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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Breakfast recipes

    Smoky shiitake mushroom bacon (5 ingredients!)

    Last Modified: May 13, 2022 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    bowl of shiitake bacon on a marble table
    image collage of mushroom bacon ingredients, seasoned mushrooms in a bowl, spread out on a baking sheet, and cooked over grits
    image collage of mushroom bacon ingredients, seasoned mushrooms in a bowl, and spread out on a baking sheet

    Crispy, smoky shiitake mushroom bacon takes just minutes to make in the oven. And you only need five ingredients to make it!

    bowl of shiitake bacon on a marble table

    Shiitake bacon gives you all of the smoky-sweet-salty-toothsomeness of bacon, but no animals harmed!

    Jump To:
    • Let's talk about liquid smoke.
    • Making bacon flavoring
    • Recipe notes
    • How to serve and store
    • Smoky shiitake mushroom bacon

    Let's talk about liquid smoke.

    Liquid smoke is the key to this mushroom bacon's smoky flavor. If you've never worked with this ingredient before, don't panic! It's available at most regular grocery stores.

    I used to worry that liquid smoke was just a bottle full of artificial flavoring, but fear not! It's actually a totally natural ingredient.

    Liquid smoke is basically the steam that naturally occurs when you burn wood. To make liquid smoke, companies just use tubing to collect that steam, which turns to condensation when it cools.

    How neat, right?

    Making bacon flavoring

    The great thing about shiitake mushrooms is that -- when you cook them until crispy -- they get a really nice, chewy texture that's similar to animal bacon.

    shiitake mushrooms in a green container on a marble table surrounded by cups of liquid ingredients

    Now you just need to add the remaining elements that make up bacon's flavor and texture:

    • salty
    • sweet
    • smoky
    • greasy

    When you're making vegan bacon, you want to hit all of those same notes using plant based ingredients.

    The bacon flavoring that I use for these shiitake mushrooms is similar to the one I use in my cashew bacon. Instead of molasses and salt, though, I used maple syrup and soy sauce.

    The mix of soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke hits that salty-sweet-smoky spot, and you get bacon's crisp greasiness from a dash of olive oil

    Let's make some shiitake bacon, y'all!

    Recipe notes

    This recipe truly could not be simpler. Start by slicing your shiitake mushrooms into pieces that are approximately ¼" thick. Those thin pieces will get crispy faster but still yield a nice, chewy inside.

    image collage of mushroom bacon ingredients, seasoned mushrooms in a bowl, spread out on a baking sheet, and cooked over grits

    Toss those mushroom slices into a bowl with soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke, tossing to coat the mushrooms really well.

    Now, it's time to bake. Your baking time will vary, depending on how thick you slice your mushrooms. Just keep cooking until your mushrooms are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside.

    How to serve and store

    I like to serve shiitake bacon up over vegan grits, but you can really use it anywhere you'd use animal bacon.

    • Pile that mushroom bacon onto a vegan BLT.
    • Serve it alongside a tofu scramble.
    • Sprinkle it on top of roasted vegetables for an umami punch.
    • Toss it with crispy potato slices for a next-level appetizer.

    If you do end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for three to five days.

    To reheat, toss leftovers back into a pan on medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and cook until crispy.

    bowl of shiitake bacon on a marble table

    Smoky shiitake mushroom bacon

    Crispy, smoky shiitake mushroom bacon takes just minutes to make in the oven. And you only need five ingredients to make it!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: mushroom bacon, shiitake bacon, vegan bacon
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 48kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 5 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms - ¼" thick strips
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400° F.
    • Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, tossing to coat the mushrooms well in the bacon seasonings. Transfer to a lined baking sheet, spreading the mushrooms into a single layer.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the mushrooms are nice and crisp.

    Video

    Notes

    You can substitute other mushrooms for shiitake, if you like. I find that shiitake mushrooms give you the best texture, but any sliced mushrooms will work in this recipe!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Smoky shiitake mushroom bacon
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    48
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    4
    g
    6
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.5
    g
    3
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0.4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Sodium
     
    258
    mg
    11
    %
    Potassium
     
    117
    mg
    3
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    3
    g
    1
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Calcium
     
    2
    mg
    0
    %
    Iron
     
    0.3
    mg
    2
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Vegan breakfast recipes

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    • Vegan Breakfast Tacos

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jodie

      June 10, 2022 at 9:33 am

      Looking for an easy and flavorful way to use the shiitake mushrooms I had, I came across this video on Youtube. I came to the site this morning to get the recipe. The mushrooms came out delicious, and the kitchen smells so good! I used Coconut aminos instead of soy sauce with no issues. The recipe was a success! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        June 10, 2022 at 12:47 pm

        Oh I'm glad to hear it, Jodie! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

        Reply

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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