As any bacon lover knows, those irregular leftover bits from slicing bacon are packed with smoky, salty flavor. Rather than discarding bacon ends and pieces, many clever home cooks have discovered ways to transform these porky scraps into budget-friendly culinary gold.
From loaded baked potatoes to candied bacon crumbles and beyond bacon ends can take everyday recipes from boring to extraordinary. Read on for 15 irresistible ideas for repurposing bags of bacon bits into craveable dishes the whole family will love.
Elevating Humble Ingredients
Bacon ends provide an economical way to infuse recipes with savory umami deliciousness. Since the flavor isn’t compromised by their irregular size and shape, you can utilize every morsel. A little crisping and draining removes excess fat, while their versatility suits both sweet and savory applications. Once incorporated into recipes, the irregular shapes become undetectable, only leaving behind bacon’s signature flavor punch. Follow these creative ways to transform humble bacon scraps into awesome eats!
1. Candied Bacon Bits
Made by coating cooked, drained bacon bits in brown sugar, maple or honey, candied bacon bits make bacon the star ingredient. This sweet-salty combo is heavenly sprinkled on oatmeal, yogurt, salads, baked goods and more. Or enjoy candied bacon bits straight from the fridge by the handful for a truly dangerously delicious snack!
2. Smoky Bacon Jam
Cook down chopped bacon ends and onions with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar to make a spreadable bacon onion jam. Slather on burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads and more to take them up a notch.
3. Bacon Fat-Fried Eggs
After cooking your bacon ends, reserve the rendered bacon grease for frying the creamiest, most flavorful eggs ever. A teaspoon of bacon fat also beautifully boosts store-bought mayo.
4. Bacon Peanut Brittle
Make sweet and salty peanut brittles even more addictive by adding crumbled crisp bacon bits into the mix along with the peanuts before hardening and breaking into delicious shards.
5. Bacon Cornbread Stuffing
Cook bacon pieces with aromatics like onion, celery and sage. Toss with cornbread cubes and broth, then bake as Thanksgiving stuffing. Or bake in muffin tins for single-serve portions.
6. Cheesy Bacon Omelets
Jazz up morning omelets by sautéing diced bacon ends, onion, bell pepper and cheddar for a hearty bacon veggie scramble filling.
7. Smoky Potato Salad
Elevate your next picnic potato salad by browning bacon pieces then tossing while still warm with diced potatoes, onion, dill and dressing. The smoky bacon flavor beautifully permeates the spuds.
8. Bacon Mac and Cheese
Transform boring boxed mac and cheese into gourmet comfort food by mixing crisp cooked bacon bits into the finished elbow pasta and cheesy sauce.
9. BLT Pasta Salad
Toss boiled small pasta with bacon bits, diced tomato, shredded lettuce, green onion and a tangy ranch dressing for a pasta salad take on a BLT sandwich.
10. Bacon Hash Browns
Fry grated potatoes and onion into crisp hash browns in leftover bacon grease. Top with warm, crumbled bacon ends for breakfast perfection.
11. Bacon-Stuffed Burgers
Ground beef patties become gourmet when stuffed with a filling of chopped bacon ends, onion and cheese before grilling. The molten center takes these burgers over the top.
12. Maple Bacon Biscuits
Knead raw bacon ends into buttermilk biscuit dough before baking into breakfast biscuits with a hint of maple sweetness.
13. Bacon Aoli Dipping Sauce
For an impressive snack or appetizer dip, blend mayonnaise, garlic, lemon and cooked bacon pieces. Ideal for fries, tenders, veggies and more.
14. Bacon Candy Bar Cookies
Mix chopped candied bacon into cookie batter along with chocolate chips. Bake into sweet, salty, smoky bacon chocolate chip cookie candy bars.
15. Bacon Fried Rice
Toss leftover rice with rendered bacon fat, soy sauce, peas, egg and scallions for Asian fried rice topped with extra bacon crumbles.
Tips for Cooking Bacon Bits
Follow these tips for achieving maximum flavor when cooking with bacon ends:
- Cook over medium-low heat to render fat slowly without burning.
- Stir and turn bacon pieces frequently for even crisping.
- Fry in smaller batches to prevent sticking.
- Drain on paper towels to remove excess grease after cooking.
- For oven baking, spread on a foil-lined pan and bake 15-25 minutes at 375°F, stirring halfway.
Buying and Storing Bacon Ends
For the best value on fresh, quality bacon ends, check butcher shops, warehouse stores or local restaurants versus pricy grocery butcher cases. Inspect irregular pieces closely before purchasing.
