There’s no denying the obsession with bacon. It seems to be the one ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, to enhance the flavor of other ingredients, no matter what they are.
Of course, restaurants in your city have likely experimented with the popular ingredient, so if you want to avoid cooking, check out our restaurant app to find out where you can get some delicious treats. But if you’re feeling adventurous and want to make something in your own kitchen, we’ve got you covered.
That’s right, bacon is so much more than a breakfast food or sandwich topping. It’s time you start thinking out of the box and put a carnivore’s favorite ingredient to good use, in ways you likely haven’t yet tried.
Fun fact: Did you know there are restaurants that actually specialize in bacon?
Bacon-Wrapped Appetizers
Why save crispy yet greasy bacon for the main course when you can savor the flavors at the start of your meal? That’s right, there’s a myriad of appetizers that use bacon as the star ingredient. The hardest part is waiting long enough to prepare them yourself.
Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple
This recipe is pretty simple, but the key to great flavor is using fresh pineapple. That’s right, no settling for canned fruit here. This is a sweet and savory recipe with just the right crunch and balance of flavors. It’s a truly quick and easy recipe that will practically have you drooling before you can even take a bite. Plus, if you’re the last-minute type of party planner, this recipe is a great way to prepare something impressive and satisfying in practically no time at all!
Ingredients
- 6 slices of bacon – sliced in half
- 12 chunks pineapple
- 12 toothpicks
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
- Carefully wrap a slice of bacon around each pineapple chunk and hold in place with a toothpick
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the bacon is cooked and crispy
Candied Bacon
Speaking of sweet and savory bacon recipes, there’s nothing like satisfying your craving for dessert with bacon. Thankfully, candied bacon is totally a thing, and you can easily make it at home. While chocolate covered bacon was undoubtedly a thing there for a little while, it may have slightly died out. After all, it can certainly be a bit of a hassle to dip already fragile strips of bacon into painfully hot melted chocolate. Thankfully, that’s where candied bacon comes in. The process is much easier and, if you ask me, the result is much tastier! Whether you’re in need of a party snack or just want a little something special to munch on, you’ll want to check out the recipe below.
Ingredients
- ¼ C packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 lb bacon (thick cut works best)
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- Mix all the ingredients except for the bacon in a small bowl
- Put the bacon slices on a rack set over a baking sheet, then place in the oven to cook for 10 minutes
- Flip each slice of bacon then bake an additional 5 minutes
- Remove the bacon and add the sweet mixture to both sides
- Return the bacon to the oven and bake another 5 minutes
- Add more of the sweet mixture every five minutes until the bacon is crispy, about 30-35 minutes
Bacon Meatballs
Since when does ground beef have to be the star of a meatball recipe? If you are the type of person who believes a dinner party isn’t complete without some sort of meatball being served, this recipe is perfect for you. The reality is that because bacon is such a flavorful slab of meat, the minute you add it to anything, you’re guaranteed more depth of flavor and a delicious bite every single time. In that case, it makes sense then, to add bacon to the recipe instead of relying on extra seasoning that could potentially dry up the meat. Even when doused in barbecue sauce or a similar condiment, there’s no hiding the not-so-secret ingredient you impressively included. If you want to be a sure hit at your next dinner party, don’t show up without this recipe!
Ingredients
- ¾ lb ground beef
- ¼ lb bacon – browned & crumbled
- ½ C shredded cheese of choice
- ½ C bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp each salt and pepper
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
- In a large mixing bowl, use your hands to combine the ingredients then shape into golf ball-sized meatballs
- Place the formed meatballs on the baking sheet
- Place in the oven and bake 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through
- Remove and let cool slightly before serving
Bacon as A Topping
This is where you really have to get a bit creative. Think of some of your most favorite treats and then imagine them with bacon added to them. Some of them, if not most of them, sound absolutely incredible right? Undoubtedly bacon automatically takes those dishes up a notch, so what’s holding you back? Check out the list below of some of our favorite dishes made even better when topped with bacon, but don’t worry, it’s certainly not an all-inclusive list!
- Ice cream sundaes
- Deviled eggs
- Chocolate brownies
- Cinnamon rolls
- Chocolate fudge
- Popcorn
- Pancakes
- Muffins
- Donuts
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