13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (2024)

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These vegan bacon recipes are going to blow your mind! Who knew you could recreate the delicious flavor of bacon in so many ways? If you miss bacon, you need to try out these recipes!

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“But bacon” is a common response I often hear when people first find out that I’m vegan. Yes, yes, bacon is delicious, I get it. Most people don’t go vegan because they hate the taste of meat.

There’s just something about that crispy, sweet, smoky goodness that makes it so hard to give up. The good news is there are plenty of options to make your own vegan and vegetarian bacon.

There’s always the store-bought route but trust me, you’re going to want to try some of these homemade bacons! It’s actually really easy and more affordable to make your own at home. Plus you can control how sweet or smoky you like it.

There are so many good vegan bacon recipes out there but I rounded up the best ones to share with you here. Work your way through them and let us know in the comments which ones you try!

Veggie Bacon

These faux bacons are made with vegetables as the base. Some vegetables make a great base when sliced thinly. They crisp up nicely and work well with the flavors to make a truly delicious bacon alternative.

Carrot Bacon

Smoky and delicious bacon made from carrots. This recipe is based off the viral TikTok video and will not disappoint! Make vegan bacon in a matter of minutes and serve with breakfast, brunch, or even in a vegan BLT.

Check out this recipe

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Smoky Sweet Vegan Eggplant Bacon

Cook up crispy delicious eggplant bacon strips for your vegan bacon fix. A quick marinade lends a bacon-y flavor to strips of eggplant that actually resemble bacon.

Check out this recipe

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Vegan Zucchini Bacon

This crispy zucchini with a smoky flavor is a great option!Zucchini absorbs flavor well for a truly delicious bacon substitute!

Check out this recipe

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Tofu and Tempeh Bacon

Tofu and tempeh are both soy products that are perfect for making bacon with. They’re best when you want a flat piece of bacon like for a BLT. They both also absorb the flavor well, making them a great bacon substitute.

Tempeh Bacon (Oil Free)

Vegan Tempeh Bacon is quick and easy to make at home. Build a vegan BLT for a delicious lunch or serve it on the side of a tofu scramble for a savory breakfast.

Check out this recipe

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Air Fryer Tempeh Bacon

This Air Fryer Tempeh Bacon is the perfect addition to your breakfast table. You can also use it to make a sandwich such as a vegan BLT, or chop it up and add it to your salad. This vegan bacon is full of flavor, easy to make and gluten-free! Stovetop and oven methods are also included.

Check out this recipe

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Tofu Bacon

This tofu bacon is salty, smoky, and chewy. Firm tofu works great as a vegan bacon because it soaks up flavor so well and is rich in protein.

Check out this recipe

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Smoked Tempeh Maple Bacon Bits

These vegan bacon bits are made of tempeh and only require 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time. They’re salty, sweet, and smoky – everything bacon bits should be!

Check out this recipe

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This next one is not technically tofu or tempeh but it is made with soy. TVP, or Textured Vegetable Protein, is made from defatted soy flour that has been cooked under pressure and then dried. It makes a great bacon replacement as well!

Vegan Bacon Bits

A little smoky, and a little spicy, these vegan bacon bits made from TVP are an easy and healthy fix for your ‘bacon’ flavor cravings! Super yummy topping for baked potatoes, soups, salads, and more!

Check out this recipe

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Coconut Bacon

Coconut bacon is a great alternative to bacon bits. They already have a touch of sweetness and crisp up easily.

Coconut Bacon

Vegan bacon made from coconut? OH YES! Crispy, smoky, just a tad sweet, and so amazingly delicious, you’ll never miss the real thing!

Check out this recipe

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Almond Bacon

Yep, even nuts can be turned into bacon! And nuts provide a nice crunch.

Almond Bacon

This Almond Bacon is super easy to make, full of flavor and perfect for adding to vegan scrambles for a healthy brunch. It’s also refined sugar free and gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

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Rice Paper Bacon

Rice paper makes a nice neutral based for vegan bacon. It also doesn’t require as much prep as preparing vegetables.

Rice Paper Vegan Bacon

Looking for a healthier alternative to traditional bacon? This Rice Paper Vegan Bacon is crispy, chewy, sweet, salty, smoky, and just as tasty as the original.

Check out this recipe

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Banana Peel Bacon

Banana Peel Bacon

Yes, you read that right, this is banana peel bacon. A vegan bacon recipe made from the banana peels that you would otherwise toss away. Am I crazy? Maybe a little. Does it taste good? Yes, it does. It really, really does!

