Bacon ends and pieces are the irregularly shaped leftover bits trimmed from whole pork belly slabs when cutting bacon slices and strips. Rather than going to waste, these little smoky, salty flavor bombs get bagged up and sold at a fraction of the price of regular packs of bacon.
While not the prettiest pieces of pork, bacon ends and pieces offer the same mouthwatering taste and versatility in cooking. Their only downside lies in figuring out what to make with those delicious odd-shaped bits!
This article will explore 13 creative ways to transform bacon ends and pieces into culinary masterpieces. From soups and salads to main dishes and desserts, these tasty morsels can elevate almost any recipe. Let’s dive in to cooking ideas for bacon ends and pieces!
Savory Dishes and Appetizers
Bacon ends pack plenty of rich, smoky flavor perfect for balancing out heavier dishes. Here are some savory recipe ideas:
Potato Soup
Cook crumbled bacon pieces in a soup pot until crispy. Add diced potatoes chicken broth cream and seasonings. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Blend to desired consistency. Garnish bowls with extra bacon bits, cheese and chives.
Bacon Jam
Saute bacon pieces, shallots, garlic and spices until caramelized. Add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar and cook to a jam-like consistency. Spread on crackers, sandwiches, bruschetta or cheese boards.
Chicken & Bacon Ranch Pasta
Toss cooked pasta with sauteed bacon crumbles, shredded chicken, ranch dressing, tomatoes, spinach and shredded cheddar cheese.
Bacon & Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Mix crumbled bacon and blue cheese. Stuff into mushroom caps and bake until hot and melty.
Candied Bacon Bits
Toss cooked and drained bacon pieces with brown sugar, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Bake until caramelized for candied bacon to top dishes.
Bacon Deviled Eggs
Mix egg yolks with mayo, Dijon, salt and pepper. Stuff back into whites and top with bacon pieces.
Breakfasts & Brunch
From omelets to pancakes, bacon crumbles enhance all your morning favorites:
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sandwiches
Split baked biscuits, fill with fried eggs, cheddar cheese and several bacon pieces You can even bake egg and bacon inside biscuit dough!
Bacon & Egg Breakfast Bowls
Saute bacon bits in a skillet. Add veggies like peppers, mushrooms and onions, then crack eggs right into the skillet. Season and serve eggs over rice in a bowl, topped with extra bacon.
Bacon, Tomato & Avocado Toast
Toast thick sliced bread spread with mayo. Top with bacon pieces, sliced tomato and avocado.
Bacon & Cheddar Scones
Mix shredded cheddar and crumbled bacon into scone dough with herbs. Shape, bake and top warm scones with more bacon.
Bacon Baked French Toast
Dip bread slices into an egg mixture with cream, cinnamon and vanilla. Fry in butter until golden, then top with maple syrup and extra bacon pieces.
Bacon Pancakes or Waffles
Mix crumbled bacon into your favorite pancake or waffle batter before cooking on a griddle or iron. Top with even more bacon!
Salads & Bowls
The smoky crunch of bacon complements the fresh flavors of salads and grain bowls wonderfully:
BLT Salad
Toss mixed greens, cherry tomatoes and croutons with a tangy dressing. Top with bacon pieces and more dressing.
Bacon Broccoli Salad
Combine bite-sized broccoli florets, raisins, sunflower seeds, crumbled bacon and red onion with a sweet dressing. Toss with shredded cheddar for extra flavor.
Kale & Quinoa Salad
Massage kale with lemon juice to soften, then combine with cooked quinoa, bacon crumbles, diced chicken and your desired dressing.
Bacon & Brussels Sprouts Bowl
Saute shaved Brussels sprouts and bacon pieces until browned. Serve over brown rice or quinoa with a fried egg on top.
Cobb Salad
Layer bacon bits, hard boiled egg, avocado, tomato and chicken over mixed greens. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Soups & Stews
Bacon adds a smoky depth and savory flavor punch to hearty one-pot meals:
Bacon Corn Chowder
Saute bacon pieces, onion, garlic, and potatoes. Add chicken broth, corn, cream and thyme. Simmer until thick and creamy.
Bacon & Lentil Stew
Cook bacon bits, carrots, celery and onion. Add lentils, stock and tomatoes. Simmer until lentils are tender and serve.
Split Pea Soup with Bacon
Saute bacon with carrot, onion and garlic. Add peas, stock, milk, thyme and simmer. Blend half the soup until smooth and creamy.
Cheesy Bacon & Potato Soup
Cook bacon bits, onions, garlic and potatoes in broth seasoned with bay leaves. Blend in cream cheese before serving.
Sweet Treats
The sweet and salty contrast of candied bacon makes it perfect for desserts:
Salted Caramel Bacon Brownies
Top fudgy brownies with drizzled caramel, chocolate chips and candied bacon bits.
Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mix candied bacon crumbles into cookie dough with chocolate chips before baking.
Bacon Peanut Brittle
Cook bacon bits until super crispy. Let cool, then mix into peanut brittle with peanuts before pouring onto a baking sheet.
Bacon Baklava
Layer phyllo dough with chopped nuts, brown sugar and bacon bits. Pour spiced syrup over the top after baking.
As you can see, bacon ends and pieces add incredible flavor to all types of recipes, both savory and sweet. Let your creativity run wild! The possibilities are endless for cooking with these delicious bacon bits.
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.
Bacon Ends & Pieces – What is it? answer= GOOD & CHEAP
FAQ
What are bacon ends and pieces used for?
What is end cut bacon?
What are sliced bacon ends?
What to do with bacon ends?
1. Bacon Bits: One of the easiest ways to use up bacon ends is to turn them into crispy bacon bits. Simply mince and cook them slowly until they are very crisp. Save the fat for cooking and sprinkle the crispy bits on salads, veggies, potatoes, or even popcorn. 2. Breakfast Burritos: Bacon ends make a great addition to breakfast burritos.
What can you do with bacon?
Simply chop the bacon into small pieces and cook them in a pan until crispy. Use them to top salads, soups, baked potatoes, or even as a garnish for cocktails. 2. Bacon Wrapped Appetizers: Bacon ends and pieces are perfect for wrapping around bite-sized appetizers like dates, jalapeño poppers, or shrimp.
Can you use bacon ends in a sandwich?
Bacon ends can be used in sandwiches as a flavorful substitute for regular bacon. Simply cook the bacon ends in a skillet until crispy, then use them in your favorite sandwich recipe. Bacon ends are quite fatty, which makes them perfect for rendering. To render the fat, cook the bacon ends in a skillet over low heat until the fat has liquefied.
Can you use bacon ends in soup?
Here are some tips for using bacon ends in your favorite soup or stew recipe: 1. Potato Soup: Bacon adds a delicious flavor to creamy potato soup. Simply cook the bacon ends until crispy, remove from the pot, and use the rendered fat to sauté onions, carrots, and celery.