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?
Did you make this tempeh bacon recipe?
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Tempeh Bacon
Ingredients
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
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
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.
AngelaKin says
Hi!!! Thank you for sharing this. This is wow
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Thanks for your kind comments 🙂
Iosune Robles says
Hi AngelaKin! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂
Brenda Richardson says
Hi...could you use sugar free maple syrup in this recipe?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Brenda! I have never used sugar-free maple syrup but, I think you could use it in this recipe 🙂
Alexy says
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?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Alexy! Maybe the tempeh or the liquid smoke was in bad conditions!
Janet Derr says
I just made it nd put it into the oven instead of frying and it iss so good!
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂
Rikki says
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. 🙂
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Thanks for your kind words 🙂
Alison says
so simple and delicious, made this for first time today, loved it
Iosune Robles says
So glad you loved our tempeh bacon 🙂 Have a nice day Alison!
Taylor Norman says
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!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Taylor! So glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
Amie says
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.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Amie!! I´m glad you liked the recipe!! Thank you!!! Have a nice day!!
regs says
The dish was amazing!
Iosune says
Hi Regs! Thank you so much 🙂
Yusnidar says
Thank you for sharing your awesome recipe. It is easy to make.
Iosune says
Hi Yisnidar! You're so welcome 🙂
Tracy says
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.
Iosune says
Hi Tracy! I' so glad you liked it 🙂
Rachel Moore says
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.
Iosune says
Hi Rachel! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
Kathy says
Delicious and easy. Would make again.
Iosune says
Hi Kathy! Thanks a lot 🙂
Donna says
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
Iosune says
Hi Donna! No, tempeh is super healthy, what it's not that healthy is the tempeh bacon if you fry it 🙂
Deborah Kenty Perry says
Why do you say this is not so healthy- tempeh is an excellent food source and this is delicious!
Iosune says
Hi Deborah! I wasn't talking about tempeh, I was talking about liquid smoke 🙂
Matthew Harris says
use smoked paprika instead...that's what i use ...
Iosune says
Hi Matthew! Yes, it also works great 🙂
PatB says
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.
Iosune says
Hi Patb! I've never frozen it myself, so I'm not sure, but I think it could work...
AllieKat says
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...............
Name Here says
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.
Cheetah says
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.
Iosune says
Hi Cheetah! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂
Name Here says
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.
Shaun says
"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
Kathy says
Delicious! I steamed first to lessen tempeh bitterness and fried. A real treat. Any hints as to how to slice it thinner?
Iosune says
Hi Kathy! Thanks a lot 🙂 Use a mandoline, it's awesome.
Priscilla says
What thickness do you suggest with the mandolin?
Annie says
I use smoked paprika instead of liquid smoke in my recipes and it tastes even better.
Iosune says
Hi Annie! Yes, it also works great 🙂