How to cook bacon

Delicate slices of salted, cured pork, this versatile breakfast classic can be prepared in different ways to fully enhance its delightful taste. Fried, grilled or oven-baked, enjoy the smokiness of bacon on the side of your favourite dish – salted or sweet – with these delicious, fuss-free HelloFresh recipes.

How to fry bacon

To fry bacon, add a small amount of oil to a preheated frying pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the rashes of bacon and cook for three minutes on either side. If you prefer bacon extra crispy, allow each side to cook for four minutes.

For a healthier frying method, skip the oil at the beginning and dry fry the bacon in the pan. This allows the meat to cook in its own fat and reduces the amount of added fat to the final dish.

How to grill bacon

Grilling bacon is often considered a healthier choice compared to frying, as the excess fat drips off onto the grill, reducing the overall fat content. For perfectly grilled bacon, preheat the grill to high. Cook the bacon rashers for two minutes on each side until they reach your desired crispiness. For those who prefer their bacon well-done with crispy edges, grilling is the better option.

How to cook bacon in the oven

Preheat the oven to 200°C and line a baking tray with aluminium foil. Place the bacon rashers on the tray, making sure they are spread out and not overlapping each other. Bake for 15 minutes and then continue to check every 30 seconds until the bacon is cooked as you like. 

Whichever method you choose to cook bacon, use some paper towels at the end to rest the meat and drain any excess fat before adding it to your recipe.

Everyday bacon recipes

Although bacon for breakfast is a classic choice, the versatility of bacon knows no bounds. Here are just a handful of the ways you can incorporate bacon into everyday recipes, for a crispy, salty twist.

Bacon in pasta

Cut through the creaminess of your favourite pasta sauce with pieces of crispy chopped bacon. Recipes like this Mushroom & Bacon Linguine or this Bacon & Tomato Pasta Salad use bacon to enhance flavour and texture.

Bacon and gravy

While gravy can complement almost any dish, this pairing really works! Try a hearty dish like this Creamy Chicken & Bacon Pie recipe with a mashed potato topping, which balances the saltiness of the bacon.

Bacon burgers

Adding bacon to a classic burger, sandwich, or wrap will elevate the flavours of such a quick and easy meal. Try the Cheesy Kiwi Beef & Bacon Burger recipe, or rise and shine to this Cheesy Bacon & Egg Brunch Burger recipe.

Take a look at the variety of easy recipes on the HelloFresh menu and discover new ways to cook bacon and all of your other favourites at home.