Vegan TVP Bacon Bits (Oven-Baked and Oil-Free)

Front angle view on a bowl filled with vegan TVP bacon bits with a spoon inside.

5 from 1 vote

Vegan TVP Bacon Bits (Oven-Baked and Oil-Free)

These oven-baked vegan TVP bacon bits are simple and easy-to-make, but add an amazing smokiness flavor to salads, pasta, potatoes and so much more. They are surprisingly high-in-protein and much healthier then the store-bought veggie bacon bits!

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Total Time35

Course: condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Vegan

Servings: servings

Calories: 24kcal

Author: Jessica Laroche

Ingredients

1 ½ cup Textured Vegetale Protein (TVP)
¾ cup warm water
3 tbsp soy sauce or gluten-free tamari
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tsp liquid smoke
½ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pre-heat the oven to 325º.
Combine the warm water, soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, garlic powder and nutritional yeast. Then, add the TVP, stir and let sit for 10 minutes.
Transfer on the prepared baking sheet and spread them out up to the edges.
Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Then, stir well and bake for another 10 minutes or so. Let them completely cool down on the baking sheet. This should give you CHEWY bacon bits.
If you want them extra CRISPY, then bake them longer. You can do additional 5-10 more minutes at the time, then stir and check if they are done enough for your taste. All oven are different and the bits tend to burn more easily on the edges of the baking sheet, so stirring more often is best, plus it will allow you to watch more carefully. I have tried up to 35 minutes stirring every 5-10 minutes and they were nice and crispy.
Let the bits cool down at room temperature on the baking sheet, they will crisp and dry out more during that time. They need to be completely cool down before transferring to a storing container or they will soften. Keep in a jar for up to 7 days (or even more) in the fridge.

Video

Notes

You will need to adjust the baking time depending on what you are looking for. The important part to remember is to stir them often. I stir them after 10 min and 20 min, but after that, I stir them every 5-7 minutes and aim for a total of 30-35 minutes for crunchy bacon bits. They also tend to burn a little easier on the edges of the baking sheet, so watch for that.
Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper as this is an oil-free recipe.
Be sure to spread out the bits nicely all over the baking sheet so they can bake as evenly as possible. If they are piled over each other too much, they simply won't cook well.
For extra smoky bits, either add more liquid smoke or try adding some smoky paprika too.
Makes about 1.5 cups, which should give you 24 tablespoons (1 tablespoon per serving).
Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

Nutrition