20 Recipes that Prove Everything’s Better with Bacon
By Bon Appétit
This list barely needs an introduction—you already know how awesome bacon is. So here are 20 recipes that prove it.
1. Iceberg Wedges with Grilled Bacon and Croutons
Who doesn’t love a wedge? Ask your butcher to cut slab bacon into thick slices (about ¼") to yield nice meaty pieces once they’re crisped on the grill. Photo: Peden & Munk
2. Lamb-Bacon Burgers with Spicy Aioli
At Rioja, in Denver, half of the bacon is replaced with ground fatback, a step that makes this excellent burger even better. Photo: Alex Lau
3. BA’s Best Beef-and-Bacon Meatloaf
Seasoned stock keeps this meatloaf juicy and flavorful. A doctored ketchup delivers just the right amount of tang, spice, and sweetness. And the bacon? We think it speaks for itself. Photo: Alex Lau
4. Baked Beans with Slab Bacon and Breadcrumbs
These aren’t sticky-sweet brown sugar baked beans. Think of them like the top crust of a good cassoulet. Photo: Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
5. Cock-a-Leekie Pie
The chicken and leek meld together as they cook in the filling. Photo: Gentl & Hyers
6. Bing Bread
At Parachute in Chicago, this bacon-studded, potato-filled, cheesy sesame bread is served in 6" cast-iron pans; we adapted it to work in a 10". Photo: Danny Kim
7. Weeknight Porchetta
We cut corners on the classic Italian dish—using bacon and skipping the multiday air-drying process. It’s not traditional, but it sure is delicious. Photo: Nicole Franzen
8. Sautéed Radishes with Bacon
“The contrast of tender radish and crisp bacon is even better with a little cider vinegar.” –Brad Leone, test kitchen manager Photo: Danny Kim
9. Asparagus with Bacon and Hard-Boiled Eggs
We think fat spears of asparagus have the best texture. White ones take a little longer to cook, so boil them separately. Photo: Julian Broad
10. Bacon and Scallion Farrotto
Semi-pearled farro has had some of its outer kernel removed, which allows the starch to release and create a creamy sauce while cooking. Photo: Christina Holmes
11. Potato-Bacon Breakfast Tacos with Monterey Jack
A great Mexican hot sauce like Valentina or Cholula strikes a perfect balance of flavor and heat. Photo: Danielle Walsh
12. Pink Peppercorn Bacon
It might seem like a long time, but cooking the bacon until it’s well-done means it’ll stay crisp at the table. Photo: Jeremy Liebman
13. B.O.L.T (Bacon, Oyster, Lettuce, Tomato)
As if an oyster po’boy and a BLT had a baby; this appropriately messy sandwich achieves the ideal texture-and-temperature contrast when the oysters are still warm from the fryer. Photo: Jason Lowe
14. Beans and Sausage
Earn bragging rights by seeking out the bittersweet choricero pepper and traditional blood sausage to cook with, or use the other ingredients we’ve suggested—this homey dish will still taste superb. Photo: Grant Harder
15. Hangtown Fry
Tailor this blue plate special to your taste—you could add spice to the potatoes, sub sausages for bacon, scramble the eggs, omit the onions, or add fresh herbs. While it’s great for brunch (chase it with a nap), we’d also love to eat this for breakfast or dinner. Photo: Jason Lowe
16. Crispy Potato Skins
Crispy, cheesy, bacon-y—they’re an irresistible Super Bowl snack. So irresistible, in fact, that you may want to make a double batch. Photo: Matt Duckor
17. Clam and Bacon Pizza
Blanched garlic, which is sweet and mild, is blended with briny clam liquor and olive oil to make a creamy white sauce for this unconventional pizza. Photo: Matt Duckor
18. Greens with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Blue Cheese
You can dress this salad about half an hour in advance to no ill effect—the hearty greens can handle it. Photo: We Are The Rhoads
19. Bacony Roasted Chickpeas
“I love the crisp texture of this addictive bar snack; the bacon fat is an obvious bonus.“ —Alison Roman, senior food editor, Bon Appétit. Photo: Danny Kim
20. Creamy Pappardelle with Leeks and Bacon
This twist on pasta carbonara is sweet from leeks and rich thanks to cream (in place of eggs). Photo: Ditte Isager
