The sound of bacon cooking on the stove and the wonderful smell of it are just as good of alarm clocks, if not better. Many people feel the same way about turkey bacon. Even the biggest bacon fans will lick their lips with hunger when they see a crispy slice of turkey bacon. Mel Magazine says this hybrid product is a new creation in the world of meat. It was made in the early 1970s to get more meat eaters interested in bacon. However, many people have been drawn to the turkey because it has less fat and calories because it has white meat added to it.
But this doesn’t mean turkey bacon is better for you than regular bacon, since Healthline says it usually has more sodium. Putting health aside, though, turkey bacon has gained a lot of fans since it was first made. As a result, many deli and meat brands have started selling their own versions of turkey bacon. You can put turkey bacon on a sandwich or eat it with a hearty breakfast. Here are ten popular brands of turkey bacon, ranked from worst to best with our rating system.
Turkey bacon has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pork bacon. With numerous brands on the market, it can be tricky to determine which offers the best taste, nutrition, and value. As avid turkey bacon consumers, my team and I decided to conduct an extensive comparison of the top turkey bacon brands available.
After cooking and tasting multiple packages of various brands considering factors like flavor texture, nutrition, ingredients, and price, we’ve composed a detailed guide to help consumers select the ideal turkey bacon product for their preferences and needs.
Our Methodology
To make fair comparisons, we tried to isolate specific variables. We purchased the most standard or original variety of each brand, rather than flavored or specialty options. All were cooked according to package instructions in a cast iron skillet with no added oils. We took note of cooking time, aroma, appearance, texture, flavor, saltiness, and aftertaste.
In addition to our own tasting experience, we analyzed nutrition facts, ingredients lists, sourcing transparency, sustainability commitments, and average prices. Our rankings considered all these elements collectively.
Factors in Evaluating Turkey Bacon Brands
Ingredients and Nutrition
When reviewing nutrition facts and ingredients lists we looked for
- Lower sodium, calories, and fat compared to pork bacon
- Short, simple ingredients lists with no unnecessary additives
- Uncured and nitrate-free options
- Certified organic when possible
Taste and Texture
The most important factors were, of course, taste and texture. Ideal turkey bacon should:
- Have savory, rich flavor
- Crisp up similarly to pork bacon
- Be chewy but not tough
Price and Accessibility
While specialty turkey bacon from small farms may taste great most consumers need an affordable accessible product. We tried to recommend brands carried at major grocery chains for under $6 per pack.
Sourcing and Sustainability
Nowadays, consumers expect transparency about how their food is produced. We favored turkey bacon from brands with clearly stated sourcing standards:
- Humanely raised turkeys with space to move
- Fed vegetarian diets with no animal byproducts
- No antibiotics or added hormones
9 Best Turkey Bacon Brands, Ranked
After cooking and tasting many popular options, we chose our top 9 favorite turkey bacon brands:
1. Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon
Applegate Naturals earned the #1 spot for its exceptionally rich, savory turkey flavor. The texture strikes a perfect balance between pleasantly chewy yet crispy. As an uncured product made from humanely raised turkeys without antibiotics, it meets our standards for clean, sustainable ingredients. While not the most affordable at around $5 per pack, Applegate represents a standout standard for taste and quality.
2. Butterball Original Turkey Bacon
Butterball’s decades of experience with turkey products really come through in its plump, meaty turkey bacon slices. With a hearty turkey taste and nice crispness, Butterball would suit any recipe calling for bacon. At about $4 per pack, this ubiquitous brand earns high marks for flavor and affordability.
3. Jennie-O Oven Roasted Turkey Bacon
For a lower-fat turkey bacon, Jennie-O’s Oven Roasted Turkey Bacon impressed with robust flavor from a natural hardwood smoking process. Each tender slice became crispy-chewy with a bit of char. Around 40 calories per slice makes it one of the lighter options.
4. Boar’s Head London Broil Turkey Bacon
Authentic smoked turkey thigh meat gives Boar’s Head a deliciously smoky, pork-like flavor. The meaty texture withstands high heat cooking. At around 200 mg of sodium per slice, it’s lower in sodium than many competitors. Boar’s Head turkey bacon makes an excellent choice for blts, breakfast sandwiches and more.
