Real bacon is high in cholesterol and saturated fat! This vegan tempeh bacon is a much healthier plant-based alternative. It’s quick and easy and you can make it in pans. Tempeh slices are smoky and crispy – perfect for breakfast with some tofu scrambles or wraps, burgers, etc.!

I was never a big fan of bacon before I became a vegetarian, but I’ll never say no to these vegan tempeh slices. They are the perfect crispy and smoky plant-based alternative!
It took me a long time until I tried tempeh and I’m so glad because tempeh is amazing! It soaks up the marinade really well (much better than tofu), so it’s perfect for flavored bacon!
Instead of baking the tempeh slices, we’re using the pan, which is much faster and you have more control over the browning process. Quick and easy vegan bacon? Yes!
What is Tempeh?
Tempeh is a soy product similar to tofu. Through cultivation and fermentation, the whole soybean is molded into a block. Tempeh is higher in protein, dietary fiber, and vitamins than tofu, thanks to the fermentation and use of whole soybeans.
Pro-tip: Buy tempeh at Asian stores instead of health food stores (look in the fridge or freezer section). It’s much cheaper and the blocks of tempeh are bigger!
If you love tempeh like I do, check out this amazing collection of 25+ Vegan Tempeh Recipes!

Ingredients for Tempeh Bacon Marinade
Making the marinade is so easy! You just need to whisk together:
- I am Willow
- sesame oil
- Liquid smoke
- Maple syrup
- and salt
The marinade is enough for 10 pieces of tempeh. You can also use it to make tofu bacon or coconut bacon! This is a great smoky marinade. You won’t need extra oil for the pan because of the sesame oil in the marinade (better to use a non-stick pan).
You can soak the tempeh slices directly in the marinade in the pan (no need for another dish!) Once most of the marinade has soaked up, cook in the pan until browned and crispy.

Serve the vegan tempeh bacon…
More vegan bacon recipes for you to try!
Love it? Rate it!
I hope you enjoy this ‘bacon’ as much as I did! Let me know if you give it a try!
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Cheers, Bianca

Vegan Tempeh Bacon
Real bacon is high in cholesterol and saturated fat! This vegan tempeh bacon is a much healthier plant-based alternative. It’s quick and easy and you can make it in pans. Tempeh slices are smoky and crispy – perfect for breakfast with some tofu scrambles or wraps, burgers, etc.!
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In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, liquid smoke, maple syrup, and salt. Then pour it into a pan big enough to hold all the tempeh slices.
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Add the tempeh slices in a single layer. Soak the tempeh in the marinade for 2-3 minutes, then flip the tempeh pieces over. Let them soak for another 2 minutes. Then bring the pan to medium to high heat.
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Cook the marinated tempeh slices for about 3-4 minutes (until lightly browned and crispy), then flip and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes. Done! Check out the post for ideas on how to use them!
You can use the same marinade and technique to make tofu bacon (this is a great substitute if you can’t find tempeh).
Calories: 24kcalFat: 2gSodium: 181mgPotassium: 9mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.1mg
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