15 Irresistible Recipes for Bacon Ends and Pieces

Bacon ends and pieces are the flavorful odds and ends leftover after slicing standard bacon strips. Rather than discarding these smoky salty scraps many thrifty home cooks have discovered creative ways to transform these porky pieces into budget-friendly culinary delights.

From candied bacon crumbles to loaded potato soup and so much more, bacon ends can take recipes to the next level with their signature umami deliciousness. Read on for 15 irresistible ideas for repurposing those bags of irregular bacon bits into craveable dishes the whole family will love.

Transforming Bacon Scraps into Culinary Gold

Bacon ends offer an economical way to infuse recipes with savory smoked flavor for far less than packages of pristine strips or slabs. Since the flavor isn’t compromised by their irregular size and shape you can utilize every tasty morsel.

With some clever techniques like low and slow oven baking or frying in a skillet, bacon ends crisp up beautifully. Draining on paper towels reduces excess grease. Their versatility lends itself to sweet and savory dishes from breakfast to desserts.

Once incorporated into recipes, you often can’t even detect their quirky shapes. It’s all about maximizing flavor impact for minimal cost. Follow these tasty ideas for cooking, baking and mixing up magic with bacon ends!

1. Candied Bacon Bits

Made by coating cooked, drained bacon scraps in a brown sugar glaze, candied bacon bits make outrageously addictive bacon the star. The sweet and salty combo is heavenly sprinkled over salads, dips, baked goods, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Or dangerously devoured by the handful straight from the fridge!

2. Smoky Bacon Onion Jam

Who doesn’t love the flavor combination of bacon and onions? Cook down chopped bacon ends and onions with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar to make a spreadable jam perfect for grilled cheese, burgers, flatbreads and more.

3. Bacon Fat Fried Eggs

After cooking your bacon ends, reserve the rendered bacon grease for frying the most flavorful over-easy eggs ever. Splendid on toast, burgers and salad. Tip: add a teaspoon of bacon fat to store-bought mayo for an instant flavor punch.

4. Bacon Peanut Brittle

Make sweet and salty peanut brittles more irresistible by adding crumbled crispy bacon ends into the mix along with the peanuts before pouring out to harden and break into shards. Irregular bacon bits only enhance this candy’s addictiveness.

5. Bacon Cornbread Stuffing

Cook bacon pieces with onion, celery and sage. Toss with cornbread cubes and chicken broth, then bake as a savory Thanksgiving stuffing side. Alternatively, use in muffin tins for single-serve portions.

6. Bacon Ends Omelet Filling

Jazz up your morning omelet by sautéing diced bacon ends, onions, bell pepper and Cheddar cheese for a hearty bacon and veggie scramble filling. Stuff inside a fluffy egg omelet and enjoy!

7. Smoky Potato Salad with Bacon

Elevate your next BBQ potato salad by browning bacon pieces then tossing while still warm with diced russet potatoes, red onion, dill and a mayo-sour cream dressing. The smoky bacon flavor beautifully permeates the spuds.

8. Bacon Mac and Cheese

Transform boxed mac and cheese from boring to extraordinary by cooking bacon ends until crisp, then mixing them into the finished elbow pasta coated in cheesy sauce. Gourmet comfort food on a budget.

9. Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Boil small pasta like ditalini, green peas, diced cherry tomatoes and green onions until tender. Toss with shredded cheddar, bacon pieces and a tangy ranch dressing for a picnic-ready pasta salad.

10. Bacon Ends Hash Browns

Fry grated russet potatoes and onion into crispy hash browns in the leftover bacon grease from your ends. Top the hash with more warm, crumbled bacon ends for breakfast perfection.

11. Bacon Bun Burgers

Ground beef patties get the gourmet treatment when stuffed with a filling of chopped bacon ends, onions and cheese before grilling. The bacon and cheese ooze out for amazing flavor in every juicy bite.

12. Maple Bacon Biscuits

Buttermilk biscuits get a sweet and smoky twist when raw bacon ends are kneaded into the dough before baking until golden. Brushing tops with a maple glaze takes them over the top.

13. Bacon Aoli Dipping Sauce

For a showstopping dip, blend or whisk together your favorite mayonnaise with cooked, chopped bacon ends, minced garlic, lemon juice and a dash of cayenne. Ideal for fries, chicken tenders, roasted veggies and seafood.

14. Brown Sugar Bacon Bars

Candied bacon crumbles get tucked into a brown sugar shortbread crust with chocolate chips then baked into fantastic salty-sweet bacon dessert bars. Let the cravings commence!

15. Bacon Fat Fried Rice

Saute leftover rice in rendered bacon fat along with soy sauce, eggs, peas and scallions for an Asian take on fried rice that’s wonderfully smoky. Top with extra crumbled bacon ends.

Tips for Cooking with Bacon Ends

Follow these tips for achieving crispy, flavorful results when cooking with bacon ends:

• Cook over medium-low heat in a cold pan to render fat slowly. Avoid burnt bits.

• Stir and turn bacon pieces frequently for even browning.

• Fry in smaller batches to prevent sticking.

• Drain on paper towels to remove excess grease after cooking.

• For oven baking, spread on a foil-lined pan and bake 15-25 minutes at 375°F, stirring halfway.

Buying and Storing Bacon Ends

For the best value on quality bacon ends, check butcher shops, warehouse stores and local restaurants versus pricy grocery butcher cases. Inspect the irregular pieces closely for freshness before buying.

To extend shelf life, transfer any unused bacon ends from opened packages to a sealed freezer bag. Refrigerate for 5-7 days or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw frozen portions overnight before using.

Bacon Ends Offer Big Savings

Bacon ends provide all the savory, smoky flavor you love for a fraction of the price of traditional bacon packs. Their irregular shapes add rustic flair once incorporated into recipes.

With creative usage, bacon ends transform from lowly scraps into MVP status as your new cost-cutting secret ingredient. Just sit back and savor the savings in every tasty bite!