Want the taste of bacon but want to make it vegan? Try making bacon bits with tempeh! Simply crumble tempeh and cook until crispy, then add a flavorful sauce made with a secret flavor agent: liquid smoke.
Bacon bits, but make them vegan 🥓
Even though I’ve been completely plant-based for 6+ years now, I’d be lying if the smell of cooked bacon didn’t make my mouth water (and I don’t think I’m the only vegan to admit this!).
But thankfully you can easily make a bacon bit-like crumble with my absolute favorite plant-based protein – tempeh!
It’s a super easy recipe to make, with only a few ingredients required and only about 10 minutes to make. But here’s the important thing: do NOT under any circumstances think you can skip the liquid smoke. It’s essential!
I hope you give this recipe a try, it’s great to crumble on top of salads, soups, pizzas, and more. If you do, make sure to give it a rating and let me know what you think!
Watch How to Make Bacon Bits from Tempeh
Watch this quick 40-second video to get an overview of how to make it, then keep scrolling to see more details about ingredients and prep steps.
🥓 Ingredients + notes
- Tempeh: most often made from soybeans, tempeh is a plant-based protein that can be crumbled and cooked until crispy, which gives it a bacon-like texture. I would not substitute this ingredient, as it is the foundation of this recipe.
- Liquid smoke: the secret star of the show, liquid smoke is a flavor booster that adds a touch of smoke to your sauce and gives you a bacon-like taste. You can find gluten free versions, if needed.
- Soy sauce (or tamari): a touch of soy sauce give an umami taste; substitute with tamari to make this gluten free.
- Maple syrup: adds a touch of sweetness and rounds out the smokey flavor and salt from the soy sauce.
- Apple cider vinegar: the vinegar helps balance the flavor of the sauce, but also adds that apple-smoke flavor that you know and love from real bacon.
- Other ingredients: we’re also using a bit of smoked paprika and a touch of garlic powder to round out the flavor, as well as a small amount of a neutral oil like avocado to get the tempeh nice and crispy.
- Recommended tools: you’ll just need a small mixing bowl, a whisk, and medium pan
Step-by-Step Photos
1
Make the smokey sauce
Before cooking the tempeh bits, first whisk up a smokey and flavorful sauce that will make the tempeh taste like bacon.
In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Whisk to combine, then set aside.
2
Crumble + cook tempeh
Next, you’ll crumbled the tempeh and cook it until it dries out a bit before adding the sauce.
To do this, bring a large pan to medium heat and add oil. Then crumble the tempeh into the pan, tearing it into small pieces. Then cook 5 minutes to dry out the tempeh, stirring frequently to cook on all sides.
3
Add the sauce + cook until crispy
When the tempeh has dried out, add the smokey sauce to the pan and toss to coat the tempeh.
The sauce will get soaked up by the tempeh, giving it a smokey flavor. Then cook the tempeh 3-5 minutes more to get it brown and crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Liquid smoke is a flavor “booster” made by capturing the smoke from burned wood and infusing it into a liquid. A small amount is used in recipes to add a smokey or wood-cooked flavor.
To make this recipe gluten free, use a gluten free tempeh (most tempeh is made from soybeans, which are naturally gluten free but sometimes contain other grains). Substitute soy sauce for tamari, and also make sure to use gluten free liquid smoke.
Tempeh Bacon Crumbles
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, or tamari
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons neutral oil, avocado, etc.
- 8 ounces tempeh
Instructions
- Make smokey sauce: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Whisk to combine, then set aside.2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Crumble and cook tempeh: Bring a large pan to medium heat and add oil. Then crumble the tempeh into the pan, tearing it into small pieces. Then cook 5 minutes to dry out the tempeh, stirring frequently to cook on all sides.2 teaspoons neutral oil, 8 ounces tempeh
- Add the sauce and cook until crispy: When the tempeh has dried out, add the smokey sauce to the pan and toss to coat the tempeh. The sauce will get soaked up by the tempeh, giving it a smokey flavor. Then cook the tempeh 3-5 minutes more to get it brown and crispy.
- Cool, store, or serve: When the tempeh bacon crumbles are done, remove from heat and let cool. Then either serve on your favorite salads, bowls, or pastas, or store for later use.
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
UPDATE: This post was originally published in October 2024, and updated in February 2025 for clarity and to add a video.
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