I’d like to put it out there right up front that ordinarily, I would never write a post on how to cook bacon. Most people are all set with knowing how to cook bacon.
However, when you throw out a new technique on how to cook something, the story changes. Or am I the last one on Earth to consider grilling bacon and this isn’t a new way to cook bacon after all?
It’s a technique I’ve been contemplating for the past few weeks.
Can you actually grill bacon? Will it completely stick to the grill? Will I set myself on fire?
I was willing to test it out at the expense of a) not having to clean up bacon grease off the stove, counter, floor, and my shirt and b) not having to turn the oven on when it’s 95° outside.
And then I saw this grilled bacon salad fly through my radar and I knew you can definitely grill bacon. YES!!
And you guys! Grilling bacon is so easy and so quick, you almost wouldn’t believe it!
How to Grill Bacon
All you need to grill bacon is some thick-cut bacon and 5 minutes on a medium heat grill! That’s right, it only takes about 5 minutes to grill bacon!
- Simply lay out the bacon slices on the hot grill grates with a long pair of tongs.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes
- Reduce the heat to low
- Flip the bacon over and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes
- Transfer the cooked back to a paper towel-lined plate to drain
Benefits of Grilling Bacon
- No need to oil the grill grates prior to grilling
- No messy clean-up afterwards. All of the drippings end up in the grill’s drip pan!
- Your whole house/apartment/condo won’t smell like bacon
- You don’t have to heat up the kitchen by using the stove or oven (especially in the summer!)
- No hot bacon grease to figure out how to get rid of
- No hot bacon grease popping at you from the skillet while cooking
- You can grill a large amount of bacon at a time rather than just a few strips in multiple batches in a messy and spitting skillet of hot bacon grease.
You’re left with strips of smoky grilled bacon that will just blow you away! I don’t think I’ve been so excited about a new cooking technique in years!
Recipes that Use Grilled Bacon
- BLT panzanella salad (pictured above)
- Grilled chicken and kale caesar salad sandwiches with bacon
- Bacon ranch potato salad
If you’ve tried grilling bacon, let me know how it works for you!
You will definitely need to keep a close eye once you flip the bacon and prepare yourself for some flames - the bacon will cook super fast and there's a lot of drippings involved here. Alternatively, you can grill the bacon in a grill pan on the stove top.
Ingredients
- Thick-cut or "butcher's cut" bacon (regular bacon will be too thin and flimsy to withstand the heat of the grill)
Instructions
- Heat a grill to medium-high heat. Turn the heat down to medium. Lay the bacon slices out on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn the grill to low heat and flip the bacon with long tongs; cook for another 1-2 minutes. Take note: If the grill is too hot, there will be flare-ups from the bacon drippings. Keeping the heat low once you flip the bacon or turning at least one of the burners off will help reduce flare-ups. Make sure you watch the bacon carefully after you flip it as it will cook quickly at this point and will burn easily.
- Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and use as desired.
Source
source: inspired by Smitten Kitchen
How to Grill Bacon
- Cook Time: 5min
Ingredients
Thick-cut or “butcher’s cut” bacon (regular bacon will be too thin and flimsy to withstand the heat of the grill)
Instructions
- 01
Heat a grill to medium-high heat. Turn the heat down to medium. Lay the bacon slices out on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn the grill to low heat and flip the bacon with long tongs; cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Take note: If the grill is too hot, there will be flare-ups from the bacon drippings. Keeping the heat low once you flip the bacon or turning at least one of the burners off will help reduce flare-ups. Make sure you watch the bacon carefully after you flip it as it will cook quickly at this point and will burn easily.
- 02
Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and use as desired.
inspired by Smitten Kitchen
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I love doing the bacon on the grill, but I’m usually not careful/patient enough and either wind up with lots of flare-ups or burn it 🙂 Yours looks perfect, I have to try this technique!
oh man….grilled bacon…YES