Cooking bacon on a grill with aluminum foil is an easy way to cook bacon. There is almost no cleanup involved and the kitchen is bacon splatter and smell free. You can also use a skillet or frying pan, but if you use aluminum foil, you can just wait for the grease to cool down and throw away the foil. Your cooking surface is sized to your needs and no skillet or frying pan to clean!.
Cooking bacon on the grill using foil is a great way to enjoy the smoky flavors of grilled bacon without the mess and splatter of frying it in a pan. The foil contains the grease and prevents flare ups while allowing the bacon to cook evenly.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to learn how to perfectly grill bacon wrapped in foil packets. You’ll get crispy juicy bacon infused with delicious barbecue flavor every time.
Benefits of Grilling Bacon in Foil
Grilling bacon in foil packets offers several advantages over stovetop frying
-
No splattering grease: The foil contains all the hot grease so your stovetop stays clean. No need to scrub the stove after cooking.
-
Prevents sticking: The bacon doesn’t stick to the grill grates when contained in foil. No struggling to flip or remove it.
-
Distributes heat evenly: Bacon cooks more evenly when wrapped in foil packets instead of laying directly on the grill.
-
Infuses smoky flavor: You get that irresistible smoky barbecue taste from the grill.
-
Easy cleanup: Just throw away the foil when finished cooking. No pans to wash.
-
Portable: Foil packets make grilled bacon easy to cook at barbecues, campsites, or on boats.
Ingredients
- Bacon slices
- Aluminum foil
- Cooking spray or oil (optional)
Use any type of bacon you prefer. Thicker slices hold up better on the grill. Choose any flavor, like peppered, maple, or applewood smoked.
How to Make Bacon Grill Packets
Before firing up the grill, assemble foil packets for the bacon:
-
Cut sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil a few inches longer than your bacon slices. Use one sheet per packet.
-
Lightly coat one side of the foil with cooking spray or brush with oil if desired. This prevents sticking.
-
Place 3-4 bacon slices in the center of the foil widthwise. The number will depend on the size of your foil.
-
Bring the long sides of the foil together overlapping by about an inch. Fold or roll the edges 2-3 times to seal the packet.
-
Fold over the short ends and roll them inward 2-3 times to seal. Make sure the packet is completely closed on all sides.
-
Repeat with more foil and bacon to make additional packets as needed.
How to Cook the Bacon
With the foil bacon packets made, just grill them using direct or indirect heat:
-
For direct heat, place the packets directly over the hot grill grates. Close the lid.
-
For indirect heat, put the packets off to the side or on the upper rack, away from direct heat. Close the lid.
Grilling over indirect low heat helps ensure even cooking. The bacon will slowly cook in its own rendered fat without burning.
Cook 10-15 minutes until the bacon reaches your desired crispness, turning the packets once midway through. You can peek inside the foil to check doneness if needed.
Let the foil packets rest 5 minutes before carefully opening them—the steam will be very hot. Then transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.
Serve the grill-crisped bacon on sandwiches, burgers, or salads. You’ll love the tender meat and wonderful smoky flavor from the barbecue.
Grilling Bacon in Foil Tips
-
Choose a lower grill temperature around 300-350°F to prevent burning.
-
Watch for grease leaking or bulges in the foil. Make packets more tightly if needed.
-
Never leave cooking bacon unattended since grease fires can flare up.
-
Cook over indirect heat and turn packets if bacon starts browning too quickly.
-
Allow cooked packets to rest before opening to avoid steam burns.
-
Save bacon grease in the packets for cooking if desired. Otherwise, place in the trash once completely cooled.
Alternative Grilling Methods
While foil packets are the easiest mess-free way to grill bacon, you can also cook it using:
Grill Basket
Place bacon slices in a perforated grill basket. Close lid and cook 10-15 minutes over indirect low heat, turning once. Let drain on paper towels.
Grill Pan
Use a ridged grill pan on the barbecue or stovetop. Cook bacon slowly over medium-low heat to render the fat and crisp the meat.
Bacon Press
Put bacon slices directly on the grill grate. Place a bacon press on top to flatten it as it cooks. Cook to desired crispness, then remove press and flip to cook the other side.
Skewers
Thread bacon slices accordion-style onto skewers. Grill over indirect heat with lid closed until browned. Turn skewers as needed.
How to Make Grilled BLT’s
For an amazing sandwich, grill up some bacon in foil packets along with thick slices of tomato and bread. Here’s how to put it all together:
-
Cook 4-6 slices of bacon in foil on the grill as directed. Drain on paper towels once cooked.
