Tempeh bacon is delicious and cholesterol-free. It has an amazing texture, it’s packed with lots of 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).

the in a bowl until well combined (photo 1). Slice the tempeh as thin as you can (photo 2).

the as thin as you can (photo 2). Soak the tempeh slices in the marinade for 1 or 2 minutes (photo 3).

the in the marinade for (photo 3). Heat some oil in a skillet (photo 4) and when it’s hot, add the tempeh and cook for 1 or 2 minutes each side over high heat (photo 5).

(photo 4) and when it’s hot, add the and for each side over (photo 5). Add salt and pepper to taste (photo 6) and serve immediately.

Pro tips

Feel free to use any type of oil.

You can use other sweeteners, although it’s best if they’re liquid.

If you can’t eat soy, you could make the bacon with seitan instead of tempeh, and coconut aminos or salt instead of tamari or soy sauce.

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 leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will last for up to 1 week. I’ve never tried to freeze it myself, though.

How to serve tempeh bacon

Tempeh bacon works just like regular bacon and you can add it to dishes like sauteed kale or vegetable tempura to give them some protein.

It would also taste amazing cut over some vegan mashed potatoes or even mixed with breakfast potatoes.

Looking for more vegan meat recipes?

Did you make this tempeh bacon recipe?

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Tempeh Bacon Author: Iosune

Iosune Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 5 mins

Total: 15 mins

10 slices 1 x

How to

American

Vegan Servings 10 slices 1x Scale 1x 2x 3x Tap or hover over number to scale servings Print Pin Tempeh bacon is delicious and cholesterol-free. It has an amazing texture, it’s packed with lots of protein, and it’s ready in only 15 minutes! Ingredients For the marinade: 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce

tamari or soy sauce 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp maple or agave syrup

maple or agave syrup 1/2 tsp red hot sauce or 1/2 tsp paprika

red hot sauce or paprika 2 tsp liquid smoke or smoke powder (optional)

liquid smoke or smoke powder (optional) 1/2 tsp ground cumin For the tempeh bacon: 8 oz tempeh ( 250 g)

tempeh ( g) 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 slices 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 each side over high heat until both sides are golden brown and crisp. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with dishes like sauteed kale, vegetable tempura, vegan mashed potatoes, or breakfast potatoes. 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.

If you can’t eat soy, you could make the bacon with seitan instead of tempeh, and coconut aminos or salt instead of tamari or soy sauce. Nutrition Serving Size: 1 slice of 10

Calories: 75

Sugar: 1.3 g

Sodium: 109 mg

Fat: 5.3 g

Saturated Fat: 0.9 g

Carbohydrates: 3.6 g

Protein: 4.4 g

Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2015, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions and tips in May of 2020.