Vegan Bacon Bits

Vegan bacon bits are a fantastic vegan alternative to traditional bacon bits, offering that smoky, savory crunch without the meat. They're super easy to make and perfect for sprinkling over salads, soups, baked potatoes, or any dish you'd like to add a bacon-like flavor.

Like tempeh bacon, homemade TVP bacon bits are an excellent source of plant-based protein and are much lower in fat than traditional bacon bits. If TVP is new to you, it's basically dehydrated soy.

By making them yourself, you can also control the amount of sodium and avoid preservatives found in some store-bought versions.

This recipe is for air-frying the bacon bits, which is my preferred method, but I've also included directions for oven and skillet in the notes section of the recipe card.

For other delicious condiments to add to your meals, try Air Fryer Croutons, Coconut Shreds, and Roasted Chickpea Croutons.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Copycat: They mimic the texture and flavor of bacon bits really well.
• Healthier Option: Compared to regular bacon or store-bought bacon bits, TVP bacon bits are lower in fat and calories and have no cholesterol. They also have no artificial ingredients!
• Versatile Use: TVP bacon bits are incredibly versatile in cooking and add crunch to salads, baked potatoes, soups, and stews, or are used in vegan omelets, pasta, and more.
• Long Shelf Life: These bacon bits are easy to store and perfect for road trips, camping, picnicking in the park, or trekking up a mountain. They're pretty good about not being in the fridge for a while, but scroll down for the storage tips to keep them in prime munching condition.
• Easy Preparation: TVP bacon bits are quick and easy to prepare, just rehydration and a brief time in the air fryer is all you need.

What Is TVP?

TVP is a textured vegetable protein made from textured soy protein. If that means nothing to you, know it's basically the soybean's distant cousin specializing in playing 'crumbled meat' in meals.

In a nutshell, it's defatted, dehydrated soy flour that has been turned into little bits that you can season, cook, and eat like meat crumbles.

They arrive dehydrated, so all you do is plunk them in hot water or broth, and voila—they puff up like a sponge. Plus, they're gluten-free, low-fat, cholesterol-free, and loaded with protein and fiber.

But how do they taste, you ask? Let me put it this way -

TVP has the culinary enthusiasm of plain tofu - essentially, it's like a flavor sponge ready to go once you toss in some spices or sauces. On its own, it's as exciting as watching paint dry, but with the right seasonings, it can masquerade as just about anything.

To find them, check out health or natural food stores and some regular grocery stores, or for your best bet, go online.

Do Vegan Bacon Bits Taste Like Traditional Bacon Bits?

These bacony bits are not an exact match but come pretty close with their smoky, savory flavor, which is great for quashing those bacon bit cravings.

Ingredients

Here is a picture of the simple ingredients needed to make these homemade vegan bacon bits. See the recipe card for quantities.

Ingredient Notes

• Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) is a high-protein, low-fat soy product often used as a meat substitute because of its chewy texture and neutral flavor. You can typically find TVP in some grocery stores, but definitely online.
• Liquid smoke gives the bacon bits essential bacon-like smokiness, so I would not skip it. It's found in major grocery chains in the same section as the BBQ sauce.
• You can use rice vinegar as a substitute for apple cider vinegar.

How To Make Vegan Bacon Bits

It doesn't get easier than this! You can peek at the recipe card below, but the process is easy to share in pictures.

Step 1 - Rehydrate the TVP: Mix TVP granules with boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes until soft.

Step 2 - Flavor the TVP: Add soy sauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil, liquid smoke, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper to the TVP; stir to coat evenly.

Step 3 - Cook: Spread the TVP in a thin layer. Place the seasoned bits in a pre-heated air-fryer at 350°F.

Step 4 - Cool: Remove from heat and let the bacon bits cool to enhance crispiness. Use immediately or store in an airtight container. They're so good they might not last long!

Top Tips

• If the holes in your air fryer grate are too large, try using parchment paper with a few small holes or an air fryer liner to keep TVP bits from falling through while still allowing them to crisp up. I have a basket-style air fryer with a grate with fairly large holes. Although I can usually get most of the TVP to stay on the grate, sometimes I remove it and cook the TVP directly at the bottom, which limits air circulation but only extends the cooking time for the bacon bits to about 10-12 minutes.
• If this method does not suit you or you don't have an air fryer, I have included easy skillet and oven instructions in the notes section of the recipe card.
• Let the TVP bits rest before serving. They will come out a little chewy but crisp up more when cooling down.
• Spread them out evenly, whether you're air frying, baking, or cooking in a skillet, to ensure all the TVP pieces crisp up nicely.

