10+ Bacon Recipes to Spice Up Your Mealtime Fun

Bacon’s got that irresistible flavor and crunch that makes just about any meal better. People love it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—honestly, it fits in everywhere.

If you want some easy, tasty ways to cook with bacon, you’re in the right place. Here are simple recipes that let bacon shine.

Whether you enjoy bacon solo or tossed into other dishes, you have plenty of choices. You can make it chewy or crispy—totally up to you.

Let’s dive into some fun, no-fuss recipes you can whip up any time.

1) Classic BLT Sandwich

The classic BLT is simple, but man, is it good. Just crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomato.

Toasted bread and a swipe of mayo pull it all together. Make sure your bacon is crisp and drain it well.

Toast your bread until it’s golden. Spread mayo on both slices.

Stack bacon, lettuce, and tomato on one slice. Top with the other.

Give it a gentle press, slice it in half, and dig in.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 strips of bacon
• 2 slices of sandwich bread
• Lettuce leaves
• 2 thick tomato slices
• Mayonnaise

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook bacon until crispy, about 8-10 minutes in a skillet.
2. Drain bacon on paper towels.
3. Toast bread to golden brown at 350°F (175°C).
4. Spread mayo on toasted bread slices.
5. Layer bacon, lettuce, and tomato on one bread slice.
6. Top with the second slice and serve.

2) Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Bacon-wrapped asparagus is a no-brainer for an easy side or appetizer. Just wrap fresh asparagus with thin bacon slices—so simple.

The bacon crisps up and gives the veggies a salty kick. You can roast these in the oven, grill, or toss them in the air fryer.

Trim those tough asparagus ends first. Bundle 3-4 spears and wrap one bacon slice around each.

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed
• 8 slices thin bacon
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Group 3-4 spears and wrap each bundle with a slice of bacon.
4. Place bundles on a baking sheet lined with foil.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until bacon is crispy.
6. Serve warm and enjoy.

For more details, check this guide on bacon-wrapped asparagus.

3) Bacon and Egg Cups

Bacon and egg cups are a breakfast hack that makes mornings easier. Line muffin tins with bacon strips, and you’ve got a built-in cup for your egg.

Crack an egg into each bacon cup. Toss in cheese, herbs, or maybe some spinach if you’re feeling healthy.

Bake until the eggs are set and the bacon’s crisp. These are great for meal prep or a lazy brunch.

You can eat them right away or reheat later. They’re filling and high in protein.

Ingredients

• 8 strips of bacon
• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup shredded cheese (optional)
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions or spinach (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Partially cook bacon in the microwave or on the stove for 2-3 minutes.
3. Line muffin tin cups with bacon strips.
4. Crack one egg into each cup. Add cheese and veggies if you want.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes until eggs are set.
6. Let cool slightly before removing from tin.

Learn more about this recipe on Chef Savvy.

4) Maple Bacon Donuts

Maple bacon donuts are wild—sweet, salty, and totally addictive. Start with a soft dough, fry or bake until golden.

Dip them in maple glaze. Sprinkle crispy bacon bits on top.

The salty bacon and sweet glaze just work. If you want to get fancy, fill some donuts with maple custard.

Perfect for breakfast or when you need a treat that’s a little extra.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix warm milk, yeast, and 1 tsp sugar. Let sit 10 minutes.
2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, egg, butter, and yeast mixture. Knead until smooth.
3. Let dough rise 1 hour until doubled.
4. Shape into donuts and fry at 350°F (175°C) until golden, about 1-2 minutes per side.
5. Mix powdered sugar and maple syrup for glaze.
6. Dip donuts in glaze, then sprinkle with bacon bits.

5) Bacon Mac and Cheese

Bacon mac and cheese is comfort food with a twist. Creamy cheese sauce, pasta, and crispy bacon—what’s not to love?

You can throw in caramelized onions or even more bacon if you want. This comes together fast, so it’s great for busy nights.

Use shells or elbow macaroni. If you like a crunchy top, add breadcrumbs before baking.

Ingredients

• 8 oz pasta (shells or elbow macaroni)
• 6 slices bacon
• 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 small onion (optional)
• ½ cup breadcrumbs (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions, then drain.
2. Fry bacon until crispy, remove, and crumble.
3. If using, sauté onions in bacon fat until caramelized.
4. Melt butter in a pan, stir in flour, cook 1 min.
5. Slowly add milk, whisking until smooth and thickened.
6. Stir in cheese until melted and creamy.
7. Mix pasta, bacon, and onions into cheese sauce.
8. Optional: Pour into a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes until golden.

