This easy air fryer tempeh is crispy and full of flavor! It has the most delicious marinade that you’re going to want to put on everything! If you haven’t tried cooking tempeh in the air fryer, it will quickly become your new favorite method—it cooks so fast in the air fryer making weeknight dinners a breeze!
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Why this recipe works
Cooking tempeh in the air fryer is the best way to get it extra crispy. The air fryer is basically a tiny countertop convection oven. It speeds up the preheating and cooking time, making roasting or frying much faster than a conventional oven or deep fryer.
Air fryers are incredibly easy to use and clean and great when you don’t want to heat up your whole kitchen like in the summer.
This is our favorite air fryer—with 8 quarts there’s lots of room for air fried tempeh! This recipe also works in smaller air fryers too.
It’s great at making food evenly crispy since it blows hot air from all angles. This makes cooking tempeh a breeze and the easiest way to get it evenly crispy all around.
Why you’ll love this air fried tempeh:
- Extra crispy without any oil
- Meaty and filling
- Great source of protein, fiber and vitamins
- Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan
- Easy to prepare
- Great for adding to stir fries, nourish bowls, tacos, salads, and more!
Ingredient notes
This air fryer tempeh recipe uses only simple ingredients that effortlessly transform tempeh into a delicious protein source with smoky flavors. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements.
Tempeh: Tempeh is made from whole soybeans and is an easy plant-based protein to prepare. On its own it has a mild, nutty flavor that absorbs other flavors well. Many tempeh brands come pre-flavored now so make sure to get an original, unflavored package.
Marinade:
- Soy sauce: The base of this marinade is soy sauce. You can use liquid aminos or coconut aminos if gluten-free.
- Maple syrup: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the savory. Here are some other substitutes if you don’t want to use maple syrup.
- Liquid smoke: For the perfect amount of smoky flavor! Smoked paprika works well too if you can’t find liquid smoke.
- Garlic powder and onion powder: Classic spices that add tons of flavor to this tempeh marinade!
- Cornstarch: This thickens the marinade into a delicious thick and sticky sauce. It’s a great way to use up the marinade so that it doesn’t go to waste.
This marinade is very similar to our easy vegan stir fry sauce which would taste great with this air fried tempeh as well!
How to make air fried tempeh
This step by step walk-through shows the process of making this marinated air fryer tempeh recipe. Exact times and temperatures are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Cut tempeh into cubes, about 1 inch thick.
Step 2: Add all the marinade ingredients, except the cornstarch, to a small mixing bowl and whisk together.
Step 3: Pour over tempeh cubes and allow to marinate for at least 20-30 minutes.
Step 4: Remove tempeh from the marinade and place in the air fryer basket evenly spaced in a single layer. Air fry tempeh at 400F for 10-15 minutes.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also cook by oven. Place tempeh on a lined baking sheet and bake at 350F for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and crispy, flipping halfway through.
Step 5: In a skillet over medium heat, add the leftover tempeh marinade. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with the cold water to form a slurry and add to the marinade. Stir in and bring to a boil.
Boil for a minute, then turn down to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until it thickens, stirring constantly.
Step 6: When your tempeh is done, transfer it from the basket of your air fryer to the marinade and stir to coat. The thickened marinade will stick to the cooked tempeh and create a super flavorful sticky coating.
How to serve
You can enjoy this crispy air fryer tempeh served over rice or your favorite grain. This Potato Rice makes an excellent base!
This smoky air fryer tempeh also easily transforms into air fryer tempeh bacon. Just cut it into slices instead of cubes! It makes a great side to a vegan scramble.
This flavorful air fryer tempeh can be used in a variety of delicious ways! Some of my favorite ways to enjoy it are in curries, stir fries, grain bowls, wraps, and salads. It’s a really versatile and filling ingredient.
FAQ and Expert Tips
Store leftover air fryer tempeh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat in air fryer to preserve crispiness. You can also reheat in the microwave or on the stove.
Yes, absolutely. Set your oven to 425F and use the convection setting if you have it. Otherwise you made need a little more time to get the tempeh to crisp up. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Flip halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Some swear by steaming it for 10 minutes first to soften it a bit and put some moisture back into it. This may help it absorb more flavor in the marinating step but I honestly don’t find it necessary as it still tastes great without steaming.
No, it just makes a great sticky sauce for the tempeh but you can skip that step if you’re adding it to a salad or something that already has a sauce like a stir fry or curry.
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Crispy Marinated Air Fryer Tempeh
Method
- Air Fryer or Oven
Ingredients
- 1 package tempeh
Marinade:
- ¼ cup soy sauce tamari or liquid aminos work too
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 parts cold water
Instructions
- Slice tempeh into cubes, about 1 inch thick.1 package tempeh
- Add all the marinade ingredients except the cornstarch to a small mixing bowl and whisk together.2 tablespoons maple syrup, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup water, ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Pour over sliced tempeh and allow to marinate for at least 20-30 minutes.
- Remove tempeh from marinade and place in the air fryer basket evenly spaced. Cook at 400F (200C) for 10-15 minutes. By oven: Place on a lined baking sheet and bake at 350F (180C) for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and crispy, flipping halfway through.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add the leftover marinade. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with the cold water to form a slurry and add to the marinade. Stir in and bring to a boil.1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Boil for a minute, then turn down to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until it thickens, stirring constantly.
- When your tempeh is done, add it into the marinade and stir to coat. The thickened marinade will stick to the cooked tempeh and create a super flavorful sticky coating.
Notes
Love this recipe?Check out my new cookbook Whole Food Plant-Based Weeknight Dinners for 70+ easy and delicious oil-free recipes.Nutrition
This air fryer tempeh recipe was updated on December 1, 2022 with additional tips and ingredient information.
I made this with 300 grams of Tempeh because that’s ‘a package’ of tempeh where I live in Israel. I think it’s much more helpful to list ingredients with a quantifiable measurement in weight than ‘a package’.
The recipe was very easy, though I made a second recipe of the marinade for the coating because there wasn’t enough leftover marinade for the second part of the recipe. But – YUM! Now I know a new way to prepare tempeh! Thanks! Love this! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your experience! The tempeh packages I usually buy are 227 grams so I have added that to the ingredients. So glad you loved the recipe 😀
My package is actually 330 grams, so it’s quite a bit more than the package you use. In any case, I really appreciate the recipe and keep your website open in a tab on my browser!
I decided to give tempeh a try and am so glad I chose this recipe! It’s super flavorful! And I love that tempeh doesn’t have to be pressed like tofu… I may like it more than tofu now!!
Yay, I’m so glad you liked it!! It is nice how fast tempeh can be prepared!
I’ve been making this a lot lately so just had to share how good it is! The sauce is delicious and it really does come out so crispy!
I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying it! 🙂
This is probably the best tempeh I’ve ever had! Even my kids liked it!!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks, Claire!
Hi, how much is ‘1 package’ tempeh (in weight)? Thanks!
One package is 8oz or 227g. Hope you enjoy it!!
This came out great. My husband is already asking when we’re having it again. Thank you! 🙂
Yay I’m so glad!! Thank you for sharing, Shellie 🙂
Can I make the sauce in the bottom of the airfryer (Ninja all-in-one) after removing the airfryer basket?
I’m not familiar with that air fryer but if that bottom is meant to be used to sautee then I don’t see why not!