This dish for Buffalo Tempeh “Wings” is crispy chunks of tempeh baked (or fried) to perfection and coated in spicy buffalo sauce. Serve these tempeh “wings” with ranch dip for the go-to party snack!

Worth keeping anything smothered in buffalo sauce, whether it’s buffalo tofu, buffalo cauliflower or these delectable buffalo tempeh “wings”. It’s a unique and unexpected appetizer that can be baked or fried, and is packed with so much flavor.

Buffalo tempeh is one of my regular ways to enjoy tempeh. It cooks up tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and especially good, thanks to the buffalo sauce. Add some celery sticks, and a long-used dip like vegan ranch or blue cheese, and you’ve got a snack that’s sure to get rave reviews!

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is a plant based protein source that is made from fermented soybeans. It kind of looks like someone smashed together a bunch of beans and then baked it into a cake. It has a firm texture that can easily be sliced, broken into chunks, or even crumbled.

On it’s own and uncooked, tempeh has a particularly mild taste and is almost flavorless. However, it does a great job soaking up marinades and flavors and if cooked properly, tastes STANDOUT!

buffalo tempeh garnished with chives and served with a ranch dressing

Ingredients needed:

Buffalo tempeh is made with simple, unfussy to find ingredients, making it the reliable vegan appetizer to serve for holiday gatherings, potlucks and game day. Here’s what you need:

Tempeh. Tempeh is a great meat alternative and when pulled apart in chunks, it’s particularly much like chicken. You’ll need about 1 pound of tempeh for this method.
Buffalo sauce. My go-to brand of hot sauce is Frank’s Red Hot, but any kind works.
Cornstarch. Helps to achieve the crusty, crisp outside layer of the “wings”.
Panko breadcrumbs. The breading is made with Panko breadcrumbs to make these “wings” nice and crispy. Feel free to use gluten-free breadcrumbs, as preferred.
Neutral oil. If you’ll be frying these buffalo tempeh “wings” you’ll need some type of neutral oil. Canola oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, or avocado oil all work great!

How to make buffalo tempeh “wings”

In simply a few unfussy steps, you’ll be able to serve up this flavor-packed, zesty appetizer!

Please see the recipe card for the full, printable recipe with all of the details.

Prep tempeh. Break the tempeh into nugget-sized chunks and place in a shallow container. Cover with the buffalo sauce. Toss to full cover in the sauce and place in the refrigerator to marinate for an hour (or even overnight).
Coat in breading. Place the Panko in a shallow bowl and the cornstarch in a separate shallow bowl. One piece at a time, remove the chunks of tempeh from the buffalo sauce and cover in cornstarch. Dip it back in the buffalo sauce to coat and then toss to cover in the Panko breadcrumbs.
To bake. Preheat the oven and place the tempeh pieces on the prepared baking sheet and spritz the top with cooking oil spray. Bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway. They’re done when they’re golden brown on each side
To fry. Heat 1 inch of neutral oil in a large heavy skillet and place the tempeh pieces carefully into the HOT oil and fry on each side until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from oil and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Serve and enjoy! Feel free to lightly brush a little bit of extra buffalo sauce onto the “wings” and then serve with your go-to dipping sauce!

Tips for making buffalo tempeh

Follow the suggestions below for an standout appetizer every time!

Be sure to break your tempeh into similar-sized pieces, so that they’ll cook at the same rate.
If you’re sensitive to spiciness, choose a buffalo sauce that is labeled “mild”.
This buffalo tempeh is dependable when you serve it immediately after it has cooked, as the coating will soften the longer the tempeh sits.

Dipping sauce for buffalo tempeh “wings”

Spicy snacks like this one, pair wonderfully with a cool dip and keep the spiciness to a reasonable level. A regular here buffalo tempeh served with my from-scratch vegan ranch dressing. Feel free to use your regular store-bought ranch dip too! Blue cheese is also a great choice and there are several brands that make a vegan blue cheese dressing or you could try this popular kitchen-made vegan blue cheese dressing recipe.

Serving suggestions

Not only are these tempeh buffalo “wings” great served as an appetizer for game day and parties, they are truly flavorful served over a salad, rolled up in a wrap or on a sandwich! You can even pair them with your go-to sides for a complete dinner. The possibilities are endless! Enjoy!