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Vegan bacon

Because bacon doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, come from an animal.

By: KD Angle-Traegner

Published: December 2014
Last Update: February 2023

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Good news, plant bacon exists

Everyone is obsessed with bacon. Its smoky and salty flavor combined with that oh-so-satisfying crunch is delicious; no wonder it's beloved by people everywhere.

You might think you must give up bacon when going vegan, but that isn't true. Living vegan doesn't mean you have to give up the flavors you've grown to love. There are plenty of plant-based options, and this guide introduces you to them.

First, it's time to go shopping. There's a brand guide to help point you in the right direction once you get to the store.

Next, you'll find vegan bacon recipes to try.

Let's dig in.

QUICK NAVIGATION

 

Basics / Shopping / Recipes

1. Basics

If you're new to plant bacon, start here.

Quick section summary:

Is there a vegan substitute for bacon?

Yes! Made from various foods, plant bacon offers all the flavors you love, free from all the cruelty you don't. Options include kinds of bacon made from tofu, tempeh, seitan, vegetables, and rice paper, to name a few.

It's made from various foods

Vegan, plant-based bacon comes from many different foods. From tofu to seitan to rice paper, you have plenty of options.

Trust me; it tastes much better than it sounds.

What does it taste like?

While flavors and textures differ wildly from preparation to preparation, plant bacon tastes like you'd expect it to.

You'll taste smokiness, sweetness, and salty flavors wrapped up in a perfectly crunchy package.

 

Grocery carts at the market / Source

Basics / Shopping / Recipes

2. Shopping guide

Here’s what you need to know before you head to the store.

Quick section summary:

What kind of ice cream is vegan?

Common names for vegan ice cream products are “frozen dessert” or “dairy-free frozen dessert.” Check the label for non-vegan ingredients like dairy-based milk or cream, whey, lactose, casein, caseinate, sodium caseinate, lactic acid, capric acid, and milk solids. Instead, choose ice creams made from plant milk, fruits, or nuts.

Find vegan bacon in stores

Not long ago, you could only find vegan versions of bacon in select grocery stores. Thankfully, today it’s widely available in a variety of flavors.

You’ll spot these vegan brands alongside other plant-based meats in the refrigerated section, often near the tofu. Sometimes, you'll spot them in the freezer section near other meat-free options.

Vegan bacons brands

Bacon-flavored vegan foods

These links are affiliate links; I earn from qualifying purchases. You can view Your Daily Vegan’s Affiliate Policy for more details.

 

Basics / Shopping / Recipes

3. Vegan bacon recipes

Ready for cooking inspiration? These recipes will surely satisfy you.

Tempeh bacon from Elephantastic Vegan

Air fryer tempeh bacon from The Vegan Larder

Air fryer tempeh bacon from Watch. Learn. Eat.

Baked tempeh bacon from Nora Cooks

Smoked tempeh bacon from Eat Plant-based

Tempeh facon bacon from Healthy Happy Life

Tempeh bacon recipes

  1. Tempeh Bacon
    Elephantastic Vegan
  1. Air Fryer Tempeh Bacon
    The Vegan Larder
  1. Smoky, Sweet Tempeh Bacon
    Watch. Learn. Eat.
  1. Smoky Baked Tempeh Bacon
    Nora Cooks
  1. Smoked Tempeh Bacon
    Eat Plant-Based
  1. Tempeh "Facon" Bacon
    Healthy. Happy. Life
 
A few slices of bacon on a spatula

Seitan bacon from Simple Vegan Blog

Smoky seitan bacon from My Plantiful Cooking

A few slices of bacon on a spatula

Salty & sweet seitan bacon from Loving it Vegan

Steaky bacon from Avant-Garde Vegan

Smokey maple seitan bacon from Sunnyside Hanne

Seitan bacon recipes

  1. Smoky Setian Bacon
    Simple Vegan Blog
  1. Smoky Vegan Seitan Bacon
    My Plantiful Cooking
  1. Salty & Sweet Seitan Bacon
    Loving It Vegan
  1. Streaky Bacon
    Avant-Garde Vegan
  1. Maple Seitan Bacon
    Sunnyside Hanne
 

