20 Tasty Ways to Use Bacon Grease

Do not pour your leftover bacon grease down the drain. It is a secret ingredient that can make your food taste incredible. These recipes will show you how to use it for many different dishes, from making your potatoes extra crispy to adding a unique flavor to your cookies. It is surprising how much better it can make simple meals taste, turning your regular cooking into something much more special and full of delicious, smoky flavor.

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Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies

A stack of chocolate chip cookies sits beside a glass of milk on a dark surface. — Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies. Photo credit: Raia’s Recipes.

These cookies are made with bacon grease, which gives them a rich and unique flavor that no one will guess is gluten-free. The combination of salty bacon bits and sweet chocolate chips in these Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies makes them so moreish that you will find it impossible to eat just one.
Get the recipe: Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies

Juicy Grilled Elk Burgers

A close-up of a juicy hamburger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, cheese, and ketchup on a toasted bun, sitting on white parchment paper with blurred fries in the background. — Juicy Grilled Elk Burgers. Photo credit: Peak to Plate.

Even though elk meat is very lean, adding a bit of bacon grease to the mix helps these burgers stay moist and full of flavor as they cook. These Juicy Grilled Elk Burgers have a wonderful smoky taste from the grill that goes really well with a slice of cheese and all your favorite burger toppings.
Get the recipe: Juicy Grilled Elk Burgers

Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

A close-up of a cinnamon roll topped with creamy icing and sprinkled with small pieces of crispy bacon. — Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls. Photo credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

The dough for these sweet rolls is made with bacon grease, which gives them a rich and unique flavor that is different from regular cinnamon rolls. These Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls are topped with a sweet maple frosting and pieces of salty bacon, creating an amazing combination of tastes in every single bite.
Get the recipe: Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

Amazing German Potato Salad Recipe

A white bowl filled with sliced cooked potatoes, bacon pieces, and chopped chives, placed on a wooden surface. The dish appears freshly made and seasoned. — Amazing German Potato Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Wholesome Farmhouse Recipes.

This is a warm potato salad where the dressing, made with bacon grease and other ingredients, soaks into the potatoes while they are still hot. This Amazing German Potato Salad is packed with savory flavor and is a much tastier option than the cold, creamy kind of potato salad you might be used to eating.
Get the recipe: Amazing German Potato Salad Recipe

Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta

A white plate with creamy chicken pasta topped with herbs next to a serving of fresh green salad, placed on a red and white striped cloth. — Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta. Photo credit: Savory With Soul.

The rich and smoky flavor in this pasta dish comes from using bacon grease to cook the chicken and to help make the sauce. This Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta is also very easy to clean up after because everything is cooked together in just one single pot for your dinner.
Get the recipe: Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta

Bacon Succotash

A skillet filled with cooked lima beans, cherry tomatoes, and prosciutto, garnished with fresh basil leaves, with a wooden spoon resting inside. — Southern Summer Succotash with Bacon and Tomatoes. Photo credit: Little Black Skillet.

A mix of sweet corn and soft lima beans is cooked with crispy pieces of bacon and a little bacon grease for extra flavor. This Bacon Succotash is a delicious side dish that is often finished with some fresh basil, making it so good you might want to eat it right from the pan.
Get the recipe: Bacon Succotash

How To Make Real-Deal Southern Collard Greens

Three white bowls filled with cooked collard greens and pieces of ham, with a fork resting in one bowl, sitting on a gray surface with crumbs scattered around. — How To Make Real-Deal Southern Collard Greens. Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes.

Collard greens are cooked slowly for a long time with bacon fat until they become very tender and soak up all the smoky flavor. This recipe for Real-Deal Southern Collard Greens creates a classic side dish that tastes just like the one your grandmother might have made for family dinners.
Get the recipe: How To Make Real-Deal Southern Collard Greens

Easy Sautéed Collard Greens with Crispy Pancetta

A plate of sautéed collard greens garnished with crispy bacon pieces, shaved Parmesan cheese, crumbled cornbread, and two lemon slices. — Easy Sautéed Collard Greens with Crispy Pancetta. Photo credit: Cuisine and Travel.

For a quicker version, collard greens are sautéed with pancetta and bacon fat until they are wilted and full of great taste. These Easy Sautéed Collard Greens are topped with crispy breadcrumbs that add a nice crunchy texture to the soft and flavorful greens on your plate.
Get the recipe: Easy Sautéed Collard Greens with Crispy Pancetta

Bacon Molasses Cookie Recipe

Close-up of three round, golden-brown cookies with a crinkled surface and a dusting of white powdered sugar on top, placed on a dark background with sprinkled sugar around them. — Bacon Molasses Cookie Recipe. Photo credit: I Heart Eating.

These unique cookies combine the sweet, deep flavor of molasses with the salty and smoky taste of bacon. The Bacon Molasses Cookies are made with bacon grease, which makes them extra rich and gives them a flavor that you cannot find in any regular cookie recipe.
Get the recipe: Bacon Molasses Cookie Recipe

Old Fashioned Bacon Grease Biscuits Recipe

Seven golden-brown biscuits arranged in a flower shape in a black cast iron skillet, with a gray textured surface and a red and white striped cloth nearby. — Old Fashioned Bacon Grease Biscuits Recipe. Photo credit: BENSA Bacon Lovers.

