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This Crispy Air Fryer Tempeh covered in a delicious tempeh peanut sauce is a 20 minute vegan air fryer recipe that everyone will love!

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Are you someone who is intimidated by tempeh? I used to be! Now, I especially like it, and I really like the texture.

It tastes great in my winter roasted vegetable bowl, or paired with any stir fry or noodle recipe.

Marinated baked tempeh takes on whatever flavor you cook it with, which is why I chose peanut sauce tempeh for this recipe.

Peanut tempeh has always been my favorite. We make an iteration of it pretty much every time we make tempeh or tofu.

When I was searching for tempeh air fryer recipes, though, there were not a ton to choose from.

So, I figured it was a great opportunity to create my own air fryer tempeh recipe with a delicious marinade that you will hopefully want to make over and over again.

Air Fryer Tempeh Ingredients

Air Fryer tempeh is so easy and quick, and really, the only way I cook tempeh now.

Once you make this air fried tempeh recipe, you won’t make it any other way.

Here’s what you need.

• tempeh
• avocado oil (or sesame oil)
• peanut butter
• maple syrup
• coconut aminos
• chili powder

Tempeh is a great plant based protein, and one that we often eat weekly.

Hopefully, you and your family can enjoy this air fried tempeh. It happens to be a vegan gluten free air fryer recipe, too.

If you’re looking for a meaty air fryer recipe, take a look at these air fryer bison burgers which also happen to be a really quick recipe we make on a weekly basis too!

AIR FRYER ESSENTIALS – I love to keep some go-to’s on hand for my air fryer recipes. Here’s what I recommend using:

Fast Instant Read Thermometer – You’ll use this more than you know! It works for meat on the grill or stove or oven, too. It’s super fast and the large screen is easy to read.

Reusable Air Fryer Liners – I love these for easy cleaning!

Plate Gripper – This is great for HOT things when they come out of the air fryer. Take care and don’t burn yourself.

Tongs – Tongs can be helpful for transferring seasoned items and then hot items after cooked in the air fryer.

How To Cook Tempeh in the Air Fryer

I have a thing for crispy foods. Crispy broccoli and vegetables, roasted vegetables with brussels sprouts, crispy air fryer green beans, crispy chicken (love some fried chicken).

The crisp just seems to add so much flavor.

To make air fryer tempeh, you’ll just add your tempeh cubes to the air fryer bowl.

Let’s discuss how to season tempeh in the air fryer because that’s really what sets this air fryer tempeh recipe apart.

I like cubing my tempeh (1/2″-1″) because I feel like each piece gets a better coating of the peanut tempeh sauce, but tempeh strips would also work well.

I prefer to add the seasoning AFTER cooking air fryer tempeh because it seems to coat the tempeh more.

But you are also welcome to make the tempeh marinade before air frying the tempeh.

In the recipe card, you’ll find an option if you choose to add the seasoning marinade first. 

To air fry the tempeh, set it to 380 and 12 minutes, and let it do its magic! Just a pinch of sesame oil is all you need to smell up your kitchen. 

Peanut Butter Tempeh and Tempeh Peanut Sauce

I knew I wanted to make a tempeh marinade without soy sauce, just because I didn’t have any soy sauce on hand.

This tempeh peanut sauce contains:

• coconut aminos
• peanut butter
• maple syrup
• avocado oil (or sesame oil)
• chili powder

We often use Thrive Market‘s coconut aminos in place for soy sauce, anyway.

Thrive Market is the best kept secret.

For the sauce, follow your personal preference. You can make it spicier with more chili powder or even red pepper flakes.

You can swap out honey for the maple syrup if you’re not vegan.

What To Serve Air Fried Tempeh With

Just like any other protein source, tempeh is great served with carbohydrates and veggies.

I love noodles, rice or potatoes/sweet potatoes paired with this tempeh air fryer recipe (See 20 ways to use sweet potatoes here).

• Egg Noodle Stir Fry
• Atop a Mango Quinoa Salad
• Alongside a Broccoli Kale Salad

Bottom line, get creative!

More Air Fryer Recipes:

• Air Fryer Parsnips
• Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
• Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
• Chicken Tacos in Air Fryer
• Pizza Rolls in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Bison Burgers
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges

Continue to Content

Yield: 3 servings

Crispy Air Fryer Tempeh

Print

This Crispy Air Fryer Tempeh covered in a delicious tempeh peanut sauce is a 20 minute vegan air fryer recipe that everyone will love!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 17 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 ounces tempeh, cubed
• 1 tbsp avocado oil (or sesame oil)
• 2 Tbsp peanut butter
• 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp coconut aminos
• 1/8 tsp chili powder (can be increased)

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 380.
2. While the air fryer is preheating, slice your tempeh into cubes about 1” thick.
3. To marinade the tempeh, place cubes in a medium sized bowl and add remaining ingredients. Marinade for up to 30 minutes, or if you think of it, you can marinade overnight.
4. Spread tempeh out into even layer in air fryer tray.
5. Air fry for 12 min, or until desired crispiness.
6. Let cool and add marinade over crispy tempeh cubes and enjoy!

Notes

Peanut marinade adapted by Minimalist Baker.

I prefer to add the seasoning AFTER cooking the tempeh because it seems to coat the tempeh better/more. But you can also make the tempeh marinade and coat the tempeh before air frying. If doing so, allow at least 30 minutes for the tempeh to sit in the marinade.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Kirkland Organic Creamy Peanut Butter U.S. Valencia Peanuts 28 Ounce Each Jar 2 Pack
• 
  Primal Kitchen - Avocado Oil, Whole 30 Approved, Paleo Friendly and Cold Pressed (16.9 oz) - Two Pack
• 
  Organic Maple Syrup - 32 Oz. Jug - 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup - Small Family Farm Sourced - Grade A: Amber Rich Taste - Non-GMO, Healthy and Gluten-Free

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 422Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 233mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 26g

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