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Home » Recipes » Breakfast

Tempeh Bacon

By Erin · October 18, 2020 · Updated September 27, 2021 · 1 Comment

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Dairy FreeVeganVegetarian
tempeh in a skillet
marinated tempeh on a plate with text
marinated tempeh on a plate with text

Tempeh Bacon is an easy and delicious vegan bacon substitute. It's smoky in flavor, made with minimal ingredients and ready in under 10 minutes!

sliced tempeh on a plate

Tempeh bacon is my favorite way to eat tempeh, and today I thought I'd share how to make your own at home!

See, some grocery stores sell bacon-flavored tempeh, but others only sell plain tempeh. The downside is that plain tempeh doesn't have a lot of flavor, but the upside is that it's easy to customize and create your own marinade.

Another great vegan meat substitute is tofu, so if you're looking for more ideas be sure to check out my crispy baked tofu and my general tso's tofu.

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans, and it binds whole bean together into a block that can easily be sliced. On its own, it has a mild nutty flavor, but the texture of it allows it to easily absorb any flavoring you pair it with.

Tempeh is used in many vegan recipes in place of bacon, and though it doesn't taste exactly like bacon, it's REALLY delicious and easy to add to salads, pasta, sandwiches, or enjoy alongside your savory breakfast.

Ingredients

Tempeh - plain

Soy sauce - can sub tamari

Maple syrup - no substitutions

Garlic powder - no substitutions, though can omit if you're in a pinch

Liquid smoke - optional. This ingredient is trickier to find, and not necessarily a pantry staple, which is why it's optional. If you have some, definitely use it, but if you don't, I wouldn't worry about it, as I don't think it's 100% necessary.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Slice tempeh. Place tempeh on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice it into thin strips.

Step 2: Pan-sear. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the tempeh and cook on 1 minute per side.

sliced tempeh on a cutting board

Step 3: Make marinade. While the tempeh is cooking, whisk the soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together.

Step 4: Simmer tempeh in marinade. Once the tofu is slightly golden on both sides, reduce heat to low and add the water. Then, immediately pour in the marinade and let the it simmer for about 3 minutes, flipping the tempeh half way through.

soy sauce in a bowl
tempeh in a skillet

Tips

  • Liquid smoke is optional. Many vegan bacon recipes call for liquid smoke. However, not all grocery stores sell it, and to be honest, I thought this tempeh bacon tasted delicious even without it. If you're able to find some and want to use it, great!
  • I used Lightlife tempeh. Other brands of tempeh include vinegar in the ingredients, which does impact the flavor. I preferred using tempeh without it.
  • Storage: while tempeh bacon tastes best fresh, you can prep it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Add tempeh bacon to these recipes:

  • Creamy Cauliflower Soup
  • Easy Fried Brussels Sprouts
  • Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese
marinated tempeh on a table

More vegan recipes

  • Tofu Spring Rolls
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Quinoa Meatballs
  • Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

sliced tempeh on a plate

Tempeh Bacon

Tempeh Bacon is an easy and delicious vegan bacon substitute. It's smoky in flavor, made with minimal ingredients and ready in under 10 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. plain tempeh sliced
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • pinch salt and pepper
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke optional

Instructions

  • Slice tempeh into thin strips; set aside.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add tempeh and pan-sear for 1 minute, then flip over and pan-sear for 1 minute on the other side.
  • While tempeh is cooking, make the marinade: whisk soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic powder, salt, pepper and liquid smoke (if using) together; set aside.
  • Reduce heat to low, then add the water to the skillet. Immediately pour in the marinade and let tempeh cook in the marinade for 2 minutes on the first side, then flip over and cook for 1 minute. The sauce should thicken a bit, and the tempeh should be coated.

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation
*Liquid smoke is optional. It does add a little more flavor, but it can be a tricky ingredient to find. I made this recipe with and without it, and both ways were delicious.
*I used Lightlife tempeh -- other brands have tempeh have vinegar in the ingredients, which changes the flavor of this bacon a bit. 

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 380mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    October 18, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    THE BEST tempeh! I'm not usually a huge tempeh fan but bacon-ifying it was inspired!

    Reply

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