By Bohemian Vegan Kitchen · Published: · Updated: 13 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.
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VEGAN BACON BITS!!
If I could underline that and present you with a million star emojis, I would. This is serious biz after all.
Because giving up bacon bits when you go vegan is like a breakup you never thought would happen. No matter how good bacon bits taste on salads, baked potatoes, and straight out of the jar and into your mouth, once you go vegan, you see all the problems you never saw in the first place.
Like, it’s not you, it’s me type deal. Or wait, no actually it is you, because you’re made of pigs and nightmare fuel. #sorrynotsorry
But just because we don’t have bacon bits anymore, that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the feeling of bacon bits.
Lo, I bring you these amazingly easy vegan bacon bits, that take literally 2 minutes to prep and 5 to bake. They’re smoky. They’re sweet. They’re spicy. And they are totally into long-term commitments.
Satisfy your craving with these fabulous vegan bacon bits
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “how could I possibly have bacon bits that are both vegan and easy to make?”
Patience my darling, patience.
You see, the key to making good vegan bacon bits, ones that satisfy that craving for bacon AND deliver on quick prep, is all in the seasoning.
I remember my favorite part about eating bacon bits was the smoky aftertaste you got when you dumped a palm-full of them into your mouth. Well, by using spices such as smoked paprika, with a little bit of smoke sauce and cayenne pepper for a little kick, you get a blend that totally WORKS.
Satisfying your taste buds and giving you all the feels.
Smoky roasted pecans are fabulous vegan bacon bits
What’s more is that these vegan bacon bits do not rely on textured veggie protein or eggplant or mushrooms or whatever else Pinterest tells you can be a replacement for bacon.
Because while all of them “technically” work, they don’t have that crunch that true bacon bits have. Which is why the only real candidate has to be pecans. Nuts, and specifically pecans, make excellent vegan bacon bits because they can be flavored and roasted easily in just a few short minutes.
You can use them on just about anything too and they taste absolutely AMAZING. Salads, vegetables, pasta, baked potatoes- even donuts work with these. And they all deliver big time on taste!
Did I mention they are CRAZY addictive too?
This week, take 5 minutes and make these simple vegan bacon bits….you can thank me later!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card and, if you enjoy it, leave a comment. Thanks in advance!
Vegan Bacon Bits
Randi Tisdall
Satisfy your cravings with these easy vegan bacon bits! They’re smoky. They’re sweet. They’re spicy. And they literally take 2 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to bake. Enjoy on baked potatoes, salads, and straight into your mouth.
4.75 from 16 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 7 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Servings 4
Calories 206 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan pieces or pecans chopped/broken into small bits
- 1 tablespoon tamari sauce
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400° F (204° C). Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and stir, until pecans are evenly coated with liquid and seasonings. If you want them to marinate in the sauce, let stand for 10-20 minutes. Otherwise, spread pecans on baking sheet.
Pop in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes, or until the pecans start to sizzle and slightly brown. You'll know they are done when the maple syrup has caramelized and they become sticky! These are easy to overcook, so just keep a watchful eye. When finished, remove from oven and transfer back to small bowl. Serve over a baked potato, on top of potato soup, or as a healthy snack.
Notes
- Make these bits soy-free by omitting the tamari sauce, OR using coconut aminos instead.
- Increase the spice level by upping the cayenne pepper to ½ teaspoon.
- Want them sweeter for desserts? Up the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons and omit the tamari sauce.
- These vegan bacon bits will keep up to two weeks stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Tell me about it + share!Comment and let me know how it was! Then follow BVK on Pinterest @bohemianvegankitchen
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About Bohemian Vegan Kitchen
I believe that wellness starts in your kitchen, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or boring! That's why I'm dedicated to sharing the best vegan comfort food and healthy recipes. Because at the end of the day, you should feel good about what you eat and how you feel, regardless of health restrictions or crazy schedules. Bohemian Vegan Kitchen has been featured by VegNews, Delish, Beyond Meat, MSN, and HuffPost.
Reader Interactions
Comments
RBJ
Delicious, a wonderful addition to a lot of vegan dishes I make for my daughter. So easy! Thank you very much.
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Donna
Wow!!!!!!! Best bacon bits ever! Vegan or non vegan -the best! And so easy!!!!
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Denise S
I can’t tell you how happy I am for this recipe. I own a fudge business operating under cottage law and everyone loves maple bacon fudge. We are not allowed to use any meats of any kind so we have had to eliminate this flavor from our menu. I am so excited now that we can include maple bacon fudge@ Fudge DE Fûge!
Thank you so much and keep the great tips coming!Reply
Susan
I’m wondering if anyone has tried these in an air fryer?
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Randi Tisdall
Oooo great question Susan! When I posted this recipe, I didn’t have my air fryer yet. I say, try it!! I would just set the air fryer to 400 and air-fry for 3 to 5 minutes, checking them at 3 min to see if they are done.
If you try this, please let me know how it goes!Reply
Roxanne
I tried it in the air fryer and it took 1 minute at 400. At 2 minutes the outside pieces were burned. It’s perfect. I can’t believe no one has thought of this before. Thank you!
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Lucas Batista
I haven’t made these yet, but do they store well in room temperature, or do they need to be refrigerated?
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Randi Tisdall
Hi Lucas, great question!! I’m sure these would store fine at room temperature, as they don’t contain any ingredients that can spoil. Of course, I would seal them in a tight jar if you keep them on the counter. That being said, I always pop mine in the fridge- they are just as delicious cold! I hope this helps, and I hope you try them!
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Cindy Jenkins
What an intriguing recipe! I hate those soy bacon bits. I’m going to try your recipe with walnuts: partially because I need the omega-3s they provide, and partially because I’m allergic to pecans. I know they won’t be as crispy as pecans, but I’m gonna give it a try!
Reply
Randi Tisdall
Hi Cindy! I’m so glad you are going to give this a try- I agree, I don’t care for the soy bacon bits either. I would love to know how they turn out with the walnuts!
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