• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipes
  • eBooks
  • Christmas
  • FREE EBOOK

Create Mindfully

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • eBooks
  • Christmas
  • FREE EBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • eBooks
    • Christmas
    • FREE EBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Tofu

    Published: Apr 10, 2023 · Modified: May 12, 2023 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    The Most Incredible Tofu Bacon

    Jump to Recipe Pin Video

    This Tofu Bacon has the perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and salty flavors. It is marinated and then fried or baked. Perfect for sandwiches!

    Tofu Bacon on an open faced sandwich.

    This Tofu Bacon may not taste like the real thing, but it is really good! It is sweet and smoky.

    Sandwich in between two slices of toast with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and vegan mayo or roasted red pepper tahini spread for a Vegan BLT with Avocado.

    You could also add the marinated baked tofu to a Vegan Monte Cristo or a Vegan Reuben Sandwich. It goes great on salads or added to pasta.

    If you want a recipe for vegan bacon bits, check out my Coconut Bacon recipe or my Almond Bacon recipe. Both are crunchy and taste great on a salad.

    My Soy Curl Jerky recipe can also be used for bacon bits.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 🍽 Serving
    • Other Vegan Bacon Recipes
    • 🎥  Video
    • 📋 Recipe
    • Want to save this recipe?
    • 💬 Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    Ingredients with labels.
    • Tofu: I used extra firm tofu that is packed in water. It's found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. You could also use firm tofu, but extra firm tofu has less moisture.
    • Tamari: Adds a salty umami flavor. I use low sodium tamari because I like to control the amount of sodium. You could also use low sodium soy sauce.
    • Maple syrup: For a sweet maple flavor. Balances out the other flavors.
    • Liquid smoke: Adds a smoky flavor.
    • Apple cider vinegar: Adds a tangy sour flavor. You could also use red wine vinegar or rice vinegar.
    • Olive oil: To cook the tofu in. If you bake it, you won't need olive oil. 
    • Paprika: Adds a spicy smoky flavor. You could also use smoked paprika.
    • Salt: Taste the marinade to see if you want salt. The tamari and liquid smoke have a good amount of salt, so you don't need much.

    This is an overview of the ingredients. To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    5 Secrets to Transforming Tofu

    Maple Dijon Baked Tofu Sandwich

    FREE 5 part email series to help you cook tofu like a pro.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    🔪 Instructions

    Marinade being whisked and sliced tofu added.

    Step 1: Drain and press the tofu for at least 15 to 30 minutes. This gets all the excess moisture out, improves the texture, and helps to hold its shape.

    If you don't have a tofu press, you can place the drained tofu between a clean kitchen towel and place a heavy object like a cast iron skillet on top.

    Step 2: Slice tofu ⅛" - ¼"  thick. Marinate the tofu strips in a shallow dish for at least an hour to overnight so that it can absorb the flavors.

    Tofu Bacon in frying pan and on parchment lined baking sheet.

    Step 3: Place the tofu strips in a large skillet and cook on both sides on medium heat for several minutes until crispy. You can also place tofu on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake in the oven, flipping halfway through.

    Tofu bacon on an open faced sandwich.

    🥡 Storage

    This vegan tofu bacon recipe will last about 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

    🍽 Serving

    • Sandwiches: Vegan Monte Cristo, Vegan Submarine Sandwich, Vegan Reuben Sandwich
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Salads
    • On veggie burgers
    • With: Vegan French Toast, waffles, Tofu Scramble or a Vegan Tofu Omelette
    • Any place you want to add a savory, smoky taste.

    Other Vegan Bacon Recipes

    • Coconut Bacon
      Coconut Bacon
    • Eggplant Bacon 3 Ways
      Eggplant Bacon 3 Ways
    • Almond Bacon in a mason jar.
      Almond Bacon

    🎥  Video

    This vegan bacon recipe is sweet and savory. Add it to a sandwich or your favorite dish. It may not taste like bacon, but it does have a smoky flavor that is sure to satisfy.

