This easy BBQ tofu sandwich is piled high with pan-fried ‘pulled’ tofu coated in a sweet yet tangy BBQ sauce. Fully loaded with smashed avocado, creamy vegan coleslaw and homemade pickled onions, this tofu sandwich recipe is perfect for summer BBQs or holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July.
📝 Why You’ll Love This BBQ Tofu Sandwich:
- Taste: Sweet, tangy, savory and a bit smoky from the caramelized BBQ sauce.
- Texture: The tofu is charred and saucy with crunchy coleslaw, pickled onions and bread and butter pickles on top.
- Difficulty: Super easy- perfect if this is your first time making tofu!
- Time: Under 40 minutes… this recipe uses super firm tofu that is shredded which means it doesn’t need to be marinated before hand. It also means that you don’t need to press the tofu!
- Why We Love This Tofu Sandwich: This vegan tofu sandwich seriously reminds me of a pulled pork BBQ sandwich. The shredded tofu has this amazing texture that my husband said, and I quote, “wouldn’t even know it was tofu.” It’s got all those classic flavors you crave from a spring or summer BBQ or picnic – that rich, smoky barbecue taste. But it’s made with plant-based protein instead of meat!
Ingredients:
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Super Firm Tofu: Like mentioned above, this recipe uses super firm tofu which is similar to extra-firm tofu but it has more liquid pressed out and has a bit of a firmer texture. You could try this recipe with extra firm tofu, however you’ll need a tofu press to remove the excess water. It’s important to also note that extra firm won’t hold up as well when you shred it.
- BBQ Sauce: Feel free to use your favorite vegan friendly brand. I love Stubb’s Original because it’s sweet, savory and has just the tiniest bit of heat. I highly recommend choosing a good quality sauce you love since this is where a bulk of the flavor comes from.
- Buns: I chose to use a high quality kaiser roll, but you could use your favorite bread instead. Because the BBQ tofu has a texture similar to pulled pork, a bun that isn’t super soft will work best.
- Pickled Onions: These can be swapped for your favorite pickled vegetable! The key is to have an element with crunchy acidity on top of the bbq tofu.
- Coleslaw Mix: If you don’t have pre-made coleslaw mix, you can use shredded cabbage and carrots instead.
- Sugar: Use your favorite sweetener in the pickled onions and the vegan coleslaw dressing. You could use maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Other Toppings: Feel free to add butter lettuce, tomato slices or other pickled veggies to this tasty sandwich.
Helpful Equipment
Here are a few tools that will make creating this recipe extra easy:
- Box Grater: to shred the block of tofu
- Large Non-stick Skillet: to pan fry the tofu
- Mixing Bowls: for preparing the coleslaw and onions
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Make the pickled onions and the vegan coleslaw before beginning. This way both have time to marinate and develop flavor. You can also smash the avocado with lime juice and pinch of salt.
STEP 2: Drain the block of tofu and lightly blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Use a box grater to shred the tofu directly over a large skillet. You could also shred it over a large bowl.
📌 TIP: This recipe uses shredded tofu instead of tofu slices or slabs. By shredding tofu, you increase of the surface area which means it absorbs more flavor from the BBQ sauce without having to marinate it.
STEP 3: Add olive oil to the shredded tofu in the skillet. Pan fry over medium heat for 5-6 mins until golden brown, stirring occasionally with a silicone spatula.
STEP 4: Add the BBQ sauce and continue cooking for 10-15 mins over medium-high heat until slightly charred and caramelized.
STEP 5: Toast the buns (or a few slices of bread) in a toaster or dry pan over medium heat until lightly browned. This adds some nice texture!
STEP 6: Assemble the tofu sandwiches!
Serving Ideas
This easy tofu sandwich is such a crowd pleaser and perfect for your next spring picnic, summer backyard BBQ, game day celebration, or Fourth of July get together.
