17 Recipes That Prove Breakfast Is Better With Bacon

Whether you're craving savory or sweet, bacon is the flavorful upgrade behind so many of our favorite morning dishes.

By

Mary Alice Russell

Updated on July 20, 2024

cowboy hash brown breakfast sandwich - southern living — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Bacon for breakfast is always a good idea. The salty, savory bite just brings something special to the breakfast table. It adds character to casseroles, color to quiches, and bold flavor to big-batch breakfasts. This weekend, whip up a special breakfast with these signature recipes featuring one of our most-used ingredients. Each one of these recipes is just a little bit different, but always delicious thanks to this beloved breakfast meat.

01 of 17

Swiss Chard-And-Bacon Grits Quiche

Swiss Chard-and-Bacon Grits Quiche prepared and on a platter to serve — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

We swap a classic pie crust for grits in this quiche recipe. And for a good dose of veggies, we add Swiss chard, but don't worry, we balance it out with plenty of smoky bacon.

02 of 17

Bacon, Egg, And Cheese Sandwich

Southern Living Bacon Egg and Cheese Sandwich on a plate to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

If you love a breakfast sandwich, this classic option hits all the marks, from the toasted bread to the crispy bacon inside. You'll only need 25 minutes to throw it together for an easy and filling breakfast. We spread some jalapeño jelly on the bread for a little extra heat.

03 of 17

Millionaire Bacon

Millionaire Bacon — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

It's sweet, it's spicy, but at the end of the day, it's just downright special. We simply cannot get enough of this fortune-worthy bacon that combines a little cayenne pepper with brown sugar to make the most amazing breakfast side.

04 of 17

Cowboy Hash Brown Breakfast Sandwich

cowboy hash brown breakfast sandwich - southern living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Hash browns make the perfect breakfast sandwich bread, especially when salty bacon is involved.

05 of 17

Maple-Bacon Bundt Cake

Southern Living Maple Bacon Bundt Cake on a platter to serve with a slice cut out and extra topping — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

We've always loved to eat cake for breakfast, but this maple-bacon bundt cake takes this concept to a whole other level. Bacon is a part of every step of this process, from the cake batter to the glaze.

06 of 17

Bacon Pancakes

Bacon Pancakes — Antonis Achilleos

Can you really call it breakfast if there aren't pancakes? This recipe takes two beloved breakfast staples and combines them into one fluffy, savory bite.

07 of 17

Roasted Tomato Quiche

Roasted Tomato Quiche — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Really celebrate your garden with our roasted tomato quiche. It only takes four eggs to make this flavorful breakfast staple.

08 of 17

Deviled Grits

Southern Living Deviled Grits in the casserole dish to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

When you read the ingredient list for this recipe you might be a little confused, but don't knock it until you try it! Orange juice, bacon, and grits all combine to make something that is the perfect bite every time.

09 of 17

The Ultimate Fried Egg Sandwich With BBQ Bacon

The Ultimate Fried Egg Sandwich with BBQ Bacon — Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

We all have had a good breakfast sandwich, but have you had an ultimate one? This brunch dish is sure to impress your crowd, but the homemade BBQ Bacon is what really stands out.

10 of 17

Bacon Cheddar Scones

Bacon Cheddar Scones — Joy Howard

Our savory scones almost take on the consistency of buttery biscuits but with extra layers of love. These soft, mixed-just-to-perfection scones are a recipe that's ripe for riffs and additions.

11 of 17

Bacon-And-Cheddar Grits Quiche

Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche — Alison Miksch

For those of us who love bacon but also love to make things ahead of time, try this bacon-and-cheddar grits quiche on for size. This crustless quiche is impressive, utterly delicious, and can be assembled up to two days in advance.

12 of 17

Egg In A Biscuit

Eggs in biscuits on baking sheet with spatula and a egg in a biscuit on a plate with mixed greens — VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLING: RUTH BLACKBURN; PROP STYLING: LYDIA PURSELL

We aren't above using canned biscuits and you shouldn't be either. Two bacon pieces are elegantly draped over the biscuit to create the perfect little nest for your farmers' market egg.

13 of 17

Quiche Lorraine

quiche lorraine — Vianney Rodriguez/Jason David Page

This French classic has made its way into Southern hearts with its irresistible cheese and bacon combination. We use a refrigerated pie crust to make this process just as simple as they come.

14 of 17

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole in a casserole dish and a scoop on a blue plate — Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Tater tots always take us back to our childhoods, and this recipe is an excellent throwback favorite. Covered in eggs, cheese, and bacon it's a surefire morning win with kids of all ages.

15 of 17

Deep-Dish Loaded Hash Brown Casserole

Deep-Dish Loaded Hash Brown Casserole — Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford

We've got a soft spot for hash browns, just like everyone else who has ever stepped foot in a Waffle House. Our deep-dish loaded hash brown casserole is sure to solve any craving you may have. Mix it up with your favorite ingredients, but we had to include bacon in our version.

16 of 17

Sweet-And-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon

Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Cooking bacon on a sheet pan is a great way to get a big batch done without a whole lot of hassle. We love this sweet and spicy version with light brown sugar and spices that bring something a little different to the table.

17 of 17

Bacon-Hash Brown Quiche Recipe

Bacon-Hash Brown Quiche — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

We use frozen shredded hash browns to make the golden crust on this bacon quiche. For fresh, spring flavor, we use asparagus in the filling, but other spring produce, like scallions, dill, peas, or spinach would also work well.

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