How to Cook Perfect Bacon on a Green Mountain Grill

As an avid backyard cook and grillmaster, I am always looking for new and tasty things to throw on my trusty Green Mountain pellet grill. And let’s be honest, what’s better than the smell of sizzling bacon cooking on the barbecue? If you’re like me and love serving up bacon for breakfast, brunch, or anytime snack, using your pellet smoker is hands down the best way to cook it. The smoky flavor it adds really takes ordinary bacon to a whole new level of deliciousness.

In this guide I’ll walk you through my tips and technique for smoking mouthwatering bacon on a Green Mountain Grill. Whether you prefer your bacon chewy or super crispy this method will help you achieve bacon perfection every time. No messy skillet cleanup and your house won’t reek for hours either!

Benefits of Cooking Bacon on a Pellet Smoker

Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s go over some of the advantages of using your pellet grill instead of traditional cooking methods

• Adds Smoky Flavor – The smoke from the wood pellets gives a wonderful smoky flavor that you just can’t replicate cooking bacon on the stove or in the oven. Apple, cherry, and hickory woods work great.

• Less Mess – Bacon grease can splatter and make a mess of your stove. Cooking it on a grill contains nearly all of the mess.

• No Lingering Smell – Frying bacon leaves a strong smell in your house for hours. The smoke dissipates outdoors with a pellet grill.

• Perfect Results – Indirect heat allows the bacon to cook evenly without burning or undercooking.

• Cooks Large Batches – Grill grates provide plenty of room to cook a lot of bacon at once.

• Fun & Easy – Who doesn’t love an excuse to fire up the grill? It takes the hassle out of breakfast.

Now that you know why this method is so great, let’s talk about how to make it happen.

Pellet Grill Setup

Cooking bacon on a pellet smoker is similar to using your oven. You’ll want to use indirect heat with no direct flame under the bacon. Here are the steps I recommend for setup:

• Preheat – Get the grill up to temperature before cooking. I find 350°F works perfectly.

• Add Smoke – Use a fruit wood pellet like apple or cherry for the best bacon flavor. Hickory and mesquite work too.

• Use a Drip Pan – Place a foil pan under where you’ll cook the bacon to catch grease drips.

• Go Indirect – No need for direct heat under the bacon. Bank your coals or heat to one side.

That covers the basics for getting your Green Mountain Grill ready to smoke some bacon!

How to Cook Bacon on a Pellet Smoker

Once your grill is hot and ready, it’s time to get the bacon cooking! Here is my step-by-step method for smoking excellent bacon:

1. Start with Cold Bacon

Take your bacon straight from the fridge and onto the grill. Cold bacon renders better, cooks more evenly, and absorbs more smoke flavor. Room temp bacon tends to burn.

2. Use a Cooling Rack

Cook the bacon on a wire cooling rack placed over a foil lined baking sheet. This allows air flow and catches grease drips.

3. Arrange Bacon Carefully

Lay the strips of bacon flat in a single layer without overlapping on the rack. Overcrowding will lead to uneven cooking.

4. Apply Extra Flavor (Optional)

Feel free to sprinkle on any additional seasonings before smoking. I like using a sweet or savory dry rub. Another idea is brushing on some maple syrup or brown sugar.

5. Smoke for 30-45 Minutes

Cook times will vary based on thickness and doneness preferences. Generally it takes 30-45 minutes in a 350°F pellet grill.

6. Check Doneness

Look for the bacon to be slightly shriveled with crispy edges when it’s done. Time will vary so keep an eye on it.

7. Remove and Drain

Take bacon off the grill and let it drain on paper towels before serving. The towel soaks up excess grease.

And that’s all there is to it my friend! Follow those simple steps for incredible pellet grill bacon success.

Pellet Smoker Bacon Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips to ensure you get perfect results:

• Use a quality thick cut bacon for the best texture. My favorites are applewood and maple flavored.

• If you want chewier bacon, use lower heat around 225-250°F. For crisper bacon go hotter around 400°F.

• Try mixing up flavors by adding different dry rubs, brown sugar, or maple syrup. Get creative!

• Cook time really varies based on thickness. Thinner bacon may take only 15-20 minutes.

• Avoid frequent peeking! Lifting the lid too much can cause uneven cooking.

• Brush on some BBQ sauce towards the end if you want to add sticky glaze.

• Make big batches to freeze extra slices for quick breakfasts or BLTs later.

• Mix in some sliced jalapeños for spicy candied bacon if you want to kick up the heat.

• Wood choice affects flavor too. I suggest fruit woods or hickory for the best results.

• Let the bacon rest a minute or two after cooking for the juices to redistribute.

Now you’ve got the full scoop on how to smoke perfect bacon in your Green Mountain Grill or any pellet smoker. This method yields bacon that’s crispy, juicy, and packed with smoky goodness in every bite. Way better than what you’ll get in the oven or skillet!

Pairing Smoked Bacon with Other Breakfast Favorites

Aside from just eating it plain, here are some of my favorite ways to serve up my pecan smoked bacon:

• Breakfast Tacos – Dice up the bacon for taco fillings along with scrambled eggs, cheese, and potatoes.

• Egg Sandwiches – Crispy smoked bacon really steps up a good old egg sandwich.

• Bacon Cheeseburgers – Top your burger patties with cheddar and bacon for a delicious lunch.

• Smoked Bacon Hash – Sauté bacon bits, potatoes, peppers and onions for a satisfying hash.

• Bacon Wrapped Foods – From scallops to jalapeño poppers, bacon makes it better!

• Waffles or Pancakes – No breakfast plate is complete without a side of syrupy bacon.

• BLT Sandwich – Bacon + Lettuce + Tomato is a classic combo that’s even better with smoked bacon.

• Bacon Baked Beans – Mix bacon pieces into baked beans for a sweet and smoky side.

• Caesar Salad Topper– Add some crunch to a Caesar salad with crumbled bits of smoky bacon.

• Carbonara Pasta – Toss crispy bacon into an Italian carbonara sauce with eggs and Parmesan.

The possibilities are endless when you have deliciously smoked bacon ready to go. It’s the perfect way to add extra flavor and texture to so many dishes. I recommend trying it in as many different ways as possible.