This Vegan Tofu Bacon has an amazing salty, sweet smoky flavor. It’s crispy, chewy, and perfect alongside your pancakes or making the best vegan BLT.
First, let’s drop the ‘tude and clear the air about tofu. It doesn’t cause man-boobs, shrunken testicles, or anything else like that. It’s not the boogie man. It’s just a big block of unflavored protein that’s super healthy.
I will admit that on its own it ain’t that great. But, with a little help, and it doesn’t take much, it’s pretty freaking incredible. As you are about to find out.
Ready? Let’s make some Tofu Bacon!
First things first. Is this exactly like bacon? No. Because it’s not bacon! And, that’s a good thing.
But, really. What is bacon? It’s unflavored fat that’s been marinated and cooked. Right? So, all we’re doing is taking a super healthy protein that just happens to have a meaty texture and doing the same thing. And, it tastes amazing!
Toss this vegan tofu bacon on some bread with lettuce and my cashew mayo to make the best vegan BLT sandwiches. It’s also great for topping salads. And, if you love vegan bacon recipes don’t forget to check out my amazing vegan bacon bits.
You’re welcome.
Why You Will Love this Vegan Tofu Bacon Recipe
- chewy and surprisingly crispy
- sweet and savory
- awesome smoky flavor
- full of flavor and tastes amazing
- a great source of plant-based high protein
- oil-free
What Kind Of Tofu Should I Use?
I’m going to start by saying what type of tofu you should never use to make tofu bacon. DO NOT USE SILKEN TOFU! You’ll end up with a big mess and probably vow to never use tofu ever again. A little dramatic don’t you think? Ok, let’s move on.
Super firm tofu like Wildwood High Protein Tofu is my personal favorite. But, any brand is great for this recipe. Super firm tofu slices really well, has a super meaty texture, and a tofu press is not necessary. You just take it out of the package, pat it with a paper towel, and you’re ready to go.
If you don’t have super firm tofu use a block extra firm tofu. It works very well. Just be sure you press it for at least 20-30 minutes, even longer, before you slice it and marinate it. Getting most of the water out of the tofu helps the marinade absorb and stick a little better.
Remember, you’re wanting to create a chewy, crispy, and savory experience. There should be no such thing as “delicate” tofu bacon.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- extra firm tofu
- low sodium soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
- pure maple syrup
- vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
- tomato paste
- smoked paprika or paprika
- liquid smoke (optional)
- garlic powder
- black pepper
How To Make Tofu Bacon
Tofu bacon is so easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. And, it’s also cheap and relatively quick.
Start out by slicing your tofu into thin strips. But, not too thin. You’ll find many differing opinions on this issue. However, in my experience, if the strips are too thin they will cook very fast and end up burnt. Yes, charred and crispy tofu bacon is one thing, scorched is another.
And, don’t worry about trying to slice the strips evenly. That’s what gives you a variety of crispiness, chewiness, and thickness.
Now, it’s time to marinate! Place the tofu slices in a small bowl or container, whisk the marinade ingredients together, and pour over the tofu until all the pieces are covered.
I would suggest letting the tofu marinate for at least 1 hour. But, if you are wanting maximum flavor let the tofu slices marinate for several hours. But, overnight is best.
Remember, tofu bacon is all about flavor.
Once your tofu is ready lay the strips out evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, bake for 20 minutes in a 375-degree oven.
Remove the tofu bacon from the oven and flip with a fork, baste with some of the leftover marinade, and place back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
Flipping the tofu is important because it helps the tofu bacon to cook and crisp up consistently and evenly.
Now, at this point, you could just call it a day and enjoy this smoky, sweet, and savory creation. But, why stop? I would suggest you take it a step further. Because anything worth doing is worth doing right. Right?
Once you take the tofu bacon out of the oven, preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Then, add several of the tofu bacon strips at a time, coat with a little of the marinade, and pan-fry for a couple of minutes per side.
It’s a small step. But, oh man! Magical. The crispiness, the chewiness, and the flavor are absolutely amazing!
Personally, I love doing this in a cast-iron skillet. But, any good nonstick pan will do.
Yes, this vegan tofu bacon is great for making a vegan BLT. But, it’s absolutely perfect when paired with my Tofu Breakfast Scramble or any of my Vegan Pancake recipes.
More Amazing Smoky Vegan Recipes
- Vegan Bacon Flavored Hummus
- Tempeh Bacon
- Chipotle Chickpea Tacos
- Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
If you make this recipe let me know. Leave a comment below with a star rating. And, be sure to share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #shaneandsimple. Follow me on Facebook or Pinterest & be sure to subscribe to my newsletter.
