But what about bacon?
As vegans of 5 years, we can’t tell you how many times we have heard that question.
Little do our omnivorous friends and family know, there are now hundreds of plant-based alternatives to bacon and, if you don’t already know about them, you’re in for a treat!
From vegan crispy bacon bits to chewy strips, maple-smoked, DIY facon, and even in seasoning form, we’ve got the solution to all of your bacon cravings.
Are you ready to wake up and smell the bacon?
Let’s go!
Here are the best UK vegan bacon alternatives
This Isn’t Streaky Bacon
Ok so we’ve had to update this blog since THIS has launched a new plant-based streaky bacon product that defies all logic! Featuring their latest iteration of plant-based fat – dubbed Fat 2.0 and made from olive oil – the bacon has an authentic chewy texture and taste. It also crisps up, just like the real thing!
High in plant-based protein, fortified with iron and vitamin B12 and low in fat, THIS just can’t go wrong at the moment.
We’d recommend having these vegan streaky bacon rashers in your morning sarnie with a dollop of ketchup.
Can’t get enough.
Their original rashers and bacon lardons are also next level!
La Vie Plant-based Smoked Bacon Rashers
Smokey, savoury, yummy strips of goodness. These come a close second, as we think the flavour of these bacon rashers is fabulous.
And we love the playful branding!
MeatLess Meatless Bacon
A smoky addition to your vegan fry up. The MeatLess brand make their facon taste so good by using umami ingredients, including tomato paste, soy sauce, and yeast extract.
Vegan Cartel's Vegan Bacon
Vegan Cartel Bacon is great! High in protein and a source of vitamin B12 and iron, these rashers also have a delicious flavour and amazing texture.
It has 26% more protein than real bacon and the branding is frickin’ awesome.
Buy buy buy!
Richmond Vegan Meat Free streaky Bacon
These rashers sizzle and colour nicely when fried. Great for a bacon sarnie! They’re also a tad cheaper than other brands.
Better Nature Smoky Tempeh Rashers
This vegan alternative is probably one of the most beneficial, particularly to promote a healthy vegan gut! It’s fermented, meaning that many of the antinutrients naturally found in soybeans are deactivated, increasing your uptake of protein and minerals. Tempeh is also a ‘complete’ source of protein!
Oh, and Better Nature’s Smoky Tempeh Rashers are pretty darn tasty too.
This Isn't Bacon Plant-Based Lardons
THIS Isn’t Bacon Lardons have soared into our top 10 vegan bacon products in the UK! As if their bacon wasn’t already amazing enough, this product has really added to their range.
Eat them fried and on their own or mixed into a creamy plant-based carbonara for the ultimate animal-friendly alternative to pig’s meat.
The Vurger Co. Smoky "Bacon" Vegan Mayo
We’re not lying when we say that this is the best thing since sliced bread – wow oh wow does this stuff taste good on anything!
Spread it onto your burger bun, all over your hot dog, mixed into your plant-based chicken mayo salad…heck, you could even eat this stuff straight out of the jar!
Pimp My Salad Vegan Coconut Bacon
These crunchy pieces of bacon-flavoured coconut are so moreish. They’re best eaten in salads and any dish where you’d use crispy bacon pieces. But you may find yourself eating these straight from the pack!
Notorious Nooch nutritional Yeast Flakes - Smoky Bacon Flavour
Rich in B vitamins, a great source of high-quality protein and super tasty, nutritional yeast is a vegan’s best friend when it comes to seasoning.
Now it comes in bacon flavour!
Baconizer Smokey Bacon Dust
So far, we have not been fortunate enough to try this but we have heard amazing things. Made by a small company in Dorset. Apparently, it’s like bacon frazzles but in powder form. You can sprinkle this over anything you want!
Vegan bacon recipes
Fancy making some vegan bacon yourself at home? Then here are some of our favourite recipes to try at home:
Daikon Bacon
Hmm…we haven’t tried this one yet (which is surprising since I survived as a vegan in Korea for a couple of years) but we hear that it’s one of the best.
If you try making it, please let us know what you think in the comments!
Rice Paper Bacon
A staple for Lucy when she lived in Vietnam, due to the abundance of rice paper wrappers there. These bad boys can be flavoured however you want and fry up nice and crispy. Give them a try!
Tofu Bacon
Who doesn’t love tofu? Simple and easy recipe to follow with lots of protein.
Seitan Bacon
Seitan (or vital wheat gluten) is a bit of a faff, but certainly worth the effort!
