How to Make Baked BBQ Tempeh – With Easy Homemade Sauce and Sides!

Jennifer Hanes MS, RDN, LD

Are you looking for a flavorful, protein-packed dish that satisfies your barbecue cravings while remaining vegetarian? Look no further than baked BBQ tempeh!

Tempeh is a versatile and nutritious ingredient that serves as the star of this dish. We’ll guide you through making delicious BBQ-baked tempeh with an easy homemade sauce that will leave your taste buds begging for more.

Plus, we won’t forget to include some delectable side dish suggestions to complete your meal. Get ready to explore the art of creating a mouthwatering vegetarian BBQ experience in your own kitchen!

What is Tempeh?

Tempeh is a fermented first-generation soy product. It typically comes in unseasoned patties that can be sliced or crumbled and can be found in the refrigerated section of the produce department, near the tofu and wonton/egg roll wrappers.

My Tempeh Shepherd’s Pie crumbled the tempeh to use as a replacement for ground beef. This recipe calls for slicing the tempeh instead. 

Ingredients

Baked BBQ Tempeh Ingredients

This super simple barbecue sauce contains 

• 1/2 sweet onion
• garlic
• 8 oz canned tomato sauce
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• cumin

You’ll use this to make the barbecue sauce, then marinade the sliced tempeh in it before baking it and then smearing the cooked tempeh to make a gooey sauce.

Strawberry Salsa Ingredients

• Sliced strawberries
• 1/4 red onion
• fresh cilantro
• fresh mint
• fresh basil
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Avocado Salad Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 lime
• cumin, smoked paprika salt, pepper
• 1 large avocado
• 1 pint halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 cucumber sliced into half circles
• cilantro

Instructions for Baked BBQ Tempeh

Preparing the Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Start by washing your hands and chopping all your ingredients.  Pour a tbsp olive oil into a small saucepan and heat.  Add the onion and saute until soft, about 5-6 minutes.   Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.  This prevents the garlic from burning and taking on a bitter taste.

Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as suits you.  Remove from heat.

At this point, your sauce is done. However, if you prefer a smooth texture, you can allow the sauce to cool and then blend until you reach your desired texture.

Marinating the Tempeh

Pour a little bit of sauce on the bottom of a container, spread out the tempeh evenly, then pour more sauce over it, reserving some to use later.  Make sure the tempeh slices are evenly covered.

Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes, but for as long as overnight is fine, too.

Baking the BBQ Tempeh

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the tempeh slices in a single layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping the tempeh slices halfway through. 

Instructions for Strawberry Salsa

Give the strawberries a rough chop to bite-sized pieces and the onions into half circle, thin slices.   Take all the herbs and give them a rough chop as well. I like to leave them a bit chunky, but you could slice them smaller for a more uniform flavor.

Combine all ingredients together and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Instructions for Avocado Salad

Cube your avocado and slice your tomatoes in half.   Slice your cucumber in half, lengthwise, then into half circles.  

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Serve immediately.

Tips for Success

Make sure that all of your ingredients are fresh. No one wants a mushy strawberry salsa!

For the tempeh, I like to slice it really thin to get maximum flavor from the barbecue sauce. If you want to put these on the grill, you should probably slice them a little thicker to reduce the chance of them falling apart while you’re handling them.

Customizing your Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Make this easy BBQ sauce your own! Add other flavors or take some away. Or you could make it super easy on yourself and pick up your favorite sauce from the store.

Here are some customization options

• Switch out the tomato sauce and vinegar for ketchup
• Switch out the molasses for something else sweet, such as honey, brown sugar, or pineapple juice.
• Put the sauce in a blender after cooking to smooth it out.
• Add some spice with hot sauce, chipotle powder, or red pepper flakes
• Add more smoke with liquid smoke, increasing the smoked paprika, or using a smoked salt and/or pepper

It’s easy to knock a barbecue off balance, so if you add something, taste as you go. It’s easy to add but difficult to take things back out!

Storage and Reheating your Baked BBQ Tempeh

Store your Baked BBQ Tempeh in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. You can use it to make sandwiches, top salads, or bake potatoes.

Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or the air fryer for ~5 minutes.

The sides won’t hold up well as leftovers, so eat up!