Tofu Bacon (The Best Vegan Bacon Recipe)
- Total Time55 minutes
- Yield6–8 servings 1x
- DietVegan
This Vegan Tofu Bacon has an amazing salty, sweet smoky flavor. It’s crispy, chewy, and perfect alongside your pancakes or making a vegan BLT.
Ingredients
- 1 16–ounce block super firm tofu. I like Wildwood Organic Super Firm. You can also use a 14-ounce block of extra firm tofu.
Marinade
- ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
- 3 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (make sure it's vegetarian)
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika or paprika
- 2 tsp. liquid smoke (optional)
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne
Instructions
- Remove the super firm tofu from the package and pat dry with a paper towel. If you are using regular extra firm tofu be sure and press for at least 20 minutes.
- Slice the tofu into ⅛″ rectangles (photos above) and place in a shallow bowl or a conatiner where the tofu will just fit.
- Whisk together the marinade in a small bowl and pour over the tofu slices. Cover and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour. But, for maximum flavor overnight is best.
- When you’re ready to cook preheat the oven to 375 degress and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the marinated tofu slices evenly on the baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes. Remove and gently flip the tofu, baste with some of the leftover marinade, and bake for 10 more minutes.
- Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add several strips of the tofu bacon to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes per side basting with more of the leftover marinade. Repeat until you’ve cooked all the tofu bacon strips.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
To reheat simply pop it back in the oven for a few minutes. However, you can wrap this up and set at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 slices
- Calories: 83
- Sugar: 5.6 g
- Sodium: 228.6 mg
- Fat: 2.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.1 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 5.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Prep Time: 15 mins. (not including marinating time)
- Cook Time: 40 mins.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Vegan
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This is very tasty. It was easy to make. I baked it at 425 degrees. for 20 minutes.
Thanks
I have coconut aminos. Would that work in place of the soy sauce? Or should I stick to the recipe.
My new favorite! Loving this on a BLT Sammie!
Dare I say that I like this *better* than bacon? The last few years before I went vegan, I kept getting disappointed with the bacon I was making—it either seemed to lack flavor, or the texture of several pieces was either too gristly or just “off.” (I’m picky about texture.) This was none of that, and I cannot believe this is healthy! Yay yay yay! (And super yay for the cute pigs not dying.) Thanks so much, Shane—this is a major keeper.
YES, you can dare say it. LOL! Thank you so much!!!
Delicious!!!
I wasn’t able to find vegan-friendly Worcestershire sauce or liquid smoke here in Finland (I’m sure it’s available, I just didn’t have it on hand and couldn’t find it at my local grocery store), so I improvised with the ingredients I had on me and made some sweet, smokey, salty bacon-esque tofu. I wanted to share that it was a success despite missing some bacon-y elements because I put it on a sandwich with tomato, lettuce, and spicy mayo for my non-vegan boyfriend, and he really enjoyed it! Highly recommend recreating a BLT-type sandwich if you make this, even if it’s not indistinguishable from real bacon it’s still delicious and full of flavor (not to mention much lower in fat and loaded with protein).
Thank you!!!
Love this. The marinade is perfect for tofu or tempeh. Thank you!
Shane, I am fairly new to vegan cooking. We have tried several vegan bacon recipes. My husband was so impressed with yours! It is simply the best we’ve made so far! Tonight I’m going to make your creamy mac & cheese. I love the recipes you post and appreciate all the time you have put into developing them.
Wow, Kathy, that’s so great to hear! If you really want to go crazy you should toss some of that tofu bacon in the mac and cheese. Pretty spectacular:) Thanks so much for reaching out.
Ok, look – is it exactly the same as bacon? No. Could I tell a difference on my “blt”? Also, no. Thanks, Shane!
Perfect answer!!! LOL!
Great recipe and pretty easy to make! Carnivore husband loved it on a BLT!
Bacon is one thing I’ve really missed so excited to find this.
Tips on cutting the tofu for marinading please.
Thanks
Slice it in strip about 1/4″ thick then marinate.
Thank you so so much. It was the first dish using tofu that my husband actually enjoyed. He said the texture was perfect but needed more salt lol
Another Winner! We even like it better than your tempeh bacon that I’ve been making for several years. Very generous and made enough for 5 meals for 2 people. 4 servings headed to freezer if I can keep my husband’s hands out of them
It was mushy
This looks amazing and I want to try but…….
I just looked for this tofu and can’t find it delivered to me. When you say silken is not going to work, do you mean any tofu that says silken or just ones that are not extra firm? I’m new to tofu.
Hi, Paula! Even silken extra firm won’t work because it won’t hold together. Regular tofu should be available at almost all local groceries, even Walmart.
