Everyone knows that bacon isn’t vegan. But there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the flavor and texture of bacon without a real pig and any animal cruelty. We’ve put together some of the best vegan bacon brands you can buy in-stores in this guide.
Don’t have time to read? Here’s a quick summary of the products we recommend.
Ready to check them all out? Let’s go!
Oh – and be sure to read until the very end. We’ve included a short video on how you can make vegan bacon that’s super easy (and the most delicious I’ve ever tasted).
All ingredients are taken from the manufacturer sites and are subject to change at any time!
Louisville Vegan Jerky Maple Bacon, Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Jerky
This vegan bacon jerky makes a really great to-go snack. The ingredients indicate that it’s made of the whole soybean rather than being totally processed. I like picking these up in a pinch or for a road trip.
Read Next: Vegan Shopping List for Beginners
Tofurky Smoky Maple Bacon
Tofurky is a trusted brand, and they make a little bit of everything to suit your meatless needs.
This bacon is a part of their meatless crew.
It’s made from tempeh, so it has the potential to be extra crispy if you fry it upright and is filled with flavor from the inside out.
It cooks in minutes and is sliced really thin, so you can use it to make sandwiches and to top things without it being overwhelmed by too much vegan bacon if there is such a thing.
It has a smoky maple flavor, so it’s best with breakfast because that maple sweetness goes great with a savory tofu scramble.
Organic soybeans, water, shoyu soy sauce (water, non-GMO soybeans, wheat, salt, culture), molasses, maple syrup, natural smoke flavor, autolyzed yeast extract, salt, organic apple cider vinegar, starter culture (rhizopus oligosporus).
Phoney Baloney’s Coconut Bacon
Ok, so moving on to bacon bits.
Some store brands are accidentally vegan, but if you’re still a little skeptical or don’t want something with a bunch of additives and preservatives, these are great.
They’re made from coconut, so you think they would be sweet, but they’re the exact opposite.
These are savory and larger than store-bought bits, and they are a little more expensive, but it’s worth it if you want something fresh with a cleaner ingredient list.
Organic coconut, organic tamari (water, organic soybeans, salt), grapeseed oil, liquid smoke (water, natural hickory concentrate), maple syrup, sea salt, pepper, spices.
Betty Crocker Bac-Os Bits
Warning: These aren’t the healthiest option. Mostly artificial ingredients and no nutritional value.
If you’re in a pinch and need something quick, this is a pretty good store brand to buy.
These come in a resealable package, so you don’t have to use them all at once or worry about shelf life once you’ve opened them.
Bac-O bits are actually soy-based, so they contain no meat, but it does contain artificial coloring if you’re concerned about it.
Defatted Soy Flour, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Salt, Sugar, Artificial and Natural Flavor, Red 40 and Other Color Added, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (Corn, Soy, Wheat).
McCormick Imitation Bacon Bits
Again – no real nutritional value, but still decent tasting.
This is another soy-based store brand.
These might even be more popular than Betty Croker because these are literally in every store.
These are nice and crunchy and do have an authentic bacon flavor.
So that can be a plus or minus depending on your preference. These are really tiny, so they’re great on salads or things where you don’t want the bacon to crumble to overpower the rest of the meal.
These also have no MSG, but they do have artificial coloring and flavor.
If you don’t like the ingredient statement, feel free to skip this one, but it might be good in a pinch. The colors can also be controversial, but we always define vegan as not labeled animal products, as do most vegan organizations.
Textured Soy Flour, Canola Oil, Salt, Caramel Color, Maltodextrin, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Lactic Acid, Yeast Extract, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate (Flavor Enhancers), and FDandC Red 40
NOrganic Matters Vegan Coconut Bacon Bits
These bacon bits are different than most of the ones on this list because they don’t even contain soy.
These are soy-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, and non-GMO. So, they’re pretty high quality.
They’re loosely whole-food-based with the coconut, so if you want to add those extra nutrients in your diet while still getting flavor, these bits have come to save the day.
These are made in small batches by a family-owned business, so consistency is in their name.
They don’t have any extra additives or preservatives, so you’re getting the good stuff when you buy these.
Plus, they come in a chipotle flavor if you want a little extra spice.
Organic Coconut Chips, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Hickory Smoke Flavor, Organic Agave Syrup, Applewood Smoked Sea salt, Organic Pepper, Organic Spices
Organic Fakin’ Bacon Tempeh Strips
Lightlife also makes a tempeh bacon strip similar to Tofurky, and only theirs has more of a smoky flavor.
It’s still extra crispy and thin-sliced, making them perfect for your lunchtime BLT.
The texture is a little different than regular bacon thought because tempeh can get soft on the inside a little bit. You can crumble these as well, and most find that they work and taste better that way.
Check out this vegan starter kit
They only have a shelf life of about 80 days (it’s tempeh, after all), so when you buy them, you do have to use them fairly quickly so they don’t go bad.
Water, cultured organic soybeans, soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, salt, organic wheat), organic cider vinegar, organic evaporated cane syrup, less than 2% of: organic brown rice, sea salt, natural smoke flavor, beet powder (color), yeast extract, organic dried onions, spices.
Stonewall’s Jerquee Country Bacon
Ok, the last one is jerky.
But it’s a bacon-flavored jerky, so it’s pretty much the same thing.
You can’t crumble this or anything like that, but if you’re looking for a good snack with that savory bacon flavor, these will exceed your expectations.
It’s not GMO and cholesterol and gluten-free. You can also put these in the microwave and heat them, and they will be just like any regular breakfast bacon. If you are in the market for a microwave, check out: Best Microwave Toaster Oven Combo.
They’re also packed with protein, 14g per serving, so you not only get the great taste but a very filling snack.
Defatted Soy Flour, Purified Water, Autolyzed Yeast, Soybean Oil, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt) and/or Spices (Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Allspice, Ginger, Corriander, and/or Cayenne), and Potassium Sorbate (A Polyunsaturated Fat Used to Preserve Freshness).
Sweet Earth Benevolent Bacon, Hickory and Sage Plant-Based Protein
Made of seitan (aka wheat gluten), this bacon is going to be pretty darn close to the rank thing.
Water, Vital Wheat Gluten, Canola Oil(3), Natural Flavor, Adzuki Beans(1), Buckwheat Groats(1), Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Cane Sugar(1), Smoked Paprika, Annatto, Maple Syrup(1), Tomato Powder, Garlic, Onion Powder, Spices, Tomato Paste, Soy Sauce(2) (Water, Soybeans(2), Wheat, Salt, Alcohol(1)), Nutritional Yeast(1), Apple Cider Vinegar(1), Coconut Oil, Sea Salt and Caramel Color(1). (1)Organic. (2)Non-GMO. (3)Non-GMO Expeller Pressed.
Lightlife Organic Fakin Bacon Smoky Tempeh Strips
