This Mushroom Bacon is the BEST vegan option I’ve ever tasted. It tastes remarkably like the real thing, with a slightly smoky and salty flavor, and buttery-crisp texture. Don’t be surprised if you eat the whole pan!
Considering that I’m not the biggest fan of mushrooms, I’m SHOCKED at how authentic this vegan “bacon” tastes. Is it exactly like bacon? No. But it will definitely satisfy your taste buds if you’re trying to avoid meat.
(P.S. The photo above is very close up, because I was amazed by how much each piece looks like bacon! However, they are much smaller in real life, just FYI. You can get a picture of their real size in the process photos below.)
How to Make Mushroom Bacon
Making this mushroom bacon is as easy as it gets. Slice the mushrooms, toss them with olive oil and salt, and bake until crispy. The key to their slightly smoky flavor is using shiitake mushrooms.
When making this bacon, you’ll use the mushroom caps only. Slice them into 1/4-inch slices to make your bacon pieces. (The bigger the mushrooms you can find, the better– they will shrink as they cook!)
Toss with olive oil and salt, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. It’s really that simple before you bake them!
You’ll need to flip the bacon through the cooking cycle to help get it crispy, then back into the oven it goes. The smaller your mushrooms are, the faster they’ll cook, so watch the oven closely.
The mushroom bacon is done when it feels like it’s getting dry and toasted on both sides. It will crisp up as it cools, so I recommend pulling it out of the oven after 30 minutes just to make sure you don’t over-cook it. (I’ve burned smaller pieces even at 30 minutes, and they do taste just like burnt bacon.)
Let the mushroom bacon cool completely, for maximum crispness. You might even want to dab off any excess oil with a towel– just like real bacon!
What to do with Mushroom Bacon?
Use this vegan bacon in your favorite pasta dishes, in a BLT wrap, in a vegetarian frittata, in a risotto, or on top of a salad for added crunch. Or just enjoy it straight off the pan like I do!
Mushroom Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons olive oil , plus more for greasing the pan
- 1/4 heaping teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF and grease a large baking sheet with olive oil.
- On a cutting board, remove the mushroom stems, then slice the mushroom caps into 1/4-inch thin slices.
- Transfer the sliced mushrooms to the greased baking sheet, and toss them with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and salt. Use your hands to make sure they are coated evenly, then arrange them in a single layer without overlapping the pieces.
- Bake the mushrooms at 375ºF for 20 minutes, then use a fork to flip each slice over. Return to the oven for 5 to 10 more minutes, until the mushroom bacon looks darker and golden, without burning. It should feel like it's getting crispy around the edges, but it's okay if the centers are still soft. They will crisp up as they cool.
- Allow the bacon to cool completely on the pan, at least 15 minutes. Then pat with a towel to remove any excess oil and serve.
Nutrition
Half the batch: Calories: 143, Fat: 14g, Carbohydrates: 3g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 1g
Recipe Notes:
- Shiitake mushrooms are key to this bacon’s smoky flavor. I’m not sure it would be as authentic-tasting using portobello mushrooms or cremini, but feel free to give it a shot if you’d like to.
- I’ve also tested this recipe with extra flavorings for a “maple bacon,” using tamari, maple syrup, and liquid smoke, but that version didn’t compare to the simple recipe posted above. Feel free to experiment with other add-ins if you like, though!
- This recipe was inspired by Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen. Chloe’s a genius when it comes to vegan food!
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Reader Feedback: Have you tried making your own vegan bacon before? Let me know if you try this one in the comments below, and if you have any other options you love!
Wow, I just tried this and I am blown away by the “bacon” flavor. I thought for sure the olive oil and salt wouldn’t be enough flavor, and had considered adding some liquid smoke, but i’m glad I tried this recipe as written first. Thank you for sharing it, Megan! I could see myself making this once a week.
Just made this with portobellos… incredible!!!!
I’m blown away. If I hadn’t made it myself I would argue that this is real bacon. Life changing 🙌🏼
Will any oil work
Yes, I would think so!
I was a little skeptical but these were delicious!
This is fantastic! Even my hard core carnivore husband liked, and the kids loved it.
This is the best vegan bacon I’ve ever had. I added a few splashes of liquid smoke but I don’t think it needed it. I will definitely double or triple the recipe next time. I could have eaten it all myself.
This is magic. I made a batch,loved it and made a second batch right away. I just heard about shiitake mushroom bacon; must be living under a rock despite having and researching an arsenal of vegan recipes over the years 🙂 Glad I’m finally in the loop with this simple recipe- thank you. Do you think using a different cooking oil other than olive oil will produce the same flavor? Is the olive key to its bacon flavor? Also 2 tbsp of olive oil was too little for my 4oz shiitakes.
Separately, when making these, are we killing all the nutrients of the shiitake?
Could dried shiitake mushrooms be reconstituted and used for this recipe?
No, I don’t believe that will work. Another comment reported it not working, so I’d hate for you to waste your ingredients.
This is amazing! Have you ever frozen the cooked “bacon” then crisped it up again later? I’d love to make this ahead of time if possible 🙂
Can you freeze the bacon after it is cooked.
What a discovery! I LOVE bacon, but this recipe might just remove the need for it. It is that good! The bacon flavor is there, and it really surprised me.
I split my batch. 1 half a did as written, and I tossed a little liquid smoke into the other portion. The liquid smoke wasn’t bad, but the flavor note really wasn’t needed. I think perhaps my shitake weren’t as large or I sliced them too thinly because they browned far more quickly than the recipe suggests. That could also be a hot running oven.
Thank you for this idea!
I love this mushroom bacon recipe, so delicious and so simple. I like it better than any other kind of bacon. Even my pork-loving husband loves it. Yum!! This is definitely a family favorite!
Love it!
Could this be made in an air fryer?
This was delicious and simple to make!
This is amazing! I can’t believe it actually tastes like bacon.
Will make again and again and again!
Jennifer said it best “Wow!”. I couldn’t put it any better myself. I’ve tried commercial bacon alternatives and have tried making my own (rice paper, coconut, etc). Nothing comes close to this. I am beyond thrilled. Thank you!!!!! Fantastic recipe. I’m in awe!!!