Welcome to the ultimate guide to the Best Bacon for Keto Diet! Here, you will learn the best sugar-free bacon options, the fat and protein content in bacon, and ways to incorporate bacon into your low-carb diet. We'll also share our favorite keto bacon recipes!
You might be wondering, "Is bacon keto?". Well, yes, a 100% yes! It's no secret that keto dieters love their bacon, and reasonably so. It tastes so good, pairs well with various foods, and, most importantly, is perfect for ketosis. It's high in fat and protein and low in carbs.
But not all bacon is created equal regarding its keto-friendly quality. So, you must be able to choose the best bacon for your low-carb diet.
Jump to:
- The best bacon for keto diet
- How to choose the best bacon for keto?
- 🥓 What are the types of bacon for keto?
- Thick cut vs. regular bacon cut
- How many slices of bacon can you eat on keto?
- Our easy bacon recipes for the keto diet
- Frequently asked questions
The best bacon for keto diet
Some sugar-free bacon brands stand out as the best for a low-carb lifestyle, and they all have zero added sugar. Here are our top bacon brands:
These three brands offer sugar-free bacon with high-quality ingredients. However, numerous brands exist, and your local grocery store may differ from ours. So, keep reading to learn how to select the best bacon for keto!
How to choose the best bacon for keto?
Carbs and protein count aren't the only things you should look out for when selecting a brand of bacon. Be careful of artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and other additives. Make sure to read the ingredient labels and stick to these safe bets when shopping:
Opt for uncured bacon
Conventionally cured bacon contains sugar and preservatives like sodium nitrates and nitrites. On keto, you want to avoid sugars and limit nitrates/nitrites.
That's why uncured bacon is a popular choice for a healthy diet. Uncured means the bacon relies more on natural ingredients such as cultured celery powder and sea salt to preserve the flavor and color. They won't have artificial ingredients.
Choose smoked bacon
Smoked bacon imparts a rich, smoky flavor and pairs well with many keto dishes. And the good news is that it fits perfectly into a keto lifestyle as long as you choose the right kind.
Look for naturally smoked produce without any artificial smoke flavoring. It has the same nutrition as regular pork bacon, but the smoky flavor makes it more flavorful.
Check the ingredients
Regardless of whether it's cured or uncured, always check the ingredient list of the bacon package. Avoid brands that list sugars, maple syrup, honey, dextrose, or cane sugar in their curing process.
Ideally, the ingredients should be pork, salt, and natural curing agents, if applicable — no need for anything else.
Prioritize fattier cuts
Opt for fattier cuts of bacon to incorporate more fat and less protein in your keto diet. Look for bacon from fattier parts of the pig, like pork belly. Aim for bacon with a 70/30 or 60/40 fat-to-protein ratio.
🥓 What are the types of bacon for keto?
Bacon, in its simplest form, comes from pork belly cured in salt, sugar (typically), and spices. Yet today's markets offer more than just traditional pork bacon. You can easily find the famous turkey bacon and beef bacon varieties. The basic curing and smoking process remains the same, but different meat brings distinct flavors and textures.
- Pork bacon: Pork bacon is the most popular type and is what most people think of when they say bacon. It is made from pork belly and is typically smoked or cured.
- Turkey bacon: Turkey bacon is a leaner option made from ground turkey meat. It's lower in fat and calories compared to pork bacon.
- Beef bacon: Beef bacon is made from beef brisket and has a more robust flavor than pork or turkey bacon. It also has high fat and protein and zero carb count.
- Canadian bacon: Canadian bacon, also known as back bacon, is made from the loin cut of a pig. It's leaner than American bacon (traditional pork bacon made from belly cut), meaning it has a less fat content. But, it's still keto-friendly because of high protein and low carb quality.
Besides this meat-based bacon, there are vegan plant-based alternatives such as tempeh bacon for those following a vegetarian diet. But you need to use tempeh bacon in moderation to keep your carb count in check.
Thick cut vs. regular bacon cut
Bacon usually comes in two main slice varieties: thick cut and regular slice. As the name implies, thick-sliced bacon is thicker than regular bacon, ranging from ⅛ to ¼ inch. The regular bacon has thinner cuts, around 1/16 of an inch.
- This means thick cut has a high-fat content, a chewy texture, and takes longer to cook. Go for it when serving bacon slices as a side dish.
- But if you make a recipe like Jalapeño Popper Chicken, where you wrap the chicken with bacon, regular cut is the way to go. It cooks more evenly.
How many slices of bacon can you eat on keto?
The number of bacon strips you can eat on keto depends on your goals and macronutrient intake. For your ease, here's a nutritional breakdown of one slice of sugar-free regular-cut bacon:
- Calories: 43
- Fat: 3.5g
- Protein: 3g
- Carbs: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
Note: Bacon also has about 137 milligrams of sodium per slice. But note that the breakdown is generic; the values can differ from brand to brand.
Our easy bacon recipes for the keto diet
Looking for easy, quick, and delicious ways to use bacon in your meal routine? Here are some of our famous keto recipes:
- Keto Breakfast Fat Bombs: A delicious morning meal of cream cheese, green onion, eggs, and cooked bacon bits.
- Keto Cheeseburger Soup with Bacon: A decadent symphony of cheese, crispy bacon, and your favorite cheeseburger toppings.
- Keto Millionaires Bacon: A quick recipe starring sweet and spicy candied bacon strips.
- Hot Bacon Dressing: A savory drizzle for your salad greens and keto burger wrapped in lettuce wraps.
- Fried Cabbage and Bacon: Cabbage cooked in flavorful bacon grease for a delicious side dish.
- Bacon and Shrimp Chowder: We love this combo of bacon and shrimp, our version of surf and turf.
- Bacon Roasted Butternut Squash: A popular recipe for those who love bacon; it's perfect for fall!
- Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Bites: A super poppable snack for game day!
- Jalapeño Bacon Meatloaf with Bacon: A heavenly meal of ground beef, delicious bacon, and cream cheese.
- Oven Bacon: An easy guide to a great meal prep.
We're sure there are many more than a few we've missed, but these are our most popular recipes made with keto bacon! We recommend you save the bacon grease/bacon fat and use it instead of olive oil or other cooking oils in other recipes. It's such an easy way to add bacon flavor to other dishes!
Article wrap-up & conclusion
Bacon is a keto-friendly treat suitable for your low-carb regimen. Its rich fat and protein levels and low carbs align well with the ketogenic diet. Prioritize uncured, naturally smoked, and minimally processed choices for optimal bacon benefits without unnecessary additives. Be it traditional pork bacon, turkey or beef alternatives, or even Canadian bacon, there's a keto-friendly variety for everyone's preferences. So, bacon lovers! Savor the smoky, savory goodnesswhile staying true to your keto goals.
Frequently asked questions
Bacon is extremely low in carbs, making it an excellent protein source for keto. Store-bought bacon typically contains 0-1g net carbs per slice due to the curing process. Be cautious with sugar-cured bacon, which might have a higher carb content.
Turkey bacon can be keto-friendly, but check the carb count, as some brands add sugars during curing. Go for no-sugar-added keto turkey bacon.
The best keto bacon is uncured pork belly bacon. It has the highest fat content and low protein and carbs.
Canadian bacon is a low-fat bacon made from pork loin. It is leaner than American bacon. But it's still low-carb and can fit into a keto diet in moderation.