5. Hormel Black Label Turkey Bacon
Hormel Black Label Turkey Bacon surprised us with its dark color and pork-reminiscent sizzle. Savory flavor with a hint of maple makes it taste less like turkey than other brands. Thicker than some other turkey bacons, these satisfying slices are great for breakfast or sandwiches.
6. Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon
A classic choice found in most grocery stores, Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon offers dependable flavor and value at around $4 per pack. With a nice balance of chewiness and crunchiness, these satisfy cravings for bacon texture. Oscar Mayer remains a family-friendly staple.
7. Wellshire Farms Uncured Turkey Bacon
Wellshire Farms’ minimally processed turkey bacon contains no antibiotics or preservatives. Subtle sweetness balances the concentrated turkey flavor. The tender meat crisps up easily. Wellshire Farms represents a premium choice for quality ingredients and humane animal treatment.
8. Pederson’s Natural Farms Uncured Turkey Bacon
Pederson’s Natural Farms crafts juicy, old world-style turkey bacon from whole muscle turkey thighs. With a simple curing process using celery powder, the rich flavor comes from the turkey alone. Those seeking uncured bacon will appreciate Pederson’s adherence to clean ingredients.
9. Farmer John Turkey Bacon
This reasonably priced option provides everything desired from a turkey bacon. Farmer John balances sweetness and saltiness with a hint of smokiness. The substantial slices replicate both the taste and texture of pork bacon. For an affordable alternative perfect with eggs or on sandwiches, choose Farmer John.
Honorable Mentions
A few other turkey bacons came close to making our list:
- Trader Joe’s Turkey Bacon – convenient and affordable but needs more flavor
- Perdue Short Cut Turkey Bacon – thin and uniform for even cooking
- Hebrew National 93% Fat Free Turkey Bacon – lower calorie option packs lots of taste
While turkey bacon from mass market brands have improved greatly, smaller producers like Applegate, Pederson’s Natural Farms, and Wellshire Farms still lead for premium quality. Tasters applaud flavorful options from Butterball and Jennie-O as well. For recent converts to turkey bacon, Farmer John proves nearly indistinguishable from pork. Whichever you choose, turkey bacon makes a nutritious, delicious alternative high in protein and low in fat. With this guide ranking the top brands’ flavor, nutrition, ingredients, and value, you can find the perfect turkey bacon for any breakfast or sandwich.
Wellshire Farms, Classic Sliced Turkey Bacon
The next brand on this list is Wellshire Farms, which makes turkey bacon. This is not to be confused with the Hillshire brand, which does make sandwich and deli meats. Wellshire Farms has a long list of bacon products, and even sells chicken-based bacon. On the brands website, you can find their classic organic turkey bacon, as well as a sugar-free option. They say that the turkeys used in their “Classic Sliced Turkey Bacon” are raised in a clean environment using animal-friendly methods and not given antibiotics. The bacon only has eight simple ingredients.
We thought this was Hillshire at first, but Hillshires sliced turkey is much better than Wellshires turkey bacon any day of the week. The meat was incredibly thick, so it didnt cook as easily as other turkey bacon products. Its texture was reminiscent of a jerky, and more chewy than crispy. Also, this turkey bacon doesn’t keep well. Some Amazon reviewers said they opened the package “and cooked three slices out. The next day, all of the bacon was this greenish brown color,” and they had to throw out the rest of it. The meat turned a nice brown color when it was done, but we’re not going to use this turkey bacon again.
Godshall’s Sliced Turkey Bacon
The next turkey bacon entry on this list is Godshalls Uncured Sliced Turkey Bacon. Godshalls is a meat producer that prides itself on offering the public real smoked meats. Since 1945, when the company was established by Marvin K. Godshall, this family-run butcher shop has sold its turkey bacon in stores such as Safeway and Harris Teeter. As of today, the company has almost six hundred employee-owners that produce bacon and other delicious meats. Their turkey bacon is made from chopped and shaped turkey thighs and has no added fat. Each package has about 12 slices.
This turkey bacon was pretty average in comparison to the other options. It is easy to find in some places, but if you don’t live near a grocery store that sells this kind of turkey bacon, you can only get it on Amazon, where you can buy six packs in bulk for almost $60. One of the most expensive prices on this list is $10 for a pack of turkey bacon. This is true even for brands like Oscar Mayer and Applegate, which are much more common in stores. For the price and the hassle of this turkey bacon, its not worth it.