Easy BBQ Tempeh (Just 3 Ingredients!)

Smoky, saucy, stupidly simple—this BBQ Tempeh was born to be a sandwich filling and grew as much as be a lot extra. Three components, three steps, Half-hour, and a everlasting spot in your weekly rotation (bowls, wraps, and plain-on-a-plate included).

Life is a lot simpler when you’ve got dependable, scrumptious, and fast plant-based proteins in rotation. Listed below are a couple of of my favorites: Air Fryer Tofu, Lentil Taco Meat, Vegan Sausages, and Sofritas.

Fast Look: BBQ Tempeh

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Prepare dinner Time: Half-hour
Whole Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Energy: 232
Protein: 11g
Dietary breakdown: Vegan, vegetarian, nut-free, and oil-free.
Taste Profile: Meaty, saucy, zesty, and candy. Like a plant-based model of barbecue rooster.
Problem: Critically easy — simply slice, simmer, and luxuriate in!

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Why You’ll Love This BBQ Tempeh Recipe

Fast and easy — Three steps, lower than 40 minutes. If you should utilize a knife, you can also make this recipe!
No steaming required — Only one dish. Simmering the tempeh in BBQ sauce and water mellows its taste.
Versatile — Take pleasure in it by itself, or pile it onto sandwiches, wraps, Buddha bowls, and vegan salads.
Delish — Meaty tempeh comes alive with zesty, candy BBQ sauce. That is certainly one of my favourite methods to make it!

Tempeh is usually an underrated plant protein. As a lot as I really like tofu (in tofu tacos, tofu scramble, tofu chili, tofu stir-fry, and extra!), a woman’s gotta swap it up every so often. My most well-liked means? This tender, meaty, sweet-and-spicy BBQ tempeh.

I virtually at all times maintain a package deal of tempeh available for this recipe. In 35 minutes and a handful of steps, I can pull it off even on essentially the most harried days; it’s a protein-rich, hearty, flavorful dish I can get pleasure from in practically limitless methods—in bowls, in a wrap, because the star of a BBQ plate, you identify it.

Love tempeh? Similar! Take a look at my Tempeh Tacos, Tempeh Tikka Masala, Maple Mustard Tempeh Bowl, and Tempeh and Kale Salad.

Key Components

Tempeh: Tempeh is a fermented soybean cake with a agency, hearty chew and a gentle, nutty taste that soaks up sauce superbly. You’ll discover it within the refrigerated part of most grocery shops, normally proper close to the tofu and different plant proteins.

Barbecue Sauce: Because the sauce is doing a lot of the flavoring right here, that is the place to achieve for one you actually love—its style carries the entire dish. If you happen to’re holding issues vegan, verify the label and select a sauce made with out honey. My do-it-yourself Vegan BBQ Sauce is my go-to.

See the recipe card for full info on components and portions.

Recipe Variations

In terms of BBQ tempeh variations, your choices are broad open (and scrumptious):

Grilled BBQ Tempeh: As an alternative of cooking the tempeh within the sauce, marinate it within the BBQ sauce in a single day (or at the very least 6 hours), then grill or roast it. Grill on excessive warmth instantly on grill grates for five minutes both sides. Or roast the marinated tempeh at 375°F for 20 minutes, flipping midway by means of.
Additional spicy — Use a spicy BBQ sauce, or add a pair shakes of sizzling sauce or dashes of cayenne.
Saucier — Enhance the water by 2–4 tablespoons for a looser, extra glaze-able sauce.
Additional savory — Sauté some sliced onion in oil over medium warmth for five–6 minutes earlier than stirring within the sauce and water for a savory base.
Garlicky — Sauté a clove or two of minced garlic together with the onion for an fragrant base.
Smoky — Add a splash of liquid smoke or a pinch of smoked paprika for deeper barbecue taste.
Candy and sticky — Stir in a tablespoon of maple syrup or brown sugar for a stickier, extra caramelized glaze.

