Our 99 Best Bacon-Packed, -Laced, and -Loaded Recipes
Some folks eschew any soup, stew, or pasta that doesn't start with bacon, believing that all recipes should be bacon recipes. Others keep their use focused, but claim the BLT as mankind's greatest invention. Some—possibly more daring—individuals see bacon as the answer to the quest for salty-sweet balance in desserts. Still, many only consider bacon to be an essential part of the morning routine.
For true bacon lovers, however, it's all of this and more. These 99 bacon recipes prove that when all you want is a little rich, porky, smoky, salty flavor, there's no other ingredient that quite fits the bills.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/99Crumb-Covered Poached Eggs
The coating around the outside of these eggs has a secret: there's bacon hidden among the breadcrumbs.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton4/99Charred-Peach Panzanella With Pickled Pepper Vinaigrette
Crisp bacon in the mix—plus bacon-fat toasted bread and bacon-fat charred peaches—make this riff on bread salad a total salty, savory smoke show.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow6/99Clams Casino With Bacon and Bell Pepper
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton7/99Cheesy Potato Soup With Bacon
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton8/99Tacos de Gobernador (Shrimp, Poblano, and Cheese Tacos)
Just a little bit of bacon is mingled with shrimp and chiles before every element of the taco filling (still in the pan!) is covered in shredded cheese that melts and enrobes each and every inch.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou9/99Chicken Cobb Salad
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell12/99Bacon and Cheddar Toasts
Think: bacon and cheddar sandwich, but on a crouton. These easy hors d'oeuvres are one of former Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl's favorites.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson13/99Pasta Carbonara With Cabbage and Mushrooms
This riff on carbonara is big on vegetables, slight on pasta, and that's by design. That way, the cabbage and mushrooms fill you up before the noodles do (there's also plenty of bacon for big, bold flavor).
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li14/99Chicory, Bacon, and Poached Egg Salad
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson15/99Instant Pot Choucroute Garnie
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone16/99Smoky Beans and Greens on Toast
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone17/99Roast Chicken with Smothered Cabbage, Bacon, and Potatoes
Photo by Amber Wilson19/99Bacon-Latticed Apple Pie
You've heard of cheese on apple pie. Now get ready for bacon. Woven into a lattice top, it adds a salty, savory counterpoint to the sweet, soft apples underneath.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog23/99Christmas Pork Tenderloin
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson25/99Spring Salad With Crispy Chicken and Bacony Croutons
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton27/99Braised Rotisserie Chicken With Bacon, Tomatoes, and Kale
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson29/99Bacon and Egg Casserole
Your favorite deli sandwich in easy-to-make casserole form. Just look at those cute little hard-boiled eggs peeking through the puff-pastry windowpane!
Photo by Peden + Munk32/99New Year's Day Black-Eyed Peas
Across large swaths of the southern United States, black eyed peas are the New Year's Day lucky bean of choice. Pad your pot with bacon and the luck runneth over.
Photo by Greg DuPree37/99Grilled Peach Toast With Pimiento Cheese
The smoky, salty, sweet spread on this toast is loaded with freshly sautéed red bell peppers, chopped cooked bacon, and the vibrant, heat-flecked sauce from a can of chipotles.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell38/99Lentil Bolognese
Bacon is the savory baseline that binds this hearty all-pantry version of pasta bolognese together.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Jerri Joy, Food Styling by Anna Hampton43/99Twice-Baked Butternut Squash With Parmesan Cream and Candied Bacon
With toppings of Parmesan whipped cream, candied hazelnut-bacon bits, and chives, this holiday-worthy dish plays on the classic twice-baked potato.
Photo by William Meppem, Chris Court, Con Poulos, and Anson Smart47/99Chestnut, Bacon and Sage Stuffing Rolls
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich48/99BLT Wraps with Horseradish Mayonnaise
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone49/99Diner-Style Bacon for a Crowd
When you need to cook 40 strips of bacon at a time, this is the best way to do it.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich50/99Wilted Greens in Tomato-Bacon Broth
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege51/99Instant Pot Beef and Sweet Potato Chili
Any pot of chili that starts with bacon is sure to be a good one. Here, the Instant Pot cuts the time required for bold flavor.
Photo by Heami Lee56/99Summer Bean Soup With Tomato Brown Butter
A tangle of baked Romano beans and bacon (plus feta and a crisp pickled green bean salad) add a textural flourish to this warming puréed white bean and tomato soup. One recommendation: don't even think about skipping the tomato brown butter.
Photo by Alex Lau59/99Turmeric Eggs with Kale, Yogurt, and Bacon
Baste eggs with earthy, bright turmeric (spring for the good stuff if you can swing it) then slide them on top of crispy bacon and kale and salted yogurt.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime60/99Crudités With Bacon XO Sauce
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Michelle Gatton, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano62/99Tangy Grilled-Cabbage Slaw With Raisins and Walnuts
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi64/99Sonoran Hot Dogs with Bacon, Pico de Gallo, and Avocado
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich69/99Chicken and Bacon Choucroute with Potato Salad
71/99Country Pâté (Pâté de Campagne)
Mix ground bacon with ground fresh pork, Cognac, cream, and spices, then layer with ham and drape with bacon for this old school-style appetizer. Don't forget the cornichons!
Photo by Christopher Testani75/99Sautéed Pears With Bacon and Mustard Dressing
For a fall side with interest, sauté pear wedges in bacon fat, then toss with crisped bacon, roasted walnuts, and a mustardy dressing. Or, pile it all over ricotta to turn it into a comforting main.
Photo by Peter Frank Edwards77/99Bacon Crackers
Crackers with a bacon belt are the kind of craveable, snackable appetizer anyone in the kitchen can help assemble. And they'll probably be the most talked about item on the menu.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi79/99Sautéed Collard Greens with Slab Bacon
Charles Masters, food styling by Michelle Gatton, prop styling by Brian Heiser81/99Grilled Iceberg Wedges with Buttermilk-Basil Dressing
Is a wedge a wedge without bacon? Debatable. Add extra interest by grilling the greens for a smoky, charred counterpoint.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi82/99Brussels Sprouts With Bacon Jam
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Jennifer Ophir84/993-Ingredient Sweet and Smoky Brussels Sprouts
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone91/99Miso Carbonara with Broccoli Rabe and Red-Pepper Flakes
