Million-Dollar Bacon

How can you make the world’s favorite breakfast food even better? With this recipe for Million-Dollar Bacon.

Bacon. It’s worth a million dollars! Made from salt-cured and smoked pork belly, bacon has become the most popular breakfast meat in the Western world, and the smell of it cooking is rumored to be the biggest impediment to new vegetarians sticking with their choice. Indeed, cooking bacon in proximity to the extractor fans is a common restaurant trick to increase customer traffic.

Here, we have a recipe for million-dollar bacon that takes this cured meat to the next level. You get some sweetness from the brown sugar that perfectly complements the saltiness of the bacon. Then, the earthy notes of black pepper and smoked paprika jump in to make the smoky flavors of the bacon shine even more. Finally, I add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat; it’s a subtle little addition that really adds to the dish.

For special occasions or as a treat, I’ve yet to find a better bacon recipe than this one. Try it at your next brunch get-together, but just be sure to make plenty because I guarantee it’ll disappear fast!

Is Million-Dollar Bacon Healthy?

This recipe is high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat, so consider this as something that falls squarely in the “enjoy in moderation” category. But life would be boring without the occasional indulgence, so save it for a special day and dig in!

Get The Good Stuff For Million-Dollar Bacon

Bacon is traditionally made from pork belly or side, but there are versions that include the loin or use the shoulder or even the cheek. It’s either cured in a brine or smoked, and sometimes both. Cheaper bacon is often injected with water during the brining process, which is why you’ll see it shrink so much as it cooks—artisanal bacon generally won’t do that.

There is quite a range in quality, and I generally prefer to splurge on thick-cut smoked bacon from a butcher over the grocery store varieties, but any kind of bacon will work for million-dollar bacon. If you only eat bacon occasionally, I say go ahead and treat yourself to the best bacon you can find!

Serving Suggestions

This bacon will be the star of your brunch, and I like to serve it with Scrambled Eggs. The soft eggs perfectly complement the crisp bacon, and the chives bring some high notes to the deep, sweet, smoky flavors.

I also love to add some Breakfast Sausage and perhaps a Spinach Quiche if I’m having friends over for brunch. Don’t forget the mimosas!

Recipe