These Vegan Bacon Bits are crispy, crunchy, and full of incredible bacon flavor! Made with textured vegetable protein (TVP) and a handful of basic ingredients, this delicious condiment is quick & easy. Perfect for topping salads, soups, baked potatoes, and more!
If you've been missing the flavor of bacon, then I have good news! You can easily replicate store-bought bacon bits that are healthier and more affordable with just a handful of ingredients. Best of all the flavor is almost indistinguishable from bacon. These delicious Bacon Bits make a perfect addition to all sorts of dishes from salad to pasta. Sometimes I even eat them straight out of the jar! This is seriously the best, easiest, and most addictive TVP Recipe. Yum!
You'll love this recipe for Vegan Bacon Bits because it's:
- Quick & Easy
- Vegan / Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, and Oil-Free
- A Healthy Alternative to store-bought bacon bits
- Crispy & Crunchy
- Full of Flavor
Are Bacon Bits Vegan?
Believe it or not, store-bought bacon-bits don't actually have any bacon. They are meatless because they're made with TVP (more on that in a second). But just because they're vegan doesn't mean they're healthy. Store-bought bacon bits usually contain a bunch of unpronounceable ingredients and food coloring. So if you want to avoid those things and save a little money in the process, this Easy Homemade Bacon Bits Recipe is for you.
What is TVP?
TVP might sound a little odd, but it's actually just short for Textured Vegetable Protein, aka Textured Soy Protein. The texture is dry and fibrous, which is why TVP is a common meat-replacement product. You will find it in various shapes (flakes, chunks, etc). It is available at natural food stores and most large grocery stores in the health food section. Or you can order TVP
online. As with all soy products, be sure to choose Organic, Non-GMO.
What is Liquid Smoke?
If you've never cooked with liquid smoke, and you miss the flavor of grilled meats, then you should definitely give this ingredient a try. Liquid smoke is exactly what it sounds like. Hickory or other types of wood are burned and the smoke is captured and condensed into liquid form.
There have been some concerns about the possible health risks associated with liquid smoke, but the latest research seems to show that small amounts of liquid smoke are okay, and are significantly less harmful than smoked foods. Thankfully the flavor is quite strong, so a small amount can go a long way.
How to Make Homemade Veggie Bacon Bits
This recipe is so easy! Just mix all of your spices and liquids in a bowl, add the TVP, and stir to combine. Then spread the bacon bits on a lined tray, pop them in the oven on 300°F (150°C) for about 10 minutes, let cool, and enjoy! Crispy, crunchy, Vegan Bacon Bits!
How to serve
- These vegan bacon crumbles are perfect for sprinkling over salad, soup, pasta, and more.
- They make the perfect topping for this Loaded Vegan Potato Soup.
- You could easily substitute them for the tempeh bacon in this Vegan Spaghetti Carbonara.
- They're absolutely divine sprinkled over Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts! Not only do they add a delicious bacon-y flavor, but you'll also get that wonderful crunch factor.
- I also love them on the Spinach, Avocado, & Strawberry Salad.
How to store
To keep them crunchy, be sure to cool the bacon bits completely before storing (so that there's no condensation on the inside of the container). Store your bacon bits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.
Related Recipes
- Vegan Italian Sausage Crumbles
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing
- Cilantro-Lime Avocado Dressing
- Oil-Free Vegan Aioli
- Oil-Free Vegan Pesto
📖 Recipe
Vegan Bacon Bits | The Best TVP Recipe!
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup TVP
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon date syrup
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F or 150°C.
- Mix all of the ingredients EXCEPT the TVP in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
- Add the TVP and mix until the liquid is coating all of the TVP.
- Spread the bacon bits mixture onto a lined baking sheet.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes. Keep a close eye so that the bacon bits don't burn.
- Remove the tray from the oven and let the bacon bits cool for another 5 to 7 minutes. This will help them to dry out more and get crunchy.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- You can skip the oven entirely, but the bacon bits will feel very moist.
- Feel free to adjust the seasonings as needed and based on your own personal preference.
- For lower sodium, substitute tamari plus 1 tablespoon water for the soy sauce.
- If you don't have date syrup, substitute with molasses or use 1 tablespoon maple syrup (and omit the additional ½ teaspoon maple syrup).
- This makes about 1 cup of bacon bits.
Nutrition
Want access to my Exclusive Meal Planning Tips & Printables page?
Elliot says
These look great!!!! Can’t wait to try them! I have soya chunks in the cupboard, are these the same as TVP?
And don’t you normally need to rehydrate TVP in liquid / broth before using?
Julianne Lynch says
Thanks! Soya chunks tend to be a bit larger than TVP crumbles, but if you have some that are small like the ones in the photos, then go for it. The TVP gets rehydrated from the liquid in the recipe as you make it, so it doesn't need to be rehydrated prior to making the recipe.
Nancy says
Excellent recipe. Mine came out perfect. What a great addition to my salads!
Julianne Lynch says
Thanks! I'm so glad you liked them!!
Shannon says
I really like these, but I am a rare person that doesn’t like sweet and so I didn’t like maple flavor on bacon back when I wasn’t VEG. Think I could omit the syrup? Replace with something else?
Julianne Lynch says
The sweetness doesn't come through so much as the flavor. You might be able to get away with reducing it but I think the flavor would be off balance without it--but that's my preference. The only substitutions I can think of are also sweet. One thing you could do, is to try making it without the syrup. Then taste the TVP before you bake it (it's totally fine to eat raw). If you like it, then bake it. If not, add a little syrup. Ultimately, if you like the flavor, then that's all that matters!
Cecilia says
Looks amazing! Should I use dehydrated or hydrated TVP for this?
Julianne Lynch says
Thanks! I always start with dehydrated TVP. It will rehydrate in the marinade.
Mary Beth Elderton says
I just took a batch from the oven, and...Wow! Delicious. So easy, too. Thank You!
Julianne Lynch says
You're very welcome!!