Homemade Smoked Bacon Recipe (2024)

Homemade Smoked Bacon Recipe (1)

Making your own homemade bacon with this easy homemade smoked bacon recipe is sure worth the time and effort. Bacon is my favorite and being able to make my own at home, with simple ingredients, is the best. Here I made a maple curing mixture, cured my pork belly for days, then sliced for frying. This homemade smoked bacon recipe is my go to. Let's make it together.

Homemade Smoked Bacon Recipe (2)

WHAT IS THE BEST KIND OF MEAT IS BEST FOR THIS HOMEMADE SMOKED BACON RECIPE

The best kind of protein for homemade smoked bacon is pork belly. Grab a pork belly slab around 2-5lbs. Make sure to ask your butcher to remove the skin - or you can easily do it at home with a sharp knife. Cut the pork belly slabs into portions that fit your zip loc bag sealable bag.

IS IT CHEAPER TO MAKE HOMEMADE SMOKED BACON?

This all depends on how you source your pork belly and ingredients vs. how much your grocery store sliced bacon is. I bought this pork belly slab for $40 Cdn. It yielded about 30 portions bacon that I froze individually. This makes each portion $1.34. A pack of bacon is around $6-$7 per pack. Each pack yields about two portions, making each portion $3.5. As you can see it is way cheaper to make homemade smoked bacon recipe at home.

DO YOU NEED CURING SALT FOR THIS HOMEMADE SMOKED BACON RECIPE?

In short, no you don't. Some people do not like pink curing salt, also known as praque powder #1 because it can create nitrates during the curing process. You can certainly not use it, and is safe to smoke and eat accordingly. You however will not get that pink bacon you are used to. It will look more gray and muted. It will not last as long either. This recipe requires just a little pink curing salt and I do recommend it personally.

Homemade Smoked Bacon Recipe (3)
Homemade Smoked Bacon Recipe (4)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Pellet Grill (I used my Pit Boss Grills Navigator)

Pellets (I used Pit Boss Grills Cherry blend)Zip Loc Bags

INGREDIENTS

  • Pork Belly (3 lbs, skin removed)

  • Kosher Salt (1/4 cup)

  • Brown Sugar (1/2 cup)

  • Pink Curing Salt (1 tsp, also known as Prague Powder #1 )

  • Maple Syrup (1/2 cup)

  • Black Pepper (1 Tbsp)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Mix the Cure:In a bowl, combine the kosher salt, brown sugar, black pepper, pink curing salt, and maple syrup (if using). Mix thoroughly to create the curing mixture.

  2. Apply the Cure:Place the pork belly in a large resealable plastic bag with the curing mixture.

  3. Curing Process:Seal the bag. Place it in the refrigerator and let it cure for 4-8 days. Turn the pork belly every day to ensure even curing.

  4. Prepare for Smoking:After the curing period, remove the pork belly from the refrigerator and rinse it thoroughly under cold water to remove the curing mixture. Pat it dry with paper towels.

  5. Smoking Process:Preheat your Pit Boss Grills Navigator to around 200°F. Use a sweet pellet blend for your bacon. (Full pellet review here). Place the pork belly in the smoker and smoke it for about 2-4 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 150°F.

  6. Cooling and Slicing:Once smoked, let the bacon cool completely. You can refrigerate it for a few hours to make slicing easier. Use a sharp knife or a meat slicer to cut the bacon into desired thickness.

  7. Cooking:Your homemade smoked bacon is now ready to cook! Fry it in a pan over medium heat until crispy or use it in your favorite recipes.

Remember, proper sanitation and food safety practices are crucial when curing and smoking meats at home. Follow the curing instructions carefully and ensure all equipment and surfaces are clean to prevent any risk of contamination. Enjoy this delicious homemade smoked bacon recipe!

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Homemade Smoked Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long should you smoke homemade bacon? ›

Smoke the now cured belly using the apple or cherry wood for three hours at 200f, or until internal temperature reaches 150f. Store bacon in an airtight plastic bag or container in refrigerator for up to a week, cutting and cooking as required (if you don't eat it all at once!).

