11 Already Great Foods That Get Infinitely Better With Bacon
Bacon is everywhere, and we couldn’t be happier. From donuts to mac and cheese, the best meat in the whole wide world has become a staple in certain recipes. But we’ve decided to switch our focus to the bizarre and unusual bacon combos that will have you scratching your head before you start licking your lips.
Bacon Cup Salads
Photo: Taste of Home
I mean, if you’re going to punish your taste buds by eating something green, you’ll need to augment that flavor with bacon bits, anyway. Weaving bacon together to form handy cups, you can portion out miniature salads into handheld, half-healthy, half-delicious morsels.
Bacon Taco Shells
Photo: Tasty Food Snacks
If there’s one major area of the hard taco that needed improvement, it was definitely the shell. Using the same weaving technique described above, you’ll essentially have a deconstructed bacon cheeseburger at the ready.
Bacon Brownies
Photo: Recipes Hubs
Sweet and savory is a classic combo, and it works best if the savory component is bacon. With a caramel brownie center that’s also overflowing with bacon shards, you’ll have breakfast for dessert with this tasty tandem.
Chocolate Dipped Bacon
Photo: Sweet Jumbles
What was I just saying about sweet and savory? This is the most elemental version of the equation, and works especially well with a dark chocolate. Bite into the bacon a little bit, let the chocolate melt in your mouth, and then cry because life is beautiful.
Bacon Mozzarella Sticks
Photo: Huffington Post
We already love cheese sticks, but this goes the extra mile by encasing them in bacon instead of breadcrumbs. The end result is all of your ooey-gooey, crispy-crunchy dreams coming true. We just don’t know if you’re supposed to dip it in marinara, maple syrup or inhale them like fresh air after being underwater for too long.
Apple Pie w/ Bacon Lattice
Photo: Loveless Cafe
Back to bacon weaving. Add a crunchy dynamic to your grandmother’s apple pie by putting a crispy bacon lattice on top of that bad boy. A healthy dose of brown sugar will candy the bacon and make for another dessert-breakfast mashup masterpiece.
Maple Bacon Kettle Corn
Photo: That Winsome Girl
Popcorn is one of the few foods that remains relatively un-bacon-ified because, well, where do you put it? Thankfully, someone realized you could make kettle corn with maple instead of corn syrup and this bacon bits crossbreed followed shortly thereafter.
Bacon S’mores
Photo: Farmland Bacon Club
If you really want to win over the campfire crowd, add a little pig to your pow-wow. Using a bacon-chocolate bar (or just a couple bacon slices if you’ve got them handy) and get ready for your new camping tradition.
Bacon and Granny Smith Apple Grilled Cheese
Photo: What the Fork’s For Dinner?
This is really more about the realization that granny smith apples and cheddar cheese are a super classic combo, and it’s a shame that more people aren’t offering this grilled cheese variant. But, of course, bacon makes this tandem even better.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Photo: Diane A. Broad
No, we’re not talking about cannibalizing someone you’re going out with. Pit some dates (everyone’s favorite Mediterranean fruit), stuff it with a sweet goat cheese or an almond, wrap in a half a slice of bacon and bake. You’re welcome, you heartless monster.
Bacon-flavored Vodka
Photo: Teh Siblog
If you’re looking for a saltier, smokier way to get your drink on, why not try bacon infused vodka? Try using this pork-flavored spirit to cut your maple syrup, which will help you suffer through your horrible family breakfast time. You’ll squeal like a pig as they drain your liver.