Meat & poultry
Vegan alternative to bacon: the best substitutes
Everything you need to replace bacon with a plant-based substitute — which one to use, the exact ratio, and the mistakes that ruin the result.
Short answer
Key takeaways
- Best all-round swap: Rice-paper bacon (crispy, smoky, blts).
- Ratio: 1:1 by count of rashers.
- Pro tip: Smoked paprika + maple + soy + a drop of liquid smoke is the flavour base every good vegan bacon shares.
- 4 tested vegan alternatives to bacon in total.
Why bacon isn't vegan
Cured pork belly.
Best vegan substitutes
| Substitute | Best for |
|---|---|
| Rice-paper bacon | Crispy, smoky, BLTs |
| Marinated tempeh strips | High-protein breakfast |
| Shiitake bacon | Salad and pasta topping |
| Coconut bacon | Crunchy garnish |
How to substitute bacon, step by step
- 1
Pick the right substitute for the job
For most recipes use Rice-paper bacon — crispy, smoky, blts. If you need a different texture, Marinated tempeh strips works for high-protein breakfast.
- 2
Measure using the correct ratio
1:1 by count of rashers. Weigh rather than eyeball it — small errors show up much faster when replacing bacon.
- 3
Adjust the method
Smoked paprika + maple + soy + a drop of liquid smoke is the flavour base every good vegan bacon shares.
- 4
Taste and correct
Plant swaps are usually a little less salty and less rich than bacon. Season at the end and add acid (lemon, vinegar) or umami (miso, nutritional yeast) if the dish tastes flat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Swapping by volume when the recipe measures bacon by weight — check the ratio above first.
- Using a sweetened or flavoured version in a savoury recipe.
- Ignoring the method change: Smoked paprika + maple + soy + a drop of liquid smoke is the flavour base every good vegan bacon shares.
- Assuming every packaged product labelled "plant-based" is vegan — some still contain milk powder, honey or egg. Scan the barcode to be sure.
Conversion ratio
1:1 by count of rashers.
Pro tip
Smoked paprika + maple + soy + a drop of liquid smoke is the flavour base every good vegan bacon shares.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best vegan alternative to bacon?
- Rice-paper bacon is the closest all-round swap — crispy, smoky, blts. 1:1 by count of rashers.
- Why isn't bacon vegan?
- Cured pork belly.
- How much do I use instead of bacon?
- 1:1 by count of rashers.
- Any tips for getting it right?
- Smoked paprika + maple + soy + a drop of liquid smoke is the flavour base every good vegan bacon shares.
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