Instead of using butter or shortening, this recipe uses bacon grease to make biscuits that are flaky and golden brown. These Old Fashioned Bacon Grease Biscuits have a very light smoky flavor that makes them a fantastic side for breakfast or for any meal of the day.
Get the recipe: Old Fashioned Bacon Grease Biscuits Recipe

Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

A white plate with several small red potatoes, green beans, pieces of bacon, and a fork on the side. The food is seasoned and appears to be a warm, savory dish. — Southern Green Beans and Potatoes. Photo credit: Well Fed Baker.

Fresh green beans and chunks of potato are cooked slowly with bacon grease until they are both very tender and flavorful. In this dish of Southern Green Beans and Potatoes, the potatoes soak up all the delicious juices, making every bite a comforting and tasty experience.
Get the recipe: Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

BLT Tortellini

A white bowl filled with tortellini pasta, crispy bacon pieces, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese slices, set on a white surface with a red-striped cloth nearby. — BLT Tortellini. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

All the classic flavors of a BLT sandwich, like bacon, lettuce, and tomato, are combined with cheese-filled pasta in this dish. Using a little bacon grease helps the sauce coat every piece of this BLT Tortellini perfectly, making sure each bite is packed with a rich and savory taste that everyone will love.
Get the recipe: BLT Tortellini

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Walnuts, and Pomegranate

Brussels sprouts, bacon pieces, and walnuts are being sautéed together in a skillet with a wooden spoon visible at the top right. — Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Walnuts, and Pomegranate. Photo credit: Maplewood Road.

Even people who do not normally like Brussels sprouts will enjoy them when they are roasted with bacon grease until they are caramelized and tender. These Brussels Sprouts are made more interesting with the addition of crunchy walnuts and sweet pomegranate seeds, which make every single bite a mix of different textures and flavors.
Get the recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Walnuts, and Pomegranate

Scottish Potato Scones and British Breakfasts: a Tutorial

Several triangular pieces of browned flatbread sit on a red, green, and white plaid cloth. The bread appears homemade, with golden spots from toasting. — Potato Scones and British Breakfasts: a Tutorial from a Scottish Girl. Photo credit: Christina’s Cucina.

Leftover mashed potatoes are mixed with a little bacon grease and flour to create a simple dough that is cooked on a griddle. These Scottish Potato Scones are a traditional food that is perfect for soaking up egg yolk at breakfast or for eating with a bit of butter as a snack.
Get the recipe: Scottish Potato Scones and British Breakfasts: a Tutorial

Creamy Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce and Bacon

A plate of gnocchi covered in creamy orange sauce, topped with crispy bacon pieces and fresh herbs, with a gold fork beside it on a light surface. — Creamy Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce and Bacon. Photo credit: All in the Family Recipes.

The soft potato dumplings are first cooked in bacon grease to give them a delicious, smoky flavor before the pumpkin sauce is added. This Creamy Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce and Bacon has a great balance of salty bacon and sweet pumpkin, making it a very cozy and satisfying dinner.
Get the recipe: Creamy Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce and B

Quick & Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans

Close-up of cooked green beans mixed with crispy bacon pieces and sautéed onions, served on a white plate. — Quick & Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans. Photo credit: Powell Family Cooking.

Fresh green beans are cooked quickly in a pan with crispy bacon and a spoonful of bacon grease until they are just tender. This Quick & Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans dish is so tasty that you might decide to make it the main part of your meal instead of just a side.
Get the recipe: Quick & Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans

Pan Fried Potato Slices

A breakfast scene with two plates: one has fried potatoes topped with sour cream and herbs, the other has a sausage, fried egg, and more potatoes. A cup of coffee and a patterned napkin are also visible on a wooden table. — Pan Fried Potato Slices. Photo credit: Art of Natural Living.

Thin slices of potato are cooked in a hot skillet with bacon grease until they become golden brown and deliciously crispy. These Pan Fried Potato Slices are even easier to make than hash browns and taste fantastic when served next to your morning eggs or with a burger for dinner.
Get the recipe: Pan Fried Potato Slices

Oven Fried Tater Tots

A white bowl filled with crispy, golden-brown tater tots sits on a wooden surface with a striped cloth in the background. — Oven Fried Tater Tots. Photo credit: Miss in the Kitchen.

Instead of buying frozen ones, you can make your own tater tots that get incredibly crispy in the oven when you bake them with bacon grease. These Oven Fried Tater Tots are perfect for dipping into ketchup or your favorite sauce and taste much better than the kind you can get at a restaurant.
Get the recipe: Oven Fried Tater Tots

Fried Bread: a Very Naughty Breakfast–British Style

A fried egg with a runny yolk sits on a piece of toasted bread, with golden yolk oozing onto a colorful, patterned plate. — Fried Bread: a Very Naughty Breakfast—British Style. Photo credit: Christina’s Cucina.

A thick slice of bread is fried in bacon grease until the outside is golden and crispy while the inside stays soft. This Fried Bread is a simple but very indulgent breakfast that is perfect for soaking up the runny yolk from your eggs, just like they do in a traditional British meal.
Get the recipe: Fried Bread: a Very Naughty Breakfast–British Style

EASY Creamy Butter Beans Recipe with Bacon and Garlic

A close up of a plate of green beans with bacon. — Southern Butter Beans Recipe. Photo credit: Powell Family Cooking.

Butter beans become extra soft and creamy when they are simmered in a pot with bacon grease, garlic, and crispy bacon pieces. This EASY Creamy Butter Beans recipe is so delicious that it is very hard to stop yourself from going back for a second helping after you finish your first.
Get the recipe: EASY Creamy Butter Beans Recipe with Bacon and Garlic