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Home | Blog | Recipe Roundups | Tempeh Recipes For Home Cooks

Tempeh Recipes For Home Cooks

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If you’re looking for mouth-watering, satisfying, flavorful tempeh recipes, you’re in the right place! In this blog, I’ll be sharing a variety of recipes that are not only delicious but also easy to make, packed with flavor, and meal prep-friendly. We’ve included everything from breakfasts, sandwiches, bowls, salads, curries, stir-fries, and more. But if I had to choose just one, I’d make the tempeh gyros in the sandwich section.

four different images of tempeh recipes in each corner. The top right includes a BBQ tempeh with sides. Top left is a BLT with tempeh bacon. Bottom right includes a kale salad with tempeh on top. And the bottom right is a quiche Lorraine.

Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans and is easily one of our favorite plant-based proteins. It has a nutty and slightly earthy flavor and a firm texture that helps it hold its structure in all the delicious meals you add it to. Whether you’re a long-time vegetarian, a vegan, or just looking to add more plant-based meal preps to your rotation, tempeh is a great ingredient to experiment with in your kitchen. If tempeh isn’t your thing, we have meal-prep tofu recipes to try as well!

Tips for Cooking with Tempeh

The recipes listed below will walk you through exactly how to cook your tempeh for that recipe. But here are some general tips to keep in mind.

  1. Marinate your tempeh: Tempeh has a slightly nutty and earthy taste and marinating it before cooking can add extra flavor and enhance its texture.
  2. Steam your tempeh: Steaming tempeh for about 10 minutes can help to soften it and take away any bitterness. Next, you can slice, crumble, or cut it into cubes depending on what your recipe calls for.
  3. Try out different cooking methods: Tempeh can be baked, grilled, sautéed, or even fried. In addition to trying different recipes, make sure you’re trying different cooking methods to see which one you enjoy the most.

Is tempeh good for meal prep?

Yes! Tempeh is a great plant-based protein for meal prep for a few different reasons.

  1. Shelf life: Tempeh has a decently long shelf life, especially when stored in the refrigerator. It can last in the fridge for up to two weeks if stored in a good airtight container. And, it can be frozen, making it perfect to have on hand for when you don’t have time to run to the store.
  2. Versatility: Based on our list of recipes below, tempeh can be used in so many different ways! And versatility is so important when meal prepping to make sure you actually eat all of your preps.
  3. Filling: Tempeh is a good source of plant-based protein, and we want all of- or most of our preps to have a protein, veggie, and carb to keep you satisfied.
  4. Easy to prepare: Tempeh is super easy to prepare, and can be cooked in different ways including steaming, frying, baking, or grilling. Do whatever you’re the most comfortable with.

Finally, let’s get into the delicious tempeh recipes!

Tempeh Recipes for Breakfast

A cast iron skillet is filled with colorful tomatoes, broccoli, potatoes and tempeh
Via Well Vegan
Savory Tempeh Breakfast Hash
Packed with colorful veggies, filling potatoes, and savory tempeh this breakfast hash will have you jumping out of bed in the morning! This recipe makes 4 servings so it is perfect for meal prep during the week.
Get the recipe!
A cast iron skillet is filled with colorful tomatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, and tempeh
Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches
Who doesn't love a breakfast burrito? They are great when you need a breakfast you can grab and eat on the go. And the best part is you can add in your favorite veggies, spices, and toppings.
Get the recipe!
Five vegan breakfast sandwiches lay on a black plate cut open.
Tempeh Breakfast Bowls
Have leftover veggies in the fridge from another meal? Repurpose them in this simple vegan breakfast bowl! Add fresh avocado and your tempeh bacon and enjoy!
Get the recipe!
A bowl is filled with brown tempeh, half an avocado, leafy greens and a sweet potato
Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches
It may sound a little weird- but this combination of nut butter + avocado is a match made in heaven! Sweet nut butter, savory avocado, and smoky tempeh make for a filling, flavorful breakfast on the go.
Get the recipe!
two breakfast sandwiches are shown with avocado and pieces of tempeh on top

