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–+ servings
closeup of tempeh in a pan coated with the bacon marinade

Easy Stovetop Tempeh Bacon

This quick and easy tempeh bacon recipe can be made stovetop and doesn't require hours to marinate. A flavorful, high-protein addition to salads, sandwiches or your plant-based breakfast plate. Sweet, smoky and savory.
4.9 from 14 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Author: Sarah Sullivan

Ingredients

  • 1 8 oz package tempeh, cubed or cut into 1/4" slices
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Add all marinade ingredients directly to a medium skillet and stir to combine.
  • Add the tempeh and toss to coat in the marinade. Arrange tempeh in an even layer in the pan and allow to marinate for about 5 minutes. Flip the slices and marinate for 5 more minutes.
  • Place the skillet on the stove over medium heat.
  • When the sauce begins to bubble, start stirring. The sauce will gradually thicken; keep stirring and occasionally flipping the slices to coat them with the sauce.
  • Once the sauce has thickened to the point where it's mostly coating the tempeh, it should begin to caramelize and become a nice golden brown. Give the tempeh a flip to brown both sides. You may want to reduce heat to low or medium-low near the end, as the sauce can go from nicely browned to burnt quite quickly.
  • When the tempeh is browned on both sides, remove it from heat and enjoy.

Notes

Cutting the tempeh: I usually slice the tempeh into strips, but you can really cut it into any shape you like! You can cube it, cut it into tempeh "steaks" or filets, or even crumble the tempeh to make bac'n bits, which make an amazing salad topper. Cook the tempeh in the same way regardless of its shape, taking it off the stove when there's no extra liquid in the pan and the bacon glaze has started to caramelize.
Gluten-free: This recipe can be easily made gluten-free by simply using gluten-free tamari, soy sauce, or Bragg's liquid aminos.
Liquid smoke: If you prefer not to cook with liquid smoke, you can try substituting in 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.
Oil-free: You can make this recipe oil-free by subbing in 1 tbsp water for the oil. However, you will need to be a bit more careful about the marinade burning or sticking to your pan. Just keep a close eye on the tempeh bacon and lower the heat if it looks like it is darkening too fast.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 682mg | Potassium: 361mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutrition information provided on Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen is an estimate and is offered for general informational purposes only. Values will vary depending on the specific brands and amounts used.