Smoked Tempeh Breakfast Sandwich

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

Weekend mornings we have certain breakfasts that we love, and Smoked Tempeh Breakfast Sandwich is a favorite vegan breakfast sandwich for us.

smoked tempeh bagel with greens on white plate with kiwi and orange slices

If you’re looking for a hearty vegan breakfast that will keep you full for hours, look no further. This smoked tempeh breakfast sandwich will do the trick.

We love this breakfast sandwich because it’s…

  • Super filling
  • Loaded with protein
  • Smokey
  • Veggie-packed
  • Simple
  • Oil-free
  • Vegan

Tempeh Bacon for Breakfast

No greasy, artery-clogging bacon and eggs here. Only healthy deliciousness. Move over fast-food drive-through, we’ve got plant-strong healthy breakfast muffins here!

When our adult daughter makes it home for a visit, we busy ourselves in the kitchen making all of her favorite vegan meals, and tempeh bacon is always on the list for breakfast. Later in the day, I’ve seen her grab some off of the plate in the refrigerator for a snack.

tempeh bacon in non stick pan on white background

Smoked tempeh is great on these healthy breakfast sandwiches and on Smoked Tempeh Sandwich (T.L.T.) – Tempeh, Lettuce, & Tomato too!

Tempeh bacon also pairs well with my delicious Tofu Breakfast Scramble to make an amazing breakfast.

breakfast tofu scramble in cast iron pan on tabletop

Easy tempeh marinade

This smoked tempeh marinade requires only 3 simple ingredients. Whisk all ingredients in a bowl, add tempeh, and allow to marinate a few hours or even overnight.

tempeh half sliced on cutting board with ingredients in background

How to make smoked tempeh

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

This is such an easy recipe to make, and it can be used for so many purposes like TLT (tempeh, lettuce tomato) sandwiches, bagel breakfast sandwiches, in stir-fries, or just a snack.

Simply slice the tempeh into slabs. Some people like to steam their tempeh before marinating and cooking, but I have not found that necessary.

Next, add the three ingredients for the marinade to a bowl and whisk together well until blended.

soy sauce marinate in bowl with tempeh in background

Place the tempeh strips in a container or even a ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the top. Cover and seal well, place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Longer is better. I actually like to leave mine overnight.

Sliced tempeh in glass dish marinating on white background

Once marinated well, place the strips in a nonstick frying pan and brown on both sides until golden. I love my Ozeri nonstick pan and use it almost every single day for recipes like this.

smoked tempeh bacon in non stick pan

Once the tempeh is nice and brown, add it stir-fries, sandwiches, bagels, and anything else you can think of.

Tempeh is high in protein

Add tempeh to your diet to boost your protein intake. Each 1-cup serving of tempeh contains 31 grams of protein, which is 55 percent of the recommended daily intake for men and 67 percent for women, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sliced tempeh on wooden board with cup of marinade in background

Tempeh contains high-quality complete protein and provides all the amino acids you must obtain from your diet. Its protein content helps you maintain muscle tissue, and also make enzymes your cells need to function.–LiveStrong

smoked tempeh bacon on english muffin with lettuce with orange slices on plate
Serve this breakfast sandwich on English muffins or bagels.

I have a terrific recipe for Homemade Whole Wheat Bagels that is perfect for making a tempeh bacon breakfast sandwich.

Plant-based vegan sausage makes a great addition when serving this for breakfast. It is one of the many products that I like to order from MamaSezz meal delivery service. It comes ready to heat and eat, and it can also be frozen.

My Eggless Low-Fat Vegan Mayonnaise recipe goes perfectly with these sandwiches!

vegan mayo in glass jar with tomatoes in background on wooden table
Low-Fat Vegan Mayo in only 5-minutes!

With smoked tempeh, spicy mustard, and leafy greens these muffins are a powerhouse of flavor and protein!

Other breakfast options

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

smoked tempeh bagel with greens on white plate with kiwi and orange slices
5 from 6 votes

Smoked Tempeh Breakfast Sandwich

No greasy, artery-clogging bacon and eggs here. Only healthy deliciousness. Move over fast food drive through, we've got plant-strong Vegan Breakfast Sandwich only here!
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 8 oz package tempeh found in many grocery stores
  • 1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • spinach or kale leaves
  • low-fat eggless mayo recipe link below
  • mustard (optional)
  • 4 English muffins whole grain, suggestion below

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, liquid smoke, and maple syrup and mix well.
  • Slice tempeh into strips. Place slices into mixture and allow to marinate. The longer, the stronger the flavor will be. I like to leave it in the refrigerator overnight if possible, but at least 30 minutes is necessary.
  • Add tempeh strips to a frying pan with a little bit of the marinade liquid and cook over medium-high heat until crispy on one side. Turn and brown on the other side. Add more of the marinade and cook until caramelized. About 5 minutes each side is a reasonable estimate. If baking in the oven, cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
  • Toast your English muffins (or don't). Add a little Eggless Low-Fat Mayo, mustard, and kale (or spinach).
  • Add tempeh bacon and serve.

Video

Notes

Detailed instructions, in-process photos, and my personal helpful tips can be found in the article above.
Once the tempeh is nice and brown, add to stir-fries, sandwiches, bagels, and anything else you can think of.

Nutrition

Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2.5g | Sodium: 325mg | Fiber: 2.5g | Sugar: 1g

Disclaimer

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.

Please rate & share if you like this!Leave a comment or share on Pinterest or Instagram

About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy.  I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

Similar Posts

3 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating