Where to Buy Benton’s Bacon in Knoxville: A Local’s Guide

As a Knoxville native, I’ve been enjoying Benton’s bacon my whole life This deliciously smoky, salty bacon put the tiny town of Madisonville, TN on the map thanks to Allan Benton’s dedication to curing pork with time-honored traditions

If you haven’t yet experienced the magic of Benton’s bacon, you’re in for a treat It has a deep, rich flavor that simply can’t be matched by mass-produced bacon brands Once you try it, you’ll be hooked!

The good news is that Benton’s ships their products nationwide, so you can order it online even if you don’t live near Knoxville. However, there’s nothing quite like visiting Benton’s Country Ham store and restaurant in Madisonville to see where the magic happens.

In this article, I’ll share where to buy Benton’s bacon in Knoxville supermarkets and specialty shops for quick weeknight dinners. I’ll also provide tips for visiting Benton’s Country Ham and other places to taste their cured pork products in the Knoxville area.

Let’s start with an overview of the best places to buy Benton’s bacon within Knoxville itself.

Where to Buy Benton’s Bacon in Knoxville Grocery Stores

While you won’t find Benton’s bacon in every Knoxville supermarket, some of the better stocked stores carry it. Here are the top grocery store chains for finding Benton’s bacon locally:

Kroger

Several Kroger locations in Knoxville sell Benton’s bacon. For the best selection, visit the Kroger Marketplace at Turkey Creek, the Kroger on Kingston Pike in Bearden, or the Kroger on Emory Road in Powell.

You’ll find vacuum-packed packages of Benton’s hickory smoked sliced bacon near the deli counter. Kroger usually carries both the regular and thick-cut bacon options.

Fresh Market

All three Fresh Market stores in Knoxville (Cedar Bluff, Turkey Creek, and Franklin Square) stock Benton’s bacon. You can find it in the refrigerated meat section.

The Fresh Market is a bit pricier than regular supermarkets but great for picking up quality ingredients like Benton’s bacon.

Whole Foods

The Whole Foods at Turkey Creek consistently carries Benton’s bacon in the pork section. As a premium grocery chain focused on natural and organic foods, they appreciate the craftsmanship of Benton’s cured meats.

Look for the familiar red and black Benton’s packaging in the refrigerated meat coolers.

Earth Fare

Earth Fare is another specialty market with a bacon lover’s needs in mind. The West Knoxville location on Kingston Pike stocks vacuum-packed Benton’s bacon near the butcher counter.

Earth Fare occasionally runs promotions where you can try or buy Benton’s bacon at a discount.

Copper Cellar Family of Restaurants

In addition to restaurants, the Copper Cellar group operates a few gourmet markets around Knoxville. Both Copper Cellar Market & Eatery locations (Bearden and Maryville) sell Benton’s bacon.

It’s cut to order at the butcher counter, so you’ll get perfectly thick slices. The knowledgeable staff can also offer cooking tips!

Three Rivers Market

This member-owned cooperative grocery store near UT’s campus carries Benton’s bacon occasionally. As a smaller local market, their stock varies. Call ahead to check availability if making a special trip.

When they have it, Three Rivers Market sells vacuum-packed sliced Benton’s bacon.

Specialty Shops for Finding Benton’s Bacon

Beyond supermarkets, Knoxville has some fabulous specialty food stores, butcher shops, and delis selling Benton’s products. Here are some favorites:

Holly’s Gourmets Market

This amazing gourmet market inside The Oliver Hotel downtown offers vacuum-packed Benton’s bacon and prosciutto.

You’ll also find rotating daily specials like Benton’s bacon-wrapped meatloaf and smoked pork chops. Definitely a bacon lover go-to!

Oliver Royale

The Oliver Royale market connected to Holly’s is another spot for cured meat magic. Grab a charcuterie plate with Benton’s products at the bar or shop the retail displays.

Bonus – you can sip an old fashioned or glass of wine while shopping.

J.C. Holdway

Chef Joseph Lenn’s locally-sourced Knoxville bistro has an entire section of their menu dedicated to Benton’s bacon. The Benton’s BLT, candied bacon appetizer, and breakfast plates allow you to taste it in creative recipes.

J.C. Holdway doesn’t sell raw Benton’s bacon, but you can enjoy it cooked into amazing dishes. Definitely a fun dining experience for bacon enthusiasts!

Knoxville Wine & Spirits

This impressive liquor store sells Benton’s bacon alongside their whiskey, wine, and beer. It’s not something you see every day!

As self-declared “bacon connoisseurs”, the owners understand the need for a quality bacon source. Vacuum-packed sliced packages are available.

The Casual Pint

embassy Suites The Casual Pint craft beer bar locations in Bearden, Farragut, and Maryville have been known to procure sliced packs of Benton’s bacon for hungry patrons.

Call ahead to check availability – when they have it in stock, it sells out fast!

Places to Buy Benton’s Bacon Near Knoxville

While Knoxville has some excellent options for buying Benton’s bacon, the very best place is less than an hour’s drive away in Madisonville.

Here are some spots near Knoxville where you can purchase Benton’s products and learn more about their heritage:

Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams

This is the mecca for Benton’s fans – their actual company store, smokehouse, and restaurant in Madisonville! The address is 2603 Hwy 411 in Madisonville.

The retail shop sells all of their cured pork products, from whole country hams to bacon slices. You can also tour the smokehouses and see the operations.

Don’t miss an opportunity to sample Benton’s dishes at their restaurant, like thick-cut BLTs, country ham biscuits, and smoked sausage plates. This is the ultimate destination for an authentic experience.

Dixie Lee Wines & Liquors

This Madisonville liquor store is an authorized retailer of Benton’s hams and bacon. It’s at the intersection of Hwys 411 and 68, very close to the Benton’s facility.

Dixie Lee Wines & Liquors has refrigerators stocked with vacuum-packed Benton’s sliced bacon, country ham slices, and sausage rolls.

The Greenbrier Restaurant

About 20 minutes from Knoxville in Greenbrier, TN, this meat-and-three restaurant serves Benton’s bacon daily. Order classic Southern dishes like bacon-loaded pinto beans or tomato pie with bacon crumbles.

They’ll wrap up raw Benton’s bacon from the kitchen to take home if you ask nicely too!

Maple Lane Farms

This specialty food store is located in Greenbrier, TN just a short drive from Benton’s Country Ham. They sell an assortment of cured pork products and meats from Benton’s.

It’s a charming country shop with hams aging on premise and local products. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time!

Tips for Cooking and Storing Benton’s Bacon

Once you get your hands on the good stuff, you’ll want to make the most of your Benton’s bacon. Here are some tips:

• Store unopened packages in the fridge up to 14 days. Keep opened bacon tightly wrapped for 5-7 days max. Freezing extends shelf life.

• Cook on medium-low heat to render fat slowly without scorching. Blot grease between batches.

• Bake slabs of bacon in the oven on a foil-lined pan at 400°F for even cooking.

• Save bacon grease in the fridge for cooking eggs, Brussels sprouts, etc. The smoky flavor adds so much.

• Crumble leftover bits of bacon on salads, baked potatoes, mac and cheese – anything!

The next time you need an elevated meal, start by picking up a pack of their smoky, delicious bacon from one of Knoxville’s many local outlets. Just be prepared – once you taste what sets Benton’s apart, you may never go back to basic bacon again!