BBQ Tempeh Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Name: BBQ Tempeh Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 130 min
Total time: 140 min
Ingredients: 4 large red potatoes; 2 teaspoons olive oil; 8 ounces Tempeh (grated); 1 cup BBQ sauce (I love Organicville BBQ Sauce, or more to taste); 2 tablespoons butter; Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1/4 cup green onions for garnish (optional)

BBQ tempeh stuffed baked potatoes are the best way for vegetarians to enjoy barbecue! The easiest bbq tempeh is loaded into delicious red potatoes with plenty of cheese to make a full meal.

BBQ Tempeh Stuffed Baked Potato topped with green onions on a white plate next to a fork.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

Jump to:

BBQ baked potatoes
Ingredients
How to make bbq tempeh stuffed baked potatoes
Top tips
FAQ
What to serve with bbq baked potatoes
Recipe

Barbecue is some of the greatest food on earth. But what is a vegetarian supposed to do in a world full of meat?

When I first became a vegetarian, it was difficult to know how to incorporate my love of bbq sauce into my new diet. That’s how my barbecue chickpea salad came about, as well as this tasty recipe for bbq tempeh stuffed baked potatoes!

BBQ baked potatoes

Baked potatoes have always been a meal unto themselves for me. There are lots of topping options, and if you’re still hungry just grab another potato!

Stuffing these baked potatoes with bbq tempeh really takes things to the next level. It makes a complete meal (although sides are fun, check out my ideas below) that is very hands off until the last few minutes.

While baked potatoes can take a long time to cook, this is great if you have a busy evening of activities or meetings. Throw a few potatoes in the oven and when you come back in a few hours, you’ll only be about 10 minutes away from dinner!

Of course there’s more than one way to make a baked potato. To get things done faster try a microwave baked potato, air fryer baked potato, or instant pot baked potato.

A fork pulling out bbq tempeh and cheese from a baked potato.

Ingredients

Red potatoes
Olive oil
Tempeh
BBQ sauce
Butter
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese
Green onions, optional

How to make bbq tempeh stuffed baked potatoes

Prick the outside of the potatoes a few times with a fork and wrap each potato individually in aluminum foil. Bake on the center rack of the oven 1-3 hours, or until the potatoes give when squeezed gently.
When the potatoes are done, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the grated tempeh and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown. Lower the heat and add the BBQ sauce and continue to cook until warmed through.
Unwrap the potatoes and cut open lengthwise without cutting all the way through the potato. Using a fork, mash the insides carefully with ½ tablespoon each of the butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then divide the cheese evenly over each. Add a few spoonfuls of the tempeh to the top and garnish with additional cheese and green onions if desired.

Top tips

The best bbq sauce

I love pretty much every barbecue sauce I try, but one does reign supreme. Organicville BBQ Sauce (affiliate link) is my favorite both because of the taste and for its simple ingredients. If you can’t find this brand, I also regularly buy Stubbs (they have tons of flavors to try!), and I really do love some Sweet Baby Ray’s.

How to grate tempeh for barbecue

I used a standing box grater on the largest holes to grate my tempeh. The block of tempeh can be a little floppy, so grate carefully, making sure you don’t catch your hands on the holes.

Alternatively, you could run it through the food processor for just a second to chop it up, or break it up with your fingers into bite size pieces.

The best potatoes for filled potatoes

Traditionally russet potatoes are the best choice for stuffing because they’re large and sturdy. However, I love red potatoes and think the skins taste great with everything here, making it a no-waste situation. You can use whatever your favorite potato is as long as it is large enough to hold some fillings.

A baked potato stuffed with cheese, salt, and pepper.

Tips for customizing stuffed baked potatoes

You can easily make these baked potatoes vegan by using vegan cheese and butter (double check that your bbq sauce is vegan too!)
Use oven roasted potato wedges instead of baked potatoes
Make your own spicy bbq sauce to control the heat and flavor
Swap the red potatoes for russets, yellow gold, or sweet potatoes
Add cooked corn

FAQ

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is a fermented soybean product. It is usually sold in blocks near the tofu and other refrigerated natural and organic products.
Ground tempeh has a really meaty texture but is entirely plant based. It makes a great substitute for ground beef and has a bit of a nutty flavor.

Is tempeh gluten-free?

Tempeh is sometimes, but not always gluten-free. It is important to check the ingredients and package of your tempeh if you cannot eat gluten.

Can tempeh be eaten raw?

There is mixed information out there on whether or not you can eat raw tempeh. This is because most packaged tempeh is pasteurized, making it safe to eat raw. If you were to find fresh tempeh, it is recommended that you cook it before eating.

Because of this, I recommend always cooking tempeh before eating it. There is no nutritional or other benefit to eating raw tempeh, making it unnecessary anyways.

a stuffed baked potato on a white plate surrounded by more bowls and plates with potatoes, bbq tempeh, and green onion slices.

What to serve with bbq baked potatoes

BBQ Tempeh Stuffed Baked Potatoes on a white plate next to a fork.

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

Recipe