6) Bacon Caesar Salad

Bacon Caesar salad is a fun spin on the usual Caesar. Crisp romaine and salty bacon make it way more interesting.

Toss bacon pieces with lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan. Drizzle with Caesar dressing and you’re done.

Making bacon on the stove or in the air fryer is fast. The bacon adds crunch without taking over the whole salad.

Ingredients

• 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1/2 cup cooked bacon pieces
• 1 cup Caesar dressing
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup croutons

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook bacon until crispy, then chop into pieces.
2. Chop romaine lettuce and place in a large bowl.
3. Add bacon, croutons, and Parmesan cheese.
4. Pour Caesar dressing over the salad.
5. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
6. Serve immediately.

For a recipe with a creamy twist, see this Bacon Caesar Salad recipe.

7) Jalapeño Popper Chicken with Bacon

Here’s a wild one: jalapeño popper chicken wrapped in bacon. You stuff chicken breasts with cream cheese, cheddar, and diced jalapeños.

Wrap the chicken in bacon. Bake or smoke it so everything gets melty and delicious.

You can make it as spicy or mild as you like. It’s a hit for dinner or game day.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2-3 jalapeños, diced
• 8 slices bacon

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix cream cheese, cheddar, and jalapeños.
3. Cut pockets in chicken breasts and stuff with the cheese mix.
4. Wrap each chicken breast with 2 bacon slices.
5. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
6. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

More details can be found at Sweet Savory and Steph.

8) Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

Bacon-wrapped meatloaf is juicy and packed with flavor. Wrapping the meatloaf in bacon keeps it moist and adds a smoky bite.

Lay bacon strips over your meatloaf before baking. It makes the outside crispy and the inside tender.

A ketchup glaze on top brings a sweet, tangy finish. You can add your favorite seasonings or sneak in some cheese if you want.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 10-12 slices of bacon
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• ½ cup bread crumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Sauté onion and garlic until they’re soft. Let them cool for a bit.

3. In a bowl, mix ground beef, onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper.

4. Shape the mixture into a loaf on a baking tray.

5. Wrap bacon strips around the meatloaf. Try to get them as even as you can.

6. Mix ketchup and brown sugar for the glaze. Spread it on top.

7. Bake for about 1 hour, or until it’s cooked through.

8. Let it rest before slicing and serving.

Find more tips for wrapping bacon tightly and baking at Cook the Story.

9) Bacon Pancakes

Bacon pancakes are such a fun twist on breakfast. You get that sweet and salty thing going on.

Cook the bacon until it’s nice and crispy. Then, toss it right into your pancake batter.

That way, you get little bacon surprises in every bite.

Drizzle maple syrup over the top for that classic finish. These are perfect for breakfast or brunch when you want to mix things up.

They’re easy, and honestly, the whole family will probably want seconds.

Ingredients

• 1 pound bacon
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Cook the bacon on a sheet pan until it’s crispy, about 15-20 minutes. Let it cool, then chop it up.

3. In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

4. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and melted butter.

5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Fold in the bacon pieces.

6. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Pour in the batter to make pancakes.

7. Cook until bubbles show up on top, then flip and cook the other side until golden.

8. Serve with maple syrup if you want. No judgment if you go heavy on it.

You can find a detailed recipe for bacon pancakes here.

10) Bacon Fried Rice

Bacon fried rice is such a clever way to turn plain rice into something you actually crave. Start by cooking the bacon until it’s crispy, so you get all that flavor and fat.

Use the same pan to fry your rice with garlic and veggies. Less cleanup, more taste.

This dish comes together fast, usually in about 15 minutes. Leftover rice works best, but honestly, fresh rice is fine too.

Add in peas, carrots, and scrambled eggs for color and a little extra heft. It looks good and fills you up.

Want to switch things up? Try ginger or green onions for a punch of extra flavor. It’s a great way to use up whatever’s in the fridge—no need to order takeout.

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 3 cups cooked long grain rice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat until it turns crispy. Take it out and set it aside—try not to eat it right away.

2. Using the leftover bacon fat (because, why waste it?), toss in the onion, garlic, peas, and carrots. Sauté everything for about 3-4 minutes.

3. Push the veggies off to one side of the pan. Crack in the eggs and scramble them until they’re just set.

4. Throw the rice and the cooked bacon back into the pan. Stir it all together and let it fry for around 5 minutes.

5. Drizzle soy sauce over the rice and mix until everything looks evenly coated. Give it another 2 minutes on the heat, and it’s ready to serve.