Vegan tofu bacon from Vegan on Board

Smoked tofu BLT from Fly Me to the Vegan Buffet

Baked or fried tofu bacon from The Cheeky Chickpea

Smoky tofu bacon from Yup, it's Vegan

Vegan tofu bacon from Veganosity

Easy tofu bacon from Nora Cooks

Tofu bacon recipes

  1. Vegan Tofu Bacon
    Vegan on Board
  1. Smoked Tofu Bacon
    Fly Me to the Vegan Buffet
  1. Baked or Fried Tofu Bacon
    The Cheeky Chickpea
  1. Smoky Tofu Bacon
    Yup, It’s Vegan
  1. Vegan Tofu Bacon
    Veganosity
  1. Easy Tofu Bacon
    Nora Cooks
 

Shiitake mushroom bacon from Olives for Dinner

Portobello mushroom bacon from Vegan Heaven

Easy vegan mushroom bacon from Veggies Don't Bite

Crispy vegan mushroom bacon from Minimalist Baker

Mushroom bacon from The Hidden Veggies

Portobello vegan mushroom bacon from Veganosity

Mushroom bacon recipes

  1. Shiitake Mushroom Bacon
    Olives for Dinner
  1. Portobello Mushroom Bacon
    Vegan Heaven
  1. Easy Mushroom Bacon
    Veggies Don't Bite
  1. Crispy Mushroom Bacon
    Minimalist Baker
  1. Mushroom Bacon
    The Hidden Veggies
  1. Vegan Portobello Mushroom Bacon
    Veganosity
 

Carrot bacon from Our Plant-based World

Eggplant bacon from Strength & Sunshine

Crispy eggplant bacon from Minimalist Baker

Carrot bacon from My Quiet Kitchen

Carrot bacon from Health My Lifestyle

Crispy beet bacon from VeganStart

Vegetable bacon recipes

  1. Carrot Bacon
    Our Plant-Based World
  1. Eggplant Bacon
    Strength & Sunshine
  1. Crispy Eggplant Bacon
    Minimalist Baker
  1. Smoky Carrot Bacon
    My Quiet Kitchen
  1. Carrot Bacon
    Health My Lifestyle
  1. Maple Beet Bacon
    Vegan Start
 

Coconut Bacon from Connoisseurus Veg

Quick & easy coconut bacon from The Simple Veganista

Easy coconut bacon from Minimalist Baker

Coconut bacon from Strength & Sunshine

Raw or baked coconut bacon from The Full Helping

Coconut bacon from Running on Real Food

Coconut bacon recipes

  1. Coconut Bacon
    Connoisseurus Veg
  1. Quick & Easy Coconut Bacon
    The Simple Veganista
  1. Easy Coconut Bacon
    Minimalist Bacon
  1. Smoky Coconut Bacon
    Strength & Sunshine
  1. Coconut Bacon (Raw or Baked)
    The Full Helping
  1. Coconut Bacon
    Running on Real Food
 

Rice Paper Bacon from Vegan Huggs

Easy rice paper bacon from Plant-Powered Couple

Rice paper bacon from The Hidden Veggies

Rice paper bacon from Spabettie

Rice paper bacon recipe from The Edgy Veg

Rice paper bacon from Yup, it's Vegan

Rice paper bacon recipes

  1. Rice Paper Bacon
    Vegan Huggs
  1. Easy Rice Paper Bacon
    Plant-Powered Couple
  1. Rice Paper Bacon
    The Hidden Veggies
  1. Double-Layer Rice Paper Bacon
    Spabettie
  1. Rice Paper Bacon
    The Edgy Veg
  1. Rice Paper Bacon
    Yup, it's Vegan
 
Vegan Bacon - Shopping Guide, Recipes & More - Your Daily Vegan

Truth in advertising

I am committed to providing accurate information to the vegan community. Meticulously researched, the topic explored in this guide contains the information available at the time of publishing.

I don’t just say it; I source it too.

Please contact me if you find incorrect data.

Photo Credits

Shopping carts / Markus Spiske
Recipe photos via recipe creators and used with permission.

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