Cooking bacon in a crock pot can be a great way to easily cook large quantities of bacon, however the tricky part is keeping the bacon nice and crispy. Crock pots are great for slow cooking tougher cuts of meat into tender deliciousness, but this moist cooking environment isn’t ideal for getting crispy bacon.
The good news is that with a few simple tricks and tips you can get perfectly crispy bacon cooked in the crock pot every time! Here are the top tips for how to keep bacon crispy in a crock pot.
Use Thicker Cut Bacon
The first tip for crispy crockpot bacon is to use a thicker cut bacon. Typical thin sliced breakfast bacon will overcook and burn easily in the slow cooker. Opt for a medium cut bacon, ideally at least 1/4 inch thick. The thicker cut will hold up better to the long slow cooking time.
Start With a Cold Crock Pot
Be sure to start with a completely cool crock pot, don’t use one that was just used for another recipe. The residual heat from a previous recipe will cause the bacon to overcook.
Use a Bacon Rack
Cooking the bacon directly on the crock pot insert will cause the bacon to stew in its own rendered fat, which will lead to limp soggy bacon. Use a bacon rack suspended in the crock pot so the bacon cooks suspended above the collected fat.
Cook Low and Slow
Crock pots get hot enough to crisp bacon, but you have to use a lower temperature and cook it slow. Cook the bacon on the low setting for 2-3 hours. Quick cooking on high heat will overcook the bacon.
Blot with Paper Towels
When the bacon is finished cooking, use tongs to transfer it to a paper towel lined plate. Blot both sides with additional paper towels to soak up excess grease.
Finish Under the Broiler
For bacon with an extra crispy texture, transfer the cooked and blotted bacon to a foil lined baking sheet and finish under a hot broiler for 1-2 minutes per side until crisped to your liking. Watch closely to avoid burning.
Make a Bacon Weave
For easy crispy bacon in a crock pot, weave raw bacon slices into a mat before cooking. Carefully weave the slices in an over-under pattern pressing ends together. Cook the bacon weave in the crock pot as directed above, then simply break into crispy cooked bacon bits after cooking.
Use Added Fats
For even crispier crock pot bacon, add some extra fat into the crock pot to cook the bacon in. Butter, oil or lard will all work. The additional fat helps crisp up the bacon from all sides.
Pat Dry Before Serving
Be sure to pat cooked crock pot bacon very dry with paper towels after cooking and blotting. This removes excess grease from the surface that can make it limp. Serve it immediately for the crispiest texture.
Crisp Up Leftovers
For any leftover crockpot bacon that loses its crispy texture, you can revive it by cooking in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side. The high heat will crisp it right up again.
Season for Flavor
Before cooking, season your bacon to add lots of extra flavor. Spices and herbs like cracked pepper, chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder, cumin and rosemary all taste great on crispy crockpot bacon.
Make Bacon Bits
Once cool, chop or crumble your crispy cooked bacon into bacon bits to use as a topping for potatoes, salads, soups and more. Freeze extra bacon bits for up to 3 months.
Crock Pot Bacon Cooking Times
Here is a table with approximate crock pot cooking times for getting crispy bacon using a medium 1/4 inch thick cut of bacon.
| Amount of Bacon | Cook Time on Low |
|---|---|
| 1 – 1 1/2 pounds | 2 – 3 hours |
| 2 – 3 pounds | 3 – 4 hours |
| 4 – 5 pounds | 4 – 5 hours |
Make Candied Bacon
For a sweet and salty treat, coat the raw bacon with a mixture of brown sugar, maple syrup and spices before cooking in the crock pot. The sauce will caramelize on the bacon for candied bacon.
Let the Bacon Rest
Be sure to let the cooked bacon rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This allows the moisture to evenly distribute through the bacon for a nice crispy texture.
Make a Bacon Board
For an impressive appetizer, arrange the finished crockpot bacon artfully on a board with crackers and other goodies to make a bacon board.
Bake After Crock Pot
For extra crispy bacon, after cooking in the crockpot, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes until the bacon crisps up more.
Crumble on Salads and Eggs
Crispy crockpot bacon is delicious crumbled on top of leafy green salads, grain bowls and breakfasts like eggs and hashbrowns. The bacon bits add a salty crunch.
Make Bacon Jerky
You can actually use a crockpot to make bacon jerky! Slice the bacon thin, season it, cook on low 8-12 hours. Blot grease then dehydrate until dried.
Let Bacon Cool Before Freezing
Cooled crockpot bacon can be frozen for longer storage. Allow the cooked bacon to cool completely before freezing it in air tight packaging for 2-3 months.
Conclusion
Cooking delicious crispy bacon in the crockpot is totally possible with these simple tips! A bacon rack, thick cut bacon and low slow cooking are they keys to success. Finish it under the broiler or bake it for extra crispy results. Seasoned, candied or crumbled, crispy crockpot bacon can be used in all sorts of easy and delicious recipes.