Simple, satisfying, and utterly irresistible, this classic Bacon Sandwich proves that sometimes, less really is more.
My friend Adam is a whip-smart, sharp-tongued foodie who knows his way around the kitchen. As a culturally Jewish guy, food is his favorite topic of conversation. One day, when he was 16, Adam was enthusiastically discussing the best ways to prepare bacon. In the middle of his monologue, an Orthodox Jewish teenager walked up and overheard him extolling the virtues of the forbidden meat. The teen paused, locked eyes with Adam, and asked in a quiet, curious tone, “So, what does bacon actually taste like?” Without missing a beat, Adam replied, “Imagine your favorite food. And now imagine it’s 100 times better.”
Now, picture your favorite food, multiply it by 100, and sandwich it between two slices of bread. That’s a bacon sandwich—the perfect meal in its simplest form. Bacon elevates everything it touches: bacon and eggs define breakfast, and bacon burgers are the ultimate guilty pleasure. My cousin even tops her famous deviled eggs with brown sugar bacon, and in Rio de Janeiro, street vendors tuck pieces of bacon into bags of popcorn. And let’s not forget the Bloody Mary, where bacon has gone from garnish to essential ingredient, bringing a smoky, salty crunch to the iconic cocktail.
Is This Bacon Sandwich Healthy?
Bacon has a high fat content and is not especially nutritious. To lower the fat content, you can use turkey bacon or plant-based bacon instead. Bread varies in caloric content; just remember that whole grains are part of a balanced diet. Best practices? Load the sandwich up with vegetables and don’t eat bacon sandwiches every night of the week. This is a special occasion sandwich!
Bringing Home The Bacon
Bacon is most often taken from the pig’s belly and is then cured and smoked. Five standard styles include slab, regular sliced, thin sliced, thick sliced, and ends and pieces. Bacon can be cooked in a skillet on the stovetop over low to medium heat (watch out for spattering grease!) or laid out over a foil-covered cookie sheet and baked in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. People have been known to get into fairly strong arguments over how crispy bacon should be. Choose your battles.
How to make ahead and store
An opened and re-sealed package of uncooked bacon will last up to a week in the fridge. Cooked bacon will last 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also store cooked bacon in the freezer for 1 month.
Serving Suggestions
A bacon sandwich is the perfect blank canvas to create the dish of your dreams. For starters, you could paint the inside of your bread with Guacamole, Harissa Aioli, Lemon Aioli, or Hummus. For me, bacon sandwiches conjure up warm summer nights and perfect picnics. Add Potato Salad, Jalapeño Coleslaw, or French Fries to bring the flavor overload to optimum deliciousness. Or, for some healthy sides, check out Watermelon Feta Salad, Kale Chickpea Salad, and Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
Ingredients
- 3 slices of bacon
- 2 slices of white or whole wheat bread
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- Lettuce leaves optional
- Tomato slices optional
- 1 slice cheese optional
Instructions
- Place the bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy, about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.
- Toast the bread slices to your preferred crispness.
- Spread mayonnaise on one side of each bread slice, then layer the cooked bacon, along with the lettuce, tomato, and cheese slices, if using.
- Close the sandwich with the other slice of bread. Cut in half if desired and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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