Crispy Baked Tempeh

Name: Crispy Baked Tempeh
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 8 Ounce Block Tempeh; 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce (Tamari, or Liquid Aminos); 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup; 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1/2 Teaspoon Liquid Smoke; 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder (optional); 1/4 Teaspoon Cumin (optional); 1/4 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika (optional); 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Thyme (optional)

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Crispy Baked Tempeh is marinated in a simple, spice-filled sauce and baked to a crispy perfection in the oven for a protein rich dinner. This easy tempeh recipe is ready in 30 minutes!

Simple and delicious, this crispy baked tempeh is a great way to get in that plant-based protein.

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Recipe Features
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
How to make Crispy Baked Tempeh
Ways to enjoy crispy baked tempeh
Frequently Asked Questions
Recipe Prayer
More recipes using tempeh
Tried this recipe?
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Have you heard of tempeh before? For those who haven't, tempeh is traditionally made from fermented soybeans (though it can be made from any type of bean). It looks like a block of beans stuck together.

It's different from tofu because much of the whole bean remains. Tempeh has a meaty, firm texture whereas tofu is quite soft. The result: tempeh is incredibly versatile!

One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is as taco meat - the texture is unbelievable!

Recipe Features

Dietary needs - this crispy baked tempeh is plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free.
Quick & Easy - this tempeh is ready in 30 minutes! All you do is toss the tempeh with some spices and bake
Crispy - oven baking at a high temperature puts a nice crisp on the tempeh
Customizable & Versatile - I share a recommended sauce for the tempeh, but you can get creative with what sauce you'd like and switch it up every time you make the recipe. If you don't have all the ingredients for the marinade, no problem. Just use what you have or make up your own.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Tempeh: I like the Litelife brand tempeh and it's what I used in this recipe. This recipe will work well with any store-bought tempeh and would be especially delicious with a black bean or chickpea tempeh. When buying tempeh I recommend finding a brand with no flavorings or added oils.
Soy Sauce, Tamari, or Liquid Aminos: you can use any of these three
Maple Syrup: for a completely fruit-sweetened version, use date syrup instead or omit the maple syrup entirely.
Garlic Powder
Liquid Smoke: I love adding liquid smoke to my tofu and tempeh recipes because it adds that woody, smoky taste that helps create a deeper flavor. If you don't have any liquid smoke, you can omit it.

The above five ingredients are my staple ingredients in this recipe. You can add some other spices like onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and thyme.

How to make Crispy Baked Tempeh

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2. Slice the tempeh into cubes.

Step 3. Toss the cubes with the liquid aminos, maple syrup, garlic powder, liquid smoke, and optional spices as desired.

Step 4. Arrange the cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Pour on any remaining marinade liquid. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Enjoy!

Ways to enjoy crispy baked tempeh

I love eating this tempeh by itself, but here are a few other serving suggestions:

Served over rice with roasted veggies
On top of your favorite salad for extra protein
In these tahini miso tempeh bowls
Stuffed in a sweet potato

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tempeh healthy?

Tempeh is so good for you. First, it's fermented. Fermented foods are probiotics that feed our gut bacteria. They help good bacteria grow and keep our entire microbiome in balance.

Second, tempeh (the kind we're using) is made of soybeans. There is a lot of controversy over soy. Is it good? Is it bad? Well, the evidence suggests that soy is not just good, it's great for us. Soy can decrease breast cancer risk. It also lowers your risk of getting high blood pressure. (See the book How Not to Die for more information.)

Finally, legumes, like soy, are so healthy that the American Institute for Cancer research suggests that we be eating beans with every meal. With this recipe, you'll have no problem getting in those beans!

Where can I buy tempeh?

Tempeh is easily found at most grocery stores. You can typically find it in the refrigerated section - if there's a vegan refrigerated section, it will be there.

What type of tempeh should I use?

Tempeh is a block of fermented beans. Most traditionally, tempeh is made from soybeans. But you can find tempeh from black beans and chickpeas too!

This recipe will work with any type of tempeh. Feel free to switch it up!

Do I need to steam tempeh?

Nope!

Some recipes call for steaming. This can help to reduce the slight bitterness of tempeh. But really, the marinade and the baking will eliminate any bitterness.

How long to marinade tempeh

I've found that you really don't need to marinate tempeh for that long.

In this recipe, you don't have to marinade at all. But you can if you want - a 30 minute marinade will allow the mixture to soak further into the tempeh.

This is completely optional. Even without a marinade time, the tempeh is full of flavor!

Switch Up the Flavors

Liquid aminos and liquid smoke are my go-to flavors when cooking tempeh, even when I just pan-fry it. But you don't have to make the sauce the same every time!

Whip up your favorite dressing or marinade and toss with the tempeh before baking.

A nice coating of vegan honey mustard dressing or a drizzle of vegan aioli would be delicious!

Recipe Prayer

Lord thank you for healthy plant-protein that you gave to us for food. You are so good. Amen.

More recipes using tempeh

Looking for more ways to cook tempeh? Try some of my favorites:

Tried this recipe?

Please leave a review in the comments section below and post on Instagram tagging me @elizabeths_table. You can also stay in touch with me on social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok or by subscribing to my newsletter.

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