Mastering the Art of Cooking Bacon Medallions

Bacon medallions are a delicious and versatile way to enjoy bacon These little rounds of bacon-wrapped meat pack a ton of flavor However, cooking bacon medallions takes a bit more care than frying up regular bacon strips. Undercook them and they’ll be tough and chewy. Overcook them and your bacon gets burnt to a crisp.

Luckily, cooking bacon medallions like a pro is easy with the right techniques In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know to make perfectly cooked bacon medallions every time.

What Exactly Are Bacon Medallions?

Bacon medallions start with pork tenderloin or other lean cuts of meat. The meat is cut crosswise into coin-shaped slices or medallions. Each medallion is then wrapped in a slice of bacon and secured with a toothpick. This adds delicious smoky pork flavor while keeping the lean meat tender and juicy.

Bacon medallions make an easy and impressive entrée. You can also chop them up to add to salads, pasta, pizza, sandwiches and more. They’re great for meal prepping too. Just reheat individual bacon medallions quickly for dinner throughout the week.

Key Tips for Cooking Bacon Medallions

Cooking bacon medallions takes a little more finesse than frying bacon alone. Here are some key techniques to master:

• Start with thick, high-quality bacon. Thinner bacon won’t hold up as well when wrapped around the meat. Go for bacon slices at least 1/8-inch thick.

• Precook the bacon. Partially cooking the bacon first helps render some of the fat. This prevents the medallions from sitting in pools of grease as they cook.

• Use indirect heat. Grilling, broiling or baking lets the medallions cook evenly without burning the bacon. Direct stovetop frying takes more babysitting.

• Bring meat to room temperature. Cold meat from the fridge takes longer to cook in the center without overdoing the outside.

• Dry meat well. Pat pork tenderloin pieces very dry before wrapping in bacon. This helps the bacon adhere better so it stays put.

• Secure bacon wraps. Carefully wrap and toothpick the bacon in place. Try not to overlap or bunch the bacon too much.

Now let’s get into the nitty gritty details on how to cook picture-perfect bacon medallions.

Step-By-Step Guide to Cooking Bacon Medallions

Follow these simple steps to cook bacon medallions to juicy, bacon-y perfection every time.

1. Choose Your Meat

Pork tenderloin is the classic choice, but bacon medallions work with chicken, turkey or beef too. Go for uniform 1-inch pieces so they cook evenly. Cut any thicker parts in half horizontally to match the thinner areas.

2. Wrap With Partially Cooked Bacon

Cook bacon strips until just starting to firm up but still pliable. Drain on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, wrap a bacon slice around each medallion. Poke a toothpick through the bacon overlay to secure it.

3. Season the Medallions

Season the meat portions lightly with salt, pepper and any other spices you like. Garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper and fresh herbs all add nice flavor.

4. Cook Via Broiling, Grilling or Baking

• Broiling: Place bacon medallions on a broiler pan lined with foil. Broil 6 inches from heat, turning once, until bacon is crispy and meat is cooked through.

• Grilling: Grill over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes per side. Move to indirect heat if bacon browns too fast.

• Baking: Bake at 375°F on a foil-lined pan for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through.

5. Check Internal Temperature

Pork should reach 145°F on an instant-read thermometer before removing from heat. Chicken cooks through at 165°F and beef at 160°F.

6. Let Rest before Serving

Once cooked, transfer medallions to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes. This allows juices to redistribute so meat stays moist and tender when you cut into it.

And that’s all there is to it! Now that you know how to cook bacon medallions properly from start to finish, let’s look at some serving ideas and recipe inspiration.

Creative Ways to Serve Bacon Medallions

A platter of bacon medallions is plenty delicious on its own, but you can also incorporate them into all sorts of recipes. Here are just a few tasty ways to enjoy bacon medallions:

• Slice them up and toss with pasta, roasted veggies and a lemony vinaigrette.

• Stuff into a crusty French bread with lettuce, tomato and mayo for BLTs.

• Serve over a bed of rice pilaf or quinoa for a quick protein-packed meal.

• Chop and add to omelets, frittatas or scrambles for a hearty weekend brunch.

• Toss them into Caesar or spinach salads for a satisfying lunch or dinner salad.

• Layer them on flatbread or naan with pesto, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.

• Cut in cubes and skewer for hearty bacon medallion kabobs.

• Crumble them up to make amazing carbonara, alfredo, mac and cheese or ramen.

With so many possibilities, you could enjoy bacon medallions a different way every night of the week and never get bored!

Handy Bacon Medallion Recipes To Try

If you need a little more guidance, here are some fantastic recipes for preparing bacon medallions:

Balsamic Bacon Medallions

• Marinate 1 lb pork tenderloin pieces in 1⁄4 c balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, S&P for 1-2 hours.
• Pat dry and wrap with bacon slices.
• Broil for 12-15 minutes until cooked through, basting with marinade halfway.

Bacon Medallion Salad

• Cook 1 lb bacon medallions and let cool.
• Toss with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, chopped hard-boiled egg, crumbled blue cheese, avocado and buttermilk ranch dressing.

Bacon Medallion Bowls

• Bake 1 lb bacon medallions and chopped bell peppers and onions.
• Serve over instant brown rice in bowls.
• Top with shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream and cilantro.

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Medallions

• Season pork tenderloin pieces with garlic powder, basil, oregano, S&P.
• Wrap bacon around pieces and secure with toothpicks.
• Pan sear then bake at 400°F until pork is just cooked through.

Tips for Meal Prepping Bacon Medallions

Since they reheat so easily, bacon medallions are ideal for meal prepping. Follow these tips:

• Cool cooked medallions completely before packing them for storage.
• Portion into individual servings in meal prep containers.
• Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• Reheat gently in the microwave or a low oven.
• Enjoy as is or add to salads, bowls, pitas, etc.

With the proper techniques, you can now cook restaurant-quality bacon medallions at home. Crispy, tender and packed with bacon flavor, they make an easy and impressive meal for any occasion. Use the recipes and ideas in this guide to enjoy this bacon-wrapped treat in lots of delicious ways.