National Bacon Day is December 30th, and the best way to celebrate it is with unique, fun bacon recipes. You may think of bacon as junk food, but in fact the choline and protein in bacon can help offset its high saturated fat and salt content. While you shouldn't make bacon the main ingredient of every meal you eat, it can be a great supplement to a healthy diet. That's why we've compiled five of our favorite dinner ideas with bacon, as well as suggestions for appliances that can help you cook these meals perfectly.
Boston Bacon Fatties
Weber and professional chef Jamie Purviance bring us this recipe for Boston bacon fatties. It combines bacon and Italian sausage with Parmigiano-Reggiano® cheese and a selection of vegetables for a mouthwatering, protein-rich meal that can serve up to eight people.
Weber 38400001
To make this recipe, you need a gas grill that can handle wood chips, and this 69-in. freestanding unit from the Genesis Series is more than capable of the task. The grease management system makes cleanup as easy as cooking, while the extra-large prep and serve table means you'll have plenty of space to work.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
If you're looking for a side dish with a truly unique set of flavors, check out these bacon wrapped dates. They're very easy to prepare, requiring only three ingredients (or four if you add blue cheese). This also makes them great for people with dietary restrictions, since they're free of both gluten and eggs.
Hestan KRG304NG
Hestan is well-known for its high-performance ranges, and this 30-in. freestanding gas range is no exception. It boasts a whopping 4.9 cu. ft. of space in its cavity, meaning that you can make bacon wrapped dates for a crowd in a single batch. It even has backlit knobs so you can see at a glance what's running.
Beef Shin, Bacon, and Red Wine Pie with Smashed Celeriac Topping
If you're looking for a more exotic comfort food than typical shepherd's pie, look at this beef shin, bacon, and red wine pie. It's a truly gourmet take on meat pies with mash, and the celeriac mash adds a unique flavor to the mix.
Miele DGC6865XXLSS
Miele's true European convection ovens are second to none for cooking this recipe. This 24-in. Combi-Steam unit from the M Touch Series has more than 200 MasterChef programs installed, allowing you to find the perfect settings for your meal with the touch of a button. It even allows you to sous-vide your meals.
Super-Cheesy Spinach, Bacon, and Artichoke Dip
As anyone who's ever had a bacon cheeseburger can tell you, bacon and cheese go together extremely well. This recipe for super-cheesy spinach, bacon, and artichoke dip takes full advantage of that fact. It combines cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan with bacon, spinach, and artichoke hearts. Meanwhile, the black pepper gives it extra zing.
Frigidaire FCRG3052AS
This 30-in. all-gas range from Frigidaire is one of our favorites for making this delicious dip. It utilizes Even Baking Technology to ensure there are no hot or cold spots in the spacious cavity, while the Store-More™ Storage Drawer lets you store your pots and pans easily.
Shrimp and Grits
Shrimp and grits are a Southern specialty, and adding bacon brings even heartier flavor to the meal. This recipe also adds cheddar and cream cheeses to the stone-ground grits to make them extra savory.
GE JGSS66SELSS
We like this slide-in gas range from GE to make this meal. Its five sealed burners can handle the shrimp and bacon in just a few minutes with their maximum 15,000 BTU output. Meanwhile, the edge-to-edge cooktop makes it easy to slide the grits off the heat source without spilling anything.
Related Questions
What can I eat with bacon?
Bacon combines well with foods you may not expect. In addition to potatoes, burgers, and beans, try adding it to chocolate.
What is the healthiest way to eat bacon?
It's best to cook bacon until it's crisp but not burned. Then drain the excess fat on a paper towel before you eat it.