Crispy Tofu Sliders with Buffalo Mayo
By Sammi Brondo — September 28, 2026
These Crispy Tofu Sliders with Buffalo Mayo are an easy vegetarian dinner or game day appetizer. Crispy baked tofu with smoked paprika, avocado, coleslaw, and creamy buffalo sauce make a high-protein, meatless slider everyone will love.
I’m a sucker for recipes that combine sweet and savory. The combination of flavors and textures in this recipe is not to be missed.
Tofu is highly underrated.
I’ll admit – I often forget about it sometimes.
But it’s such a great and easy source of protein. The key – of course – is knowing how to cook it. (And don’t worry, I’ve got you!)
Tofu absorbs any flavor you add to it. Because its texture is so soft too, it’s malleable to work with and can completely transform into different things.
Case in point: this crispy tofu. I showed a picture of the tofu to a friend and she thought it was fried chicken!
This Crispy Tofu Sliders recipe grates the tofu. Grating tofu gives you small pieces that can really get crispy in the oven.
It’s tossed simply with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. I got the idea from @vegscratchkitchen on Instagram. Such a delicious and versatile way to make tofu!
I decided to pair these sliders with mashed avocado, coleslaw, and a homemade buffalo mayo.
The buffalo mayo is almost like a cross between buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. It’s herby, creamy, savory, and sweet. It’s the perfect complement to this meal.
You’ll end up with plenty of extra sauce too! Save it to add to more sandwiches, as a dip for roasted veggies, or even to use as a salad dressing.
Finally, I love the addition of avocado and coleslaw to these Crispy Tofu Sliders. They both add a little bit of sweetness and extra flavor.
Make these Crispy Tofu Sliders for dinner or serve them to guests. You can also use bigger buns vs. sliders and make them into larger sandwiches. The options are endless!
Why You’ll Love These Crispy Tofu Sliders
These sliders are so delicious and are such a unique way to make tofu.
Preparing tofu in this way makes it not only super crispy, but also incredibly flavorful.
The tofu is tossed in a delicious buffalo mayo sauce and then added to slider buns with fresh coleslaw.
The result is an incredible and nutritious sandwich that’s perfect for meal prep or to serve to guests.
These sliders are packed with protein, full of different textures, and are just so good and satisfying.
How to Make Crispy Tofu Sliders with Buffalo Mayo
Prep ingredients
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Grate the tofu
Line tofu with a paper towel and gently press down to release excess water from the tofu. Using the large holes of a box grater, gently grate the tofu (it will break apart very easily!).
Toss the tofu with the olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Bake the tofu
Spread tofu evenly on the lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until the tofu is crispy, but not burned. Do not toss or move the tofu while it cooks!
Prepare the buffalo mayo
While the tofu is cooking, prepare the buffalo mayo. Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
Whisk mayo
Whisk well to combine. Set aside.
Let cool and chop
Once the tofu is done cooking, let cool for 10 minutes. Roughly chop.
Prep the bottom of sliders
Top the bottom of the sliders with mashed avocado, crispy tofu, and coleslaw.
Spread the mayo
Add the coleslaw and spread buffalo mayo on the top half of the slider.
Assemble the sandwiches
Place the top half of the rolls cut-side down over the coleslaw.
Serve
Add an extra dollop of buffalo mayo on top of these Crispy Tofu Sliders and serve!
If You Love These Crispy Tofu Sliders, Try These
- The BEST Saucy Tofu Lettuce Wraps
- Crispy Rice & Tofu Salad with Sesame Soy Dressing
- Crispy Air Fried Tofu
- Crispy Orange Tofu
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Tofu: Use extra firm tofu and make sure to press the water out before cooking. The more water you can get out, the crispier it will get. Without this step, you may need longer cooking time and may find that the tofu doesn’t get as crispy.
- Olive oil: You can also use a different high heat cooking oil if preferred.
- Smoked paprika: Smoked paprika has a great depth of flavor, but you can use regular paprika if you can’t find it too.
- Mayo: Mayo is the base of the buffalo sauce.
- Sour cream: Adding sour cream helps to add a little more flavor while also thickening the sauce slightly.
- Buffalo sauce: Buffalo sauce is our workhorse here that adds plenty of flavor and heat. If you’d like your sauce a little more mild, you can add slightly less.
- Herbs/spices: For the sauce, you’ll use dried chives, dried parsley, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Slider buns, coleslaw, mashed avocado: Use these to assemble the sandwiches.
Crispy Tofu Sliders with Buffalo Mayo Tips & Variations
- Pressing the tofu: The more water you can get out of the tofu, the crispier it will get. Without this step, you may need longer cooking time and may find that the tofu doesn’t get as crispy.
- Coleslaw: Make your own or use a store-bought version. If you’re making your own, try simply mixing thinly chopped cabbage (or a coleslaw mix) with mayo, a little sugar, a little vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Make ahead: To make these Crispy Tofu Sliders with Buffalo Mayo ahead of time, prepare the tofu and buffalo mayo. Keep both in the fridge in airtight containers. When you’re ready to eat or serve, assemble the sandwiches.
- Storage: Store tofu and buffalo sauce in airtight containers in the fridge. The tofu can stay up to 5 days and the sauce will last up to 1 week. To reheat the tofu, spread it in an even layer on a baking sheet and broil it in the oven for a few minutes, keeping an eye that it doesn’t burn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ingredients
Tofu
- 1 14- ounce block extra firm tofu
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
Buffalo mayo
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1/2 tablespoon dried chives
- 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
For sliders
- 1 package Sliders 9 buns
- Coleslaw
- Mashed avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
- Line tofu with a paper towel and gently press down to release excess water from the tofu. Using the large holes of a box grate, gently grate the tofu (it will break apart very easily!).
- Toss the tofu with the olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until the tofu is crispy, but not burned. Do not toss or move the tofu while it cooks!
- While the tofu is cooking, prepare the buffalo mayo. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and whisk well to combine. Set aside.
- Once the tofu is done cooking, let cool for 10 minutes. Roughly chop.
- Assemble the sandwiches. Top the bottom of the sliders with mashed avocado, crispy tofu, and coleslaw. Spread buffalo mayo on the top half of the slider and add it on top.
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