Tempeh Bacon (Protein-Packed!)

Tempeh Bacon is a high-protein way to make a smoky and salty vegan twist that tastes like the real thing! Perfect for BLTs and alongside jamming.

Looking for a plant-based bacon substitute? Discover Tempeh Bacon! Well, Alex and I generally don’t like foods that pretend to be other foods. Most of the vegetarian meats we’ve tried at the store are overly salty or have a questionable texture. But, you know what? There is an exception to every rule. Slightly smoky in flavor and quite meaty in texture, this vegan and vegetarian tempeh bacon recipe comes together in just 20 minutes! It’s high in protein and can be used in everything from salads to sandwiches. Ready to hear how it’s done?

What is Tempe?

Tempeh is a pressed cake made from fermented whole soybeans (and sometimes grains like wheat or barley). It has a hearty texture and a slightly nutty flavor that makes it a good meat substitute. In addition, tempeh is mild enough to perfectly absorb the flavor of marinades, dressings and sauces. Because tempeh is so firm, it can be fried or grilled without crumbling.

Tempeh is made from soy, but it’s completely different than tofu! Tofu is thicker in texture and contains a lot of water, while tempeh is densely packed and drier. Nutritionally, they are quite similar. Personally, Alex and I prefer tempeh over tofu: it’s great for stir-fries. For more information, see What is Tempeh or Tempeh vs. Tofu?

Tips for making this tempeh bacon

The birth of this smoky tempeh recipe began with a BLT. Alex and I eat mostly plant-based foods. Although we sometimes indulge in bacon, our daily lifestyle consists of many plants. The other day we were longing for BLT. You know, that perfect combo of crusty toast, hearty mayonnaise, juicy tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, and super salty bacon. Tempeh Bacon to the Rescue! We tried it on carefully, but it came out perfect. Here are some tips for preparing tempeh bacon:

• Marinate 10 minutes or up to 1 hour or overnight. Our recipe calls for marinating the tempeh for at least 10 minutes. But if you want a stronger, smokier flavor, you can let it steep for an hour or even overnight! (We don’t have much patience, so kudos to you if you can wait that long.)
• Cut the tempeh into thin slices. The only tricky part of this recipe is slicing the tempeh thin enough that it will crisp up when cooked on the stovetop. Some brands of tempeh crumble too easily to slice that thin, but we’ve had good results with WestSoy tempeh. If your tempeh crumbles like our first batches, you can still fry it like bacon bits.

Other ways to cook vegan bacon

Besides tempeh, there are a few other ways to make vegan bacon! Here are our other favorite methods:

• Shiitake bacon. Use shiitake mushrooms to make smoky and salty bacon! It is perfect as a garnish for soups and salads, similar to coconut bacon.
• coconut bacon. Large unsweetened coconut flakes are perfect for vegan bacon! Coconut is infused with a smoky flavor and evokes the crispy, greasy texture of bacon.

Looking for more tempeh recipes?

Tempeh can be used in dishes such as stir-fries, salads, and sandwiches. Here are some of our favorite tempeh recipes:

This Tempeh Bacon Recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free.