This baked turkey bacon recipe is incredibly easy to make. Its a simple 2-step process, and the bacon is ready in 15 minutes. Plus, whats even better, it comes out super crispy and packed with mouthwatering meaty flavor. Seriously, after you give this a try, youll never want to make turkey bacon any other way!.
Turkey bacon has come a long way in recent years. What was once a bland, rubbery alternative to pork bacon has evolved into a tasty breakfast staple in its own right. While turkey bacon will never truly replicate the taste and texture of smoked pork belly, there are tricks you can use to maximize its flavor and make it taste more like the real deal.
After testing numerous techniques I’ve landed on 8 simple ways to make turkey bacon taste more like regular bacon. Keep reading to learn how brining, seasoning, cooking method and other hacks can seriously upgrade your turkey bacon game.
Brine the Turkey Bacon
Brining is hands down one of the most effective ways to boost flavor and moisture in turkey bacon. While pork bacon is cured in a brine solution during processing, turkey bacon is often sold “raw.” Brining it yourself before cooking infuses seasoning, tenderizes the meat, and prevents drying out.
Dissolve 1/4 cup kosher salt and 1/4 cup brown sugar in 4 cups warm water. Add up to 1 pound turkey bacon and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Rinse, pat dry, and cook as desired. The salt and sugar add seasoning while improving texture.
Coat with Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup
For sweet, candied bacon flavor, coat turkey bacon with a mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup before cooking. Simply brush each strip with equal parts brown sugar and maple syrup. I prefer using dark brown sugar, which has more molasses flavor. The brown sugar caramelizes as the turkey bacon cooks, creating crispy edges encrusted with sweetness.
Smother with Spices and Herbs
While less smoky than pork bacon, turkey bacon can take on lots of flavor from herbs and spices. For a savory boost, rub the turkey bacon evenly with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, and black pepper before cooking. Feel free to experiment with other dried herbs and spices like cayenne, sage, rosemary, and red pepper flakes.
Pan Fry for Crispness
Frying imparts bacon with irresistible crispness and rich, meaty flavor. While you can bake turkey bacon in the oven, pan frying is ideal for replicating the taste and texture of regular bacon. Cook over medium heat on the stovetop until browned and slightly charred on both sides. Just be prepared for some splattering. Draining excess grease from the pan halfway through helps prevent sticking.
Bake Low and Slow
For easy, mess-free cooking with less splatter, baking turkey bacon low and slow is the way to go. Arrange strips on a parchment lined baking sheet in a 375°F oven. After 15 minutes, flip and bake 10 more minutes until evenly browned. The low temp and extended time leads to crispy, evenly cooked turkey bacon without the need to hover over a stove.
Layer on Smoked Cheese
Want to add authentic smoky flavor without using pork? Go for smoked gouda or cheddar cheese! Simply drape turkey bacon strips with sliced smoked cheese before baking. The melted cheese infuses irresistible smokiness into the turkey as it cooks. Provolone, swiss, and mozzarella also pair well.
Make a Bacon Weave
For next level presentation and textural contrast, weave together turkey bacon strips. Cook strips flat in a baking pan, then transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Interlock strips vertically and horizontally to form a woven lattice. Broil 3-5 minutes until crisp. Break into large shards and sprinkle over salads, eggs, and soups for fabulous crunch.
Crumble on Casseroles and Bakes
In place of bacon bits on loaded baked potatoes, green bean casserole, or mac and cheese, use crispy crumbled turkey bacon. Bake strips until super crispy, then crumble into small bits. Turkey bacon bits add salty crunch and bacon flavor without pork. Plus, they hold up better than pre-cooked bacon bits.
Brand Matters
Not all turkey bacon is created equal. Pay attention to ingredient lists and nutrition facts. Opt for low sodium Turkey bacons without excessive chemicals or additives. Our favorites are Applegate’s Sunday Bacon and Wellshire Farms Premium Turkey Bacon. Investing in higher quality makes a noticeable difference in taste and texture.
With a few minor tweaks, it’s easy to make turkey bacon taste much closer to the real thing. Brining, seasoning, smart cooking methods, and mixing up textures and flavors through crumbles, weaves, and melted cheese are simple ways to seriously upgrade basic turkey bacon. What’s your favorite preparation? Let us know in the comments below!
How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Oven
As I mentioned a few times, making turkey bacon in the oven couldnt be easier. This perfect bacon recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare and fifteen minutes to cook on its own.
You can make as much turkey bacon as you want; the recipe only calls for eight slices. So feel free to double or triple the recipe if everyone wants some.
With all that said, lets get into the recipe!
First things first preheat the oven to 400°F (200ºC).
Next, take out a baking sheet and lay a wire rack on top. Also, if you want to keep the baking sheet clean, you can line it with parchment paper.
Now you can put the raw turkey bacon slices on top of the wire rack. Make sure they don’t touch each other. Having the slices lay flat on the wire rack is crucial for getting the crispest bacon. Youre better off cooking it in batches if your wire rack isnt big enough.
Now its time to cook the turkey bacon!
So, to bake it youll want to cook the first side for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you can take the turkey bacon out of the oven, flip it over, and cook for another 5 minutes.
Finally, transfer your cooked turkey bacon slices to a paper towel-lined plate to soak up any excess oil.
By the way, you can save the bacon fat drippings on the baking sheet for future cooking. Its great for frying or roasting vegetables.
Anyway, your turkey bacon can be served by itself or with anything you like now that it has had a chance to let out its extra oil. Enjoy!.
This turkey bacon is crispy and full of flavor. It goes well with eggs for breakfast or a side dish of vegetables.
Here are some of my favorite recipes and ideas for enjoying your turkey bacon:
The Best Turkey Bacon Recipe
Cooking turkey bacon in the oven is the easiest, cleanest, and most delicious way to cook turkey bacon. It makes turkey bacon that is incredibly crispy and has a strong meaty, salty flavor that is always delicious.
There is also no chance of uneven cooking, stickiness, or oil splatters like there is with stove-top bacon. Just easy, perfectly cooked turkey bacon in just 15 minutes!
How good does that sound? Pretty great, right?!
Anyway, this oven baked turkey bacon recipe is the perfect addition to any breakfast or lunch. It goes well with these sausage egg muffins on the side, with eggs and cheese on one of these low-calorie bagels for the best breakfast sandwich ever, or you could crumble it on top of this turkey salad for a healthy lunch.
Honestly, there are so many ways to enjoy this turkey bacon. Tomorrow I’ll talk about a few more, but for now let’s talk about what you’ll need for this recipe!