Check out this recipe

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So which are your favorite fakin bacons? Or facons if you will. Let us know below which ones you try. We make carrot bacon often and even use it in this delicious carrot bacon wrapped apple bites vegan appetizer. Use these veggie bacons just as you would real bacon—the possibilities are endless!

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Rachel

Welcome to HML, I'm Rachel! I'm here to help you transition to a healthy plant-based diet in the easiest way possible. I share simple recipes and tips you can implement today to make it practical and approachable.

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (2024)

FAQs

Does vegan bacon taste like real bacon? ›

Thanks to that, Tofurky's tempeh bacon has all of the flavors of bacon: savory, smoky, and a little bit sweet and salty.

How healthy is vegan bacon? ›

Vegan bacon could therefore be seen as a better alternative to pig bacon, but that's not to say it's a healthy food product. Plant-based meats are ultra processed foods, and they also tend to be high in salt. They are, however, lower in saturated fat, and don't contain the same preservatives as pig bacon.

What is in fake bacon? ›

Ingredients: Water, soybean oil, modified corn starch, egg whites, soy flour, wheat gluten, hydrolyzed corn protein, contains 2% or less of vegetable glycerin, salt, soy protein isolate, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, sugar, yeast, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, monocalcium phosphate, sodium ...

Is tempeh bacon healthy? ›

Tempeh bacon is a good source of protein and fiber. It is also low in fat and calories, making it a healthy option for those who are watching their weight. Tempeh bacon is also a good source of iron and magnesium.

What tastes like bacon but no bacon? ›

Hooray Foods' plant-based bacon has less sodium and fat than real bacon but tastes a whole lot like the real stuff.

Can you eat vegan bacon raw? ›

A lot of the vegan “meat” is soy or pea-based protein, and you don't want to eat that raw. You probably would not die, but could have several hours of gastric discomfort. Also, if you buy pre-prepped versions you should thoroughly heat them for food safety.

What is the healthiest substitute for bacon? ›

10 Healthy Alternatives to Bacon
  • Turkey bacon. This alternative offers a similar smoky flavor and can be cooked to a crispy texture like traditional bacon. ...
  • Tempeh bacon. ...
  • Mushroom bacon. ...
  • Eggplant bacon. ...
  • Coconut bacon. ...
  • Carrot bacon. ...
  • Seitan bacon. ...
  • Chickpea bacon bits.

How long does vegan bacon last in the fridge? ›

Keep refrigerated. Eat within 3 days of opening. Suitable for freezing. Freeze on day of purchase and use within 1 month.

What is the healthiest bacon to eat? ›

Turkey bacon has fewer calories, with 30 calories per thin slice, compared to pork bacon, which has about 43 calories per slice. It's lower in fat, too, – 2.1 grams per slice, compared to pork bacon's 3.1 grams per slice.

Does McDonald's use fake bacon? ›

The bacon is real. It get delivered pre-cooked in a package like this. Does McDonald's serve fake food? This is a McDonald's hamburger.

What is McDonald's bacon made of? ›

Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon

Ingredients: Pork Bellies Cured With Water, Salt, Sugar, Natural Smoke Flavor, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.

Can Muslims eat fake bacon? ›

Simulations of pork which don't have any actual pork or pork by-products are entirely permissible. So Bac-Os, which are artificially flavored tvp and contain no animal products at all, and vegetarian imitation bacon are both OK for Muslims to eat assuming they're otherwise halal.

What is the downside of tempeh? ›

Perhaps the only downside to tempeh is its calorie count is higher than tofu's, but the nutrients it packs more than make up for this. But tofu is not without its advantages. Because tempeh is often made with additional ingredients, it may not be gluten-free, so keep that in mind if you have dietary restrictions.

Which is better tofu or tempeh? ›

Tempeh contains the most fiber and more protein than tofu because it contains the whole bean. The soy protein in tempeh is more digestable because of the fermentation process. Tempeh is often prepared in thin slices and fried, producing a crispy crust with a soft interior.

Is tempeh nicer than tofu? ›

Given tempeh's nutty flavor, some people prefer it as a meat replacement over tofu, which is blander in taste. Regardless, both are simple to prepare and easy to add to a balanced diet.

Is vegan bacon tasty? ›

They taste great and the texture when cooked is really crispy and chewy. It is also a really versatile ingredient that works perfectly in a vegan fry-up, within a vegan carbonara, and on its own in a vegan bacon sarnie. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this plant-based bacon from La Vie to vegans and non-vegans alike!

Does meat free bacon taste like bacon? ›

These rashers are less of a 'bacon' and more a truly plant based delicacy. What I mean is that it does not feel, look or taste as though it is replicating something that it is not. You can tell it is not bacon and no meat eater would be convinced it was – but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

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