20 Ways to Use Up Bacon Grease That Are Rich with Flavor

Bacon grease isn’t just for tossing out – it’s a secret weapon for making food taste amazing. These recipes show how to use it in everything from crispy potatoes to sweet cookies. You’ll be surprised how much flavor it adds to simple dishes. Whether you’re cooking greens, baking biscuits, or frying up tater tots, that leftover bacon fat can turn ordinary meals into something special. Give these ideas a try and taste the difference yourself!

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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 potato slices fry up extra crispy in bacon grease for these simple Pan Fried Potatoes. They’re easier than hash browns but just as delicious with eggs or burgers.

Get the recipe: Pan Fried Potato Slices

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.

Bacon grease gives this Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta its rich flavor. Everything cooks in one pot, making cleanup easy after a busy day.

Get the recipe: Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta

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 lean elk burgers stay moist and flavorful when you add a little bacon grease to the mix. They grill up juicy with a nice smoky taste that goes great with cheese and 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.

Bacon grease in the dough makes these Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls extra rich and delicious. The sweet maple frosting and salty bacon pieces are an amazing combo.

Get the recipe: Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

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.

Flaky, buttery biscuits get even better when you use bacon grease instead of regular shortening. These Bacon Grease Biscuits come out golden with just a hint of smoky flavor.

Get the recipe: Old Fashioned Bacon Grease Biscuits Recipe

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.

Forget frozen tots – these Oven Fried Tater Tots get super crispy when baked with bacon grease. They’re perfect for dipping and way better than what you get at restaurants.

Get the recipe: Oven Fried Tater Tots

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.

Warm potatoes get extra flavor from bacon grease in this Amazing German Potato Salad that’s way better than the cold kind. The dressing soaks right into the potatoes while they’re still hot, making every bite packed with savory goodness.

Get the recipe: Amazing German Potato Salad Recipe

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.

Nobody will guess these Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies are made with bacon grease. The salty bacon bits mixed with sweet chocolate make them impossible to stop eating.

Get the recipe: Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies

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.

Sweet corn and lima beans taste even better when cooked with bacon in this Bacon Succotash. The crispy bacon bits and fresh basil make it a side dish you’ll want to eat straight from the pan.

Get the recipe: Bacon Succotash

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 Bacon Molasses Cookies might sound weird, but the mix of sweet and salty totally works. The bacon grease makes them extra rich and gives them a flavor you won’t find in regular cookies.

Get the recipe: Bacon Molasses Cookie 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.

Bacon grease gives these Southern Green Beans and Potatoes their classic flavor. The potatoes soak up all the tasty juices while the beans stay nice and tender.

Get the recipe: Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

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.

Slow cooking collard greens in bacon fat makes them tender and full of flavor. This Real-Deal Southern Collard Greens recipe tastes just like grandma used to make.

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.

Collard greens get a tasty upgrade when cooked with pancetta and bacon fat in this easy recipe. The crispy breadcrumbs on top add the perfect crunch to the tender greens.

Get the recipe: Easy Sautéed Collard Greens with Crispy Pancetta

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 flavors of a BLT sandwich but in pasta form with this BLT Tortellini dish. The bacon grease helps the flavors coat every piece of tortellini perfectly.

Get the recipe: BLT Tortellini

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 turn extra creamy and delicious when cooked with bacon grease in this simple recipe. The garlic and crispy bacon bits make it hard to eat just one serving.

Get the recipe: EASY Creamy Butter Beans Recipe with Bacon and Garlic

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 Brussels sprout haters will like them when roasted with bacon grease in this recipe. The crunchy walnuts and sweet pomegranate seeds make every bite interesting.

Get the recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Walnuts, and Pomegranate

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.

Bread fried in bacon grease might be simple, but it’s the best way to start your day. The crispy edges and soft middle soak up egg yolks perfectly.

Get the recipe: Fried Bread: a Very Naughty Breakfast–British Style

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 cook up fast with bacon and a little bacon grease in this Southern-style side. It’s so good you might skip the main dish and just eat these. Be sure to remember this recipe next time you’re looking for ways to use up bacon grease.

Get the recipe: Quick & Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans

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 and bacon grease come together in these Scottish Potato Scones. They’re perfect for soaking up egg yolks at breakfast or eating with butter.

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.

Pillowy gnocchi gets extra flavor when cooked in bacon grease before adding the pumpkin sauce. The salty bacon balances the sweet pumpkin for a cozy dinner. Perfect next time your looking for ways to use up bacon grease.

Get the recipe: Creamy Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce and B