Sizzling Ways to Serve Up Bacon

If there’s one food that can instantly steal the show, it’s bacon. So it’s only fitting that it has its very own holiday—International Bacon Day (Aug. 30 this year!). At The At Home Chef, we believe every celebration deserves a touch of smoky, savory goodness, so here are some fun ways to incorporate bacon into your next dish, plus a few pro tips to make sure it’s served up right.

Make it a Showstopper

One of our most requested party tricks is a rack of bacon strips, clipped and hanging in a row, finished tableside with a blowtorch. The crackle, the aroma, the crowd’s reaction—it’s all part of the fun. It’s proof that bacon can be an experience, not just an ingredient.

Creative Ways to Use Bacon

• Bacon-Wrapped Dates or Jalapeños: The sweet-salty-spicy trifecta. Perfect finger food for cocktail hour.

• Maple-Bacon Brussels Sprouts: Roast sprouts, toss with crispy bacon, drizzle with maple syrup. Even veggie skeptics will be hooked.

• Bacon Jam: Spread on crostini, pair with cheese boards, or slather on a burger. Smoky, sweet, and unforgettable.

• Bacon-Wrapped Filet: Because steak + bacon = perfection. Enough said.

• Bacon in Desserts: Think chocolate-dipped bacon or bacon crumbles on vanilla ice cream. Salty meets sweet is always a win.

How to Buy the Best Bacon

• Look for balance: You want a good ratio of meat to fat—too fatty and it shrinks, too lean and you lose the flavor.

• Choose thick-cut: It holds up better for wrapping, torching, and plating.

• Try different cures: Hickory, applewood, maple—each brings its own character

Serving It Up Right

• Cook bacon in the oven for even crispiness without the mess.

• Let it rest on a wire rack to keep it from getting soggy.

• For extra flavor, brush strips with maple syrup or chili glaze before finishing.

Bacon is versatile, dramatic, and always delicious—which is why it’s one of our favorite ingredients to play with at dinner parties. Because at the end of the day, food isn’t just about flavor—it’s about creating moments to share, memories to savor, and always finding ways to enjoy life.