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Easy Tempeh Bacon

Easy, smokey, delicious and vegan tempeh bacon. This homemade tempeh bacon is ready in just 20 minutes, and so much better than store-bought!
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By: Diana Last updated on December 18, 2024

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Tempeh bacon pin
Tempeh bacon pin

Easy, smoky, delicious, and vegan tempeh bacon. This homemade vegan bacon is ready in just 20 minutes, and so much better than store-bought!

Tempeh bacon in a gray bowl


What Is Tempeh?

Tempeh is Indonesian fermented soybeans. It’s traditionally made by fermenting soybeans in a cake form between a banana leaf, and a fungus grows around the beans as it binds them together. You might hear about this fungus as it’s usually referred to as tempeh starter.

3 blocks of Tempeh Mustika on a wooden board

Tempeh is quite popular between vegans and vegetarians, it’s used as a meat-replacement and it’s quite nutritious with many health benefits. It’s high in protein and probiotics, vitamins and minerals.

I love how versatile tempeh is, you can do so many things with it. Although I was never a real fan of bacon, I LOVE this tempeh bacon! It’s smoky, so flavourful and delicious!

How to Make Tempeh Bacon

To make this vegan bacon, you need to slice it in long strips as thin as possible but the slices shouldn’t be too thin as they will start falling apart. So slice is very carefully.

Indonesian tempeh sliced

Then you will need to marinate the tempeh for at least 10-15 minutes, I usually leave the tempeh to marinate for longer just to get more flavour.

Here’s what you can use for the marinade:

  • Soy sauce or tamari if gluten-free.
  • Olive oil – I use extra virgin olive oil.
  • Liquid smoke – or smoke powder (if not available, then you can use barbecue sauce).
  • Maple syrup – or agave syrup.
  • Smoked paprika – or regular paprika.
  • Ground cumin (optional).
  • Tabasco or any hot sauce that you like (optional).
  • Salt and black pepper.
Marinated tempeh

In a container with a lid, arrange the tempeh slices and pour the marinade over them. Make sure that the tempeh slices are fully covered in the marinade. Cover with the lid, and leave to marinate (the longer the better).

Once your tempeh is ready to be fried (or baked!), heat a pan over high heat and add oil (that doesn’t burn at high temperatures). Add the tempeh slices along with the leftover marinade, and cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes until it’s brown and crispy.

Lay cooked tempeh over kitchen towels to cool and remove excess oil, and enjoy!

You could also bake the tempeh in the oven at 390f (200c) for 10-15 minutes, just make sure to arrange the tempeh over a baking sheet with parchment paper. Or make air fryer bacon tempeh.

A bowl with tempeh bacon, and some raw tempeh and marinade in the background

This tempeh bacon is great to be served within traditional breakfast, in salads, sandwiches, pasta, eaten on its own or you can even use it as a pizza topping!

For more great vegan recipes, visit my vegan category page.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe
5 from 11 votes
(Click stars to rate!)

Easy Tempeh Bacon

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Author: Diana
Print Rate Recipe
Easy, smokey, delicious and vegan tempeh bacon. This homemade tempeh bacon is ready in just 20 minutes, and so much better than store-bought!
8 servings
Easy, smokey, delicious and vegan tempeh bacon. This homemade tempeh bacon is ready in just 20 minutes, and so much better than store-bought!

Ingredients 

  • 1 (250g) block tempeh
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave syrup (adjust the quantity depending on how sweet you want the bacon to be)
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon Tabasco
  • salt & pepper
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil for frying

Instructions 

  • Slice the tempeh in long strips as thin as possible but the slices shouldn’t be too thin as they will start falling apart. So slice is very carefully.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the soy or tamari sauce, olive oil, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, cumin, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
  • Take a container with a lid, and soak the tempeh slices for at least 10-15 minutes with the lid closed.
  • Heat coconut oil in a frying pan on high heat, add the tempeh slices along with the leftover marinade and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.
  • Remove excess oil by laying the tempeh bacon on kitchen towels and serve.

Notes:

Substitute Tabasco with any hot sauce

Nutrition Information

Calories: 107kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 130mg, Potassium: 133mg, Vitamin A: 60IU, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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  1. SJ says

    Posted on 2/13/23 at 00:57

    5 stars
    Yummy and easy! Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Kelly L Stuart says

    Posted on 10/12/21 at 17:43

    5 stars
    Finally a vegan ‘bacon’ that fits the need! Have tried carrot bacon(limp, chewy, didn’t really absorb flavors) and Shitake bacon (flavorful, but also not chewy) For the record, I cooked this both in a pan with oil as called for, and also in the air fryer just sprayed with a little oil. The pan method wins by far. Crispy around the edges, flavorful. Great to snack on, and makes my tofu ‘egg’ sandwich!

    Reply
  3. Colleen DeBelius says

    Posted on 6/2/20 at 01:04

    5 stars
    Have used this recipe several times & it is great! Definitely on the family favorite list!

    Reply
    • Diana says

      Posted on 6/2/20 at 01:41

      So glad to hear that you loved this recipe, Colleen! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  4. Kait says

    Posted on 10/23/19 at 01:53

    5 stars
    No, it doesn’t taste like bacon. But it does have the same smokey flavor and crunch as bacon and makes a great meat substitute. This will be our go-to recipe when my husband and I are craving a BLT. Very good.

    Reply
  5. Miranda says

    Posted on 10/4/19 at 16:46

    5 stars
    Quick and easy!!!! Love the flavor.

    Reply
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