-
Brush 1/4 inch thick slices of crusty bread or baguette with olive oil or garlic butter. Grill the bread slices over direct heat just until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.
-
Slice tomatoes 1/4 inch thick. Grill the tomato slices about 2 minutes per side over direct heat just to warm them through.
-
Assemble sandwiches on the grilled bread with bacon, tomato slices, lettuce, and mayonnaise. Add any other desired toppings like avocado or onion slices.
The combination of smoky grilled bacon, tomatoes, and bread makes for an incredible BLT experience. Foil-grilled bacon really takes these classic sandwiches over the top.
Grilled Bacon Guides from Allrecipes and The Wicked Noodle
For more advice on grilling up perfect bacon on the barbecue using foil or other methods, check out these helpful guides:
-
Bacon on the Grill from Allrecipes gives step-by-step instructions for cooking bacon on a cooling rack placed inside a foil-lined sheet pan. This allows grease to drain away from the bacon as it crisps.
-
Cooking Bacon on a Grill with Aluminum Foil from The Wicked Noodle offers tips on choosing the right heavy duty foil. It also explains how to fold the foil into a pan shape with folded edges to contain grease. Helpful safety warnings are included.
Both resources provide useful guidance on how foil prevents sticking and distributes grill heat evenly for perfect crispy bacon every time.
The next time a recipe calls for bacon or you’re craving a BLT, fire up the barbecue instead of the stove. Grilling bacon in foil packets gives you delicious results with little fuss or mess to clean up. Crisp, smoky grilled bacon is sure to be a new favorite in your house.
Type of Aluminum Foil to Use
Any aluminum foil can be used but heavy duty aluminum foil for extra strength and durability while grilling works best. This helps prevent rips or tears that lead to grease leaking onto the grill and creating flare-ups.
Tips for Cooking Bacon on a Grill with Aluminum Foil
- Be careful when you flip and remove the bacon so that the aluminum foil doesn’t tear and grease the grill.
- Shiny side down or dull side down makes no difference.
- To flip and take out the bacon, use a spatula or tongs. If you poke a hole in the aluminum foil with a fork, the grease could leak onto the grill.
- Never walk away from the grill while grilling bacon. Foods that are high in fat, like tomahawk steak, can start grease fires.
- If a fire starts, take the bacon off the grill, turn off the grill, and let the fire go out. Never to use water on a grease fire.
- Do not throw away the grease and foil until it has cooled down. This could start a fire in the trash.
- How big the aluminum foil surface needs to be depends on how much bacon you want to cook.
- Wrapping or covering food in foil is safe.
- Only line a portion of a grill in foil. Grills are designed to let air flow freely, and putting aluminum foil over all or most of the grill can be dangerous.
- Try blanching your bacon first.
How To Cook Bacon On A Grill
Can you cook bacon in aluminum foil?
Size the aluminum foil surface based on the amount of bacon you plan to cook. Wrapping or covering food in foil is safe. Only line a portion of a grill in foil. Grills are built to ensure proper airflow and covering up all or a large portion of the grill in aluminum foil can be hazardous.
How do you cook bacon on a grill?
Indirect heat is our preferred choice for cooking bacon, as the low-and-slow approach results in more evenly cooked strips. If you are cooking directly on the grates, oil them first with a high smoke point oil like vegetable oil. Place the bacon strips perpendicular to the grill grates so they don’t fall through. Don’t overcrowd the bacon.
Should you Grill Bacon?
However, when you opt for grilling bacon, this issue becomes less prominent. The grill allows the excess grease to drip away as the bacon cooks, resulting in less greasy strips. You’ll be left with crispy and flavorful bacon without feeling like you’re consuming an excessive amount of oil.
Do you preheat Bacon before grilling?
Before placing your bacon on the grill, it’s crucial to preheat it properly. This step ensures that the heat is evenly distributed, resulting in perfectly cooked bacon throughout. Set your grill to medium heat and give it enough time to reach the desired temperature before placing your bacon on it.
Can you cook bacon on a gas grill?
Bacon, with its rich and savory flavor, has always been a breakfast favorite. While traditional stovetop frying is usually most people’s go-to method, grilling it on a gas grill offers an innovative twist. The outdoor atmosphere coupled with the unique method of cooking brings a whole new dimension to the bacon experience.
How do you make a bacon sandwich with aluminum foil?
Step 1: Tear and fold aluminum. Unroll a piece of aluminum foil that is double the surface area you need for the bacon, and fold it in half to create a sturdy aluminum foil surface. Step 2: Create an edge. Take the sides of this sheet, and fold them about half an inch from the edge, creating a lip that runs the perimeter of the aluminum foil sheet.