Air Fryer Tempeh

These savory air fried tempeh strips are perfect for tossing into salads and grain bowls, and tucking into vegan sandwiches.

If cooking with tempeh is new to you, you may be feeling intimidated by this plant-based protein that’s often shrouded in mystery. If that’s the case, the air fryer method is a perfect place to start.

It’s incredibly easy, doesn’t require any complicated techniques or ingredients, and results in savory-sweet bacon-like tempeh strips that you can incorporate into so many vegan meals (ideas below).

Air Fryer Tempeh at a Glance

This recipe consists of two steps. First, you cut up the tempeh and let it sit in a soy-maple marinade. The marinade infuses the tempeh with a delicious savory-sweet flavor and eliminates some of its inherent bitterness.

Then you put the tempeh in the air fryer and cook it for a few minutes. That’s really it!

Key Ingredients + Substitutions

• Soy Sauce: For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead.
• Maple Syrup: Can be substituted with honey.
• Balsamic Vinegar: Complements the saltiness of the soy sauce and the sweetness of maple syrup.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Adds a nutty flavor.
• Garlic Powder: I prefer dried garlic to fresh here because it’s less likely to burn during cooking – and it sticks to the tempeh better.

How to Cook Tempeh in an Air Fryer

Find complete instructions with ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Marinate the Tempeh

In a large shallow dish, combine all the marinade ingredients and whisk to incorporate.

Cut the tempeh into 1/4-inch-thick strips and add to the marinade. Gently toss with your hands to coat evenly. Chill for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours, before cooking. Toss the marinating tempeh from time to time so it gets coated evenly.

Step 2: Air Fry the Tempeh

Preheat the air fryer. Arrange the tempeh in a single layer in the basket (reserve the marinade); if it doesn’t all fit, cook in two batches. Air fry until the tempeh is dry and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Then brush with some of the reserved marinade and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, being careful not to burn it.

How to Serve Air Fried Tempeh

These bacon-like tempeh strips are a delicious way to add protein to so many plant based meals: you can put them on avocado toast or in a sandwich, on a grain bowl, on soba noodles, or in a salad. This recipe works well for meal prep.

Oven Instructions

If you like this recipe but don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the tempeh in the oven: arrange the slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet (reserve the marinade). Bake in a preheated 400ºF oven until the tempeh is dry and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with the reserved marinade. Bake for 5 minutes more.

More Tempeh Recipes…

• Tempeh Meatballs
• Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
• Tempeh Taco “Meat”
• Soy-Glazed Tempeh Crumbles

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with @thenewbaguette on Instagram.