I spend an unhealthy amount of time worrying about what other people think. This is not a very cool thing to admit about myself. (Oh look, I'm worrying about what you think about the fact that I worry about what you think. How meta of me.)
And when I was putting together this post, I thought, "Oh no! I accidentally scheduled two sandwiches in one week!"
Do you really care if I post two sandwich recipes in one week? Probably not. So what does it matter? I don't know!
How to Make BBQ Tempeh
I'm not worried about how you'll feel about this BBQ Tempeh Sandwich recipe, though. It just happens to be one of my favorite easy meals and I'm pretty sure you will love it too.
Slice up some tempeh, marinate it in barbecue sauce, heat it up in a skillet. Done!
Yep, it's that easy. You can serve it just like that or make it into sandwiches with a quick slaw.
It's kind of the same idea behind my Baked Barbecue Tofu, except with tempeh and no baking.
If you haven't cooked with it before, I have a post all about how to use tempeh- it's much easier to work with than you probably think and when you slice it thin, as you do for this recipe, it soaks up the sauce you add to it.
Don't be scared to use tempeh! It's a delicious vegetarian protein source when you know how to use it.
More Vegan Recipes
If you love this BBQ Tempeh Sandwich, be sure to check out these other tasty ideas:
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz tempeh, cut into thin strips
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- pinch white sugar (organic for vegan-friendly)
- salt + pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
- olive oil mister or cooking spray
- 4 hamburger rolls
Instructions
- Spread ¼ cup of barbecue sauce on the bottom of a small baking dish. Add tempeh and top with remaining barbecue sauce. Gently toss to coat. Let marinate for an hour, stirring after 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in cabbage and set aside.
- Spray a medium skillet with oil or cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add tempeh and sauce; cook until heated, about 5 minutes. Serve on rolls with slaw and additional barbecue sauce (if desired).
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Schedule 5 sandwich posts if you want then on Friday declare it was sandwich week! My opinion of you won't change unless you kill someone or club baby seals. So yeah, I think you're good to go. 😉
Kiersten says
I thought about making it sandwich week! Maybe next month because I have two more sandwich posts scheduled for April. I love sandwiches!
Deborah says
I can only agree with Anele - who cares? As long as they are as delicious and easy as this one, we can't get enough of them. It's one of those things you come to appriciate especially being on your own. So stop the worrying - and have a lovely Easter.
Kiersten says
Thank you--I hope you have a Happy Easter too!
Alissa N says
I worry about the same things, if I post 2 sweet things in a week, or 2 breakfasts.. I am glad to know I am not alone!! I definitely worry too much about what other people think.
BBQ tempeh is one of my all time favorite meals!! I like to cut it in slabs and grill it and top it with avocado and/or cheese. The slaw is an amazing idea, I need to make this!! I have also never tried marinating it, I always just slather and go, but I am going to need to try this asap!!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I'm really OCD about my posting schedule too! And even things like, oh, I used a white plate on this post, so the next post I can't use another white plate. Which is kind of insane, I think.
Kristina says
GIRL I love sandwiches so go ahead, keep them coming! I somehow have this thing where I have never cared what others think, I don't know how or why, but I am kinda thankful for it. I think I exchange that worry with other ones though - really silly ones 😉
I love a good bbq sandwich - I make one similar to this, on the grill with grilled pineapple - MMM I cannot wait for summer!
Kiersten says
I used to not care what people thought, but I have started caring more and more as I get older. Which is funny, because I always thought it was supposed to work the opposite way. 🙂
McKel | Nutrition Stripped says
Nothing hits the spot quite like BBQ, and that's coming from the South 😉 I love this recipe
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
I do the same thing. I spend way too much time worrying about how other people see me. And you could post only sandwich recipes and I wouldn't mind, this looks great.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I love love love tempeh! I could eat the stuff straight from the TJs package. Oh wait, I do sometimes 🙂 But marinated like this looks lovely!
