Vegan Bacon BLT Grilled Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Plant-based BLT sandwich featuring smoky tempeh bacon, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and melty vegan cheese grilled between bread.

# What You'll Need:

→ Smoky Tempeh Bacon

01 - 7 oz tempeh, sliced into thin strips
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
03 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 0.5 teaspoon liquid smoke
07 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Sandwich

09 - 4 slices sourdough or sandwich bread, vegan
10 - 4 slices vegan cheese
11 - 1 medium tomato, sliced
12 - 4 leaves crisp lettuce, romaine or iceberg
13 - 2 tablespoons vegan butter or margarine

# Steps:

01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup, olive oil, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, garlic powder, and black pepper. Add tempeh strips and marinate for 10 minutes.
02 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add marinated tempeh and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and slightly crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Spread vegan butter on one side of each bread slice.
04 - Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Top each with a slice of vegan cheese, half the smoky tempeh bacon, tomato slices, lettuce, and another slice of vegan cheese. Cover with remaining bread, buttered side up.
05 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-low heat. Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
06 - Slice each sandwich in half and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tempeh bacon gets genuinely crispy and smoky, fooling even the most devoted bacon lovers at your table.
  • Everything comes together in 30 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want comfort food without the wait.
  • The contrast of hot, melty cheese against cool, crisp lettuce creates a texture experience that keeps you coming back for more.
  • It is endlessly adaptable, you can swap breads, cheeses, and add-ins based on whatever is in your fridge.
02 -
  • Do not rush the tempeh marinade time, those 10 minutes let the flavors penetrate deep and make all the difference in the final taste.
  • Keep your heat at medium-low when grilling, too high and the bread burns before the cheese melts, too low and you lose that crispy texture.
  • Pat your tomato slices dry with a paper towel before assembling, excess moisture can make your sandwich soggy.
  • Press gently but consistently while grilling, it helps the cheese melt evenly and creates better contact with the pan for that perfect crust.
03 -
  • Steam your tempeh for 10 minutes before marinating to remove any bitterness and help it absorb more flavor.
  • Use a bacon press or a smaller skillet on top of your sandwich while grilling for even pressure and better cheese melt.
  • Make extra tempeh bacon because it disappears quickly, it is incredible crumbled over salads or tucked into wraps all week long.
  • If your vegan cheese is not melting well, cover the skillet with a lid for the last minute of cooking to trap heat and encourage melting.
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