Special thanks to our Barbecues Galore Edmonton team for providing the bones of this article.
If you ask a Canadian to list their favourite foods, bacon is almost guaranteed to make the cut. We might be famous for snow and hockey, but nothing beats the smoky aroma of bacon sizzling on the grill. From classic breakfast plates to epic BBQ sides, bacon brings a burst of savoury flavour to just about everything.
At Barbecues Galore, we know bacon isn’t just for breakfast. It’s the secret weapon in salads, burgers, even Mac and Cheese. Bacon is versatile, crowd-pleasing, and, with the right tools and tricks, incredibly easy to master. Today, we’re showing you how to level up your bacon game, whether you want to make your own from scratch or just take your store-bought bacon to new heights. Plus, you’ll find recipe inspiration and handy product links to make your next BBQ unforgettable.
How to Make Bacon From Scratch
Once you’ve tried homemade bacon, it’s hard to go back to the store-bought kind. Making your own bacon gives you complete creative freedom. You can play with the flavour, the thickness of the cut, and even the curing ingredients until you land on the bacon that is just right for you. Whether you love sweet maple, bold pepper, or a savoury classic, the options are endless and completely customizable to your taste buds.
The process might sound intimidating at first, but it’s actually more approachable than you’d expect. While making bacon does take some time, every step is a chance to add your own twist. The more care you put in, the better it tastes in the end. Here’s how to make delicious homemade bacon, one step at a time. Ready to try it for yourself? Just follow these five simple steps.
Step 1: Prepare the Pork Belly
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Making delicious bacon at home starts with choosing a high-quality pork belly and giving it a little TLC. Begin by removing the skin, also known as the rind, which you’ll find on the underside of the pork. The rind is much tougher than the rest of the pork belly, and if you leave it on, it stops the smoky flavour from soaking in as you cook.
You can use a sharp chef’s knife to carefully cut away the rind yourself, or ask your local butcher to handle it for you. If you pick up your pork belly from a butcher, ask them to remove the skin so you can get two steps done at once and save yourself a little time.
No matter how you prep the pork, be sure to save the skin. Toss it on your grill over direct heat, or deep fry it to make crunchy bacon bits. These add a perfect salty crunch to pulled pork, green beans, or just about any dish that needs a little extra flavour and texture.
Step 2: Cure Your Meat
The curing process, also called brining, helps preserve your bacon and infuses every slice with delicious flavour. To make a basic cure, combine salt, sugar, and black pepper. You can also add curing salt if you want to take it to the next level. For a Canadian twist, try maple sugar, or if you like some heat, add hot pepper flakes or your favourite spices.
If you want inspiration or a step-by-step cure recipe, check out Jess Pryles’ simple bacon cure. For something a bit different, try this berry-filled bacon cure from The New York Times.
Next, set your pork belly down on a rimmed baking sheet and rub your cure mixture all over both sides. Make sure every part is coated well. Then place the seasoned pork belly in either a large resealable bag or a roasting pan and store it in your refrigerator for five days. Be sure to turn the slab over each day so every side gets evenly cured.
If you need any specialty rubs or seasonings, or you want to browse our food prep tools, we have plenty of options to make your bacon project easy and fun.
3. Rinse and Dry the Pork Belly
After you’ve cured the pork belly, place it in a colander and rinse it well with cold water to wash away any excess salt. Next, blot it dry with paper towels. Lay the pork belly on a baking sheet or wire rack and leave it uncovered in your fridge for four hours or up to overnight. Be sure to turn it over a couple of times during the process so every side gets a chance to dry out evenly. This step helps the pork belly develop a pellicle, which is a dry, slightly tacky surface that lets smoke cling to the meat while cooking for that perfect bacon flavour.
4. Smoke the Bacon
Traeger Tailgater, available at Barbecues Galore
Now your pork belly is ready for the grill. Preheat your smoker or Traeger Tailgater grill to 200°F and get your cooking fuel set up. You can use just about any wood, but hickory and apple are especially popular choices for homemade bacon because of their classic, rich flavour.
