Cheesy Tofu Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches

May 09, 2022

Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches are loaded with "cheesy" baked tofu and cashew cheese sauce along with avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes. You’re guaranteed to have a great day when you start it with a healthy breakfast sandwich, and they’re great option for lunch, too! This easy recipe is vegan with a gluten-free option.

Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches

I do best when I have a hearty, savory breakfast in the morning. Some of my favorites are tofu scrambles, loaded avocado toast, and vegan omelets. One of my go-to weekday breakfast meals is a big vegan breakfast sandwich made with tofu and veggies.

breakfast sandwich with orange, tomatoes, and lettuce

I make this recipe often, and it’s so simple that I’ve never thought to write it down. The original inspiration for this recipe was a tofu sandwich that Miyoko Schinner made on Vegan Mashup a few years ago. I didn’t write down what she did, but I headed into the kitchen and threw a few things together from memory. And I’ve been making it ever since!

“Cheesy” Baked Tofu

Dipped in nutritional yeast, the baked tofu in these sandwiches has a savory cheesy flavor. I often make it in the air fryer. In fact, I bought a little metal rack for my air fryer in order to cook twice as much tofu at once.

Breakfast Sandwiches with lettuce and tomatoes

There have been times in the past when I’m in hurry, and I prepare this tofu on the fly on the stovetop. I put a little tamari and apple cider vinegar in large pan over medium high heat, and I place the tofu slices in the pan. I then sprinkle on some nutritional yeast and spices. Then I flip the tofu and sprinkle nutrition yeast and spices on the other side as well, and cook the tofu for a few minutes on each side, until it’s crisp and chewy.

Breakfast Sandwiches with bowl of lettuce

I like to use super firm tofu when making this recipe, because it doesn't need to be pressed, and it holds up really nicely to baking. If you can’t find super firm tofu, extra firm will work, too, but make sure you press as much water out of it as possible.

If you like your tofu a little crisper or chewier, you can bake it a little longer than I specify here. It’s great in wraps and sandwiches for lunch, too, and it makes a terrific topping on salads, as well.

nutritional yeast, turmeric, tomato, avocado, salt, apple cider vinegar, cheese sauce, lettuce, tofu, tamari, english muffins,

How to Make Cheesy Tofu Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches

This recipe is really easy to make!

If you’re using your oven, preheat it to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
First you slice the tofu into thin slabs, about ¼” thick and place in a shallow dish.
Then you mix the tamari and apple cider together and pour the mixture over the tofu. Make sure the pieces are submerged and let the tofu to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
While the tofu is marinating, you mix together the nutritional yeast, turmeric, garlic, powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
Next you dip a tofu slab into the nutritional mixture and make sure it’s fully coated. Place it on the baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the tofu.
If you're making this in your oven, bake the tofu for 20 minutes, flipping the slabs over after 10 minutes.
You can also make this in your air fryer. Bake the tofu on 400° for 10 minutes, flipping after 5 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tofu in batches.
While the tofu is cooking, you toast the English muffins.
To make your sandwiches, you place a few slices of avocado and tomato on half of each muffin along with a leaf or two of lettuce. Place 3 or 4 slices of tofu on each muffin half, and then drizzle withCashew Cheese Sauce. Drizzle on some hot sauce, if you like, and then finish the sandwich with the other muffin half.

I like to bake up a block of tofu at the beginning of the week so that I have tofu at the ready for sandwiches in each morning. Since I’m not a morning person, it really helps make cooking breakfast easier.

Recipe Notes

I like to use Ezekiel sprouted English muffins when making my breakfast sandwiches. If you follow a gluten-free diet, use gluten-free muffins, which Ezekiel also makes.

You can use slices of vegan cheese instead of my cashew cheese sauce, if you prefer.

Your sandwiches can be topped with whatever your favorite fixin's are. I like avocado, tomato, and lettuce, but you can also use roasted red peppers, sliced cucumbers, spinach, or sautéed mushrooms.

two breakfast sandwiches with tomatoes and lettuce

Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches

Dianne

You’re guaranteed to have a great day when you start it with these Vegan Breakfast Sandwich. They’re loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheesy baked tofu, and they’re great option for lunch, too!

5 from 1 vote

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Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 402 kcal

Ingredients

16 ounce block super firm tofu
2 tablespoons tamari
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
6 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
4 whole grain English muffins (I like Ezekiel Sprouted Grain English Muffins)
1 avocado sliced
1 large tomato sliced
4-8 large lettuce leaves
½ cup Cashew Cheese Sauce
Hot sauce for serving, optional

Instructions

If you’re cooking this in your oven, preheat it to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Slice the tofu into thin slabs, about ¼” thick and place in a shallow dish.
Mix the tamari and apple cider together and pour the mixture over the tofu. Make sure the pieces are totally submerged. Allow the tofu to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the nutritional yeast, turmeric, garlic, powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
Dip a tofu slab into the nutritional mixture and make sure it’s fully coated. Place it on the baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the tofu.
Oven instructions: Bake the tofu for 20 minutes, flipping the slabs over after 10 minutes.
Air fryer instructions: Bake the tofu on 400° for 10 minutes, flipping after 5 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tofu in batches.
While the tofu is cooking, toast the English muffins.
To make the sandwiches, place a few slices of avocado and tomato on half of each muffin along with a leaf or two of lettuce. Place 3 or 4 slices of tofu on each muffin half, and then drizzle with the Cashew Cheese Sauce. Drizzle on some hot sauce, if using.
Top sandwich with the other half muffin half, and serve.