To extend shelf life after opening, transfer unused bacon ends to a sealed freezer bag. Refrigerate 5-7 days or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw frozen portions overnight before using.
More Bang for Your Buck
Bacon ends provide all the savory smoky flavor you love while being easier on your wallet than buying traditional packs of perfect slices. Once creatively incorporated into recipes, their irregular shapes impart rustic flair.
With smart usage, humble bacon scraps transform from cast-off bits into craveable culinary MVPs. Sit back and simply savor the savings with every tasty, bacon-loaded bite!
Dress up your keto salads with these keto salad dressings!
If you want to buy tasty salad dressing, many of them are full of carbs, extra sugar, or ingredients we can’t pronounce. Still, we looked into it some and came up with a few keto salad dressing ideas that will make your salads, vegetables, meats, and other foods taste better!
If you’re wondering what salad dressing is keto, we have several recommendations for you. A lot of my coworkers told me about their favorite low-carb salad dressings, so we made a list for you to use the next time you’re in the store!
Classic and creamy, this Green Goddess Dressing is flavored with organic herbs and spices like tarragon, black pepper, garlic cloves, chives, and parsley. It’s perfectly designed for drizzling over grilled chicken or shrimp, fresh veggies, and greens. Of the keto-friendly salad dressings on the list, this one is my coworker Rachel’s top pick!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. 12g of fat, 1g of carbs, 0g of sugar, 0g of fiber, 0g of protein, and 1g of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Some of the things that go into making this sauce are water, organic apple cider vinegar, organic Dijon mustard (which is made from organic apple cider vinegar, water, organic mustard seed, sea salt, and organic spices), organic coconut amino acids (which are made from organic coconut sap and sea salt), organic distilled vinegar, organic eggs, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic black pepper, organic garlic, organic chives, tarragon, parsley, rosemary extract, and organic rosemary.
Is ranch dressing keto-friendly? It can be! This low-carb ranch dressing is the holy grail of dressings! Made with 100% pure avocado oil, it contains only the finest primal ingredients. There is absolutely no dairy, buttermilk, gluten, soy, canola, or refined sugar in sight! Enjoy it on your salads, as a dip with fresh veggies, or on grilled meats. The recipe recently changed to be a bit thicker, but it’s still one of the top keto salad dressings in our book!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. ): 110 calories, 12 grams of fat, 2 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of protein, and 2 grams of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Water, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Egg Yolk, Potato Starch, Organic Distilled Vinegar, Sea Salt, Mushroom Extract, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Garlic Powder, Nutritional Yeast (Inactive Dried Yeast, Riboflavin [Vitamin B2]), Salt, Organic Dried Parsley, Organic Dried Chives, Organic Dried Dill, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Rosemary Extract
This fresh, tangy Lemon Garlic Dressing and Marinade turns fresh greens and lettuce into lush, mouthwatering salads. It also pairs well with fresh vegetables or on meats, like chicken and fish. The simple and clean ingredients make this low-carb salad dressing a winner!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. (100 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbs, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of protein, and 1 gram of net carbs)
Ingredients:
Avocado Oil, Filtered Water, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Xanthan Gum, Celery Seed Extract, Turmeric.
This Garlic Gold Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette is a delicious keto-friendly salad dressing for any vinaigrette and garlic lover. Plus, it’s a great choice for people who have trouble tolerating vinegar as it is vinegar-free! This zippy dressing tastes delish on seafood salads or makes a great marinade for fish, chicken, and veggies.
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. 11g of fat, 2g of carbs, 1g of sugar, 0g of fiber, 0g of protein, and 2g of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Organic Meyer Lemon Juice, Organic Garlic Gold Nuggets (garlic), Sea Salt, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Spice Blend, and Organic Italian Seasoning Blend are all things that are used to make Organic Garlic Gold Oil.
If you thought you couldn’t enjoy a summery fruit dressing on a keto diet, think again! Hip2Keto’s Rachel is a huge fan of Skinny Girl dressings and they make a delicious Raspberry Vinaigrette that’s sugar-free and low carb!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. (5.0 calories, 0.0 g fat, 1.0 g carbs, 0.0 g sugar, 0.0 g fiber, 0.0 g protein, and 1.0 g net carbs)
Ingredients:
Fruit juice concentrates (apple, pear, lemon, grape, raspberry, elderberry), distilled vinegar, dried red bell pepper, citric acid, dried onion, xanthan gum, dried garlic, fruit juice (for color), natural flavor, potassium sorbate and calcium disodium EDTA, and sucralose are some of the things that are in cider vinegar.
