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With 8 tempeh marinade flavors to choose from, you’ll never get bored of tempeh again. This easy-to-make protein is perfect for baking, sautéing, air frying, or grilling!

Nine glass containers each hold cubed tempeh in different marinades, labeled: Smoked Bacon, Fajita, Sesame Ginger, Garlic & Herb, BBQ, Tandoori, Herby Balsamic, and Cilantro Lime.
Whether it’s taco night or you’re craving Indian food, we’ve got you covered with these 8 delicious marinades.
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Tempeh and tofu are like blank canvases for vegetarians and vegans because they soak up marinades so well.

Once you know how to marinate tempeh, nothing can stop you from creating new flavor options. Whether you air fry, bake, or saute, you’ll be locking in those delicious flavors, especially if you follow our guide on how to cook tempeh).

Reader rating

★★★★★

“I’m obsessed with the Herby Balsamic! I’ve tried other balsamic marinades and this one is great! Perfect for salads. Thank you!” —Lisa

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Cubes of tempeh coated in various marinades and spices are arranged in separate clusters on a sheet of parchment paper.

Tempeh Tip

Tempeh is usually found near the tofu and vacuumed-sealed, making it a great option to keep in your fridge at all times. Since it’s fermented, it has a stronger taste on its own than tofu does, but I’ll teach you how to tone that down and let the marinade shine through.

Eight glass containers filled with various marinades and seasonings, each with distinct ingredients such as herbs, spices, minced garlic, sauces, and oils, arranged in a grid pattern.

Smoked Bacon

Smoked paprika and liquid smoke add that bit of kick you need (combined with maple syrup) to make a wonderfully warm bacon flavor. This flavor pairs perfectly with cottage cheese omelettes or egg muffin cups.

A glass bowl of cubed tempeh next to a rectangular glass dish containing a dark marinade on a light surface.
Sometimes I’ll slice the tempeh into long strips before marinating, then saute them in a pan so they actually look like bacon.

Sesame Ginger

Sesame oil is key to the perfect Asian tempeh marinade. This variation also contains ginger and brown sugar. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh would all be perfect on a Buddha bowl.

Cubed tempeh in a glass bowl next to a rectangular dish containing soy sauce, minced ginger, garlic, and brown sugar.
Trust me, you won’t be able to get enough of this one!

BBQ

This BBQ tempeh marinade couldn’t be easier. I thin out my favorite barbecue sauce with vinegar and add some zing with fresh garlic. Pair it with a light summer vegetable salad.

A bowl of cubed tempeh next to a glass container with a marinade of tomato paste, chopped garlic, and liquid ingredients on a light surface.
Keep your tempeh in larger slabs here, and you can grill it outside in summer. It’s the perfect vegan option for when you have a lot of guests over.

Herby Balsamic

It’s pasta night! Serve this tempeh along with a Caprese salad, or pick your choice of pasta and top both pasta and tempeh with the best homemade marinara.

A glass bowl with cubed tempeh next to a glass dish containing oil, soy sauce, herbs, minced garlic, and mustard on a light surface. A whisk is partially visible.
This olive oil and balsamic tempeh marinade will make your heart sing.

Fajita

Obviously, since I’ve named this marinade after fajitas, it would be perfect to add to vegetable fajitas or vegan burritos. Fajitas are one of the easiest meals to serve to a crowd because everyone can customize their plates.

A bowl of cubed tempeh next to a glass dish containing marinade ingredients, including chopped onions, spices, and oil.
Chili powder, lime juice, avocado oil—those all scream Mexican flavors to me, especially for Taco Tuesday!

Garlic And Herb

Yup, I put 6 cloves of garlic in this marinade! Paired with Italian seasoning, I’d love to cube this tempeh up into bite-sized pieces and whip up some pizza dough, then add plenty of Parmesan and maybe pesto.

A glass bowl with cubed tempeh next to a rectangular dish containing oil, minced garlic, and dried herbs on a light-colored surface.

Tandoori

Garam masala, garlic, coriander, and more combine to make a really delightful Indian-inspired tempeh marinade. Serve this up with homemade naan and Greek yogurt for a hearty, flavor-packed meal.

Glass bowl with cubed tempeh next to a dish containing various spices, coconut milk, ginger, and seasonings, set on a light-colored surface.
Trust me—your taste buds will thank you for this one.

Cilantro And Lime

Fresh cilantro has to be my favorite herb of all time. Cubed and seared cilantro lime tempeh would be a great way to add protein to avocado soup or crispy avocado tacos.

A bowl of cubed tempeh next to a glass dish containing chopped herbs, garlic, onion, and lemon juice on a light, textured surface.
Pair this one with avocado-based meals for the perfect texture contrast.
Eight groups of cubed tempeh on parchment paper, each labeled with a different marinade flavor: Smoked Bacon, Fajita, Sesame Ginger, Garlic & Herb, BBQ, Tandoori, Herby Balsamic, Cilantro Lime.
Which tempeh marinade are you trying first? Let us know in the comments!
Several plastic bags filled with different varieties of cubed tempeh, each displaying distinct colors and seasonings, laid out side by side.
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8 Easy Tempeh Marinades

5 from 16 ratings
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
With 8 different flavors to choose from, you'll never get bored of tempeh again. Which are you trying first?

