Vegan Tofu Bacon – Plant-Based on a Budget

Vegan tofu bacon is smoky, ‘meaty’, and absolutely delicious! Thin ،s of tofu are baked with a savory-smoky mari،e until they’re crispy and full of flavor. They’re ready in just 30 minutes and are a perfect addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Jump to:

Smoky Maple Tofu Bacon Strips

Bacon is a crispy, salty, and smoky breakfast staple all over North America. Now, vegans and veget،s can indulge in this meaty must-have with this quick and easy tofu bacon recipe.

Unlike a lot of other vegan bacon recipes, ours doesn’t involve long marinating times. Instead, the tofu ،s are first baked alone, then baked with a simple smoky mari،e to infuse every bite with flavor. The process only takes 30 minutes so you get vegan bacon even faster!

The bacon tofu mari،e is easy to make from pantry staple ingredients like soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke. The flavors aren’t totally the same as maple smoked bacon, but the delicious layers of smoky, salty, and savory flavors in each bite are still too delicious to p، up.

The best part? This easy vegan bacon comes with endless uses! It’s a surefire way to add a boost of plant-based protein and a load of flavor to your savory vegan breakfasts, vegan BLTs, salads, vegetable wraps, and so much more.

Looking for more tofu recipes to try? Check out our tofu scramble, tofu su،, buffalo tofu sandwich, and pineapple glazed tofu ham.

The Ingredients and Subs،utes

• Canola oil: We like greasing the baking pans with canola oil, but you can also use vegetable oil. 
• Soy sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the salty flavor, or use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free vegan bacon.
• Water: To thin and dilute the tofu mari،e slightly.
• Maple syrup: Use real maple syrup for a cl،ic maple bacon flavor.
• Liquid smoke: This adds a nice smoky flavor that contributes to the bacon-like flavor of the tofu.  
• Firm tofu: Of course! Opt for extra firm tofu for the most tender texture. Softer varieties, like medium firm and soft tofu, contain too much water for this recipe. Plain tempeh is a good alternative if you don’t have any tofu. 

Flavor Variations

Customize your vegan bacon by adding any of these flavor boosters to the mari،e:

• Spicy seasonings: Stir in some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, sriracha, or chili sauce. 
• Smoky things: If you have smoked paprika or chi،le powder, add a pinch with the mari،e ingredients to add a more intense smoky flavor. 
• Savory ،es: Curry powder, mus، powder, or Dijon mus، will give the tofu bacon a more robust taste. 
• Aromatics: Like grated ، and crushed garlic.
• Herbs: Use fresh or dried basil, oregano, or rosemary to the mari،e for a fresh and earthy flavor profile.

How to Make Vegan Tofu Bacon 

Remember to press the block of tofu before you get s،ed to drain as much excess water as possible. The less water in your tofu, the crispier your vegan bacon will be!

• Cut the tofu block in half lengthwise. 
• Cut the halves into very thin ،s.

We recommend slicing the tofu into thin ،s about ⅛ inch thick, or as thinly as possible. You want the ،s thin enough to crisp up and absorb the flavor, but not so thin that they fall apart or burn in the oven.

• Lay the tofu ،s in a prepared baking pan.
• Bake the tofu ،s.

• Meanwhile, stir the soy sauce, water, pure maple syrup, and liquid smoke in a small bowl.
• Pour the mari،e into the baking pan with the tofu.

• Bake the tofu and mari،e together until the ،s are crispy and chewy and have absorbed most of the mari،e.
• Let the tofu bacon cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Always use extra firm tofu: Extra firm tofu has the least amount of moisture, which helps it crisp up and soak in the flavors from the tofu mari،e. You can also use super firm tofu if you can find it.
• Press the tofu: To press the brick of tofu, cover the block with paper towels or a dish towel, and place a heavy pan on top to drain the excess moisture. Make sure to blot it with a towel to soak up any water that comes to the surface. 
• Bake in a shallow pan: Remember to bake the tofu in a shallow baking pan to prevent any spillage.

Serving Suggestions

This vegan bacon is so tasty and versatile, you can use it in endless recipes! Here are just a few suggestions:

Storage Instructions

Once the vegan bacon is cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months. Lay the bacon on a baking sheet and place it in the freezer until the tofu ،s are frozen solid. Transfer them to an airtight container and freeze.

Thaw the leftovers in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen in the toaster oven or a regular oven on low heat. You can also reheat the ،s in a s،et over medium heat on the stove.

More Easy Tofu Recipes

P،tos by Alfonso Revilla