Smoky, salty, chewy, and lightly crisp, you won't believe how delicious this Shiitake Bacon recipe is! It's quick & easy to make requiring only 5 ingredients. Just slice the mushrooms, season, and then bake. Shiitake mushroom bacon is perfect on pasta, salads, sandwiches, pizza, baked potatoes, and anywhere you want a little vegan bacon oomph (which is everywhere)!
I actually published this shiitake bacon recipe way back in 2013, but it was buried in an old ebook and not easy to find, so I knew it was time to share this recipe again. Boy do I love a good vegan bacon recipe! The smoky salty taste is the perfect way to add a tasty pop to any dish. I have a ton of vegan bacon recipes already on my blog, but I wanted to reshare this recipe because it truly is so deliciously special.
Shiitake mushrooms are full of umami flavor (very savory) and have a wonderful meaty texture which is perfect for making vegan bacon. Due to the size of the mushrooms, the bacon pieces will be small, so this isn't the best option to add to your breakfast spread, but it's ideal for garnishing any dish you like. (Or just munching on them straight from the pan as I do).
Common Questions:
Why can you not eat the stem of a shiitake mushroom? shiitake stems are usually too tough and woody to eat.Â
What can you do with shiitake stems? You can either discard them or if you want to save the stems, store them in a freezer bag and then use them to make homemade vegetable broth.
What is shiitake bacon made of? shiitake mushrooms, soy sauce, olive oil, maple syrup, and liquid smoke. If you are gluten-free you can substitute the soy sauce for tamari.
Can I use dried shiitake mushrooms? Yes. Just rehydrate the mushrooms in hot water for about 10 minutes. Then squeeze out any excess water before slicing and marinating.
How to make the Best Shiitake Bacon recipe:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
While the oven heats you can slice the mushrooms, discarding the stems.
Add the soy sauce, olive oil, maple syrup, and liquid smoke to a medium bowl and mix. Add the sliced shiitake caps and gently toss to evenly coat.
Spread the shiitakes in a single layer evenly over the prepared baking sheet. Bake 25 - 30 minutes, stopping to stir a few times until they have reduced in sized and are a dark golden brown.
Remove from the oven. They will get slightly crispy as they cool. Enjoy right away or store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Shiitake bacon is...
- smoky, salty, chewy, and slightly crisp
- quick and easy to make- just 5 ingredients
- the perfect topping for salads, pasta, pizza, baked potatoes, and more.
What to serve shiitake bacon on:
Creamy Vegan Potato Soup
Vegan Truffle Mac & Cheese
Fast & Easy Vegan Carbonara (instead of the sundried tomato bacon)
Vegan Alfredo Pasta Bake
Vegan Loaded Baked Potato
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
The Best Shiitake Bacon
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Ingredients
- 7oz/ 200g shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced (2 ½ cups sliced)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, (gluten-free if preferred)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. While the oven heats you can slice the mushrooms, discarding the stems (see notes).
- Add the soy sauce, olive oil, maple syrup, and liquid smoke to a medium bowl and mix. Add the sliced shiitake caps and gently toss to evenly coat.
- Spread the shiitakes in a single layer evenly over the prepared baking sheet. Bake 25 - 30 minutes, stopping to stir a few times until they have reduced in sized and are a dark golden brown. Remove from the oven. They will get slightly crispy as they cool. Enjoy right away or store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
More vegan bacon recipes to try:
chris says
Could you please give us air fryer directions for this please?
Thx!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
The recipe hasn't been tested for air fryer, but typically to convert baking time to an air fryer, you can reduce the temperature by 25 deg F and reduce the cooking time by 20%. Let us know if you try it out!
Mel says
Looks fantastic. Can we substitute cremini mushrooms or other mushrooms for the shiitakes? Shiitake mushrooms don't agree with me, but other mushrooms are fine. Thanks in advance
Joan says
These are delicious!!! I’ve even made them without the liquid smoke and maple syrup and they were still delicious! Chewy with some crispness, salty and so tasty in a tomatoe sandwich or wherever we used to use bacon.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Wonderful, thanks for sharing!
Katherine D Emerson says
To be honest, I haven't tried this but I'm sure it will be delicious. Just wondered: Is there a substitute for the liquid smoke? Thanks.