BBQ Tempeh Kale Tortilla Pie

Name: BBQ Tempeh Kale Tortilla Pie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil, (divided); 4 cups kale, (packed); 1/2 cup water; 1 onion, (chopped); 4 garlic cloves, (minced); 1 8-oz pkg. tempeh, (grated); 1 cup BBQ sauce, (divided); 1 tsp liquid smoke; 1/4 tsp ground coriander; 1/2 tsp chili powder; 4 tortillas, (your preferred variety); 1 cup shredded cheese ((cheddar, pepper jack, etc.))

February 8, 2018 By Alyssa 26 Comments

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BBQ Tempeh Kale Tortilla Pie is a hearty and delicious vegetarian meal made all in one skillet! This quick recipe makes a great weeknight dinner. It’s perfect for Meatless Monday – or any day.

This recipe is a few years old by now, but I’m reminded of how clutch it is every time I make it. Tortilla pies are a fairly frequent occurrence in my house, but I tend to think of chicken or beef as my go-to.

However this BBQ tempeh kale tortilla pie is vegetarian and HEARTY. Hearty in all caps because it’s healthy and so filling. I guarantee you can serve this to typical meat-eaters and they wouldn’t even bat an eye.

Well, they might if you tell them it’s packed with tempeh (temp-who?) and kale beforehand, but try and hold onto that tidbit of information until they’ve cleaned their plate.

Are you a tempeh fan? Tofu seems to be the more popular soy-based protein, but as I’ve mentioned before, someone in my house isn’t a huge fan of its texture. Tempeh however? Totally different. It’s not spongy and when grated (my favorite way to prepare it!) it blends easily into whatever it is you’re making. It’s definitely a great ground meat substitute in recipes like this.

I’ve posted three tortilla pies before (buffalo chicken tortilla pie, cheesy salsa verde tortilla pie, and five-ingredient BBQ beef tortilla pie), but I can’t get enough of them. For one, they’re super simple – just layer filling (beef, chicken, turkey, tempeh…) between tortillas, top with sauce and cheese, and bake until cheese is bubbly.

So many possibilities, right? It’s a great meal idea to have in your back pocket for those days when you open the fridge and nothing jumps out at you.

This BBQ tempeh kale tortilla pie features a mixture of sauteed kale, grated tempeh, smoky spices, onion, garlic, and cheese. This filling holds together well and adds a great layer between the tortillas.

To boost the nutrition of this BBQ tempeh kale tortilla pie in particular, I used whole wheat tortillas. Can you use any variety of tortilla you have on hand? Definitely! Would you rather use spinach than the kale? Go for it! Are you looking to use up some extra potato wedges you’ve got laying around? Chop them up and throw them in! I’ll be cheering you on – this dish is SO versatile.

One of my favorite parts of a tortilla pie is how it comes together in the oven. The tortillas soften beautifully and are easily sliced into wedges. It’s lasagna-esque in presentation, but I couldn’t dare call this lasagna. That just wouldn’t be right. 😉

Whatever you decide to call it, it’s a healthy, hearty, and relatively quick main dish that you’ll want to add to your rotation!

Recipe notes:

When adding the mixture on top of the tortillas, try and spread it evenly from the center to the edges. You may wish to spread it a little bit taller around the edges to prevent the tortilla pie from having a taller center and sloped ends.
Use your favorite BBQ sauce!
I’ve used one-half teaspoon of chipotle chili powder instead of the regular chili powder called for in the recipe card below and really enjoyed it.
You may notice I said that this is a one-skillet recipe and I have it pictured step-by-step in two different pans. I absent-mindedly grabbed a second pan when making it for these photos (more dishes to wash – boo!), but it can easily be done in just one, which is as it’s written in the recipe below.

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