How to Make Crispy Tempeh in the Oven

How to make crispy baked tempeh in the oven! The easiest way to bake delicious crispy oven-baked tempeh, no frying needed.

a sheet pan with baked tempeh after roasting

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Why I Love This Recipe

If you’re not familiar with tempeh, it’s traditionally made of fermented soy beans that are formed into a block and can be either baked or cooked in a pan. It’s high in plant-based protein and is usually eaten like tofu, so it’s mixed into stir frys, in salads, or in bowls.

When I first went plant-based, I loved order tempeh dishes when I went out to restaurants but I had no idea how to properly cook it! But now years into my plant-eating journey, I’ve learned the best (and easiest) way to make crunchy, tasty tempeh is to bake it until its crispy.

But the key to tasty tempeh is to first marinate it in a simple, yet flavorful, sauce. This can consist of any flavors you’d like to imbue, but I like to mix up a simple soy sauce with ground ginger and ground garlic. Then I toss it in a touch of nutritional yeast to help it crisp up in the oven.

I hope you give oven-baked tempeh a try as well, and let me know how it goes!


What You’ll Need

  • Tempeh (1 block = 8 ounces)
  • Soy sauce or tamari
  • Garlic powder
  • Ginger powder
  • Nutritional yeast

Step-by-step photos of how to make it

Step One: Preheat oven and cut tempeh

First, preheat you oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Then prep a sheet pan with a silicone baking mat or a piece of parchment paper. Then cut tempeh into 1/2-inch cubes.

tempeh cut into cubes on a wood cutting board with a knife

Step Two: Marinate tempeh

In a medium bowl, add add your marinade ingredients (I used soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and nutritional yeast). Then add tempeh to the bowl and toss to coat, waiting a few minutes for the tempeh to absorb the marinade.

a bowl of tofu marinating in soy sauce on a white table

Step Three: Bake tempeh until crispy

Add the marinated tempeh to the sheet pan and then bake it in the oven for a total of 15-17 minutes. Toss it halfway through so that it browns on all sides.


crispy tempeh on a sheet pan after baking

Crispy Baked Tempeh

Kristina Todini, RDN
How to make crispy baked tempeh in the oven! The easiest way to bake delicious crispy oven-baked tempeh, no frying needed.
5 stars (2 ratings)
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Vegan
Servings 4 servings
Calories 123 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 silicone baking mat or parchment paper

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces tempeh
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ginger powder
  • ½ tablespoon nutritional yeast

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven and cut tempeh: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Prep a sheet pan with a silicone baking mat or a piece of parchment paper. Then cut tempeh into 1/2-inch cubes.
    8 ounces tempeh
  • Marinate tempeh: In a medium bowl, add soy sauce, garlic powder, and ginger powder and mix to combine. Then add tempeh to the bowl and toss to coat. Wait a few minutes for the tempeh to soak up the liquid, and toss again to evenly coat. Then sprinkle the tempeh with nutritional yeast.
    3 tablespoons soy sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ginger powder, ½ tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • Bake tempeh until crispy: Add the marinated tempeh to the sheet pan and spread it out in a single layer, then bake it in the oven for a total of 15-17 minutes. At the halfway mark, remove the pan from the oven to turn the tempeh so it gets crispy on all sides.
  • Store or serve: When the tempeh is done, either enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container to enjoy for later.

Notes

Prep ahead: You can prepare this up to 3-4 days ahead of serving, however for the crispiest texture you should make immediately before serving.
Leftovers and storage: Store leftover tempeh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Do not freeze, as its texture will not stand up to thawing and reheating. To reheat, heat in the oven or in a pan to retain its crispiness, but you can also reheat in the microwave if needed.
Nutrition notes: Nutrition information is an estimate using all listed ingredients. This recipe uses all plant-based ingredients and can be gluten free if you use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 12gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 760mgPotassium: 289mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 0.1IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 2mg
Keyword crispy baked tempeh
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