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Home » Recipe Index » Sides

BBQ Tempeh

Modified: May 5, 2025 · Published: Oct 16, 2021 by Gigi & Sersie · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This fast and easy BBQ tempeh can make meal prep feel like a walk in the park. There are so many uses for this flavor-packed, protein-packed staple. This tempeh recipe is vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and delicious.

top side view of bbq tempeh in a white bowl with kale garnish and jar of sauce blurred in the background
this bbq tempeh is the base for tacos, salad or a buddha bowl

What you need to make this BBQ tempeh:

  1. Tempeh
  2. The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce

How to prepare

To prepare the BBQ tempeh, slice tempeh in to strips of desired thickness and length. Here, I've sliced the tempeh cake into quarters and cut them the down the middle into thinner strips.

a block of tempeh on a cutting board with a woman's hand holding the knife cutting it in half
cut the block of tempeh in half
a block of tempeh on a cutting board with a woman's hand holding the knife cutting it into quarters
cut in half again
a block of tempeh on a cutting board with a woman's hand holding the knife cutting it in half down the narrow side
slice down the center

The next step is to steam the tempeh. Steaming helps the tempeh to absorb the flavor of the sauce or marinade.

Add about an inch of water to a medium pot. Turn the heat on high. Carefully insert a steamer basket. Place the tempeh into the steamer basket. Put the lid on and allow the tempeh to steam for 5 minutes.

a pot of water on the stove with a steamer basket being inserted
add water to a pot and turn on the heat to high
a pot with steamer basket and a woman's hand placing slices of tempeh into the basket
carefully insert the steamer basket into the pot and add tempeh slices
a woman's hand placing the lid onto the pot with tempeh
put the lid on and steam for 5 minutes

When the tempeh is done steaming, carefully remove the slices with tongs and place them into a dish for the next step.

This recipe uses about a cup of The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce. Generously coat the sliced tempeh and let it sit or marinate for about 10 minutes to absorb the flavors from the sauce.

side view close up of the Best Homemade BBQ Sauce used in BBQ Tempeh
homemade bbq sauce infuses wonderful flavor into the tempeh
top view close up of tempeh being marinated in barbecue sauce
marinade the tempeh for about 10 minutes

While the tempeh is marinating, preheat your grill, grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the coated tempeh onto the hot grill. Let it hang out for about 4 to 5 minutes and then turn and cook for another 2 minutes until heated through. Remove from grill, add some more sauce. This recipe makes between 2 to 4 servings depending on how you use the BBQ tempeh. Below are a few ideas. . .

top side view of two bbq tempeh tacos on a blue plate. tacos are topped with purple cabbage, cilantro and sauce
bbq tempeh tacos
top side view of salad greens on a blue plate topped with bbq tempeh, sliced avocado and sauce
bbq tempeh salad

Enjoy tacos with sprouted corn tortillas, the saucy tempeh topped with shredded cabbage, fresh cilantro and Ultimate Cashew Cream sauce or Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing (LOW-FAT). Add sliced avocado on top of a bed of salad greens with BBQ tempeh for an easy lunch or light dinner.

You could also crumble this tempeh and add it as a pizza topping. These slices also make a wonderful component to a buddha bowl paired with roasted sweet potato, steamed kale and your favorite whole grain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is a fermented soy bound together by mycelium compacted into cakes. Tempeh originated in Indonesia a few hundred years ago. It has a higher concentration of protein and fiber than tofu. Tempeh is also a good source of iron, manganese, magnesium and certain B-vitamins. Tempeh is available at most grocery stores in 8 ounce packages.

What about using a store-bought BBQ sauce?

We use Homemade BBQ Sauce as the base because it's made with whole plant food ingredients. Store-bought typically has high fructose corn syrup and sodium benzoate. That's right; sodium benzoate is a food additive that extends its shelf life. It's banned in countries outside of the United States. Some side effects may include weight gain, inflammation, ADHD, headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and mood changes.

How do you cook tempeh so it tastes good?

The key to making tempeh is to first steam it and then allow it to marinade in a flavorful sauce. In addition to the Homemade BBQ sauce, the Stir Fry sauce makes a fantastic marinade for Asian inspired tempeh dishes.

Does tempeh marinate well?

Yes, tempeh marinates well, especially if it's steamed before placing it into the marinade.

Overall, tempeh is a great staple in the rotation because it's versatile, fast and easy to prepare and very satisfying. The BBQ sauce makes it sweet, tangy, saucy deliciousness. If you want more tempeh in your life, check out the Tempeh Stir Fry.

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top side view of bbq tempeh slices in a white bowl with kale garnish

Fast and Easy BBQ Tempeh

5 from 1 vote
Course: Lunch/Dinner Entrée
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 3
Calories: 238kcal
Author: Gigi & Sersie
Print Pin Rate
This fast and easy BBQ tempeh can make meal prep feel like a walk in the park. There are so many uses for this flavor-packed, protein-packed staple. This tempeh recipe is vegan, oil-free, nut-free, and delicious.

Ingredients  

  • 1 8- oz. package of tempeh if gluten sensitive, be sure to choose gluten-free
  • 1 cup The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce
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Instructions

  • To prepare the BBQ tempeh, slice the tempeh cake into quarters and cut them the down the middle into thinner strips.
  • The next step is to steam the tempeh. Steaming helps the tempeh to absorb the flavor of the sauce or marinade. 
  • Add about an inch of water to a medium pot. Turn the heat on high. Carefully insert a steamer basket. Place the tempeh into the steamer basket. Put the lid on and allow the tempeh to steam for 5 minutes.
  • When the tempeh is done steaming, carefully remove the slices with tongs and place them into a dish with the Homemade BBQ Sauce. Generously coat the sliced tempeh and let it sit or marinate for about 10 minutes to absorb the flavors from the sauce.
  • While the tempeh is marinating, preheat your grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the coated tempeh onto the hot grill. Let it hang out for about 4 to 5 minutes, then turn and cook for another 2 minutes until heated. Remove from the grill and add some more sauce. (Note: It's okay to use the sauce that the tempeh was marinating in.) 
  • This recipe makes between 2 to 4 servings, depending on how you use the BBQ tempeh. 

Notes

Leftovers/Meal Prep: Leftover barbeque tempeh stores well in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 713mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 3mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Share a photo and tag us @danielsplaterecipes — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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Gigi & Sersie

Gigi Carter and Sersie Blue have over 25 years of combined experience in plant-based nutrition and health coaching. Their passion for healthy eating inspired them to create Daniel’s Plate, a recipe site focused on whole food, plant-based meals.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kevin

    December 26, 2021 at 4:41 pm

    5 stars
    As you can probably tell, I am a taste tester for Daniel's Plate. A fantastic opportunity and blessing!

    I loved the #BBQTempeh and #BlackEyedPeasAndGreens, so much so that I combined them into a sandwich! I know, right! Not what you are supposed to do, but it was excellent with their smoothie!

    I am a vegan advocate, and this recipe hit all my priorities: taste, health, and sustainability!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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