Tempeh bacon is delicious and cholesterol-free. It has an amazing texture, it’s packed with lots of 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 slices in the marinade for 1 or 2 minutes (photo 3).
- Heat some oil in a skillet (photo 4) and when it’s hot, add the tempeh and cook for 1 or 2 minutes each side over high heat (photo 5).
- Add salt and pepper to taste (photo 6) and serve immediately.
Pro tips
- Feel free to use any type of oil.
- You can use other sweeteners, although it’s best if they’re liquid.
- If you can’t eat soy, you could make the bacon with seitan instead of tempeh, and coconut aminos or salt instead of tamari or soy sauce.
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 leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will last for up to 1 week. I’ve never tried to freeze it myself, though.
How to serve tempeh bacon
Tempeh bacon works just like regular bacon and you can add it to dishes like sauteed kale or vegetable tempura to give them some protein.
It would also taste amazing cut over some vegan mashed potatoes or even mixed with breakfast potatoes.
Looking for more vegan meat recipes?
Did you make this tempeh bacon recipe?
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Tempeh Bacon
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- 10 slices 1x
- How to
- American
- Vegan
Servings 10 slices 1x
Tempeh bacon is delicious and cholesterol-free. It has an amazing texture, it’s packed with lots of protein, and it’s ready in only 15 minutes!
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp maple or agave syrup
- 1/2 tsp red hot sauce or 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp liquid smoke or smoke powder (optional)
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
For the tempeh bacon:
- 8 oz tempeh (250 g)
- Extra virgin olive oil to taste for frying the bacon
- Pinch of salt and ground black pepper
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 slices 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 each side over high heat until both sides are golden brown and crisp.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately with dishes like sauteed kale, vegetable tempura, vegan mashed potatoes, or breakfast potatoes.
- 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.
- If you can’t eat soy, you could make the bacon with seitan instead of tempeh, and coconut aminos or salt instead of tamari or soy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice of 10
- Calories: 75
- Sugar: 1.3 g
- Sodium: 109 mg
- Fat: 5.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 3.6 g
- Protein: 4.4 g
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2015, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions and tips in May of 2020.
Hi…could you use sugar free maple syrup in this recipe?
Hi Brenda! I have never used sugar-free maple syrup but, I think you could use it in this recipe 🙂
I feel like I may have messed this recipe up. For starters, I felt the need to marinade the tempeh for about a half hour. I don’t know if this lead to the weird flavor or not. I also found that the liquid smoke was quite a bit but maybe that was due to the type I used (hickory)? Anyway, I was a little disappointed that it didn’t come out the way I thought it was going to…what do you think caused this?
★★★★
Hi Alexy! Maybe the tempeh or the liquid smoke was in bad conditions!
I just made it nd put it into the oven instead of frying and it iss so good!
Hi! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂
EXCELLENT! We went with sriracha and a little more salt than was called for and, because I had confused recipes (was making multiple dishes at once), initially used brown sugar, but I added maple syrup when that wasn’t quite sweet enough and the combination was great. We also baked the strips at about 400°F for approx 20-25 minutes and they turned out wonderfully. Definitely making this again! Goes SO great with Iosune’s potato soup recipe. 🙂
★★★★★
Hi! Thanks for your kind words 🙂
so simple and delicious, made this for first time today, loved it
So glad you loved our tempeh bacon 🙂 Have a nice day Alison!
Delicious! We made BLT’s with them and they were so good we’re making it again not even a week later. Thanks for a new easy recipe!
★★★★★
Hi Taylor! So glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
I made this as a vegan replacement to bacon/ham for southern style collard greens and out turned out so good! I simply threw it over as a topping so the tempeh wouldn’t crumble while simmering.
I also didn’t have enough tamari/soy sauce so I also used coconut aminos which has a naturally sweet smoky flavor, and added less maple syrup, and didn’t use any liquid smoke or barbecue sauce.
Thanks! Will be making this again.
Hi Amie!! I´m glad you liked the recipe!! Thank you!!! Have a nice day!!
The dish was amazing!
★★★★★
Hi Regs! Thank you so much 🙂
Thank you for sharing your awesome recipe. It is easy to make.
★★★★★
Hi Yisnidar! You’re so welcome 🙂
Was looking for something fun to eat with my homemade vegan slaw and found this recipe. I have made many tempeh bacon recipes but not one with cumin, which was a nice addition. Very tasty, especially with a tangy slaw.
★★★★★
Hi Tracy! I’ so glad you liked it 🙂
LOVE this recipe. I’ve made it multiple times. I would love to try it with smoked paprika as others have suggested when I run out of liquid smoke.
