Depending on the bacon you choose, it can be salt cured or smoked, thin or thick cut, and grain fed or pasture raised. Bacon also has versatility to play with texture making it crispy or chewy.
With the rendered fat, braising vegetables or making pancakes brings another layer of flavor to the dishes.
When bacon is mentioned, the first meal to pop into your brain is probably breakfast. Bacon has evolved from being an egg darling and found its way to loads of dishes and drink pairings, both savory and sweet.
What to eat with bacon? Bacon can be broiled, roasted, baked or sautéed. Known for being an essential part of breakfast, the delicious protein pairs wonderfully with vegetables, beans, herbs, meat, seafood, lentils, and mushrooms.
Not only breakfast, chopped bacon lardons are commonly served in risotto and salads. The plain and creamy rice dish with lardons, or bacon bits in a vinaigrette salad dressing goes well together.
When it comes to beverages, smoked or stout beers taste good with heartier bacon dishes. A dry Chardonnay or Pinot Noir are the best wine pairing options to serve with bacon in a meal.
Its scent is more than enough to get people out of bed no matter the time. Whether you are having on its own, crumbling it on ice cream, stuffing it in a sandwich, or adding it to pancakes, the salty pork slices breath life into any meal.
Wondering what other fun things you can do with bacon? Answered below are frequently asked questions about what to eat with bacon so that you are never at a loss for a success meal.
Can you eat bacon as a meal?
Yes, bacon can be eaten as a meal. There’s more to bacon than breakfast and to serve as a nutritious and filling meal, you will need other ingredients such as vegetables, cheese, or dairy to complete the dish.
This greasy and salty meat is served not only breakfast, but for dinner or even dessert.
For lunch, egg salad on toast with a slice of bacon would do. Crispy bacon adds texture to the egg, and make the dish even more flavorful with a tangy dressing combining lemon juice and mayonnaise.
A creamy potato soup loaded with cheddar cheese and bacon is also a full lunch meal. Serve with crusty sourdough bread and you are set to go.
For dinner, enjoy bacon wrapped chicken breast. While chicken adds wholesome protein to the dish, the fattiness of the bacon soaks into the chicken making it moist and delicious.
Bacon can also be paired with scallops, potatoes, fries, asparagus, corn, spinach or kale.
Combine bacon with candied pecans or maple syrup coated bacon for baked goods such as bars, cupcakes, toffee, brownies, cake, and cookies are great way to transform desserts with a sweet savory combo.
If it is still frozen, don’t worry because you can defrost bacon in the microwave in just a few minutes. For some, microwaving bacon is the fastest and easiest way to cook it as well.
What goes well with bacon?
From ice cream to donuts, dried fruits, macaroni, and peanut butter, bacon pairs with variety of sweets and savory dishes. The skied, cured and fish fattiness complement well with sweet and creamy dishes including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert.
If you are using bacon for a dish, consider these ingredients to add on:
- Vegetables: avocados, celery, frisée, arugula, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, shallots, spinach, winter squash, tomatoes, kale
- Fruits: apple, grapes, oranges, lemon, dates, apricots, pineapple, plum, banana
- Condiments: aioli, unsalted butter, maple syrup, mayonnaise, olive oil, salt, vinegar
- Cheese: swiss, cheddar, parmesan
- Beans: black, fava, green, lentils
- Herbs: chervil
- Meat: chicken, eggs, salmon, scallops, stews, chicken stock
- Mushrooms: chanterelles
- Food: risotto, breakfast, salads
- Beer: smoked or stout with heartier dishes
- Wine: Beaujolais, dry or unoaked Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo
What flavor goes well with bacon?
Bacon can be pretty salty, but it pairs with both savory and sweet flavors. combine maple syrup and chili, honey and sesame, chipotle powder and honey, or pepper and brown sugar for unique flavors to add to your bacon.
Brown sugar and cocoa powder adds a smoky, rich flavor to the bacon, with a hint of sweetness. To bring in the heat, try adding some sriracha and sesame oil to bring a nutty kick to the dish.
Here are classic flavor pairings that you need to try with bacon:
- bacon + arugula + poached egg + pork belly
- bacon + chanterelle mushrooms + chicken + potatoes
- bacon + chanterelle mushrooms + salmon + shallots
- bacon + hard-boiled eggs + spinach + balsamic vinegar
- bacon + lettuce + tomatoes
- bacon + onion + vinegar
- bacon + shallots + vinegar
- bacon + spinach + winter squash
Eat With Bacon: Conclusion
Without a doubt, bacon is delicious, and it is not just a breakfast item.
This crunchy, fatty, salty dish is pretty versatile and can be paired with anything at any time of the day. Bacon is simply irresistible whether it’s a brunch, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even dessert.
With the right ingredients including vegetables, fruits, cheese, beans, herbs, meat, seafood, lentils, beer, and wine to enjoy the maximum flavor.
Bacon can be served with fresh salad tossed with egg and tangy salad dressing. Otherwise, consider a creamy potato salad with cheese and bacon pieces as a topping to create a wholesome meal.
Pair with sautéed vegetables or add to a chicken dinner for flavor and texture in the dish.
Finally, serve bacon with sweets such as candied nuts or coat with maple syrup to decorate on cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and cakes.
Even though bacon is on the salty side, it blends well with sweet, spicy, and pretty much all savory dishes. Use these flavor combinations and ingredient pairings to enjoy bacon and know what to eat with it at any time of the day.