Interested in trying more tempeh recipes? You’ll love my Tempeh Tacos as well as this Tempeh Chili and this flavor-packed Tempeh Bacon!

Please tell me that you’ve tried tempeh before? PLEASE!

If not, then you’ve come to the right place because this tempeh stir fry is seriously SO deeply good! But I’m a little biased because I happen to think that tempeh is THE most underrated vegetarian protein source out there. Seriously deeply good.

Tempeh is WORTH THE POT that I created a whole roundup of my regular tempeh recipes and even have a whole post on Tempeh 101. Check em out!

I recently wrote a whole post about how to marinate tempeh and it makes a huge difference when cooking with it!

Why You’ll Love This method

Speedy & unfussy – Ready in under 30 minutes!
Packed with flavor – Sweet, savory, nutty, and tangy all in one.
High in protein – Thanks to the tempeh and nut butter.
Great for meal prep – Stores well for leftovers!
Customizable – Swap the veggies or protein for whatever you have on hand.

Ingredients we’re working with:

Tempeh – A great plant-based protein! You can swap it for tofu if needed.
Ginger paste – Can substitute with grated fresh ginger or ground ginger in a pinch.
Garlic paste – Swap for minced fresh garlic if you prefer.
Sesame oil.
Rice vinegar – Gives the sauce a slight tang. Apple cider vinegar works too.
Soy sauce or coconut aminos – Use tamari for a gluten-free version.
Maple syrup – Adds natural sweetness. Swap for honey or agave syrup.
Cornstarch – Helps thicken the sauce. Arrowroot starch is a good alternative!
Nut butter – Adds depth and richness! Peanut butter or almond butter work well but you can use tahini or sunflower seed butter for a nut free option.
Green beans & carrots– other veggies can easily be swapped or added in as desired!

How for this straightforward stir fry

The full printable recipe can be found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card but let’s go over the main steps:

sauce ingredients in blender to make stir fry

STEP #1: Make the sauce by combining all of the ingredients in a blender and blending until smooth.

STEP #2: Cook the tempeh in a large skillet and toss in simply a little bit of the sauce to coat the tempeh. Set aside to cook the veggies.

raw carrots and green beans in a large skillet

STEP #3: Cook the veggies in a large skillet with a little oil. During the last few minutes, add in a little water to steam the veggies until tender.

STEP #4: Combine all of the ingredients – add the tempeh back into the skillet along with the sauce and cook until the sauce has thickened and the veggies and tempeh are covered in the sauce.

Expert Tips

Adjust the sauce thickness: If too thick, add a splash of water. If too thin, let it simmer longer.
Marinate the tempeh: Let it soak in the sauce for 15-30 minutes before cooking for extra flavor.
Crispy tempeh hack: Air fry or bake the tempeh at 375°F for 15 minutes before adding to the skillet.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook in batches if needed for even browning.