Americans’ love for bacon is real. From breakfast and salads to casseroles and baked potatoes, we just love bacon in our food. And why not? As they say, everything’s better with bacon!
The salty and smoky crispy treat is delicious. But, if there is one thing that can beat bacon, it’s bacon bits! The dried crumbled bacon is super easy to use and oh-so-versatile. However, as a vegan, I cannot overlook the animal cruelty involved in the manufacturing process of bacon and bacon bits.
Fortunately, you can enjoy the texture and flavor of bacon bits without eating meat and contributing to animal cruelty. With the ever-increasing demand for plant-based meats, many brands now offer meatless bacon bits.
So, if you’re up for them, I will enumerate the best vegan bacon bits brands to go for.
Who Makes Vegan Bacon? The Best Vegan Bacon Bits Brands That Will Not Disappoint You
Even though plant-based meats have been all the rage lately, not every vegan is a fan. And I don’t blame them.
Many vegan meats on the market seriously fall short on flavor, and you’ll find why here. However, the following vegan bacon bits brands will change your opinion, as they offer some of the best–tasting vegan bacon bits.
Let’s get to our main point without further ado and talk about some of the best plant-based bacon bits brands:
1. Cool Foods
Based in Santa Monica, California, Cool Foods, Inc. claims to provide the cleanest vegan foods. Though it has only two products, the company offers great-tasting vegan bacon bits. Cool Foods’ Veggie Bacon Bits & Dips – Hickory Style is made from pinto beans. Cool Foods has really spruced up the humble pinto beans.
In addition to being nutrient-rich, these hickory–smoked vegan bacon bits are made of all-natural, non-GMO ingredients, which makes them even healthier. They are also free of gluten, soy, and artificial ingredients, further improving their popularity in the vegan community.
Treat your taste buds to the delicious, original, hickory-smoked bacon flavor without compromising on your commitment to veganism with Cool Foods veggie bacon bits.
Bonus Point – As marketed by Cool Foods, you can also turn these plant-based bacon bits into a dip just by adding water.
To be honest, I’m a bit skeptical about how it will taste, but there’s no harm in trying. So, I’m definitely going to give this a try the next time I get Cool Foods’ vegan bacon bits.
2. McCormick
You don’t have to be a vegan to be aware of the brand McCormick. The American multinational food company has been a household name since 1889 and operates in approximately 160 countries. The company manufactures vegan bacon bits with textured soy flour and a range of carefully selected ingredients to imitate the authentic flavor.
The company offers two varieties of accidentally vegan bacon bits:
- McCormick Bac’n Pieces – Bacon Flavored Bits
- McCormick Bac’n Pieces – Applewood Smoked Bacon Flavored Bits
The best thing about these bacon-flavored bits is that they are easily available; you can get them at almost all the grocery stores and retail shops. They are low in calories and free of cholesterol and saturated fat.
The only downside of McCormick’s bacon bits is their high sodium content. Each serving of these meatless bacon bits contains up to 180 mg of sodium. So, you need to watch your sodium levels!
3. Organic Matters
Organic Matters may not be as big of a name as other vegan bacon bits brands on this list, but it shouldn’t be a reason not to try its coconut bacon bits.
Made of organic ingredients, these soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO plant-based bacon bits have only 25 calories in a tablespoon serving. Although they have a pretty pronounced coconut flavor, they are a great choice for adding a smoky kick to your dishes without drastically increasing the calorie count.
Organic Matters is a family-owned company. It makes vegan bacon bits in small batches that sell out pretty quickly. Its coconut vegan bacon bits also come in two varieties:
- Original
- Chipotle Southwest
If you don’t mind the coconut-y flavor in your food, give these organic vegan bacon bits a try.
4. Betty Crocker Bac-Os Bits
Betty Crocker’s name alone is enough to convince anyone about the quality of food. These bacon-flavored bits are no different. However, while they taste great, they may not be the healthiest option.
While these plant-based bacon bits may not be ideal for health-conscious vegans, they are great to amp up your meals on special occasions and events.
Betty Crocker’s meat-free bacon bits go well with everything from baked and mashed potatoes to pasta and pizzas. These crispy vegan treats are made of soy and are easily available at several grocery stores.
5. Pimp My Salad
Pimp My Salad is another lesser-known name, but the brand offers healthy and natural vegan products that can be eaten as a snack or added to meals. The Australian brand, founded by a Russian couple, also offers meat-free bacon bits.
These vegan bacon bits are made from coconut, sourced from sustainable farms, and flavored with cumin, thyme, sweet Spanish paprika, tamari, and natural wood smoke.
Since they’re made of coconut, these meatless bacon bits are higher in calories. Still, they offer a good supply of minerals and antioxidants.
If you’re looking for some lip-smackin’ healthy vegan bacon bits with a hint of spice and smokiness, Pimp My Salt is the brand to go for.
What Is the Best Brand of Vegan Bacon?
It’s impossible to give one answer to this question. All the brands discussed in this article offer great-tasting vegan bacon bits. Choose any of them, and you won’t be disappointed. However, if you have additional dietary restrictions, like soy-allergy, not all of them may be suitable for you.
For those allergic to soy, get your soy-free vegan bacon bits from Cool Foods, Organic Matters, or Pimp My Salad. These brands are also better options for health-conscious vegans.
While we’re at it, it’s great to know about the vegan Doritos flavors to go with your bacon bits-enhanced dips. Read my article “Are Doritos Vegan?” to make sure you’re not picking the non-vegan flavor.
