to cooking with tofu. That burrito bowl sounds absolutely delicious!
Charmian Carter says
Can it be done in the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Charmian! Of course! You can make tofu ground beef in an Instant Pot. Simply sauté the tofu in the Instant Pot on the "Sauté" setting until it’s slightly crispy and golden. Then, add your marinade and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can also use the pressure cooking function if you want a more tender texture, but keep in mind that it may not be as crispy.