Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy cleanup and crisping.
Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes to remove excess moisture. Once pressed, cut the tofu into bite-sized cubes, about 1-inch in size.
In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. This will be your crispy coating mixture.
In a separate shallow dish, pour the soy sauce to prepare for marinating the tofu pieces.
Dip each tofu cube into the soy sauce, ensuring all sides are coated, then roll it thoroughly in the dry coating mixture until fully coated.
Arrange the coated tofu pieces evenly on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each to allow crisping.
Lightly spray or brush the tofu nuggets with oil to help achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy around the edges.
Once done, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the nuggets rest for 5 minutes; this helps the coating set and become even crunchier.
Serve the crunchy tofu nuggets warm with your favorite dipping sauces for an irresistible snack or main dish.