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    Home > Recipes > How-Tos

    Tempeh Bacon

    Published: May 28, 2020 · Modified: Oct 12, 2022 by Iosune · This post may contain affiliate links · 156 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Close-up shot of a plate of tempeh bacon with the words 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!

    Photo of a plate with slices of tempeh bacon on it

    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!

    Contents hide
    1. How to make tempeh bacon - Step by step
    2. Pro tips
    3. What is tempeh bacon?
    4. How long will tempeh bacon keep?
    5. How to serve tempeh bacon
    6. Looking for more vegan meat recipes?
    7. Did you make this tempeh bacon recipe?
    8. Tempeh Bacon

    How to make tempeh bacon - Step by step

    Step-by-step photos of how to make tempeh bacon
    • 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.
    Side shot of a plate of tempeh bacon

    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
    Close-up photo of slices of tempeh bacon

    Did you make this tempeh bacon recipe?

    Please leave a comment below, share it, or rate it. You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I’d love to see what you cook!

    This post contains affiliate links so you can easily find some of the products that we used to make this recipe. If you buy any of them through the links provided (without any extra cost for you), we'll get a commission. We're so grateful for your support!

    Square photo of a plate of tempeh bacon

    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
    PRINT PIN RATE
    Course: How to
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 10 slices
    Author: Iosune


    Ingredients 

    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
    Prevent 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.

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    21.9K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin says

      December 30, 2022 at 2:00 am

      My boyfriend and I make this recipe at least twice a month. He LOVES this bacon.

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        January 09, 2023 at 9:12 pm

        Hi Erin! I'm so glad to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    2. Ann says

      August 11, 2022 at 10:51 pm

      I just found your recipes and they look delicious. I have been vegan for 6 years, and was vegetarian for many years before that. Do you steam the tempeh before slicing and marinating for this recipe? Otherwise, it seems the tempeh is difficult to work with.

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        August 12, 2022 at 12:38 pm

        Hi Ann! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 We don't steam the tempeh but feel free to do so!

        Reply
    3. NIRAJ RISHI KUMAR says

      February 18, 2022 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      NICE RECIPE, DO SEND ME SUBSITUTES FOR EGGS IN BAKING AND CURRY DISHES

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        February 21, 2022 at 10:56 am

        Hi! You can find curry recipes in our blog 🙂 Also, we have this post about vegan substitutes for eggs!

        Reply
    4. Eva says

      February 16, 2022 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      Very quick and easy to make. Unfortunately I didn't have liquid smoke or smoke powder, but was still delicious. Will absolutely make it again!!!!

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        February 17, 2022 at 10:39 am

        Hi Eva! So glad you liked it 🙂

        Reply
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