20+ Important Recipes Starring Bacon

Bacon. In the microwave. It seems so wrong, and yet…and yet…also a little bit right. You guys, this really works, and it’s perfect for when you just want a few quick slices of bacon without the fuss of pulling out a pan.

Ready to start your day off right? Look no further than this breakfast sandwich. It starts with good bacon — just enough to add flavor and crispness to the sandwich, as well as a thin film of fat on the pan, perfect for cooking the kale.

Meet the polenta breakfast bake — a no-stir, practically hands-off way to make a hearty breakfast that will last you all week.

These lentils are cooked in chicken broth for extra flavor, then tossed with cooked bacon, fresh herbs, and a mustard vinaigrette, and served warm — perfect for lunch or a simple side dish.

If you need a new party trick, or just a delicious way to jazz up breakfast, brown sugar-glazed bacon is it. Whether you are serving a casual brunch or just serving cocktails, it is guaranteed to wow.

It’s hard to improve on a classic BLT, but this may do the trick. Think of this salad as a BLT in a bowl — fresh summer tomatoes with a bright vinaigrette, toasted croutons, and crispy bacon.

Jalapeño poppers are definitely a decadent treat, but sometimes over-the-top comfort food is just what the doctor ordered. The bacon not only adds amazing flavor, but it also holds the cheese in place so it doesn’t ooze all over the pan. Leave it to bacon to save the day!

These potato bites are easy, delicious, and perfect for munching while you watch the game. Think of them like bite-sized, deconstructed potato skins, but way better.

Sometimes you just need a biscuit; one that’s warm from the oven and pillow-soft in the middle … and studded with smoky bits of bacon

Bacon-wrapped dates will never be the prettiest dish on the table, but they more than make up for it with their flavor. When you bite into one, it’s salty at first, but then reveals an inner sweetness and — oh! — another salty crunch.

This easy weeknight dinner is pretty much pork on pork, which I think we can all agree is never a bad thing.

Just an hour will give you a saucy dish of shredded chicken in a smoky bacon sauce. It’s ultra-comforting and perfect served with pasta or gnocchi, or over cauliflower rice, baked potatoes, or roasted vegetables.

Each piece of chicken isn’t just wrapped with it’s own slice of bacon — the bacon infuses the whole dish, right down to the potatoes in the bottom of the casserole.

This is a fun play on Cacio e Pepe, the peppery, cheesy, comforting pasta dish. Bite-sized pieces of bacon add a nice saltiness, and also cut the bitter bite of the radishes.

Baked beans are a classic; this hearty, comforting recipe takes it one step further with extra pieces of smoky, thick bacon and tender, sweet pieces of pineapple.

As we move into fall, this is the soup you want to have in your back pocket. A white bean and bacon bowl, powered up by ham hock and red pepper, with a little bit of everything that makes a soup good: creamy, brothy, chunky, and rich with savory white beans and ham.

Traditionally, skillet cornbread is cooked with lard, but this version turns things around by cooking up some bacon and then folding it into the cornbread. It makes the bottom of the cornbread extra crispy and delicious!

Every single bite of this bacon jam is full of rich, savory, oh-so-sweet goodness. We’re pretty sure you’ll want to slather it on everything from breakfast sandwiches to cupcakes.

This quick and simple stew draws even more rich flavor, thanks to the addition of bacon.

Smoky, thick-cut bacon is perfect for this recipe. The thicker slices make for a bit of crisp and a bit of chew in every bite. And of course, the campfire flavor ends up permeating the entire potato.