Easy Vegan Ribs | BBQ Tempeh

This easy vegan ribs recipe is a finger-lickin’ dish that is fabulous on the grill, baked in an oven, or even slow-cooked in a crockpot. Leftovers make great sandwiches too!

One of the things I love best about this tempeh recipe is that it’s so versatile. As you can see from the following photos, it can be served in many different ways and turned into a variety of meals.

You’ll love this vegan bbq because it’s…

• Smokey
• Tangy
• Sweet
• Filling
• Packed with protein
• Seriously delicious

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is a traditional soy product originating from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process. Then it is formed into a firm patty or block.

While tempeh is traditionally made with soybeans, it can also be made with any type of bean, like black beans, black-eyed peas, and chickpeas. Some kinds of tempeh also include grains, like brown rice, barley or millet, or seeds, so if you need gluten-free make sure it is labeled GF on the product.

Tempeh is found in many grocery stores in the produce section.

How to make vegan BBQ ribs

A full list of ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

This bbq tempeh rib recipe does very well in a slow cooker, oven, or on the grill.

Simply slice the tempeh into strips about 1/2″ or so thick and place them in a baking dish. Personally, I always line my baking dishes with parchment sheets for two reasons. One reason is to prevent sticking without using any oil, and the other reason is that they make cleanup a breeze.

Next, dice up the onion and sprinkle it over the top of the tempeh and then drizzle bbq sauce over the tempeh and onion covering them well.

Which bbq sauce to use

I like to make my own healthy oil-free bbq sauce because it only takes about 5 minutes and requires only 8 ingredients. However, you can always use your favorite bottled sauce.

If you are looking for a premade barbecue sauce, we love oil-free Bone Suckin’ Sauce.

Baked tempeh method

Place the tempeh with bbq sauce and onions in the oven at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes. The bbq sauce will thicken up and darken a bit which makes this baked tempeh even better.

Crockpot cooking method

Simply turn your crockpot to low heat and cook for approximately 3 hours. Nice and easy for taking to potluck dinners.

Grilling method

Since grilling is a quicker cooking method, you’ll want to marinate the tempeh in the barbecue sauce in the refrigerator for about an hour before cooking to allow the bbq flavor to marry-up with the tempeh. Then simply place in a grilling pan and grill on low heat for about 15 minutes.

We usually serve bbq tempeh over brown rice or quinoa.  Great side item ideas would be a garden salad, baked white or sweet potato, and/or corn on the cob.

*Originally published October 2016.

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Other great tempeh recipes

• Smoked Tempeh TLT Sandwich
• Sweet and Sour Tempeh
• Tempeh

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Vegan Ribs | BBQ Tempeh

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This easy BBQ vegan ribs recipe is a finger-lickin' dish that is fabulous on the grill, baked in an oven, or even slow-cooked in a crockpot. Leftovers make great sandwiches too!

Print

Ingredients

• 16 oz tempeh
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 1.5 cups barbecue sauce, your favorite brand or make mine

Barbecue Sauce

• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup, (or date syrup)
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, (without anchovies)
• 4 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp liquid smoke
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 pinch salt for taste, (optional)

Instructions

1. This bbq tempeh rib recipe does very well in a slow cooker, oven, or on the grill.
2. Simply slice the tempeh into strips about 1/2″ or so thick and place them in a baking dish. Personally, I always line my baking dishes with parchment sheets for two reasons. One reason is to prevent sticking without using any oil, and the other reason is that they make cleanup a breeze.
3. Next, dice up the onion and sprinkle it over the top of the tempeh and then drizzle bbq sauce over the tempeh and onion covering them well.
4. I like to make my own healthy oil-free bbq sauce because it only takes about 5 minutes and requires only 8 ingredients. However, you can always use your favorite bottled sauce. If you are looking for an oil-free premade barbecue sauce, we love oil-free Bone Suckin’ Sauce.

Baked Tempeh Method

Place the tempeh with bbq sauce and onions in the oven at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes. The bbq sauce will thicken up and darken a bit which makes this baked tempeh even better.

Crockpot Cooking Method

Simply turn your crockpot to low heat and cook for approximately 3 hours. Nice and easy for taking to potluck dinners.

Grilling Method

Since grilling is a quicker cooking method, you’ll want to marinate the tempeh in the barbecue sauce in the refrigerator for about an hour before cooking to allow the bbq flavor to marry-up with the tempeh. Then simply place in a grilling pan and grill on low heat for about 15 minutes.

Notes

Detailed instructions, in-process photos, and my personal helpful tips can be found in the article above. Tempeh is usually gluten-free, but if you are gluten-intolerant, please check the labels.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a small percentage from your purchases at no cost to you. Thank you!

• 
  Fords Gourmet Foods Bone Suckin' Sauce Original BBQ Sauce
• 
  Living Nutritionals All-Natural Pure Liquid Smoke 5oz (147ml)
• 
  Wizard's Organic Vegan Worcestershire Sauce 5oz

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 2.13Total Fat: 8.6gCarbohydrates: 17.3gFiber: 1.3gProtein: 17.9g

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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