Kiersten says
Oh, see, I love tempeh, but I could never eat it out of the package! I'm not too fond of its natural flavor. 😉
JulieD says
I think it's only natural and you're only human. It's when people let it consume them that it becomes unhealthy. I LOVE this...I have never cooked with tempeh before, need to start!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
I'm lovin your sandwiches! Everyone cares a bit too much about what others think, whether we all are willing to admit it or not. Can't wait to dig into of these!
dixya@food, pleasure, and health says
i totally agree with Alexis's comment regarding caring about others..oh well- this tempeh however looks delicious. I was very hesitant to give it a try before but now it appears regularly on my kitchen although i havent been much adventurous with it. This bbq sandwich looks so appetizing. Stirring with hummus is my all time fav
Kiersten says
Yeah, tempeh is a little bit scary at first--it took me a while to try it too!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
I care, but I'll be excited. In Poland we eat a lot of sandwiches, so each new recipe is welcome 🙂 And you're right, don't worry about what others think. Life is too short for it 🙂
Kiersten says
I know, I need to stop that! I don't know why I worry so much.
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
Haha, the more sandwiches the better in my world! I love the flavours here, and your pictures, as always, are amazing!
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
You have made the healthy food so tempting and delicious!
Rachel says
Oh the deliciousness that sandwich looks like. I say with stuff that good, we should celebrate a sandwich week! Or sandwich month!! I'm all about the tasty good sandwiches.
Kiersten says
I could totally do a sandwich week. I have been on a sandwich kick lately!
Maria Tadic says
I love marinating tempeh. It soaks up so much flavor! We just had a grilled tempeh sandwich tonight with avocado - the bomb! I can't wait to try it slathered with coleslaw on top - great idea!
Kiersten says
One thing I haven't done much with tempeh is grill it! I need to do that. 🙂
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
These sound awesome! I just recently made a vegan version of a BBQ pulled pork sandwich using tofu and topped it with sriracha coleslaw. It was amazing! I like your idea of using tempeh. I will have to give this a try :).
Kiersten says
I need to add sriracha to my next batch of coleslaw! 😀
Katie (The Muffin Myth) says
Yum! I made myself a bbq tempeh sandwich last week, actually. But I didn't marinate it at all, just pan fried the tempeh and tossed with the bbq sauce at the end. Clearly marinating would have been much more flavourful. I'll try this again, I just happen to have tempeh in the freezer and cabbage in the fridge! Oooh, I bet this would go great with my Swedish pizza sallad!
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I try not to care what people think, but it's kind of hard (impossible, even?) not to. What was freeing for me was the realization that most of the time what people say about you is more a reflection of themselves than anything else. Then again I'm not sure why anyone would criticize two sandwich posts - hee hee. You are funny. Only praise, here. They both look so stinkin' good. And by "stinkin'," I mean only good things.
Kiersten says
People criticize the weirdest things. And not just criticize, but get absolutely enraged about them. So you never know! Maybe someone would get really angry about two sandwich recipes in a week! Like the dude who got mad at me for making fruit leather because "WHEN YOU BAKE IT THE VITAMINS ARE DESTROYED. THEN WHAT???????"
Genevieve says
This sounds like a perfect backyard BBQ meal! I like how you put the coleslaw right on the bun as a topping rather than using it as a side dish. I have to say though, that tempeh looks pretty ugly when it's naked - it's more more appealing coated in barbeque sauce!
Kiersten says
Yeah, it's kind of weird and lumpy, isn't it? 🙂
Diana @ Eating Made Easy says
Great idea!! My hubby will love these...and keep the sandwich recipes ah comin'!
Shirley says
Who doesn't like sandwiches? Bring 'em on. Looks good!
Brenda Williams says
Your readers think you are AWESOME and have the most AMAZING recipes!!! We don't care if you post sandwiches for a whole week, cause we love sandwiches.
Kiersten says
Thank you! Well, that's good to hear because I have more sandwich posts coming up this month. 😉
janet @ the taste space says
I didn't even notice there were 2 sandwich posts in a week. Bad on me?
Kiersten says
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything about it--ha!
mjskit says
With sandwiches like this, you can post as many as you like. This looks delicious! I have no idea what it would taste like because I haven't eaten much tempah, but it sure looks delicious!
Kiersten says
Well, tempeh is one of those foods that soaks up the flavor of whatever you add to it, so it pretty much tastes like the sauce. 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Negative self-talk is tough. We are so over-critical about overselves. But don't beat yourself up too much. It could easily be a sandwich month and I would've drool nonetheless 🙂
Kiersten says
I know, I am so critical of myself. I think it's my perfectionism! :/