Vegan Tofu Bacon

Vegan tofu bacon is smoky, ‘meaty’, and absolutely delicious! Thin strips of tofu are baked with a savory-smoky marinade 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!

Smoky Maple Tofu Bacon Strips

Bacon is a crispy, salty, and smoky breakfast staple all over North America. Now, vegans and vegetarians 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 strips are first baked alone, then baked with a simple smoky marinade to infuse every bite with flavor. The process only takes 30 minutes so you get vegan bacon even faster!

The bacon tofu marinade 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 pass 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 sushi, buffalo tofu sandwich, and pineapple glazed tofu ham.

The Ingredients and Substitutes

• 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 marinade slightly.
• Maple syrup: Use real maple syrup for a classic 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 marinade:

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

How to Make Vegan Tofu Bacon 

Remember to press the block of tofu before you get started 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 strips.

We recommend slicing the tofu into thin strips about ⅛ inch thick, or as thinly as possible. You want the strips 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 strips in a prepared baking pan.
• Bake the tofu strips.

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

• Bake the tofu and marinade together until the strips are crispy and chewy and have absorbed most of the marinade.
• 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 marinade. 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:

• In a sandwich: Toast some sourdough, slather it with vegan mayonnaise, and top it with lettuce, tomato, and a few tofu bacon strips. We also recommend using it in our pesto tofu sandwich or this buffalo tofu sandwich.
• In a vegan taco: There’s no better way to start the day than with these vegan breakfast tacos. They’re made even better with crumbled tofu bacon on top! 
• In a soup: Crumble the vegan bacon strips on top of a bowl of corn chowder for extra flavor and texture.
• Pair it with beans: Tofu bacon and these vegan baked beans would taste great together!
• With a salad: Use the crumbled bacon in this vegan caesar salad or this apple pecan salad for a satisfying lunch. 
• Vegan burger topping: Lay the vegan bacon strips on this spicy sweet potato and jalapeno burger or this Southwest black bean burger. 

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 strips 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 strips in a skillet over medium heat on the stove.

More Easy Tofu Recipes

• Easy Tofu Adobe
• Sticky Sesame Tofu
• Sweet and Sour Tofu
• Crispy Pan Fried Tofu
• Pan Fried Garlic Tofu

Photos by Alfonso Revilla