Teriyaki Tempeh Stir Fry

If you are new to cooking with tempeh, start here. This healthy tempeh stir fry is ready in just 30 minutes with 27 grams of protein per serving. With a homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce for a delicious, weeknight dinner.

If you are on the fence about tempeh, then this tempeh stir fry is the recipe for you. I cook a lot with soy foods (I’ve made it my mission to make you love tofu!) But, tofu is just the tip of the soy foods iceberg.

Tempeh is tofu’s heartier, meatier cousin. You can find it in the same section of the grocery store as tofu, and these blocks of soy pack some serious nutrition– protein, iron, unsaturated fatty acids, zinc, calcium and more.

Years ago, when I was into making my own tempeh, I learned that the best way to eat it was simply pan fried in oil until the edges were golden brown and crispy. So, that’s what we are doing here. Plus plenty of vegetables and a homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce.

This tempeh stir fry is one of my favorite weeknight meals– see below for more details, or head to the full recipe card at the bottom (or by clicking, jump to recipe above).

Ingredient Notes

• Tempeh: I know that the term ‘fermented bean cake’ doesn’t sound appetizing, but trust me when I say that once you learn how to cook tempeh correctly, you’ll love it’s meaty, slightly nutty texture. Find it in the refrigerated protein section of the grocery store where your tofu usually is. I think Trader Joe’s has the best prices!
• Canned Pineapple: I’m using both the pineapple chunks and the pineapple juice in this tempeh stir fry. You can use tidbits or chunks, depending on preference.
• Bell Peppers: You can use any color of bell peppers here, I usually do red because I like the pop of color against the sugar peas.
• Sugar Peas: Snow peas or sugar snap peas are my preferred green in this recipe, but broccoli also works.

How to Make (Step by Step Photos)

Step 1: Slice the Tempeh

Remove the tempeh block from the package. Starting from the short end, slice the tempeh into 1/4 inch strips.

Step 2: Brown the Tempeh

In a large wok (my choice!) or a skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the tempeh strips and cook on both sides until lightly browned. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to do this in batches and add more oil.

Step 3: Cook the Vegetables

Remove the tempeh from the wok and add in a little more oil. Add the vegetables and cook until just tender and crisp, about 7-10 minutes, stirring often so the vegetables don’t stick. Add the pineapple and cook another minute or two.

Step 4: Add the tempeh and sauce

Add the cooked tempeh and sauce back to the wok, cooking another few minutes until the sauce is thickened and the tempeh and vegetables are coated.

Step 4: Serve

Serve this tempeh stir fry over rice. I like to garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds. As a spice lover, I sometimes also add in a little drizzle of sriracha or my chili crisp over the top.

Chef Tips for Success

The key to any good stir fry is cooking the vegetables until just crisp and tender, but not mushy! Make sure to watch your wok as you cook– you want a sear on the vegetables and they should be fork-tender, but not overly cooked.

Make sure to brown your tempeh before cooking the vegetables. This tempeh stir fry is so delicious because the tempeh gets nice and crispy before being added to the sauce and vegetables. Don’t skip the first sear!

The oil is a must to get the tempeh crispy. You can cook the vegetables in broth or water if you want to reduce overall calorie, but you need the tempeh to be crispy for best texture and flavor.

I’m obsessed with my Hestan wok. Yes, it’s an investment but as I make stir fry often, it’s worth it to me to have it be part of my collection. If you make recipes like this one often, it’s worth having a good wok!

More Tempeh Recipes:

• How to Make Tempeh Bacon
• Tempeh Bacon BLTs
• Sheet Pan Tempeh and Balsamic Vegetables
• Spicy Peanut Noodles with Tempeh
• Curried Tempeh Salad Wrap
• Summer Wedge Salad with Corn and Tempeh Bacon

If you try this teriyaki tempeh stir fry recipe, make sure to come back to leave a comment and a rating. Your feedback helps other users and seeing you make my recipes makes my day!