Jenné’s Recipe Suggestions

Getting ready the tempeh. Minimize the tempeh into evenly sized items so the whole lot cooks on the identical fee. Thinner strips seize extra sauce and cook dinner a little bit sooner, so don’t be shy with the slicing.
No must steam first. Skip the pre-steaming step you’ll see in a whole lot of tempeh recipes—the lengthy simmer mellows any bitterness for you.
Coat earlier than cooking. Combine the water and BBQ sauce collectively first, then add the slices and switch to coat.
Watch the simmer. Deliver it to a simmer, then verify for doneness. If the sauce thickens up earlier than the tempeh’s executed, cowl the pan to complete cooking. Stir properly all through and modify as you go—no lid? Stir in a couple of tablespoons of water as an alternative.
Decide vegan BBQ sauce. Use your favourite BBQ sauce—it’s an important flavoring factor right here— simply notice a thicker sauce may have an additional splash of water to maintain issues saucy. For a totally vegan dish, decide one made with out honey.

Make a BBQ Tempeh Sandwich

My favourite method to get pleasure from this BBQ Tempeh is in a saucy sandwich. Sizzling BBQ Tempeh is served between sourdough bread with a smear of vegan mayo, lettuce, and tomato. Use any bread or slider buns you’d like. For a gluten-free choice, wrap the tempeh and veggies in a collard leaf (try this BBQ tempeh wrap).

And when you’re on the lookout for much more plant-based proteins, try my roundup of Easy Tofu Recipes!

Storage Instructions

Refrigerating: Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months.
Reheating: Heat in a skillet with a splash of BBQ sauce and water, or pop it within the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes, brushing with sauce within the final minute.

BBQ Tempeh FAQs

Is tempeh gluten-free?

Plain soy tempeh is of course gluten-free, however some varieties add grains like barley or are made on shared tools. If you happen to’re avoiding gluten, verify the label for a licensed gluten-free mark.

Do I must steam the tempeh first?

Nope! Numerous tempeh recipes name for steaming to mellow the bitterness, however right here the lengthy simmer in BBQ sauce and water does the identical. Simply slice and add it to the pan.

Can I air fry BBQ tempeh?

Sure, however you’ll need to marinate the tempeh within the BBQ sauce for at the very least 6 hours, or in a single day. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and prepare the marinated tempeh in a good layer. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, flipping midway by means of, or till the tempeh is tender and sticky.

Is that this recipe oil-free?

Sure—the bottom recipe doesn’t use any oil. Simply ensure your BBQ sauce suits the invoice, and when you strive the sautéed-onion variation, water-sauté as an alternative.

What ought to I serve with BBQ tempeh?

It’s endlessly versatile: pile it onto sandwiches, tuck it into wraps, or spoon it over grain bowls and salads. For a full BBQ plate, it’s proper at dwelling with potato salad, mashed potatoes, or biscuits.

Extra Vegan Major Dish Recipes

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Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Add the barbecue sauce and water to a medium skillet. Stir properly till mixed.
Add the sliced tempeh. Gently stir or nudge it round within the sauce till properly coated.
Deliver to a simmer over medium-low warmth and cook dinner for 20-Half-hour, stirring the tempeh periodically, till tender.
Serve the tempeh sizzling, in sandwiches or wraps, over bowls, and extra!

Slicing: Minimize the tempeh into evenly sized items so it cooks evenly—thinner strips seize extra sauce and cook dinner a little bit sooner.
No must steam first: Skip the pre-steaming step; the lengthy simmer mellows any bitterness for you.
Cooking: Stir the tempeh to coat within the sauce, then simmer, stirring all through. If the sauce thickens earlier than the tempeh’s executed, cowl the pan or stir in a couple of tablespoons of water.
BBQ sauce: Use your favourite—a thicker sauce may have an additional splash of water. For a totally vegan dish, select one made with out honey.
Storage: Refrigerate as much as 5 days or freeze as much as 3 months. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of BBQ sauce and water, or within the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes, brushing with BBQ sauce within the final minute.