Does bacon need to be cured before smoking? ›

Now that we've discussed all that cured bacon is, you may be wondering how bacon can be made without curing? The truth is, all bacon must be cured before consumption. While uncured bacon is still cured bacon, it undergoes a much different process. A process that is better for you and much more flavorful!

How is smoked bacon made? ›

Typically, after being cured, the bacon is rinsed off, dried and then goes into a smoker for further preservation and flavoring. Typically, the smoking process happens at a low heat, enough to flavor the bacon without cooking it.

What is the best wood to smoke bacon? ›

Hickory. Hickory is the granddaddy of smoked meats; its intense flavor and strong, slightly sweet aroma make it a classic choice for transforming ordinary bacon into a smoky marvel.

Is it cheaper to smoke your own bacon? ›

A pack of bacon is around $6-$7 per pack. Each pack yields about two portions, making each portion $3.5. As you can see it is way cheaper to make homemade smoked bacon recipe at home. DO YOU NEED CURING SALT FOR THIS HOMEMADE SMOKED BACON RECIPE?

Should I smoke my bacon fat up or down? ›

Indeed, when the fat faces upwards while you're smoking it, it will baste the surface of the meat when it melts, therefore lubricating it.

Can you eat raw smoked bacon? ›

No, it's not safe to eat raw bacon. Even though bacon has been preserved through the curing process, it has not been cooked. Like other foods you should never eat raw, consuming raw or undercooked meat puts you at risk of foodborne illness from viruses, bacteria or parasites.

Why is smoked bacon so good? ›

Once a pork belly has been cured, it's typically smoked and heated to about 130 degrees. This process adds the distinctive smoky taste that we have all come to love. It also helps to hold the red, cured color, and sure makes it easier for the bacon to be cleanly sliced.

Is naturally smoked bacon cooked? ›

Crafted with top-quality pork belly, this bacon is smoked with hardwood chips and cooked to perfection. Boar's Head Naturally Smoked Bacon packs farm-fresh flavor into each fully cooked slice.

Should I hot smoke or cold smoke bacon? ›

How you choose to smoke your bacon is simply a matter of preference. Many experts claim that cold smoked bacon will crisp up when fried better than hot smoked bacon. Again, you may want to try both methods and decide for yourself.

What is the difference between applewood and hickory smoked bacon? ›

Applewood smoked bacon is a pleasingly sweet, yet milder smoked bacon. This cut is smoked over apple wood chips infusing the bacon with a hint of sweetness after being dry-cured. This bacon is recommended for a customer who is not used to the stronger Hickory Smoke or does not like the stronger hickory smoked flavor.

How do you know when bacon is cured? ›

After 7 days, inspect your bacon. It should be firm to the touch all over, like touching a cooked steak — a sign that it has been cured. If the flesh still feels spongy and soft in spots, massage the meat again with an additional 2 tablespoons salt and check it again after 1 or 2 days.

How long to smoke bacon at 225? ›

How Long to Cook it/How to Tell When it's Done. At 225 the bacon needed 2 hours to reached my desired crisp texture. At 325 degrees you can cook the bacon in 30-45 minutes. In general, cook it however long you need to in order to reach your desired texture.

Do you flip bacon when smoking? ›

This should be about another 15 minutes for the bacon straight on the smoker rack and 20 minutes for the bacon atop the baking pan. I like to flip the bacon about halfway through the final 15 minutes to make sure it's cooked evenly. Once it's finished, remove and enjoy!

Is it better to smoke bacon hot or cold smoke? ›

By definition, bacon is always smoked. This can be done in one of two ways: hot smoking or cold smoking. How you choose to smoke your bacon is simply a matter of preference. Many experts claim that cold smoked bacon will crisp up when fried better than hot smoked bacon.

Does bacon get crispy in the smoker? ›

Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon and additional variables (like hot spots on your smoker, etc.). When smoking at 350 F. I find that the bacon takes about 40-45 minutes to get crispy enough that the fat has rendered but is still slightly chewy.

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