*Note that due to the sucralose in this dressing, this condiment is considered dirty keto.
This keto-friendly Caesar is made with 100% avocado oil and contains an ample supply of real food ingredients. Dive into the classic Caesar taste you know and love, while enjoying organic herb and spice ingredients like roasted garlic, black pepper, coconut aminos, and nutritional yeast.
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. 12g of fat, 2g of carbs, 0g of sugar, 0g of fiber, 0g of protein, and 2g of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Some of the things that go into this recipe are water, organic apple cider vinegar, egg yolk, potato starch, organic distilled vinegar, garlic puree, mushroom extract, sea salt, organic black pepper, nutritional yeast (inactive dried yeast, riboflavin [vitamin B2]), organic lemon juice concentrate, organic garlic powder, tamarind seed gum, salt, and organic rosemary extract.
Filled with a light and fresh, citrusy flavor, this Italian Vinaigrette & Marinade is one of the keto salad dressings you don’t want to miss. It makes an ideal marinade for meat and fish and is also perfect for pairing with fresh veggies and salads. Yum!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. 110 calories, 12 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbs, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of protein, and 1 gram of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Organic Onion Powder, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Dried Basil, Organic Dried Oregano, Organic Dried Konjac Root, Organic Dried Crushed Red Chile Pepper, and Organic Dried Thyme. There is also organic lemon juice concentrate and organic red wine vinegar.
This zesty sauce and salad dressing is similar to a chimichurri sauce but with a ton more flavor and much healthier. There is no water added, so each drop is packed with flavor! It’s perfect for dressing salads, cooking amazing meals, or simply adding on top of your favorite low-carb foods. At only 1 net carb per serving, it’s the perfect keto-friendly salad dressing!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. 10 calories, 1 gram of fat, 1 gram of carbs, 0 gram of sugar, 0 gram of fiber, 0 gram of protein, and 1 gram of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Apple Cider Vinegar, Cilantro, Olive Oil, Onion, Red Bell Pepper, Garlic, Sea Salt, Spices, Mustard, and Turmeric.
If you’re a sucker for Poppyseed dressing, we have good news! Skinny Girl dressings, a favorite brand of Hip2Keto’s Rachel, makes a sugar-free and low carb Poppyseed salad dressing that is sure to hit the spot!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of protein, and 2 grams of net carbs.
Ingredients:
Salt, Poppy Seeds, Cellulose Gel, Dried Onion, Mustard Flour, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, and Calcium Disodium EDTA. Plus cider vinegar and lemon juice concentrate.
*Note that due to the maltodextrin in this dressing, this condiment is considered dirty keto.
Hip2Save’s Amber likes to get creative with her salads! She uses G. Hughes Sugar-Free Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce as a low carb salad dressing. She says the consistency is thin, but the flavor is full!
Many Hip2Keto team members love the line of keto-friendly G. Hughes Sugar-Free Dipping Sauces and Dressings. If dipping sauce isn’t your style, the brand also makes a low carb Honey Dijon Dressing that is worth checking out!
- Nutrition (Serving Size 2 Tbsp. (20 calories, 0 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbs, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of protein, and 1 gram of net carbs)
Ingredients:
Brown mustard is made from strained vinegar, mustard seeds, salt, spices, and turmeric. It also contains canola oil, modified corn starch, vinegar, yellow mustard made from strained vinegar, mustard seeds, salt, turmeric, and spices. It also contains enzyme-modified egg yolks, spices, xanthan gum, natural flavor, and sucralose.
*Note that due to the sucralose in this dressing, this condiment is considered dirty keto.
It’s not a store-bought keto salad dressing that makes one of the best ways to top a salad. Simply mash and mix an avocado into your greens. Not only does it provide a source of moisture and healthy fat, but it tastes absolutely delicious!.
- 109 calories, 10 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs, less than 1 gram of sugar, 5 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein, and 1 gram of net carbs for a half avocado.
Lemons have a lot of vitamin C and make a great keto salad dressing. Just squeeze the fresh lemon juice over your greens and toss! If you’re making a salad with parmesan cheese, you should definitely try lemon. The two flavors together are perfection!.
- 3 calories, 0 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbs, <1 gram of sugar, <1 gram of fiber, <1 gram of protein, and 1 gram of net carbs per tablespoon.