I definitely recommend serving this recipe with some classic cookout sides and desserts like:
- Crispy sweet potato fries
- Vegan cornbread
- Vegan mac and cheese
- Three-bean salad
- Thick slices of fresh watermelon
- Vegan Banana Pudding
- Classic Vegan Pound Cake
- Or creamy macaroni salad
Whether you’re firing up the grill for Memorial Day, hosting a relaxing weekend cookout, or looking for a tasty weeknight dinner, this loaded BBQ tofu sandwich definitely belongs in your meal rotation!
Storage
The shredded and pan fried BBQ tofu stores super well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Same goes for the pickled onions and the coleslaw. The leftovers are all great the next day for a quick lunch!
If making ahead of time, I recommend making the components and storing them individually. I also recommend smashing the avocado right before you serve the sandwiches to prevent oxidation.
Helpful Tips For The BEST Tofu Sandwich
❶ Make the Pickled Onions and Coleslaw Ahead of Time: This makes assembly faster and it gives both elements time to develop flavor.
❷ Use Super Firm Tofu: The key to getting that perfect shredded texture is using super firm tofu. This denser variety holds its shape beautifully when shredded or pulled apart into pork-like shreds.
❸ Let The Tofu Caramelize and Char: Don’t rush the cooking process after tossing the shredded tofu with BBQ sauce. Allowing it to sizzle in the pan until the pieces turn deeply browned with crispy, caramelized edges. This caramelization brings out the rich, smoky flavors and gives the tofu an amazingly meaty, slightly charred texture.
More Delicious Vegan Sandwiches:
- Vegan Philly Cheesesteaks
- Charred Tofu Bánh Mì
- Vegan Sloppy Joes
- Easy Vegan Egg Salad Sandwich
- Falafel Pita Sandwiches
- Vegan Chicken Salad Sandwich
Did you make tHis BBQ Tofu Sandwich?
I’d love to know! Leave a star rating and comment below!
BBQ Tofu Sandwich
Ingredients
Homemade Pickled Onions:
- ½ large red onion - 115g, very thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp sugar - or agave nectar
- ¼ tsp salt
Simple Vegan Coleslaw:
- ¼ cup vegan mayo - like Hellman’s Vegan Mayo
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp dry mustard powder
- 3 cups pre-made coleslaw mix - 170g
For the Sandwich:
- 16 oz super firm tofu
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup vegan BBQ sauce - 260g, like Stubbs Original
- 1 large avocado - 120g
- Juice of an ⅛ of a lime
- 1 pinch salt and black pepper
- bread and butter pickles
- 4 high quality buns or kaiser rolls - toasted
Instructions
Pickled Onions:
- Combine all pickled onion ingredients in a bowl.½ large red onion, ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp sugar, ¼ tsp salt
- Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes, but preferably 1-2 hours. They can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
Vegan Coleslaw:
- Mix the coleslaw dressing ingredients in a bowl.¼ cup vegan mayo, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, ⅛ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp black pepper, ⅓ tsp sugar, ½ tsp dry mustard powder
- Add the coleslaw mix and coat well. Cover and refrigerate until serving.3 cups pre-made coleslaw mix
BBQ Tofu:
- Drain the tofu and lightly blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture.16 oz super firm tofu
- Use a box grater to shred the tofu directly over a large skillet.
- Add olive oil to the shredded tofu in the skillet.1 tbsp olive oil
- Pan fry over medium heat for 5-6 mins, stirring occasionally with a silicone spatula.
- Add BBQ sauce and continue cooking for 10-15 mins over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until slightly charred and caramelized.1 cup vegan BBQ sauce
Avocado Spread:
- Mash avocado with lime juice, salt and pepper.1 large avocado, Juice of an ⅛ of a lime, 1 pinch salt and black pepper
Assembly:
- Toast the buns in a toaster or dry pan over medium heat until lightly browned.4 high quality buns or kaiser rolls
- Spread 1-2 tbsp of smashed avocado on both halves of each bun.
- Layer with BBQ tofu, coleslaw, pickled onions, and top with bread and butter pickles.bread and butter pickles
- Close the sandwich and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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