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Home » Breakfast » Tempeh Bacon

Tempeh Bacon

Published: Mar 14, 2023 by Gigi & Sersie

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This tasty, sweet, and smoky tempeh bacon recipe is made in the air fryer. The air fryer gives it a wonderful crispiness on the outside. This vegan bacon recipe is delicious in breakfast tacos, a wrap, crumbled on top of a salad, and as a side dish with banana oatmeal waffles. It's gluten-free, oil-free, high in protein, has no added sugar, and is ready in 20 minutes!

side top view close up of a square white bowl with tempeh bacon strips leaning and standing up
This delicious tempeh bacon is a great source of healthy plant-based protein!

What's in this sweet and smoky tempeh bacon

  1. Tempeh
  2. Smoked paprika
  3. Cumin
  4. Coconut aminos
  5. Simple Homemade Date Syrup
  6. Apple cider vinegar
  7. Cayenne (optional for heat)
top view of the key ingredients for tempeh bacon: block of tempeh, simple homemade date syrup, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, and spices
key ingredients: tempeh, simple homemade date syrup, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar

This recipe makes about 30 strips of tempeh bacon (approximately 7-8 strips per serving).

How to make this tempeh bacon

Slice a block of tempeh in half. Then slice each half of the block into smaller strips.

Put sliced tempeh into a medium pot with a cup of water and a steamer basket. Turn up the heat to medium-high, put the lid on, and steam for 3 to 4 minutes. Steaming the tempeh helps to absorb the flavors of the sauce.

While the tempeh is steaming, combine all the other ingredients into a small to medium size dish. Stir until it's well mixed.

Remove the tempeh from the stove (turn off the heat). Carefully coat the steamed tempeh strips in the sauce.

Arrange the tempeh bacon strips in the air fryer and cook at 400 F (205 C) for 7 to 10 minutes. Be sure to check for doneness at 7 minutes. [Note: If using an oven, arrange strips on a parchment-or silicone-lined baking sheet and cook at 400 F (205 C) for 15 to 20 minutes.]

a tempeh block being sliced into bacon strips with a knife on a wooden cutting board
1. slice a block of tempeh in half; then slice each half of the block into smaller strips
tempeh strips in a steamer basket in a pot
2. put sliced tempeh into a medium pot with water and a steamer basket; put the lid on and steam for 3 to 4 minutes
tempeh bacon sauce mixture being combined in a glass dish with a spoon
3. while the tempeh is steaming, make the sauce by combining the other ingredients into a small dish
dark red tempeh bacon sauce mixture that's well combined in a rectangular glass dish
4. stir until well incorporated
top view of tempeh bacon coated in sauce mixture
5. remove tempeh from steamer basket and coat in the sauce mixture
top view of the tempeh bacon strips lined up in an air fryer basket
6. arrange the bacon in the air fryer basket and cook at 400F (205 C) for 7 to 10 minutes
top view of the cooked tempeh bacon strips in air fryer basket
this batch of tempeh bacon was cooked for 10 minutes; smaller batches typically take less time

Leftovers and meal prep

Enjoy this tempeh bacon immediately. Leftovers store well in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This bacon can be frozen in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months, making it great for meal prep!

side top view close up of a square white bowl with tempeh bacon strips leaning and standing up
enjoy this crispy tempeh bacon in breakfast tacos, a wrap, crumbled on a salad, or as a side dish with banana oatmeal waffles

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is 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.

Should tempeh be steamed before cooking?

Yes, steaming tempeh before cooking is recommended. It's like getting a facial. When steam comes into contact with your face, your pores open up. The same happens with tempeh. It softens and is better able to absorb the flavor of the sauce or marinade you're trying to infuse.

Is tempeh bacon better for you than meat?

Yes, tempeh bacon is higher in protein and significantly lower in saturated fat. Eating a diet high in saturated fat has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke by raising LDL (or "bad") cholesterol levels. Check out this article from Harvard Health to learn more. Also, tempeh bacon is high in fiber and has no dietary cholesterol, whereas meat bacon has no fiber and does contain dietary cholesterol.

Check out these other tempeh recipes

For more tempeh inspiration, check out the BBQ tempeh and tempeh stir fry.

We hope you love this high-protein, sweet, and smoky tempeh bacon recipe as much as we do! Please rate and leave a comment below. Be sure to share a picture on Instagram and tag us @danielsplaterecipes so we can see your creation!

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side top view close up of a square white bowl with cooked tempeh bacon leaning or standing up

Tempeh Bacon


  • Author: Gigi & Sersie
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This tasty sweet and smoky tempeh bacon recipe is made in the air fryer. The air fryer gives it a wonderful crispiness on the outside. This vegan bacon recipe is delicious in breakfast tacos, a wrap, crumbled on top of a salad, and as a side dish with banana oatmeal waffles. It's gluten-free, oil-free, protein-rich, has no added sugar, and is ready in 20 minutes! 

This recipe makes approximately 30 tempeh bacon strips (7 to 8 strips per serving).


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 8-ounce block of tempeh
  • 2 Tbsp coconut aminos
  • 2 Tbsp Simple Homemade Date Syrup
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • pinch cayenne (for heat)

Instructions

Slice a block of tempeh in half. Then slice each half of the block into smaller strips.

Put sliced tempeh into a medium pot with a cup of water and a steamer basket. Turn up the heat to medium-high, put the lid on, and steam for 3 to 4 minutes. Steaming the tempeh helps to absorb the flavors of the sauce.

While the tempeh is steaming, combine all the other ingredients into a small to medium size dish. Stir until it's well mixed.

Remove the tempeh from the stove (turn off the heat). Carefully coat the steamed tempeh strips in the sauce.

Arrange the tempeh bacon strips in the air fryer and cook at 400 F (205 C) for 7 to 10 minutes. Be sure to check for doneness at 7 minutes. [Note: If using an oven, arrange strips on a parchment-or silicone-lined baking sheet and cook at 400 F (205 C) for 15 to 20 minutes.]

Enjoy this tempeh bacon immediately. Leftovers store well in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This bacon can be frozen in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Notes

EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES

  1. Air fryer
  2. Measuring spoons
  3. Knife
  4. Cutting board
  5. Medium pot
  6. Steamer basket
  • Prep Time: 8 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Air Fryer or Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: vegan bacon, oil free, no oil, nut free, gluten free, tempeh air fryer, air fryer recipes, daniel fast recipes, daniel fast compliant, healthy vegan recipes, no added sugar, sweet and smoky

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us @danielsplaterecipes — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Join the Meal Prep Cooking Class with Sersie & Gigi

Let’s face it, staying consistent with your health goals starts in the kitchen. This meal prep cooking class will help you develop a routine of eating healthy foods so you can be successful long-term. You don’t have to be an expert chef or even love to cook; you just need the desire to eat healthy. It’s that simple!

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