Nut-Free Vegan Bacon Bits

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Healthy vegan salad recipes don't have to be bland and boring! Delicious salad toppings are the key to making salads healthy and exciting. Make these super simple and quick vegan bacon bits to jazz up your salad. They add lots of delicious, smokey, and salty flavor.

Guys.

I have an addiction and it's so embarrassing yet so amazing.

It's a little thing called Pokemon Go (I'm sure you've heard of it) and it actually gets me OUT OF THE HOUSE but also away from my computer where I get my work done. It's bad. I need Pokemon Go management skills.

I wasn't prepared for this awesome thing, especially since I wasn't even into Pokemon as a kid. My justification is the exercise + tan I'm getting from being outside so much, ha! And a tired toddler.

What do vegan bacon bits have to do with Pokemon Go? Nothing really. Except for the fact that I was suppose to write this blog post last week...and then...SQUIRTLE!

Squirtle is the new squirrel.

I'm sorry. Did I mention I was 24 years old? -hangs head-

But I'm back in action and feeling motivated to get things done. But not motivated enough to share with you an elaborate, plant-based meal that takes 2 hours to prepare. Because being addicted to this game also means that my healthy meals need to be QUICK and healthy. And my favorite quick & healthy meal is always a veggie-packed salad loaded with texture and flavor.

Enter: Vegan Bacon Bits Alternative!

These smokey little morsels are crazy easy to make and taste absolutely amazing with a creamy dressing, like a dairy-free ranch (love Just Ranch by Hampton Creek) or my tzatziki dressing.

These "bacon bits" are made with sunflower seeds, smoked paprika, salt (I prefer pink salt), and oil so the spices stick to the seeds. Healthy, crunchy, super quick and simple, and bursting with absolutely amazing flavor.

I love adding smoked paprika to soups and other dishes that call for bacon to add that smokiness that usually bacon usually gives. Smoked paprika is the perfect bacon alternative!

I love sunflower seeds on my salads anyway, and spicing them up just adds another level of excitement to a salad. No boring salads here!

Psst: vegan bacon bits are also yummy just as a snack!

Vegan Bacon Bits Alternative

Karissa Besaw

Nut-Free Vegan Bacon Recipe

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Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Course Salad Topping

Cuisine Vegan

Ingredients

  

• ¼ cup sunflower seed kernels (roasted, unsalted)
• ½ teaspoon oil*
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

 

• Mix together all ingredients until the sunflowers are coated evenly in the spices.
• Use right away or store in the fridge for later.

Notes

*A more neutral oil is best for this recipe, like grapeseed or olive.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!