How To Use The Vegan Bacon Bits

These vegan bacon bits are wonderfully versatile and can add a delightful crunch and smoky bacon-like flavor to various dishes. Here are some ways to use them:

• Salads: Sprinkle the bacon bits over a fresh green salad or vegan Caesar salad, or make a row of bits in this vegan Cobb salad.
• Baked Potatoes: Top steaming baked potatoes or sweet potatoes with a generous helping of vegan bacon bits, along with vegan sour cream, chives, and shredded vegan cheese.
• Breakfast Dishes: Top over scrambled tofu, vegan omelet, or sprinkle over avocado toast for a savory breakfast twist.
• Soups and Stews: Enhance the flavor and texture of soups and stews by adding the bacon bits as a garnish before serving. Try it on Vegan Split Pea Soup with Barley and Butternut Squash.
• Pasta Dishes: Stir into creamy pasta sauces or sprinkle over mac and cheese for a contrasting crispy element.
• Pizza Topping: Use them as a topping on vegan pizza to mimic the experience of bacon-topped pizza.
• Casseroles: Mix into or sprinkle over casseroles before baking to infuse them with a smoky, bacon-like flavor.
• Grain Bowls: Elevate the taste of salad or grain bowls by topping them with TVP bacon bits, adding a nice texture to rice, quinoa, or bulgur.
• Snacking: Enjoy them as a crunchy snack or mixed with nuts and seeds.

Storage

• Storing Vegan Bacon Bits: Once the TVP bacon bits have cooled down, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate, where they’ll stay fresh for a couple of weeks. Though, if I'm honest, I usually leave mine on the counter for easy snacking and take them with me on long hikes. But for food safety (and to avoid any mishaps), keeping them refrigerated is your best bet.
• Freezing Bacon Bits: Once cool and dry, portion the vegan bacon bits into freezer-safe containers or bags, removing as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Thawing and Reusing the Bacon Bits: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or use directly from the freezer, reheating briefly in a pan or oven to restore crispiness before serving.

Additions and Variations

• You can substitute coconut aminos or tamari for soy sauce if you're avoiding soy or gluten. Just be sure to adjust the seasoning to maintain the savory flavor profile.
• Add a little Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce into the seasoning for bacon bits with a spicy twist.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Delicious Vegan Condiments

What did you think?

Got a minute? Dive into the comments and rate these Vegan Bacon Bits to let me know how it turned out for you. Was it a hit? Any mishaps with your air fryer? I want to know if my directions were any good or if you plan to make it. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.

Recipe

Vegan Bacon Bits

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Vegan bacon bits are a fantastic vegan alternative to traditional bacon bits, offering that smoky, savory crunch without the meat. They're super easy to make and perfect for sprinkling over salads, soups, baked potatoes, or any dish you'd like to add a bacon-like flavor.

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 1 cup 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup TVP (textured vegetable protein)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for a gluten-free option
• 1 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon of salt (adjust to taste)

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Instructions

1. Rehydrate: In a bowl, combine the TVP granules with the boiling water. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until the TVP has absorbed all the water and softened.
2. Flavor: Add the soy sauce, maple syrup, vinegar, vegetable oil, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir well to ensure all the TVP granules are evenly coated with the seasoning. Let it sit while you preheat your air fryer.
3. Cook: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F/175°C. Spread the seasoned TVP evenly on the grate of the air fryer basket. Make sure to keep them in a single layer for even cooking. Air fry the TVP bits for about 5 minutes (see notes*). Give the basket a gentle shake halfway through to ensure all sides get crispy. If they aren't as crispy as you like, you can air fry them for a few additional minutes. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
4. Cool: Let the bacon bits sit for about 10 minutes. They will continue to crisp up as they cool.
5. Store/Serve: Once cooled, use immediately or store in an airtight container. See the post for serving suggestions.

Equipment

air fryer

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Notes

*When I manage to get most of the bacon bits on the grate, they crisp up in about 5 minutes. However, if I remove the grate and let them cook on the bottom of the air fryer, it takes longer, about 10-12 minutes. I find cooking times in air fryers vary, so check your bits often to ensure they are not burning. And shake the basket often to ensure even cooking.

If the holes in your air fryer grate are too big, try lining it with parchment paper with a few small holes throughout, or use an air fryer liner to keep the vegan bits from slipping through.

The bits come out somewhat chewy, but as they cool, they crisp up. It's really about personal preference. I prefer them crispy like croutons, while my husband enjoys them chewier. If you undercook them slightly, they'll crisp up just a bit but stay mostly chewy. So, adjust the cooking time to get your ideal texture.

For skillet-made TVP bacon bits, heat the marinated TVP in a non-stick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until crispy, about 10 minutes.

To make vegan bacon bits in the oven, spread the marinated TVP on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until crispy.

Traditional store-bought bacon bits are pretty salty. Adjust the salt to your preference, or leave it out entirely.

Nutritional information is only an estimate based on the entire batch made in this recipe.

• Author: Regi Pearce
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: condiment
• Method: air fryer
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 batch
• Calories: 680
• Sugar: 8.5 g
• Sodium: 994.5 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Carbohydrates: 120.3 g
• Protein: 29.7 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

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