    If you tried this Tofu Bacon Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    I originally posted this recipe on May 14, 2016. I added new photos, text, and a video when I republished it.

    📋 Recipe

    Tofu bacon on an open faced sandwich.
    Pin
    Print SaveSaved!
    4.84 from 6 votes

    Tofu Bacon

    This Tofu Bacon has the perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and salty flavors. It is marinated and then fried or baked. Perfect for sandwiches!
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour
    Servings 4
    Calories 165kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 15 oz. extra firm tofu drained and pressed
    • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
    • 2 teaspoons paprika
    • ¼ cup low sodium gluten free tamari
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • Salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Slice tofu about ¼" - ⅛" thick.  
    • Mix marinade ingredients (except olive oil) in a large shallow container, like a baking dish. Place tofu in the marinade and let sit for at least an hour to overnight. Add salt to taste.
    • For baking: Preheat oven to 400°.
    • For frying: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Place marinated tofu in pan. Spoon some of the marinade on top. Cook both sides until crispy. For baking: Place tofu on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cook for 20 minutes, then flip. Cook for another 20 minutes or until crispy on edges.
    Sign Up For My NewsletterGet a FREE ebook with my Top 10 Vegan Recipes as a welcome gift!
    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

    Want to save this recipe?

    Loading

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 859mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1.7mg

    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results

    More Tofu

    • Tofu Peanut Noodles in. a bowl. with chopsticks.
      Tofu Peanut Noodles
    • Ginger Hoisin Tofu on a bed of quinoa in a bowl.
      Easy Ginger Hoisin Tofu
    • Vegan Greek Salad with Tofu Feta in a bowl.
      Vegan Greek Salad with Tofu Feta
    • Vegan Monte Cristo on a plate.
      Vegan Monte Cristo

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Ian Moffatt says

      September 28, 2018 at 5:22 am

      Was very good - will make again this weekend, with a touch of chilli.

      Just being a bit pedantic here though - your pic shows spinach leaves and not lettuce doesn't it?

      Not a BLT then. BST maybe but not BLT 😉5 stars

      Reply
    2. SKS says

      July 16, 2018 at 4:33 am

      can i freeze the marination if i wanted to make it part of my daily meal for a week ?

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 17, 2018 at 4:05 pm

        I haven't tried freezing it because I eat it up quickly. I read that really salty ingredients don't freeze well, so if you do try it I would try it with the low sodium tamari.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Namaste, I'm Willow!

    Photo of Willow Moon.

    I've been vegan for 23 years and
    gluten-free for 11 years. I share easy and delicious vegan gluten-free recipes the whole family will love!

    Read more →

    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Christmas Recipes

    • Christmas Tree Pancakes (vegan, gluten free) - This fun green pancake recipe is perfect for a Christmas breakfast or a holiday party. Kids will love them!
      Christmas Tree Pancakes
    • Gingerbread French Toast
      Gingerbread French Toast
    • Vegan Eggnog
      Rich and Creamy Vegan Eggnog
    • Vegan Gingerbread Truffles
      Vegan Gingerbread Truffles
    • Vegan Peppermint Patties
      Vegan Peppermint Patties
    • Vegan Peanut Butter Balls
      Vegan Peanut Butter Balls

    Popular Recipes

    • Vegetable Fritter being dipped into vegan chipotle ranch dressing.
      The Most Amazing Vegetable Fritters
    • Homemade Payday Bars
      Homemade Payday Bars
    • Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Bites
      Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Bites (Vegan)
    • Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oats
      Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oats
    • Bowl of Salt and Vinegar Dehydrated Squash Chips.
      Salt and Vinegar Dehydrated Zucchini Chips
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia pudding
      Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Tip Jar

    Featured In:

    A list of magazines that Create Mindfully has been featured in like Good Housekeeping, Dr. Axe, Peta, and more.

    Copyright © 2014 - 2023
    Create Mindfully - All Rights Reserved.

    Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willow Moon and Create Mindfully with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All photos and artwork are property of Willow Moon and Create Mindfully. Do not duplicate or copy without proper consent.