Tempeh Bacon

Tempeh bacon is delicious and cholesterol-free. It has a crunchy texture, it's packed with protein, and it's ready in only 15 minutes!

This homemade tempeh bacon truly is something else. It may seem really hard to make, but it's not! It only takes 15 minutes and a few ingredients you should easily find in any supermarket.

It's not that I miss animal bacon - NOT at all! - but I do miss sometimes its crunchy texture and smokey flavor. So I decided to give a try to this vegan version and it actually turned out so good and tasty!

It's perfect to enjoy with a sandwich or to add some flavor to a salad as well. Besides, tempeh is a great source of good-quality protein, and if you make it at home you'll save some money and it'll be even healthier.

To prepare this tempeh bacon you only need a bowl, a skillet, and 10 minutes of your time. I absolutely LOVE it, as it's flavorful and savory. Definitely worth giving it a try!

How to make tempeh bacon - Step by step

• Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl until well combined (photo 1).
• Slice the tempeh as thin as you can (photo 2). 
• Soak the tempeh strips in the marinade for 1 or 2 minutes (photo 3).
• Heat some oil in a skillet or a pan (photo 4) and when it's hot, add the tempeh slices and cook for 1 or 2 minutes and flip them over so they cook on the other side. Cook them over high heat (photo 5).
• Add salt and pepper to taste (photo 6) and serve your tempeh bacon immediately.

Pro tips

• Feel free to use any type of oil.
• You can use other sweeteners, although it's best if they're liquid. Feel free to use maple syrup or agave syrup.
• If you don't consume soy, you could make the vegan bacon with seitan instead of tempeh, and coconut aminos or salt instead of tamari or soy sauce.
• You can also customize it with spices like garlic powder.
• I don't think this recipe will work with tofu, but if you try it, please leave a comment and let me know!
• For a gluten-free version of this tempeh bacon recipe, use tamari instead of soy sauce. If you're not sure whether an ingredient contains gluten, make sure to check it out!
• You can either buy tempeh at the grocery store or make your own version at home.
• Although I've never tried it myself, you could bake it instead of frying it.

What is tempeh bacon?

Tempeh bacon is a vegan substitute for animal bacon. It's made with tempeh, which is a wonderful source of protein, and it's also low in fat and cholesterol-free.

The secret to giving it an amazing flavor is the liquid smoke or smoke powder used in the marinade, although this ingredient is optional.

How long will tempeh bacon keep?

Remember to keep the leftover tempeh bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator and it will last for up to 1 week. I've never tried to freeze it myself, though.

How to serve tempeh bacon

You can incorporate this ingredient in plenty of different dishes, like vegan mashed potatoes, breakfast potatoes, or vegan potato soup.

Looking for more vegan meat recipes?

• Vegan Bacon
• Vegan Pepperoni
• Soyrizo
• Vegan Sausage
• Vegan Steak

Did you make this tempeh bacon recipe?

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Tempeh Bacon

Tempeh bacon is delicious and cholesterol-free. It has a crunchy texture, it's packed with protein, and it's ready in only 15 minutes!

4.70 from 36 votes

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Course: How to

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 10 slices

Author: Iosune

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Ingredients 

½x1x2x

US Customary - Metric

For the marinade:

• ▢ 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon maple or agave syrup
• ▢ ½ teaspoon red hot sauce or ½ teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 2 teaspoon liquid smoke or smoke powder, optional
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin

For the tempeh bacon:

• ▢ 8 oz tempeh
• ▢ Extra virgin olive oil to taste for frying the bacon
• ▢ Pinch of salt and ground black pepper

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
• Slice the tempeh as thin as you can as long as it doesn't fall apart.
• Soak the tempeh strips in the marinade for 1 or 2 minutes.
• Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a skillet and when it’s hot, add the tempeh and cook for 1 or 2 minutes on each side over high heat until both sides are golden brown and crisp.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve your tempeh bacon immediately chopped over some vegan mashed potatoes, breakfast potatoes, or vegan potato soup.
• Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Notes

• Feel free to use any type of oil.
• You can use other sweeteners, although it's best if they're liquid. Feel free to use maple syrup or agave syrup.
• If you don't consume soy, you could make the vegan bacon with seitan instead of tempeh, and coconut aminos or salt instead of tamari or soy sauce.
• You can also customize it with spices like garlic powder.
• I don't think this recipe will work with tofu, but if you try it, please leave a comment and let me know!
• For a gluten-free version of this tempeh bacon recipe, use tamari instead of soy sauce. If you're not sure whether an ingredient contains gluten, make sure to check it out!
• You can either buy tempeh at the grocery store or make your own version at home.
• Although I've never tried it myself, you could bake it instead of frying it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.6g | Protein: 4.4g | Fat: 5.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Sodium: 109mg | Sugar: 1.3g

Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2015, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in January of 2022.