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

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my policy page for more information.

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!

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (1)

“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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (2)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (3)

Easy Vegan Mushroom Bacon

This easy vegan mushroom bacon is the answer to bringing amazing flavor to all your meals. Add it to just about anything!

Check out this recipe

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (4)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (5)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (6)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (7)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (8)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (9)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (10)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (11)

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (12)

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

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

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

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (14)

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!

Pin this for later:

13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (15)

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

What is vegan bacon made from? ›

Vegetarian bacon can also be made at home by marinating strips of tempeh or tofu in various flavorings, such as soy sauce or liquid smoke, and then either frying or baking. Aficionados of raw food also use coconut meat as a bacon substitute. Seitan can also be formed into vegetarian bacon.

What is the healthiest fake bacon? ›

1 Lightlife Smart Bacon

Amazing on sandwiches and bagels with avocado, Lightlife's Smart Bacon (voted number one by VegNews readers in the 2024 Veggie Awards) is made from wheat gluten and soy protein, which help give it a chewy texture when fried up in the skillet.

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.

Does vegan bacon taste like real bacon? ›

And where can you find it? Here's everything you need to know about this surprisingly realistic-tasting vegan bacon. Hooray Foods' plant-based bacon has less sodium and fat than real bacon but tastes a whole lot like the real stuff.

Is vegan healthier than meat? ›

Vegetarians and vegans typically have lower body mass index, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure than comparable regular meat-eaters, as well as lower bone mineral density.

What tastes like bacon but no bacon? ›

The Best Meat-Free Bacon Alternative: Morningstar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips. The bacon-eaters who participated in the taste test with me concurred: This brand was the most delicious, and also most resembled the real thing.

What tastes like meat but is vegan? ›

Despite its status as a tropical fruit, jackfruit surprisingly makes another good substitute for meat. It is most often used as a pork substitute such as barbecue pulled pork or a vegan carnitas taco. Cooking jackfruit is a bit more challenging than tempeh or tofu, but the tasty rewards are worth it.

What meat is healthier than bacon? ›

Made from whole muscle meat cut into thin slices, turkey bacon is a healthier alternative to traditional bacon for those looking to reduce fat in their diet, or for those who don't eat pork.

Is there a meat free bacon? ›

As the name suggests, Made With Plants Bacon cooks, tastes and smells just like traditional bacon, only it's made with plants! In fact, soy protein has a naturally neutral flavour, making it an excellent base for many meat alternatives.

Why you shouldn't eat bacon everyday? ›

Bacon has high levels of salt

High blood pressure increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Reducing your sodium intake can help lower your blood pressure and reduce this risk. Salt, particularly from salt-cured meats such as bacon, may increase your risk of stomach cancer.

How long does vegan bacon last in the fridge? ›

Other Information. Storage: Keep refrigerated below 5°C. Once opened consume within 48 hours.

Is vegan bacon healthier than normal bacon? ›

Its meat-free bacon-style rashers contain 341 calories per 100g and nearly 23g of fat, while Tesco finest smoked bacon has 191 calories and about 12g of fat. Real bacon does, however, tend to contain more saturated fat than the vegetarian alternatives.

Is plant-based meat healthy? ›

New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.

Can you eat vegan bacon raw? ›

While it may be tempting to skip cooking your favorite plant-based meat and simply crumble it over a salad or add to a sandwich, eating plant-based meat raw isn't recommended. Not only is eating plant-based meat raw a food safety risk, doing so will means that it will lack the quality and taste you'd expect.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duane Harber

Last Updated:

Views: 6759

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duane Harber

Birthday: 1999-10-17

Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

Phone: +186911129794335

Job: Human Hospitality Planner

Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.