The Best Places to Find and Buy Authentic Turkey Canadian Bacon

As a breakfast lover, I’m always on the hunt for top-notch turkey Canadian bacon to enjoy in my morning egg sandwiches and breakfast tacos. While regular Canadian bacon comes from the pork loin, turkey Canadian bacon offers a leaner, more protein-packed alternative with a similar smoky, salty, ham-like taste. But finding high-quality, authentic turkey Canadian bacon that isn’t full of fillers can be a challenge. Through plenty of trial and error, I’ve discovered the absolute best places to buy genuine, delicious turkey Canadian bacon.

What Exactly is Turkey Canadian Bacon?

Traditional Canadian bacon is made from pork loin that has been cured, smoked and sliced into rounds. Turkey Canadian bacon follows the same process, but uses boneless, skinless turkey thighs instead of pork

Like regular Canadian bacon, the turkey meat is wet-cured, smoked over hardwoods and sliced thick. When done right, turkey Canadian bacon offers a smokehouse flavor reminiscent of ham, but with a nice leanness. The meat should be tender and juicy with a rich taste that isn’t overpowered by sodium, nitrates or other preservatives.

Where to Find Authentic, Quality Turkey Canadian Bacon

I’ve found that not all turkey Canadian bacon is created equal Here are my go-to sources for genuine, premium turkey Canadian bacon

1. Godshall’s Uncured Canadian Turkey Bacon

My absolute favorite brand by far is Godshall’s Uncured Canadian Turkey Bacon. Godshall’s checks all the boxes for authenticity and quality.

Their turkey Canadian bacon contains just three ingredients – turkey thighs, sea salt and vinegar. It’s uncured with no nitrates or nitrites added. Godshall’s relies only on high quality turkey, real sea salt and wood smoke to achieve the signature flavor.

The meat has a nice leanness while still retaining moisture. The smoky, salty taste strikes the perfect balance without overpowering the natural turkey flavor. If I had to choose just one turkey Canadian bacon to eat for the rest of my life, this would be it!

2. Naked Bacon by Applegate

Applegate’s Naked Bacon is another favorite of mine. It contains turkey thighs cured with celery juice powder rather than sodium nitrite.

I really like that the only ingredients are turkey, water, sea salt, celery juice powder and vinegar. Applegate nailed the texture – their turkey Canadian bacon is deliciously juicy and tender. The wood smoke flavor is robust but well-balanced.

3. Wellshire Farms Smoked Uncured Turkey Canadian Bacon

Wellshire Farms offers an all-natural uncured turkey Canadian bacon smoked over fruitwood.

It has a relatively short ingredients list and the turkey flavor really shines through. The meat has a pleasant texture and isn’t overly salty. I’d say the smoke flavor is on the milder side with Wellshire Farms but overall an excellent product.

4. Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Turkey Bacon

Nueske’s uses only turkey thighs, water and sea salt to make their Canadian bacon which allows the natural turkey flavor to shine.

It’s smoked over a blend of hardwoods including applewood. I find Nueske’s turkey Canadian bacon to be on the leaner side but the tender meat has a pleasant, delicate smokiness.

5. Double R Ranch Uncured Turkey Canadian Bacon

At farmer’s markets around the Northwest, I’ve found Double R Ranch offers a high quality uncured turkey Canadian bacon.

It contains turkey thigh meat hardwood smoked with applewood for 10 hours. There’s a nice balance of smoky flavor without going overboard on the saltiness. Double R Ranch’s turkey bacon has always proved reliably juicy and delicious.

6. Local Butcher Shops or Delis

Don’t underestimate your local meat market or butcher shop as a source of quality turkey Canadian bacon! Many artisan butcher shops now offer their own house-made, cured turkey Canadian bacon.

I like to ask about their brining process and if any nitrates/nitrites are used when curing. Going local can yield some real gems like the shop near me that uses maple syrup in their brine.

The deli counter at your supermarket may even slice turkey Canadian bacon fresh. Ask to sample a piece to ensure top-notch texture and flavor.

How to Cook Turkey Canadian Bacon Correctly

WhileCanadian bacon may seem hard to mess up, proper cooking is key to getting the right texture and taste. Here are my tips:

• Pan fry over medium-low heat – This gives you crispy edges without overcooking the interior.

• Bake at 375°F – Great way to cook it evenly without any sticking. Just watch closely to avoid drying out.

• Grill over indirect heat – Creates nice char while keeping the interior juicy.

• Microwave 30 sec to 1 min – For a quick breakfast sandwich, cover with a paper towel first.

Always cook turkey bacon just until warmed through and slightly crisp on the edges. Overcooking leads to dry, rubbery meat.

Is Turkey Canadian Bacon Worth It?

In my experience, high-quality turkey Canadian bacon is well worth seeking out if you love traditional Canadian bacon flavor but want to avoid excess pork.

It offers the same smoky, salty, ham-like taste but with more protein, fewer calories and less fat than pork bacon. The flavor and texture differences between generic brands and top-notch products are also significant in my opinion.

Additionally, you can feel better about buying turkey Canadian bacon without sketchy additives or cure methods. Though the price tag is a bit higher than regular bacon, I think genuine turkey Canadian bacon is absolutely worth it for an occasional breakfast treat!