Bacon Lovers Rejoice

Bacon doesn't just sit on breakfast plates anymore. It's sneaking into recipes that used to play by other rules. Sweet, savory, and even spicy dishes find a new rhythm when bacon joins the mix. You may know some of these combos or not, but here's a list of 20 dishes that genuinely improve when bacon enters the equation.

1. Donuts

Salty strips draped over maple glaze are not a stunt but a sensory balance. Bacon donuts first hit Portland in the early 2000s, but now they're a staple in craft bakeries. Rendered bacon fat can even replace butter in the batter for richer, meatier depth.

2. Ice Cream

Bacon in ice cream is more than a gimmick. It interrupts the cream with salt and smoke. To keep them from going soggy, fold in crispy shards post-churn. Bourbon or maple-based bases pair best and offer a familiar backdrop for bacon's bold entry.

3. Cinnamon Rolls

It's culinary mischief when sticky-sweet spirals have crisp, savory bacon curls inside. Layer the bacon before rolling it up to lock in flavor as it bakes. Use thick-cut bacon for chew. It holds up better during baking and prevents sogginess inside the doughy center.

4. Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Stacked right, this is another level of comfort. Thick-sliced bacon wedged between melting gouda and sourdough turns every crunch into a texture masterclass. Pickled jalapeños or tomato jam can provide contrast. Balance is everything when working with fats that stand out.

5. Deviled Eggs

Start with yolks whipped into silk, then drop in finely chopped bacon for punch. These little party bombs gained swagger in Southern kitchens, where bacon fat sometimes replaces mayo. That substitution also makes it thicker and helps the filling stay firm on hot outdoor trays.

6. Brussels Sprouts

Once hated, but now exalted thanks to bacon. Roast halved sprouts until blistered, then toss in lardons. The result is crunchy caramel edges and bacon that soaks up the bitterness. Use pancetta for a milder variant or smoked slab bacon for a deeper umami flavor.

7. Chocolate

Chocolate and bacon sound like a dare, but they're a duo of richness. From bars to truffles, bacon adds smoke and salt to break up the sweetness. Chill the bacon first before coating it in chocolate—warm fat will prevent the shell from setting properly.

8. Pancakes

Bacon cooked right into the batter creates golden rounds with surprise savory veins. It's not just a side anymore, but part of the architecture. For best results, render bacon halfway before folding it in. Raw strips create steam pockets and uneven cook surfaces.

9. Cheeseburgers

Build your burger with bacon, and you change the entire bite cadence. Salty strips anchor melty cheese and juicy beef. How crisp or chewy it gets is up to you, but remember: layering under the patty retains moisture without turning the bacon brittle.

10. Pizza

Toss bacon on a pie, and it becomes less about toppings and more about flavor and texture. Every bite changes as bacon brings its smokiness. Par-cook strips to avoid soggy slices. Crumbled bacon also works better with low-moisture cheeses like provolone or aged mozzarella.

11. Baked Potatoes

Piping hot russets beg for contrast, and bacon delivers it with crunch and cured complexity. Crumble it over sour cream and chives, or bury it beneath melted cheddar. For even distribution, fold bacon into the potato flesh before stuffing it back into the crisped skin.

12. Salad

Forget garnish—bacon is a strategy in salad building. It cuts through vinaigrettes, punctuates creamy dressings, and makes limp leaves more appealing. Use rendered fat in warm dressings for extra cohesion. Wilted spinach especially benefits from bacon's grip on residual heat.

13. Cornbread

Golden and crumbly, cornbread leans sweet unless redirected. Bacon crumbles inside the batter will make it savory—smoky even. When baked in a preheated skillet greased with bacon fat, you get a crust that rivals fried edges. For bonus contrast, add jalapeños or sharp white cheddar.

14. Clam Chowder

Before the clams go in, bacon lays the base. Using low heat, cook onions and celery in bacon grease. This builds your flavor backbone. If a cleaner bite is needed, replace bacon with rendered pancetta. And never discard that fond on the pot bottom—that's where your broth earns depth.

15. Jalapeño Poppers

Wrapped in bacon, jalapeños transform from party snacks into handheld thrills. The bacon tempers heat and keeps fillings like cream cheese from bursting. You want the outside crisp and the pepper not to be oversoftened. So, secure the wrap with toothpicks and bake at high heat.

16. Breakfast Tacos

Fill that tortilla with eggs and cheese, but add bacon, and everything locks in. It crisps and soaks in yolk as if it's an edible napkin fold. Thick-cut bacon sliced short helps for better stacking. Use it to stop your tacos from tearing mid-bite.

17. Meatloaf

Forget ketchup glaze. Wrap your meatloaf in bacon and transform it from bland block to flavor trap. The fat bastes the meat as it bakes, and this forms a savory outermost layer. Brushing with mustard adds acidic lift mid-cook, and tucking bacon ends underneath prevents curling.

18. Popcorn

Tossed in rendered bacon fat, popcorn develops a smoky, fire-cooked flavor. Add crispy crumbles for bite variation. To coat evenly, pour warm bacon fat in and stir continuously for 30 seconds. Salt sparingly, as bacon already spikes the sodium.

19. Apple Pie

Woven bacon lattice tops bring savory relief to sugary fillings. Bacon's salt cuts the cinnamon-heavy profile, especially with tart apples like Granny Smith. Precook the bacon slightly before baking to avoid limp results, and sprinkle with cracked pepper for a grown-up twist.

20. Green Beans

Snap beans get flavor and texture from bacon. Sauté them together until blistered, then deglaze them with cider vinegar or stock. That smoky-sour combo sticks to the pods. Opt for slab bacon cubes over strips; they hold texture longer in skillet-side dishes or casseroles.