11 Recipes With Bacon: Dishes That Use Cooked Bacon

Streaky bacon is a smoke-cured meat made from pig’s belly. During the curing process, manufacturers can use different types of wood, such as applewood or maplewood, to smoke the bacon, which gives the bacon the flavor of those respective trees—for example, maple bacon or hickory bacon. Once smoked, bacon is deep pink, has a golden rind, and can come either thick-cut or thinly sliced. To cook bacon, home cooks usually sauté it in its own fat until it becomes crispy.

Bacon is a versatile ingredient popular in all kinds of recipes, from breakfast fare to hearty chowders. Here are some ways to incorporate this comfort food in the kitchen:

1. 1. Agnolotti with peas and bacon: This is a pea-filled agnolotti dish coated with a rich bacon-studded sauce and topped with a delicate Parmesan crisp. Try Chef Thomas Keller’s agnolotti recipe with peas and bacon.
2. 2. Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers: This classic finger food consists of halved jalapeño peppers that you stuff with cream cheese and wrap in slices of bacon. Each pepper goes on a sheet pan, and the whole baking sheet goes in the oven until the bacon is juicy and flavorful. Serve jalapeño poppers alongside a simple dipping sauce or eat them right off the cookie sheet for a salty, spicy snack. Try pairing your poppers with a cool garlic aioli.
3. 3. Baked beans: This side dish consists of beans that you cook low and slow in a sweet and savory sauce. Traditionally, cooks make the sauce from animal fat—usually bacon or salt pork—and a sweetener like maple syrup, brown sugar, or molasses, depending on the region and personal preference. Modern recipes may include barbecue sauce, ketchup, green bell pepper, dry mustard powder, tangy yellow mustard, umami-packed Worcestershire sauce, or liquid smoke. Try this baked beans recipe.
4. 4. Caramelized onions with bacon: Just like blue cheese, Brie, or scallions, caramelized onions are a classic bacon pairing, bringing sweet, silky notes to a crispy, salty bite of bacon. Caramelize the onions in the fat left behind from the bacon strips, rather than butter or olive oil to achieve flavor-packed onions. Learn how to make caramelized onions to pair with your bacon.
5. 5. Carbonara: Spaghetti alla carbonara is an Italian pasta dish of egg, cheese, and crispy pork belly or bacon. The addition of tiny cubes of guanciale, pork belly, or bacon adds a crunchy pop of flavor. Try this simple Italian carbonara recipe.
6. 6. Chowder: A cream-based soup, chowder features chunks of protein, tender potatoes, and a variety of hearty vegetables in a velvety, cheddar-infused base. Bacon is a popular ingredient or garnish in many chowders, including ham chowder and crab chowder. Learn how to make a cheesy ham chowder.
7. 7. Cobb salad: A good Cobb salad is all about the presentation—and the smoky bacon. A cross between a French salade composée and a classic BLT (bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwich), the Cobb salad is so packed with toppings that it’s basically an entire entrée rather than a salad appetizer. Try this quick and easy Cobb salad recipe.
8. 8. Coq au vin: A tangy dish, coq au vin—literally “cock (rooster) with wine” in French—originated as a way to make the tough meat of an older rooster edible. The most famous version of coq au vin calls for wine from Burgundy, lardons or bacon, mushrooms, and pearl onions. You can also easily adapt the dish to a slow cooker. Try this traditional French coq au vin recipe.
9. 9. Frittata: Similar to a crustless quiche, a frittata can include nearly any proteins or veggies from your fridge for a satisfying easy recipe. The staples are eggs whipped to airy perfection, small pieces of crisp bacon, a variety of vegetables and herbs, and crispy edges with a broiled top. Learn how to make a flavorful, easy frittata.
10. 10. Poached eggs and bacon: Try pairing firm egg whites and runny yolks with crispy bacon and mushrooms. This delicious breakfast or brunch dish boasts incredible texture and bursts with flavor—and is a good way to make bacon an integral part of a breakfast meal rather than a simple side dish to a fried egg. Learn how to make Chef Gordon Ramsay’s easy poached eggs to serve on buttery brioche bread.
11. 11. Veggies with bacon: For an endlessly customizable bacon-forward recipe, stir-fry chunks of bacon and then sauté any number of vegetables in the bacon fat. Popular choices for bacon-infused veggies include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes. Try adding bacon to these oven-roasted Brussels sprouts.

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