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close up on a pile of pan-fried tempeh bacon slices.
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4.96 stars (21 ratings)

Easy Tempeh Bacon

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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Marinating time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 155kcal
Author: Nora Taylor

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce package tempeh
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil, avocado or canola plus more for frying
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Slice the tempeh into 1/4 inch slices.
  • Whisk the oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil and liquid smoke in a small-medium bowl.
  • Place the sliced tempeh in a shallow dish or ziplock-type bag. Pour the marinade over the tempeh and gently massage or shake so the pieces all get coated. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least an hour or up to 12 hours.
  • Warm a few tablespoons of oil in a large non-stick or cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the marinated tempeh slices to the pan in a single layer, and do not discard the marinade (you can add a little at the end if desired for more flavor).
  • Pan fry on each side for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. After you fry all the tempeh bacon, lower the heat and add a little of the marinade and gently stir until coated. This will add a bit more flavor, if desired.
  • Serve in sandwiches for BLT's, or anywhere else you like.

Notes

  1. Keep leftover tempeh bacon in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave, oven or air fryer until warm.
  2. Gluten Free: Make sure to use gluten free tempeh, and gluten free tamari instead of soy sauce.
  3. Bake or fry? This is going to taste better pan fried, but it's also perfectly delicious baked! I do both regularly. To bake, simply place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4 servings | Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg