With just a few minutes you can easily assemble a bacon weave, perfect for adding a bit of sophistication to your next burger or BLT. This technique is also great for turning pork shoulders, beef roasts or even your Thanksgiving turkey into a bacon-wrapped delight.
An easy oven bacon method
Bacon weaves are the best way to add bacon to sandwiches and burgers. Not only does it look fancier than just throwing on a few slices of bacon, but it helps to keep the bacon where it belongs — on your sandwich. They are also perfect for wrapping or layering large cuts of meat like pork shoulders or a whole chicken to bring a smokey bacon-infused flavor to every bite.
Unlike oven bacon, where you lay out single strips of bacon, this technique calls for weaving together slices of bacon to create a large square or rectangular bacon layer. It takes just a few minutes to assemble and is then baked in the oven to your desired degree of crispiness.
How to make a bacon weave
Making a bacon weave is simple and only requires minimal supplies. I recommend using a rimmed baking sheet with optional aluminum foil. You will also need a cutting board to hold the bacon and either a chef’s knife or kitchen scissors to trim the bacon down to size as needed. From there, a simple over-under weaving pattern will turn your plain bacon into a fancy bacon weave.
Determine the size of the bacon weave
You can make a bacon weave in any size, from a small sandwich square to a huge rectangle large enough to cover a Thanksgiving turkey. For smaller bacon weaves, cut the bacon slices in half for sandwich size or quarters, which are perfect for sliders. For larger square bacon weaves, leave them whole. If you want a rectangle bacon weave, cut just half of the bacon in half to create a long side and a short side.
Prepare the pan
You will want to use a wide, flat, rimmed baking sheet. If using, line the pan with aluminum foil, crimping the sides upward to help prevent the bacon grease from getting under the foil once it melts.
Lay out the horizontal slices
Working directly on your baking sheet, lay out half the bacon horizontally. Each slice should be touching, but not overlapping, the slice next to it.
Weave the vertical bacon slices
Starting at the top left, weave the first slice of bacon so that it goes over and then under each piece of horizontal bacon. Weave the next slice just to the right of the previous slice, starting this one under the top horizontal slice and weaving in the opposite pattern of the first slice. Repeat this, alternating rows starting over and under until the desired size is reached.
Bake and drain
Place the woven bacon in a cold oven. Heat to 375 F and bake until crispy and cooked through. Drain bacon on paper towels before serving.
Bacon weave baking time
Similarly to making oven bacon, we start the bacon weave in a cold oven. This helps to reduce shrinkage and preserve the shape of the bacon weave. Thus, the bake time for a bacon weave depends greatly on how quickly your oven heats.
A bacon weave needs longer to bake than baking individual slices, as the overlapped pieces take longer to cook through. In general, this bacon weave should take 18 to 25 minutes to cook after the oven has preheated. If your oven heats quickly, it may need more time, and if it heats slowly, it may need less time.
Take a peek at the bacon once the oven is preheated, and then adjust the timer accordingly. If you want extra crispy bacon, you’ll also want to let it cook for a few extra minutes.
Tips for success
While this is a pretty straightforward technique for cooking bacon in a weave, there are a few things that I’ve found helpful:
- Thin-cut vs. thick-cut bacon: For the purpose of making a bacon weave, I’ve found that thin-sliced bacon is easiest to work with and also cooks quicker and more evenly.
- Bacon shrinks when cooking: Keep in mind as you decide on the size of your bacon weave that it will shrink as it cooks.
- Always alternate the horizontal slices: For the weave to stay together, it’s essential that each horizontal starts the opposite over/under as the one above it.
- Alternate pans during baking: If using more than one pan for cooking your bacon, about halfway through, or after the oven is preheated, swap the pans from top to bottom to promote more even cooking.
- How to easily clean up: Carefully pour liquid bacon grease into a mug and allow it to cool. Use paper towels to wipe the remaining bacon grease from the pan before washing. Do not pour bacon grease down the sink. It should be disposed of in the trash.
- Guard against burning: If you are wrapping a roast and the bacon is cooking too fast, drop the heat in your oven and/or cover the roast with aluminum foil to create a barrier between the roast and the heating element.
Ways to serve a bacon weave
Now that you know how easy it is to make a bacon weave, you may be wondering: “Now, what do I use it on?” The possibilities are endless, but here are a few ideas:
- Burgers and sandwiches: You can add a bacon weave to any burger, like this bacon avocado burger, grilled chicken sandwich or even a turkey club.
- BLTs: Adding a crisp bacon weave between two slices of toast will take your BLT to the next level.
- Grilled cheese: What could be better than grilled cheese with crisp, crunchy bacon in the middle?
- Roast chicken or turkey: Bacon is a great way to add flavor to oven-roasted poultry. Add it to your Thanksgiving turkey for the ultimate bacon upgrade.
- Pork shoulder: Wrapping a pork shoulder in a bacon weave is another favorite.
- Meatloaf: Adding a bacon layer to the top of a meatloaf helps keep it juicy and increases flavor.
Make it in advance
If you want to make simple, square bacon weaves for sandwiches, you can assemble and bake them two to three days in advance. Stack them between layers of wax or parchment paper and they will keep in the fridge just like any pre-cooked bacon.
If you are making a bacon weave to wrap your beef tenderloin or other large roast, you can assemble it in advance and refrigerate the weave on its own until ready to use. To make the assembled bacon weave easier to handle, once assembled roll it up starting from a corner, not a side. Place the rolled bacon weave into an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Mastering the bacon weave
Bacon weaves are a simple yet impressive way to upgrade your favorite dishes. Whether used to secure bacon on a sandwich or to wrap and flavor large cuts of meat, they combine practicality with bold flavor. With just a few minutes of effort, you can create a versatile bacon layer that’s sure to wow at the table.
This article originally appeared on Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.