Crispy, charred tofu marinated in a spicy-sweet BBQ sauce sandwiched in between slider buns makes the perfect quick and easy poolside lunch or dinner. Grilled BBQ Tofu will be your new favorite summer main.
Nothing captures the true essence of summer quite like firing up the grill and hanging by the pool. Over Father's Day weekend my family got together at my parents' to swim, grill out, and celebrate my dad. 🙂
Anytime I grill out I always make Grilled BBQ Tofu Sliders. They are so easy to make and are super filling. Grilled corn, sourdough, romaine, and asparagus usually make an appearance too!
My Go-To Summer Grilling Recipes
Here's a quick roundup of a complete summer grilling menu. Each of these recipes are quick and simple to make, and they taste like laid-back, carefree summer.
I had to include this photo to really showcase the heartwarming day we had. My adorable niece was curious what I was doing as I took photos of my plate by the pool. She immediately said, "okay, let me go get my plate too!" Future food blogger, perhaps? 😉
I recently shared my Grilled Romaine with Vegan Caesar that I also made on Father's Day. This crunchy salad has a tangy dressing that is simply irresistible. Kick off your grilling menu with this impressive and punchy salad.
Next, I recommend grilling a vegetable side. I love preparing grilled asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Once the asparagus is done I add freshly squeezed lemon juice and grated vegan parmesan.
One of my new favorite things to grill is sourdough bread. I start by slicing the bread into triangles, and then I brush each piece with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little bit of garlic powder.
Finally, you can't grill out without including corn! Once the corn is husked, rub olive oil over each ear of corn and sprinkle salt and pepper on top. If you like spice as much as I do, I always add a little paprika to each piece.
Why You'll Love Grilled BBQ Tofu
BBQ sauce is a tangy, yet smoky sauce that we all just seem to crave during summertime. However, as a vegan there aren't always a lot of options to enjoy BBQ.
To me, BBQ reminds me of having hearty protein. That's why I think tofu pairs so perfectly with this sauce. Besides, tofu is ideal for soaking up marinades and maintaining their flavor. I have also found tofu to be extremely flavorful on the grill.
Key Ingredients to the Marinade
This recipe starts with a simple barbecue sauce, but I add sriracha to give it a touch of extra spice. Adding heat can even make the other flavors in the recipe stand out more too.
I add maple syrup in order to bring in some sweetness to deliver that melt-in-your-mouth sweet, spicy, and tangy combination of flavors.
How to Make this Recipe
To make the Grilled BBQ Tofu, start by draining your block of tofu and patting it dry. Slice the tofu into ½-inch pieces and place into a medium, shallow dish. I just used a square baking pan.
Make the marinade by combining ½ a cup of your favorite vegan barbecue sauce with a tablespoon of sriracha and a tablespoon of maple syrup. Add a ½ teaspoon of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Stir together well and pour over the tofu.
I let the tofu marinate for at least 20 minutes and up to 2 hours. It really depends on how much time you have. 😉 If you're in a pinch I have made it before without marinating it for more than just a few minutes and it still tasted great as long as you brush some extra marinade on the tofu once it's off the grill.
Before turning on the grill, use tongs and a paper towel with olive oil to brush the grates. Bring the heat on your grill to medium and be careful not to exceed 500 degrees. I aim for somewhere between 400 and 450 degrees. If the grill gets too hot, you can always turn off the middle knob.
Use tongs to place each piece of tofu on the grill. Cook for 3-5 minutes and flip for a few more minutes. Carefully remove the tofu from the grill with a spatula to ensure the tofu doesn't stick to the grates. With the tofu on a platter, brush additional marinade onto each piece.
Add two pieces of tofu to each slider and serve. Sometimes I spread avocado on the sliders for a little extra texture and substance, but it's not necessary.
Did you try any of these recipes on the grill?! I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
Grilled BBQ Tofu Sliders
Equipment
- Grill
Ingredients
- 14 ounce tofu block extra firm, drained and pressed
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Slice the block of tofu into ½-inch pieces and place each piece into a medium, shallow dish.
- Make the marinade by combining the barbecue sauce, sriracha, maple syrup, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the marinade over top of the tofu, making sure each piece is covered with sauce. Let marinate for 20 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
- Before turning on the grill, use tongs and a paper towel to rub olive oil over the grates. Be careful not to let too much oil drip down. You just need a light coating to prevent the tofu from sticking.
- Turn on the grill and bring the heat to medium. I aim for about 400 to 450 degrees. If the grill gets too hot (500 degrees and above), simply turn off the middle knob.
- Use tongs to place each piece of tofu onto the grill. Cook for 3-5 minutes and flip, cooking for a few additional minutes. When done, use a sturdy spatula to scoop each tofu piece off the grill and onto a platter. The tofu will try to stick to the grates, so really get the spatula under the tofu, scraping up any charred bits.
- Brush any extra marinade onto both sides of the tofu pieces. Place two pieces of tofu onto each slider bun.
Looking for more tofu recipes?
Tofu Nachos with Sunflower Seed Queso
