This vegan Tofu Bacon is smoky, crispy, chewy, insanely delicious and a great alternative to the real thing! Give this a try and use in your favorite breakfast recipes, BLTs, salads and more.
Yes, tofu bacon is a thing. And yes, we are here for it!!
Like many, we were a bit skeptical about tofu bacon before giving it a try. After a few tweaks to our recipe (meaning more than a few test rounds), we're officially hooked! And we think you will be, too.
This vegan tofu bacon is the perfect substitute for the real thing. Sure, it's not really like bacon (pretty hard to replicate the exact texture & fattiness), but the taste is shockingly similar. It's smoky, salty, umami deliciousness.
Plus, it has a crispy exterior and chewy interior similar to perfectly cooked bacon. I've tried a few other vegan bacon substitutes (including rice paper bacon – still not sure how I feel about it) and this is by far my favorite. We had a hard time not eating all of the it off the sheet pan before finishing this photoshoot.
Ways to use vegan tofu bacon
This tofu bacon is delicious enough to eat on its own, but the best part is how versatile it is for a wide variety of recipes. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use it...
- In a Cobb Salad
- As a side to easy tofu scramble
- In a breakfast skillet with sweet potatoes
- In a sandwich (breakfast sandwich, BLT, the options are endless!)
- As a topping for soup
- In this vegan eggs benedict
- As a topping for savory potato waffles
...and just about any other way you would use regular bacon!
How to make Tofu Bacon
All things considered, it's pretty easy to make this tofu bacon. It takes a few steps, but it's well worth the effort!
Step 1: Remove as much moisture as possible from the tofu
First things first, drain the tofu, pat dry, then wrap in a clean towel or paper towel and set something heavy on top, like a cast iron skillet or a few cookbooks.
The key is to remove as much moisture as possible. You'll need to press the tofu for at least 30 minutes. If you have extra time, you can do it for up to a few hours, changing out the towel once or twice.
Extra firm tofu is the best choice for this tofu bacon recipe. Anything less firm will contain too much moisture and will fall apart.
Step 2: Make the marinade
Once your tofu has been pressed, whisk up a simple marinade.
In a bowl, whisk together tamari (we used low sodium), maple syrup, liquid smoke, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, salt and pepper. The result is a perfectly balanced salty/sweet/smoky mixture that somehow ends up tasting similar to bacon! Don't ask us why, it's magic.
Liquid smoke is an essential ingredient. It adds the smoky flavor that makes the tofu bacon so similar to the real thing.
You can find liquid smoke in many large chain grocery stores, typically in the bbq section. When in doubt, ask someone where it is. It can be tough to find on your own.
Step 3: Slice tofu into thin strips
Using a very sharp knife, slice a block of tofu in half lengthwise. Then, turn each block on its side and slice into thin planks. Try to make them as thin as possible for crispier bacon.
Step 4: Coat, cook and repeat
The key to super flavorful tofu bacon is to apply the marinade more than once. To start, brush each side generously, place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for about 6 minutes at 375˚F.
After 6 minutes, remove from the oven, brush with more marinade, then repeat the process twice for a total of 18 minutes on one side.
After 18 minutes, carefully use tongs to flip each piece of tofu bacon over. Brush on more marinade, then bake for another 18 minutes, applying more marinade every 5-7 minutes.
After 18 minutes, flip once more and brush with any remaining marinade. Cook for additional 5 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and browned. It might not look totally finished, but once it cools, it starts to harden up and get chewy/crispy.
It takes a bit of work, but all of the effort makes for perfect vegan bacon! We couldn't stop eating this stuff. Can't wait for you to give it a try!
Vegan Bacon Bits
If you want to make "bacon bits" for a salad or another recipe, follow this same recipe, but finely dice the tofu before cooking and pan fry instead of bake!
They cook quite a bit faster than the strips, so keep a close eye on the stove and stir frequently to prevent burning. We also suggest adding oil to your pan so the tofu doesn't stick. Or, use a nonstick pan!
More vegan breakfast recipes
- Spring Vegetable Frittata
- Scrambled Tofu Breakfast Burritos
- "Chicken" and Waffles
- Vegan Carrot Lox
- Cheesy Breakfast Casserole
- Best Homemade Granola
If you make this Vegan Tofu Bacon recipe, we’d love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations on Instagram – tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.
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Tofu Bacon
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This vegan Tofu Bacon is smoky, crispy, chewy, insanely delicious and a great alternative to the real thing! Give this a try and use in your favorite breakfast recipes, BLTs, salads and more.
Ingredients
- 14 oz extra firm tofu
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce (or tamari)
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 tbsp neutral high heat oil (vegetable, peanut, safflower, etc)
- 4 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
Oven method for tofu bacon strips:
- Drain tofu and pat dry. Wrap in a clean towel or paper towel and set something heavy on top, like a cast iron skillet or a few cookbooks. Press for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours if you have time.
- Preheat oven to 375˚F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Using a very sharp knife, slice a block of tofu in half lengthwise. Then, turn each block on its side and slice into thin planks.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup, oil, liquid smoke, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Brush each side of the tofu generously with the marinade, and bake for 18 minutes, brushing on more marinade every 5-7 minutes.
- After 18 minutes, carefully use tongs to flip each piece of tofu bacon over. Brush on more marinade, then bake for another 18 minutes, applying more marinade every 5-7 minutes.
- After 18 minutes, flip once more and brush with any remaining marinade. Cook for additional 5 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and browned. It might not look totally finished, but once it cools, it starts to harden up and get chewy/crispy. Don't over-bake, otherwise it will start to burn.
Stovetop method for bacon bits:
- Drain tofu and pat dry. Wrap in a clean towel or paper towel and set something heavy on top, like a cast iron skillet or a few cookbooks. Press for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours if you have time.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup, oil, liquid smoke, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Dice the tofu into small cubes, then transfer to bowl with marinade and let sit 10 minutes.
- Preheat a skillet over medium heat. Add and extra tbsp of oil to the skillet along with tofu and about half or the marinade liquid. Cook, stirring often, until crispy and browned on all sides. Add more marinade as the pan dries out.
Keywords: tofu bacon
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