Place your pork belly on the grill and let it smoke for about two and a half hours, or until the internal temperature reaches between 150 and 155°F. This slow smoking process is what gives bacon its irresistible aroma and signature taste.
If you need wood pellets or want to try different smoking options, explore our full selection of smoking pellets and BBQ accessories to help you get the most out of your bacon project.
5. Chill & Slice
After smoking the pork belly, let it cool completely on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Once it has cooled, wrap the bacon tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for four hours or, if you can wait, overnight. This helps the bacon firm up and makes it much easier to slice.
When you’re ready to dive in, grab your sharpest kitchen knife and slice your bacon as thin or thick as you like. One of the best parts about making your own bacon is that you’re in control of every detail, including the perfect thickness for your next fry-up.
From here, you can fry, grill, or even smoke your bacon strips however you prefer. Enjoy the reward of your homemade masterpiece.
Smoking Bacon to Perfection
Photo courtesy of Kitchen Divas
Bacon is beautiful in all its forms, but smoked bacon brings out a flavour you just can’t achieve any other way. Whether you’re using store-bought bacon or homemade, this method is a must-try for any true bacon lover.
To get started, all you need is your favourite bacon, a smoker, and some wood pellets. Preheat your smoker to 300°F and coat the grates with a non-stick spray so you won’t lose any crispy bacon pieces to sticking.
Once your smoker is ready, lay the bacon strips directly onto the grill grates. Let them smoke for about 25 to 30 minutes. The cooking time will depend on how thick your bacon slices are, so keep an eye out and cook to your preferred crispiness.
Unique Bacon Recipes for Your Next BBQ
Now that you know how to grill bacon to perfection, the last step to mastering the art of bacon is knowing how to incorporate it into your meals. Of course bacon is delicious on its own, or as an accompaniment to pancakes and eggs, but there are many creative ways that bacon can be used to enhance your favourite dishes.
Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Photo courtesy of AllRecipes
They say that bacon makes everything better, even when we’re talking about something as delicious as pork tenderloin.
This easy-to-prepare recipe by AllRecipes involves brushing a homemade barbecue sauce on pork tenderloin before wrapping it with bacon, and then grilling it for just under half an hour. This strategy allows the BBQ spices to saturate the pork as it cooks, resulting in a flavourful dish with a unique texture.
Beer-Candied Bacon
Photo courtesy of Grilled
If you want to show off your grilling skills at the next family brunch, this recipe for beer-candied bacon strips by Grilled will surely do the trick. By brushing bacon with brown sugar and brown ale beer before cooking, as well as midway through grilling, you not only get a richer flavour out of your bacon, but an irresistible crunch too.
Bacon and Bourbon Salmon Bites
Photo courtesy of AllRecipes
These scrumptious salmon bites from AllRecipes are the perfect bite-sized appetizer for your next dinner party. The recipe involves marinating salmon in a simple mixture of bourbon, brown sugar, and scallions before wrapping the pieces in half-strips of bacon and pinning them into place with toothpicks. From there, all you have to do is grill the bites over medium heat for five minutes.
Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Photo courtesy of Pinch and Swirl
If you want to make your next veggie side dish a little more savoury, this bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe by Pinch and Swirl can help you out. Simply toss asparagus spears with olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. Next, wrap bundles of 4-5 spears with half slices of bacon, and grill over direct heat for 5-8 minutes per side, or until bacon is thoroughly cooked.
Ready to level up your bacon and BBQ game? Visit Barbecues Galore to find everything you need for your next grilling adventure, from smokers and tools to top-quality sauces and rubs.
Hungry for more recipes, tips, and exclusive events and promotional offers? Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best of Barbecues Galore delivered straight to your inbox. For daily BBQ inspiration, follow us on Instagram and show off your creations by tagging us.
Fire up the grill and enjoy every delicious moment. Happy cooking!
