Coconut Bacon
You will love this simple vegan bacon recipe. It tastes smoky and delicious on a tofu scramble or on sandwiches and veggie burgers. It’s an amazing vegan substitute for real bacon.
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It’s fun to make typically unhealthy food healthier like this vegan version of bacon. Other yummy recipes where we transformed junky food are these Avocado Fudgesicles or these Homemade Peanut Butter Cups.
This recipe gives you a flavorful alternative to unhealthy pork products. As with most processed foods, the ingredients in bacon include a lot of salt and sugar. We avoid that with these vegan bacon bits.
Want more vegan faves? Try these tasty Vegan Sausage Rolls! A yummy, plant-based appetizer idea.
Ingredients for this Recipe:
- liquid smoke – I prefer the hickory smoke but applewood is tasty also
- olive oil
- soy sauce – or use my soy-free soy sauce
- maple syrup
- apple cider vinegar
- smoked paprika – optional but adds another layer of smokiness
- unsweetened coconut flakes
So, if you haven’t guessed by now coconut flakes are the star of the show. Yes, coconut bacon. It’s a thing!
Now for the supporting actors. First up, liquid smoke. It’s made from actual hickory smoke and it lends that savory, meaty flavor to our vegetarian bacon.
Next is my homemade soy-free soy sauce substitute. I like to add it to the marinade because it brings that umami flavor.
How to Make Vegan Bacon
The instructions for this recipe are super simple
First, stir all of the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
Second, add in the flaked coconut and mix it well with a spoon.
Then evenly spread the coconut on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Finally, off it goes into the oven to bake. No frying pan or skillet is necessary! The oven does a great job of giving the vegan bacon a crisp bite.
Once it is baked the coconut is magically transformed into the texture of bacon.
Serving Suggestions and Substitutions
- Crumble these vegan bacon strips on salads or on soups – like this vegan potato soup!
- Add the vegan bacon slices to a tofu scramble, or sandwiches like a vegan BLT.
- Substitute soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos instead of the homemade soy-free soy sauce.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- I love this smart bacon crumbled over eggs– obviously not vegan. 😉
This is a fun foodie experiment.
When I was testing out this recipe I brought it into work to see what my co-workers would think of this plant-based bacon. It was a hit. And NO ONE guessed it was coconut. They all knew it was bacon though.
Win.
Totally try this! It’s the BEST vegan bacon.
More Healthy Vegan Recipes:
- Vegan Potato Soup
- How to Make Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix
- Vegan Buddha Bowl with Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Chaga Hot Chocolate
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Hemp Seed Balls
- Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce
**This recipe was originally posted on February 10, 2014, and updated on February 23, 2019, and updated again on December 29, 2021, with recipe notes, writing, and photos.**
If you’ve tried this vegan substitute for bacon, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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Amazing Vegan Bacon Recipe – Easy, Quick, and Flavorful
Ingredients
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce substitute or use regular soy sauce
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add all of the ingredients except for the coconut to a mixing bowl and stir well. Add the coconut flakes to the bowl and stir well to coat.
- Spread the coconut in an even layer on the parchment-lined sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, stirring every 3-5 minutes watching that it doesn’t burn.
- Remove from oven and let cool.
- Store in a sealed container (I use a glass jar) at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Serving Suggestions and Substitutions
- Crumble these vegan bacon strips on salads or on soups – like this vegan potato soup!
- Add the vegan bacon slices to a tofu scramble, or sandwiches like a vegan BLT.
- Substitute soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos instead of the homemade soy-free soy sauce.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- I love this smart bacon crumbled over eggs– obviously not vegan. 😉
