The Best Shiitake Bacon Recipe! (2024)

5 from 5 votes

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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.

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.

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

(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.

5 from 5 votes

(click stars to vote)

The Best Shiitake Bacon

Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 30 minutes mins
Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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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

US Customary - Metric

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

Shiitake stems: shiitake stems are too tough and woody to eat so you can either discard them or if you want to save them, store them in a freezer bag and then use them to make homemade vegetable broth.

Nutrition

Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Insta and let the world see just how amazing plant-based creations can be!