Of all the vegan bacons, tempeh bacon may be king. Why? It’s hard to compete with the health perks of tempeh, mainly the protein, which makes it a true bacon substitute.
To ensure smoky, salty, sweet flavor, we infused the tempeh with lots of tamari, liquid smoke, black pepper, maple syrup, and a dash of cayenne for a bit of heat. Once baked, you have tender bacon strips with crisp edges and major flavor ready for brunch, scrambles, sandwiches, and beyond! Just 8 ingredients required. Let us show you how it’s done.
Origin of Tempeh
Fun fact: Tempeh originated in Central or East Java, Indonesia, sometime around 1800 (source). It’s a fermented soy product that’s made of cooked, dehulled soybeans that are inoculated with mold, packed, and incubated until the beans are bound together by the mycelium. Sounds like weird science, but this fermentation process makes nutrients more available to your body. Plus, tempeh is rich in prebiotics, which are known to promote gut health. It also boasts a whole range of other health benefits, including its iron and calcium content (source).
How to Make Tempeh Bacon
It all starts with the marinade. Made with a combination of savory, sweet, and smoky elements, it infuses the tempeh bacon with so much flavor!
Tamari is the salty, savory component, maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness, and liquid smoke and paprika make it smoky. While avocado oil adds richness and prevents sticking, black pepper and optional cayenne provide a little heat that’s reminiscent of pepper bacon.
The marinade is used to coat strips of thinly sliced tempeh.
Using a pastry brush can be helpful for thoroughly coating the tempeh.
After marinating, the tempeh strips are baked, flipped, brushed with additional marinade, and baked once more.
When they come out of the oven, the strips are nicely browned and slightly crispy — yum!
We hope you LOVE this tempeh bacon! It’s:
Smoky
Salty
Subtly sweet
Crispy on the edges
Protein-rich (8 grams per serving)
& SO delicious!
It’s perfect for brunch, mixed into (or served alongside) scrambles, on sandwiches, and beyond! Make it a meal by serving with fresh fruit and our Vegan Scrambled Eggs and The BEST Crispy Hash Browns (Restaurant Style!).
More Vegan Bacon Recipes
Quick Crispy Shiitake BaconHow to Make Coconut BaconCrispy Portobello Mushroom “Bacon”Crispy Eggplant “Bacon”
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Easy Tempeh Bacon
Quick, crispy tempeh bacon with maximum flavor thanks to tamari, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and black pepper. Just 8 ingredients required! Print SAVE SAVED
from votes Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Servings 6 (3-slice servings)Course Breakfast, SideCuisine Gluten-Free, Indonesian-Inspired, VeganFreezer Friendly 2 MonthsDoes it keep? 5 Days
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Ingredients
US Customary – Metric8 ounces tempeh (ensure gluten-free as needed)1 Tbsp oil (avocado oil // if oil-free, omit or add slightly more tamari and maple syrup)3 Tbsp tamari (or coconut aminos if soy-free, just use a bit more as it’s not as salty as tamari)2 ½ Tbsp maple syrup1 healthy pinch sea salt1 ½ tsp liquid smoke1 ½ tsp smoked paprika1/2 tsp ground black pepper (plus more for coating)1 dash cayenne (optional // omit for less heat)
Instructions
Slice the tempeh in half widthwise (so you have 2 even squares), then thinly slice each square in thirds so you have six very thin squares (it’s easiest to do this by placing the tempeh flat on your cutting board and holding the knife horizontally for an even cut). Then slice each square into three rectangular strips. You should have ~18 pieces of tempeh (as the original recipe is written).In a shallow bowl, rimmed plate, or baking dish, whisk together the oil, tamari, maple syrup, salt, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne (optional). Taste and adjust flavor as needed. It should be quite salty, smoky, a little spicy, and plenty sweet (even a little too sweet, as it needs to balance the bitterness of the tempeh).Add the tempeh and toss to coat (using a pastry brush is helpful for fully coating). Marinate for 10-15 minutes, flipping once for even flavor dispersion.Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Transfer tempeh (reserving excess marinade for brushing) to the parchment-lined baking sheet and arrange in a single layer.Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven, flip, and brush generously with reserved marinade. Bake for 8-10 minutes more, or until browned and slightly crispy.Enjoy immediately or store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 350°F (176°C) oven or on the stovetop over medium heat until hot.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with avocado oil and without optional ingredients.
Nutrition (1 of 6 servings)
Serving: 1 three-slice serving Calories: 112 Carbohydrates: 11 g Protein: 8.2 g Fat: 4.3 g Saturated Fat: 0.7 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.2 g Monounsaturated Fat: 2.1 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 520 mg Potassium: 165 mg Fiber: 3.3 g Sugar: 5.1 g Vitamin A: 201 IU Vitamin C: 0 mg Calcium: 28.1 mg Iron: 1.1 mg