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 ready in about 10 minutes. Sprinkle over salads, soups, baked potatoes, or any dish you'd like to add a bacon-like flavor.
Like Baked 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.
Even though some store-bought bacon bits are vegan, by making them yourself, you can control the amount of sodium and avoid preservatives found in some of them.
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, Toasted Coconut Shreds, and Roasted Chickpea Croutons.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 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!
- TVP bacon bits are incredibly versatile in cooking and add crunch to salads, baked potatoes, vegan soups and stews, or are used in vegan omelets, pasta, and more.
- 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.
- TVP bacon bits are quick and easy to prepare; just rehydrate and have a brief time in the air fryer.
What Is TVP?
TVP is a textured vegetable protein made from textured soy protein. If that means nothing to you as it does to me, 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?
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.
Ingredients
Here is a picture of the simple ingredients needed to make these homemade vegan bacon bits. See the recipe card for quantities.
- 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.
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.
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 preheated 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
- Sprinkle the bacon bits over a fresh green salad or Vegan Caesar Salad, or make a row of bits in this Vegan Cobb Salad.
- 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.
- Top over High Protein Tofu Scramble, Vegan Spanish Omelet, or sprinkle over avocado toast for a savory breakfast twist.
- Enhance the flavor and texture of vegan 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.
- Stir into creamy pasta sauces or sprinkle over Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese for a contrasting crispy element.
Storage
- 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.
Vegan Bacon Bits FAQS
TVP by itself has a mild, bland flavor, making it excellent for absorbing seasonings and mimicking the taste of various types of meat when properly cooked and seasoned. It's also chewy when hydrated.
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.
Yes. Simply place the marinated bits in a dry non-stick skillet and cook over medium heat until they're crispy, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. No need to add oil—the bits will crisp up in the skillet and even more when off the stove.
Yes. Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C. Spread the seasoned TVP in a lined baking pan and place in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes. If they are a little soft coming out, no worries, as they will crisp up when cooled down.
Store-bought bacon bits sometimes aren’t bacon at all but humble plant stuff dressed up to taste like the real deal. Many commercial versions use textured soy protein (or sometimes coconut flakes or mushroom “crumbles”) plus a blend of smoke flavor, salt, sugar, paprika, and a dash of yeast extract or nutritional yeast.
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.
Vegan Bacon Bits
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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 black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
Instructions
- Rehydrate TVP: 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.
- Add 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.
- 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.
- Cool: Let the bacon bits sit for about 10 minutes. They will continue to crisp up as they cool.
- Serve: Once cooled, use immediately or store in an airtight container. See the post for serving suggestions.
Rob says
These were better than the bacos from when I was a kid. Loved them!
Regi Pearce says
I agree! Thanks for the comment.