Top Bacon Brands, as Voted by Our Readers

Nothing gets me out of bed faster than the smell of sizzling bacon—it’s irresistible! While it’s a breakfast classic, bacon is also the star of so many other dishes, like these 9 Ultimate Bacon Recipes. With so many brands to choose from, it’s hard to know which one stands out. That’s why we asked you to vote for your favorites in our 2023 Community Choice Awards, and we put the top 8 brands to the test to find the very best.

How We Tested

Bacon comes in many forms, but when we think of bacon, we often picture the classic smoked variety—crispy, smoky strips of pork belly. However, there’s also turkey bacon, slab bacon, pancetta (Italian-style bacon), and Canadian bacon, which is more akin to ham. For this taste test, we focused on smoked bacon.

We cooked bacon from 8 different brands on a wire rack in a 400°F oven until it reached a crispy perfection, about 20 minutes. Each brand was tested blind, meaning tasters didn’t know which bacon came from which brand. We judged based on flavor, texture, and saltiness. While many were similar, some bacon brands really stood out from the crowd.

Best Thick-Cut Bacon: McKenzie Country Classics

If you prefer a heartier slice, thick-cut bacon is about twice as thick as regular slices. This extra thickness results in a chewier texture and a more intense smoky flavor, as the larger surface area absorbs more of the smoke. Tasters were particularly drawn to McKenzie Country Classics Thick Cut Bacon, praising its subtle hint of maple syrup. It’s a perfect choice for a flavorful BLT.

Best Sugar-Free Bacon: Applegate Naturals No Sugar Bacon

Made with just pork, water, salt, and celery powder, this bacon earned top marks for its delicious flavor without any added sugar. Applegate is renowned for its humanely-raised meat and antibiotic-free products, and they didn’t disappoint with this bacon. A notable perk: it had the lowest sodium content of the bunch—though, let’s be honest, bacon is never exactly low in sodium.

Best Natural Bacon: Hormel Natural Choice Original Uncured Bacon

Free from preservatives, nitrates, and nitrites, this Hormel bacon is perfect for those avoiding artificial additives. Tasters appreciated the balanced meat-to-fat ratio and the subtle, just-right sweetness.