Thank you Shane for responding, I had no idea about silken. I just love your recipes.
I just had lunch of Rip’s carrot soup and added your Caesar dressing and it was fabulous! I have so many of your recipes and they are my favorites.
Paula
OK I made this today and it is just amazing. I only did half the recipe and now I need to do the other half tomorrow. I had no idea it would be delicious.
Thank you so much Shane for the recipe and the tofu info.
Thank you for the kind words:)
Can you broil instead of pan fry?
Sure thing!
Perfection!
Just made this today its delicious and it will be made again on repeat thank you so much for this recipe
Now I’m sorry that I shied away from this recipe for so long. It was absolutely delicious — so full of flavour! Will definitely be in my regular routine from now on.
Didn’t expect this to be as good as your tempeh bacon but holy moly. GOOD STUFF! Friends gave us beautiful organic tomatoes from their greenhouse & the iceberg, while lacking in nutrients compared to other lettuces, looked so crisp & fresh today and I had a hankering for a BLT so I thought, “I’ll find something different from Shane” and sure enough. WAA-LA. Delicious! So happy to have some remaining marinating tofu slices to sit over night for more sandwiches tomorrow! Thanks for yet another winner!
I haven’t made this yet, but have it on my list, but I had to let you know how much I enjoy the actual post itself. I was laughing so hard. I’m new to your site and have to say while I follow several plant based blogs/sites your posts are some of the only ones I actually read. I usually skip directly to the recipe, but I really appreciate the tone, length and helpfulness of your writing! You do a fabulous job!
Thank you so much, Ellie!
OMG!!! I was laughing also! The man boob part almost made me choke on my drink!!! And Shane this tofu bacon is absolutely delicious!! I have some marinating now!!
Thank you so much!!!
Absolutely delicious! Best Tofu Bacon yet!
Thank you so much, Frances!
Having made so many different versions of vegan no-bacon, it is refreshing to find one that really stands heads above the rest.
It is perhaps the ration of ingredients that makes this one so amazing.
(I used regular Tamari so reduced the amount to 1/3 of a cup. Had plenty of marinate)
Thank you for this treat. There were no leftovers… 🙂
Looking forward to trying this next week! Will be my first attempt at tofu bacon. I’m on a weight loss journey so I’m trying to find healthy and flavorful alternatives to foods I love, but aren’t at all healthy! This looks delicious and everyone else seems to enjoy it, so I’m definitely excited to make it!
Thank you, Amy! I hope you enjoy it.
Hi – great recipe! I have 2 questions:
1. do I cook all of the tofu bacon that I have marinated and baked?
2. how do I store the tofu bacon that I am not consuming right away?
Thank you! I love how easy your recipes are 🙂
Julia
Hi, Julia! No, you don’t have to make all of it at the same time. We like to make some and then leave the reast in the fridge sitting in the marinade until we’re ready to make another batch.
Can this be made ahead and frozen?
Yes!
This ws my first time making this recipe. It’s perfect! I had to stop myself before I ate the whole batch! Thanks for the great recipes.
Thank you, Julie! Blessings.
This is my first time making “fake bacon” I thought I had all of the ingredients… I do not have tomato paste. I do have fresh, diced, fire roasted, sauce, but of course not paste. Can I sub it with something else or if I leave it out will it wreck the recipe?
Hi, Petrice! You can leave it out and the marinade will still work. I add for a little acidity so removing won’t cause the recipe to fail. You’ll be just fine.
I was wondering if I could add lemon juice instead of tomato paste for acidity?
I haven’t tried it and not sure how the citrus would sit. But, give it a shot. I’d love to hear the results.
I am going to make this, but I am wondering it you or anyone has tried this recipe in the air fryer?
Denise, cook in your air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. A couple of things to remember: you will have to cook in separate batches and check about halfway through to make sure it doesn’t burn.
I’ve been enjoying sandwiches for the last few days…tofu bacon, spinach leaves and tomato. It is yummy and easy to make. I like the texture of the tofu bacon better than the tempeh bacon, Thank you.
Next I am going to try the pancake-tofu bacon stack that you pictured on FB.😋
That’s great, Lucille! And, yes, that pancake stack was pretty epic:)
I have tried several different tofu bacon recipes. This is the best oil-free recipe I have tried!
Thanks
Thank you so much, Wendy!
Wow! This was delicious! My whole family loved it. I put it on homemade biscuits with tomato and avacado. Delish!!
Thank you so much! That all sounds delicious. I really appreciate you sharing it.
This vegan Tofu Bacon is amazing! It’s meaty, savory, crispy, chewy, and a little sweet. A delicious high-protein alternative to meat that’s perfect for breakfast or making the best vegan BLT.