Cut your tempeh into uniformly thin strips, about 1/16" to 1/8" thick.
Whisk together the tamari, water, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and garlic powder ingredients in a 9x13 casserole dish.
Add the tempeh strips into the marinade, laying in a single layer in the bottom of the casserole dish. Some overlap is okay.
Bake the tempeh in the marinade for roughly 45 minutes, or until marinade is fully absorbed in the tempeh.
After baking, remove from the casserole dish with a spatula while warm. If you allow it to cool in the dish, it is more likely to stick to the bottom. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later use.
Notes
You cannot substitute the tempeh with tofu or any other vegetarian substitute. Tempeh has a unique texture that is essential here.
Do not skip using the liquid smoke. It is crucial to creating a bacon flavor. I highly recommend the brand The Lazy Kettle Brand. It is by far the best I have tried.
Be sure to thinly slice your tempeh! If it is cut too thick, it will not be as flavorful.