Ingredients 

  • 1 8-oz pack tempeh, 226 g

Smoked Bacon

  • ¼ cup oil, 60 mL
  • ¼ cup soy sauce, 60 mL
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup, 30 mL
  • 2 tsp liquid smoke
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Sesame Ginger

  • ¼ cup soy sauce, 60 mL
  • 2 Tbsp sesame oil, 30 mL
  • 2 Tbsp unflavored oil, 30 mL
  • 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar

BBQ

  • ½ cup BBQ sauce, 120 g
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 30 mL
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ tsp salt

Herby Balsamic

  • ¼ cup oil, olive oil is great here, 60 mL
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 60 mL
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp dried basil

Fajita

  • ¼ cup oil, avocado oil is great here, 60 mL
  • ¼ cup lime juice, 60 mL
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp each cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp salt

Garlic & Herb

  • ¼ cup oil, olive oil is great here, 60 mL
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 30 mL
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp salt

Tandoori

  • ½ cup canned coconut milk, 120 mL
  • 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 tsp each paprika, ground coriander
  • 1 tsp each garam masala, garlic powder, cumin, turmeric
  • ¼ tsp salt

Cilantro Lime

  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, 20 g
  • ¼ cup oil, coconut oil is great here, 60 mL
  • ¼ cup lime juice, 60 mL
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ tsp salt
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Instructions 

  • Cut: Cut tempeh into your desired shape (triangle or cubes are common!)
  • Steam (optional): To remove the bitterness from the tempeh, place the cut tempeh into a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water, cover, and steam for 10 minutes.
  • Mix: Choose your desired flavor and stir together all ingredients.
    Eight glass containers with different sauces and marinades, perfect for learning how to marinate tempeh, are arranged in two rows of four on a white surface, showcasing a variety of colors and textures.
  • Assemble: Add tempeh to a bowl or plastic bag, along with the marinade. Allow tempeh to marinate anywhere from 1 to 24 hours.
    Eight glass containers filled with cubed tempeh, each showcasing how to marinate tempeh in different colorful sauces or seasonings, neatly arranged in two rows on a light surface.
  • Cook: Fish the pieces of tempeh from the marinade and cook as desired (baked, air fried, or sauteed all work well with marinated tempeh!)
    Assorted cubes of marinated and baked tofu arranged in groups on parchment paper, each group featuring a different seasoning or sauce.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
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5 from 16 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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27 Comments

  1. BERNIE says:

    5 stars
    You have opened up a new world of choices using tempeh that I never knew..thank you..

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Yay! Enjoy! 😀

  2. Carla says:

    5 stars
    I have used and made the Herby Balsamic and the Garlic and Herb. I also started using your tip to steam for 10 minutes. SOOOO good!! I add it to my roasted veggies and quinoa for my lunch meal prep for the week. I did not like it the first few times I roasted it – BEFORE finding your tips and recipes – and now I love it! My picky meat eating spouse even likes it. Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      YAY! I’m so happy to hear it, Carla! Enjoy 😀

  3. Rachel says:

    Can I prepare the tempeh in the marinades and then freeze to use at another time? I have never tried to freeze tempeh.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Yes, freezing the tempeh should work well!

  4. joe says:

    5 stars
    I just found your site. i love it!
    These all look great. I’m doing the sesame ginger right now.
    love that you bundled all the options in one page. Quite smart.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      So happy to hear it, Joe! Enjoy! 😀

  5. Leslie says:

    5 stars
    I’ve made the Smoked Bacon and Fajita marinades, both were great. I’m puzzled about steaming to remove bitterness. What bitterness? I haven’t notice any bitterness at all in my tempeh. Is it because I make my own maybe?

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Oh maybe that could be preventing it! Some tempeh can have a pretty bitter flavor.

  6. Lisa says:

    5 stars
    I’m obsessed with the Herby Balsamic! I’ve tried other balsamic marinades and this one is great! Perfect for salads. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      I’m so happy to hear it, Lisa! Enjoy! 😀

  7. Jana says:

    5 stars
    I LOVE your the marinated tempeh and I only tried one flavor – Garlic & Herb. Cannot compare with the bought stuff!! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      So happy to hear it, Jana! 😀

  8. Maxine Yaged says:

    Hi,
    What temperature do you bake the tempeh at and how long do you cook it.
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Hi Maxine! I have a full guide on how to cook tempeh here 🙂 Happy cooking!

  9. Andrea Farrow says:

    5 stars
    All are great suggestions here. Thanks for sharing these.

    Reply
  10. Kathy says:

    5 stars
    Love these delicious marinades! They’re super easy to make while the tempeh is steaming. (I prep it in a storage container to minimize the dishwashing. 🙂 And instead of fishing out the tempeh from the marinade, I use both the tempeh and the marinade in soups and salads to add extra flavor!

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      You just made my day, enjoy!