Learn how to make easy vegan Tempeh Bacon! Super meaty and with delicious maple-smoked flavors, it’s the best vegan bacon substitute for BLTs, breakfast, and more. Pan-frying, baking, and air fryer instructions included.
For more vegan bacon recipes, check out my Tofu Bacon and Vegan Carrot Bacon. This tempeh bacon is amazing crumbled on top of my popular Vegan Corn Chowder!
If you’re looking for your new favorite vegan meat substitute to stuff in a sandwich or pair with an epic vegan breakfast, then you have to try this Tempeh Bacon recipe. It’s not only easy to make but also packed with smoky-sweet flavors! All you have to do is marinate the tempeh slices, fry or bake them the next day, and enjoy.
What is tempeh?
Tempeh is a vegan meat substitute made from fermented soybeans and sometimes other grains. It has a meaty texture, is high in protein, and can be sliced, crumbled, or chopped.
Personally, I think tempeh is an incredibly underrated source of plant protein! Just like tofu, it’s perfect for marinating or cooking in a flavorful sauce. Some of my favorite ways to use tempeh (aside from this vegan bacon recipe) is to stuff it in this BBQ Tempeh Sandwich and toss it in this Peanut Tempeh Stir Fry.
Why you’ll love this smoky tempeh bacon
- Soaked in a rich and smoky marinade – The secret behind this vegan bacon tempeh recipe is the flavorful marinade. Its balanced maple-smoked flavors help the “bacon” slices taste incredible.
- Crispy fried vegan bacon – I like to fry the tempeh bacon slices for slightly crispy, caramelized edges, but you can also bake them in the oven or cook them in the air fryer (head to the FAQs for the instructions!).
- So many ways to enjoy it – Use the smoked tempeh bacon in vegan BLT sandwiches, crumble it over vegan mac and cheese, layer it on a veggie burger, and more!
How to make tempeh bacon
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Slice the brick of tempeh into thin ¼-inch slices.
Whisk the tempeh marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Arrange the tempeh slices in a shallow dish or ziplock bag, then pour the marinade over top. Place the tempeh in the fridge to marinate.
Warm some oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the marinated tempeh slices to the pan in a single layer and fry until golden brown.
You can boost the flavor by pouring a few tablespoons of the reserved marinade into the pan towards the end.
Serve the tempeh bacon slices in BLT sandwiches, for breakfast, or anywhere else you like. Enjoy!
Serving suggestions
You can have a lot of fun with tempeh bacon. It’s great for sandwiches, salads, and so much more! Here are a few ways to enjoy it:
- Crumble the slices and sprinkle them over vegan mac and cheese, potato soup, kale caesar salad, loaded baked potatoes, broccoli salad, vegan clam chowder, avocado toast, etc.
- Make a vegan tempeh bacon sandwich or layer the slices in a classic vegan BLT.
- Serve the smoky bacon slices with your favorite vegan breakfast recipes, like hashbrowns, French toast, tofu scramble, and more.
Frequently asked questions
I recommend marinating the tempeh for 12 hours or overnight for the very best flavor. Even if you’re in a rush, you should still soak the slices for at least 1 hour. This still adds some flavor but certainly not as much as a longer soak.
Yes, you can bake tempeh bacon instead of pan-frying it. To do so, line the marinated tempeh slices on a lined baking sheet, spray the tops with a little oil, and bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes. Flip the slices and bake for 15 more minutes.
Sure! Air fry the slices in a single layer at 350ºF for 15 to 25 minutes or until they’re crispy.
Not all tempeh is gluten-free. While it is a soy-based product, many brands incorporate wheat products, like barley. If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, use gluten-free tempeh and replace the soy sauce with tamari in the marinade.
Transfer the cooled leftover tempeh bacon slices to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Easy Tempeh Bacon
Ingredients
- (2) 8 ounce packages tempeh
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 3 teaspoons liquid smoke
- optional: 3-4 tablespoons oil, for frying option
Instructions
- Slice the tempeh into 1/4 inch slices.
- To make the marinade, combine the soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, cumin and liquid smoke in a medium bowl. Whisk well to combine.
- Place the tempeh strips in a 13 x 9 dish or other large, shallow container, and cover with the marinade. Make sure they are all coated well, and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight.
- To Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the marinated tempeh strips onto the baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for 15 minutes more. Remove and serve.
- To Pan Fry: Warm a few tablespoons of oil (olive, canola or avocado oil) in a large pan over medium heat. Add the tempeh in a single layer to the pan, and fry on each side for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. For even more flavor, add a few tablespoons of the leftover marinade at the end and stir until coated. Remove, and continue frying until all the tempeh is cooked.
- Serve in Vegan BLT sandwiches, as an addition to breakfast or brunch, or even as a snack! Enjoy.
Notes
- Keep leftover tempeh bacon in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, either microwave or put in the oven on a pan for 10-15 minutes, until warmed and crispy. Or eat it cold, as I often do.
