Tofu bacon is smoky, salty, crunchy, and chewy. Made with 6 simple ingredients in under 30 minutes, it's a great bacon substitute that you can use to make a Vegan BLT sandwich or to serve with Old Fashioned Fluffy Vegan Pancakes, Tofu Scramble, or Vegan Buttermilk Waffles.
We know that this vegan tofu bacon recipe is going to get bacon connoisseur’s undies in a twist, and that’s fine.
Our mission is to make plant food taste like the food we used to eat. No animals harmed.
Does our vegan bacon recipe taste exactly like bacon made from pigs. Of course not.
Is it a close enough version that will satisfy the craving for salty, smoky, crunchy, and chewy food? Absolutely!
It's a wonderful bacon substitute for vegetarians and vegans, so give it a try and let us know what you think.
Jump to:
Ingredients
This quick tofu bacon recipe is super easy and calls for only 6 simple ingredients.
- Extra-firm tofu - use the firmest tofu you can find. This will make the crunchiest bacon.
- Vegetable oil - the oil is crucial for giving the tofu a chewy and crispy texture.
- Tamari or soy sauce - use Tamari if you need gluten-free tofu bacon.
- Liquid smoke - this is what gives the bacon its smoky flavor.
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce - we use Wizard's Gluten-Free Vegan Worcestershire Sauce.
- Maple syrup - bacon has a slightly sweet flavor, and maple syrup is a great ingredient to give the tofu bacon a sweet maple flavor.
How to Make It
Here is a step by step tutorial with visual cues.
- Press the excess water out of the tofu and slice into thin pieces. About ¼ to a ½ inch thick.
Is Liquid Smoke Good for You?
There are many debates about the safety of liquid smoke.
Some say it’s bad for you and some say otherwise.
We like to go with what scientists say, and not the mainstream.
Here’s what we know.
- Liquid smoke is not made with chemicals.
- The flavor comes from the water vapor of smoke that is trapped in a tube.
- Smoked paprika is flavored with it and so are other smoky flavored ingredients.
- It adds a wonderful smoky flavor to food, and you don’t need a lot to get that flavor.
If you’re not okay with using it, feel free to leave it out. Just know that the flavor of this recipe will be seriously compromised.
Is Tofu Good for You?
This is another topic that’s been hotly debated. Here’s what we know.
Soy contains phytoestrogens, which are totally different than the estrogen people get from eating estrogen from animals.
Studies on phytoestrogen have shown that it’s actually good for fighting cancer and improving bone strength.
If you look at Asian populations, who eat the most amount of soy, you’ll find that they have the lowest cancer rates.
While Western countries, who consume the biggest amount of dairy and meat, have the highest cancer rates.
Food for thought.
What to Serve with Tofu Bacon
Everything’s better with smoked tofu bacon.
We love it as a side to any of our delicious vegan breakfast recipes, such as Vegan Potato Pancakes or a Vegan Spinach and Mushroom Quiche.
You could also put a few on top of our Spicy Black Bean & Quinoa Burger or crumble some into tofu bacon bits and sprinkle on top of our Vegan Cobb Salad or our Smoky Vegan Corn & Potato Chowder.
And of course, you should definitely make a vegan BLT.
Recipe FAQs
Vegan bacon can be made out of tofu, tempeh, pea protein, vital wheat gluten, mushrooms, coconut, and rice paper, as long as the proper marinade is applied and it's cooked until it's crispy.
Most of it is because it's made with unsaturated fat to make it cholesterol free, and it doesn't contain hormones or antibiotics.
Vegans don't eat animal products because they don't believe in harming sentient beings. That doesn't mean that they didn't enjoy the taste and texture of meat before they went vegan. If they can make a plant-based version of their favorite animal foods, then everyone wins.
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Crisp it up in the oven.
Tofu bacon is best when it's eaten just after it's been baked. We don't recommend freezing it.
More Vegan Bacon & Sausage Recipes
VEGAN TOFU BACON
Equipment
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 14 ounce extra-firm tofu pressed
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce we use Annie’s or Wizard’s brand for gluten-free
- ½ teaspoon pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F (204˚C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Press the water out of the tofu and thinly slice, approximately a ¼ inch thick.
- In a large shallow bowl, whisk the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce, 1 tablespoon liquid smoke, 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce, and the ½ teaspoon pure maple syrup until fully combined.
- Dip the tofu strips into the marinade, making sure both sides are covered.
- Place the strips evenly on the baking sheet and pour or brush the excess marinade on top of the strips.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes and flip. Bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until crispy and nicely browned.
Nancy says
This marinade is quite tasty. It was good with the tofu, but I had a lot of marinade left over so I decided to soak some soy curls in the marinade. Then I promptly forgot about them for a couple of days. Found them, fried them up in just a little bit of oil, and wow- the best "bacon" i have tried so far!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Nancy! Wow, that's a great idea, and we can't wait to try this. We have soy curls in our pantry to try it this week.
Nina says
This is really delicious. I think the liquid smoke is key. Making my second batch now. 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Nina! We're so happy you like it, and yes, liquid smoke is definitely key to making it taste like bacon.
Janine Heyns says
Trying this deliceous recipe all the way from Israel.
Linda Meyer says
Hi Janine! That's fantastic, enjoy!! 🙂
Marna says
Excellent recipe, very easy and quick! Really no marinading needed! At first, I was worried about the smokiness but I trusted and it was spot on. I was in a fix for a fast lunch....voila...bacon lettuce and tomato sandwiches. huge it with the guys!
Linda Meyer says
Hi Marna! Thank you, we're so happy you enjoyed it and appreciate that you took the time to let us know. 🙂
Lina says
Would it make a difference if I let the tofu marinate for a couple of hours if I have the time vs just dipping it in the marinade?
Linda Meyer says
Hi Lina, you can definitely let it marinate. Happy New Year!
Lina says
Thanks so much, didn't know if that would make it too smoky/salty, I've only started working w tofu! Gonna make it this week and will come back to review and comment!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Lina!
Christine @ Run Plant Based says
This looks wonderful and so versatile for many recipes. Thanks!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you! We hope you try it soon. 🙂
Kathy says
Trying not to use oil - could you sub the oil in the marinade with water or veg broth or just leave it out?
Linda Meyer says
Hi Kathy, you can omit the oil, it just won't get as crispy.