Sandwiches With Tempeh

Two wrapped gyros are on a newspaper background. They have pickled red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a white sauce.
Via Jessica in the Kitchen
Vegan BLT
A BLT is a classic lunch for any season. This vegan version has crispy baked tempeh, vegan mayo, lettuce, tomato, and sliced avocado.
Get the recipe!
Two BLT sandwiches are stacked on top of each other on a wood cutting board
Vegan Tempeh Gyros
These vegan gyros are full of fresh, crunchy veggies and Greek-inspired flavors. For this tasty meal, you'll steam the tempeh first and then bake it.
Get the recipe!
Two pita wraps are on top of a newspaper background. They are filled with colorful veggies and a white sauce
Buffalo Tempeh Sandwiches
Spice lovers- this recipe is for you! Delicious buffalo tempeh is combined with cooling ranch slaw and avocado to make a perfect lunch.
Get the recipe!
A long bread roll is on its side filled with buffalo tempeh, avocado, and coleslaw
Tempeh Banh Mi
Sweet and savory marinated tempeh, thinly cut veggies, and pickled red onions make for the perfect vegan banh mi! This sandwich is exactly what you need if you feel as if you're in a boring lunch rut.
Get the recipe!
An open faced sandwich is shown with thinly cut vegetables such as carrot and cucumber

Easy Tempeh Recipes: Bowls & Salads

A green Caesar salad is in a white bowl. It is topped with chickpeas and a white Caesar dressing. There is a fork sticking out of the salad.
Via Bakerita
Vegan Caesar Salad With Tempeh
A good Casear salad recipe is always a must in your lunch or dinner rotation. This one has crispy tempeh, crunch chickpeas and a creamy vegan Caesar dressing.
Get the recipe!
A green leafy salad is shown in a bowl with a fork sticking out. There is chopped tempeh, chickpeas, and a white dressing
BBQ Tempeh Bowl
These delicious BBQ Bowls have corn fritters, bbq tempeh, green beans, and coleslaw! You can mix and match and have three different meals during the week!
Get the recipe!
A round bowl is filled with corn fritters, green beans, tempeh, and coleslaw
Thai-Inspired Salad With Tempeh
This Thai-Inspired Salad with Tempeh combines crunchy, fresh vegetables and crispy, pan-fried tempeh for a flavorful hearty salad that makes a great lunch for the office. This recipe would also be great as a wrap!
Get the recipe!
A bowl with wooden spoon sticking out. The bowl contains a colorful green and orange salad
Smoky Tempeh Burrito Bowls
Burrito bowls are the best because you can change almost everything about them and make them over and over again! Here, the tempeh is coated in a delicious red suace you'll have on repeat.
Get the recipe!
A burrito bowl with beans, red cabbage, and protein in a red sauce is against a yellow background
Marinated Tempeh Salad
This salad is simple but just hits the spot. A classic kale salad with carrots, peppers, shallot, ginger, and delicious tempeh. This salad is even better after being in the fridge overnight!
Get the recipe!
A white bowl has a green kale salad with tan tempeh on top. There are also lime slices as garnish

Stir Frys & Curries With Tempeh

A stir fry with broccoli and peppers is on a plate with a scoop of white rice next to it. The dish is garnished with sesame seeds.
Via Mad About Food
Tempeh Stir Fry
This delicious vegetarian stir fry comes together in 30 minutes or less! It is perfect for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner
Get the recipe!
A grey plate has a broccoli and pepper stir fry with white rice next to it
Ginger Coconut Stir Fry
This recipe is creamy, spicy, and smoky making each bite have a burst of flavor! The best part is it only takes 20 minutes to make.
Get the recipe!
A black cast iron skillet has yellow pieces of tempeh inside covered in a green garnish. The background is wood
Vegan Butter Tempeh + Cauliflower
All the flavors you love of butter chicken is made vegan in this delicious butter tempeh + cauliflower meal. Plus, it takes 30 minutes start to finish!
Get the recipe!
A brown butter tempeh dish is next to white rice in a bowl.
Tempeh Tikka Masala
Another Indian classic made vegan! Here, the tempeh is cooked with delicious Indian spices and toasted before being added to the Tikka sauce.
Get the recipe!
A bowl of red vegan tikka masala with tempeh is featured
Vegan Indian Curry
An easy, creamy curry with tempeh, onion, garlic, tomato puree and coconut milk make for a perfect mid-week meal.
Get the recipe!
A classic yellow Indian curry in a white bowl with green garnish on top

Love this recipe roundup? Let us know which one of these recipes you’re going to try first in the comments below!

By the way, if you want access to easy vegetarian and vegan meal prep recipes, join the WWL Meal Prep Program! Every recipe in our library (over 600) can be made vegetarian or vegan and has been tested specifically for meal prep.

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