- Gluten Free: Make sure to use gluten free tempeh, which I believe you can usually find at Whole Foods. Also use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Bake or fry? This is going to taste better pan fried, but it’s also perfectly delicious baked! I do both regularly.
Nutrition
I’ve been making this for years, and just noticed that I didn’t leave a rating. It’s absolutely delicious. Thank you, Nora!
You are welcome, Julye. I am so glad you are loving the bacon! Thanks for taking time to share your terrific review! Wishing you happy cooking!
I have marinated this over night but since I will be the only person eating this, I am only going to fry one 8 oz. package. I wondered if this can be frozen, either before or after frying. What would you suggest?
Yes, I would probably freeze after frying and then cooling. It might be quite crumbly after freezing though.
Since I can’t have vinegar can I use lemon juice successfully? I hope so!
Thanks for all your great recipes.
You can, yes. Thank you!
Maybe I missed it, but I can’t seem to figure out how many slices equal one serving
Made this to crumble on top of vegan mac and cheese. Super delicious on its own and my omnivorous parents were big fans!!
Hi Gabby. Thanks for sharing your awesome review and feedback! I love your idea of crumbling the tempeh bacon on top of Mac and cheese! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
Nora
I just bought my tempeh and it is only about 3/4″ thick a rectangle about 3″X7″
Do I cut them 1/4 ” thick lengthwise?
I cannot for the life of me think they are going to look like the ones in the photo?
Am I thinking the wrong way ?
Thanks for any guidance
Dona
You can just cut it into slices no matter what shape it came in. I cut mine into shorter slices but you could slice into longer pieces if you prefer.
Is this hard to chew?
No, at least not to me. It’s not very chewy, it’s rather tender actually.
Made this last night. I swapped honey to taste for the maple syrup. 2 packs of Litelife Original tempeh left in the marinade for a couple hours at room temp. Then fried up using vegetable oil in cast iron pan. Freakin DELICIOUS. My husband and I both thought it was great. Flavor and texture not exactly like bacon but that’s to be expected. Fried until golden brown they were still chewy but firm/almost crispy. Had a cheddary flavor in my opinion, so it was kind of like eating pieces of cheddar cheese. I loved it. Made them into BLT wraps with a vegan mayo. The extra bacon we just ate on it’s own or saved in fridge. Will devour the rest probably tonight for dinner. Can’t wait to make another big batch. Thank you!
You are welcome, Kiri! Thanks for sharing your fabulous tips and cooking experience! I’m thrilled you loved the tempeh bacon! Happy cooking!
This marinade is so good ! We had this for brunch and BLTs and I’ve also crumbled tempeh and marinated crumbles for meal prep bowls – delicious ! I found that after frying in a cast iron pan, it still had a bit of a chewy bite- so I baked it further and it came out perfect ! Thank you !
Thanks you sharing your wonderful feedback and review! I’m thrilled you loved the tempeh bacon!
I always use this recipe for tempeh bacon and it tastes just like the name brand!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us. I use it to make TLAT’s. Avocados 🥑 are so good on this sandwich 🥪.
I am thrilled you are loving the tempeh bacon! Thank you so much for sharing your terrific feedback and review!
Do you have an air fryer version?
I don’t, but I have tried these in the air fryer. It made them extra crispy, almost too crispy in my opinion. But it works!
Must be me…I followed the recipe – with the exception I did not have Cumin -and let the tempeh marinate for a day…just fried it (not in oil) and got an overwhelming vinegar taste.
Will try it again sometime…probably since I didn’t try to a crisp that was one issue.
The taste is great. Don’t come into this recipe expecting it to have the same texture as non-vegan bacon, the texture is definitely different. However, it is still very good!
Hey Nora, wanted to let you know that I made this for dinner tonight and it was excellent. Thank you!
Hi Aaron. You are welcome! How wonderful that you loved the tempeh bacon! Your positive words mean a lot to me. Thank you!
Can you comment on whether this could be air fried?
I have tried these in the air fryer. It worked, but it made them extra crispy, almost too crispy in my opinion, but it works!
I just had the most delicious tempeh bacon BLT sandwich in Half Moon Bay, CA. and was looking for a recipe that comes to close to what may taste like the bacon in that sandwich. I think this one could be the one.
My question is this: do you steam the tempeh before slicking and marinating?
I know that some people recommend doing this step first.
Thank you for your kind reply. I am looking forward to making this recipe.
For this recipe, I don’t find it necessary. You could if you want though! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Steaming removes the slight bitter taste — is makes it more neutral.
So good! I sometimes by the store bought tempeh bacon but it’s been pricey lately (almost $6 a package). This is much cheaper and tastes even better. Loved it!
I’m glad you love the tempeh bacon, Monica! Thank you for taking your time to share your review and comments!
Great recipe. Makes a lot so I always freeze half. Great addition to a summer salad! Thank you
So glad you love the bacon! Thanks for taking time to share your great review!