★★★★★
Hi Rachel! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious and easy. Would make again.
★★★★★
Hi Kathy! Thanks a lot 🙂
I am wondering why you are saying that tempeh is not the healthiest thing in the world ? When I ate a macrobiotic diet years ago – tempeh was considered a very healthy staple to the diet. Thx
★★★★
Hi Donna! No, tempeh is super healthy, what it’s not that healthy is the tempeh bacon if you fry it 🙂
Why do you say this is not so healthy- tempeh is an excellent food source and this is delicious!
Hi Deborah! I wasn’t talking about tempeh, I was talking about liquid smoke 🙂
use smoked paprika instead…that’s what i use …
Hi Matthew! Yes, it also works great 🙂
Can I freeze it after marinating then thaw and fry as needed? We have been making Fakin Bacon BLTs and I keep the LightLife product in the freezer. The Fakin Bacon is expensive so would like to make my own.
Hi Patb! I’ve never frozen it myself, so I’m not sure, but I think it could work…
That’s all good “name here”. My comment is to “can’t you be nice”. Say it in a nice way….hey…we are all learning and you are not better than anyone else…negative thoughts cause ill….think about it….and be kind……………
Professionals are held to different standards than the public. If you’re claiming to give out information that directly affects people’s health and wellbeing, it better be accurate and not adverse to their health. Smoke point is a given when advising people on oil choice.
Not sure what you mean by “professional”. A food blogger is in no way a health professional on their own unless the author has other credentials making them so.
She isn’t claiming that this is healthy. Pretty sure this recipe won’t give anyone cancer, but feel free to just not make it if you feel it doesn’t fit in with your lifestyle.
Hi Cheetah! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂
Yeah I’m considering people’s health and well being and NOT giving them cancerous foods. If you work in the industry and are advising people on this, it is imperative that you give them accurate and healthful advice.
“Name here” you are a miserable twunt, go and spread your misery elsewhere, Iosune, great recipe, better than any of the Fake-on I’ve eaten over the decades. Thanks
Delicious! I steamed first to lessen tempeh bitterness and fried. A real treat. Any hints as to how to slice it thinner?
★★★★★
Hi Kathy! Thanks a lot 🙂 Use a mandoline, it’s awesome.
What thickness do you suggest with the mandolin?
I use smoked paprika instead of liquid smoke in my recipes and it tastes even better.
Hi Annie! Yes, it also works great 🙂
The flavor was spot on , wish it was crispier, going to put in dehydrator to try and crisp up, looking forward to a blt sandwich, mmm
★★★★
Hi Deborah! Have you fried it? Try to slice it even thinner 🙂
Tasty, but next time I’ll omit the cumin. It overpowered the other flavors and didn’t taste authentic to me.
★★★
Hi Danielle! I think bacon is usually made with cumin, but it’s up to you 🙂
Wow, I just made this and it’s so good. Love that marinade! Gonna go make a BLT now!
★★★★★
Hi Emilie! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 Hope you enjoy your BLT!
This recipe was a hit with the kiddos!! They barely noticed that it wasn’t bacon and they asked for me to make this recipe again. We put the Tempeh on sandwiches.
★★★★★
Hi Alancia! So glad they enjoyed it 🙂
Delicious! I made this tonight and loved it! Does it taste like animal bacon? No. Does it satisfy that craving without harming animals? YEP!
This was so quick and easy to make – it’s definitely a recipe that’ll be made over and over again! <3
★★★★★
Hi Yvie! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
Just exactly what I was looking for, making a plant based Reuben casserole for dinner. This fakin’ bacon added the perfect umami. We don’t use oil and I didn’t miss it in this recipe at all. Thanks Iosune for sharing.
★★★★★
Hi Rachel! You’re so welcome 🙂 Sounds great!
Thanks so much for this easy bacon sub recipe!
I have yet to make it, but when I do I will replace the hot sauce and smoke products with organic smoked paprika. I just have to pick up some organic tempeh.
Hi Janet! You’re so welcome 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
This tasted so good and was very easy to make.
★★★★★
Hi Lorianne! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
If I make this the night before, what’s the best way to keep it crisp for the next morning?
Hi Kathy! It’s best when fresh, but I keep it in a sealed container in the fridge and then reheat it in a pan with a little bit of oil. Hope it helps!
Thanks for the recipe. As I began my vegetarian lifestyle journey this assisted my bacon craving. I made some fried potatoes with yellow peppers, variety of spices and drizzled this marinate. Deliciousness to the max.
Hi Ramona! You’re so welcome 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!