There is bacon, and then there is grilled bacon. Imagine strips of thick-sliced, flavor-packed bacon threaded onto skewers, rendered to bubbly, golden-brown perfection over a low, open flame, then mopped in a zesty, Mexican-inspired sauce made with an easy homemade taco seasoning. It’s smoky, it’s spicy, and arguably the most addictive thing you’ll ever pull off the grill. Once you experience the sticky, addictive crunch of grilled bacon, your stove-top skillet is going to start feeling pretty lonely.
This is the last of my taco seasoning recipes for the week. Well, almost, I plan on sharing some recipes from other blogs and online recipe sites tomorrow for The Thursday Thirteen. I started out the week with Grill Marinade, followed by Chimichurri Sauce, and now I’m excited to share Grilled Bacon with you. Grilled Bacon = Heaven on a Stick!!! It’s my new preferred way of making bacon, because I don’t have the aroma of bacon in my bedroom for a week after making it, like I do when I cook bacon in the oven or on the stovetop. Bacon smells amazing, but the smell of it can be a bit overwhelming when you’re trying to fall asleep. I promise you that there is no better way to start off your day than to indulge in perfectly charred bacon, which has slowly become crispy over the flames of a grill. Make sure to wear an apron, though; I think I managed to get more mopping sauce on me than I did on the bacon. The mess was well worth it, though, because this bacon was freaking amazing. Please note, this recipe is not for those who are afraid of grill flames. Bacon has grease in it, which means there are going to be some flames and small fires involved in the cooking process.
Ingredients:
Taco Seasoning:
- 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
- 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Mopping Sauce:
- 2 Teaspoons Taco Seasoning
- 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 4 Tablespoons Orange Juice
- 1 Package of Thick-Sliced Bacon
- Wooden Skewers
- Fresh Rosemary Sprigs (Optional)
Directions:
Taco Seasoning:
- Mix all taco seasoning ingredients together, and then pour into a small glass jar to store.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
Mopping Sauce:
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
- Preheat grill to low.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all of the mopping sauce ingredients.
- Thread bacon onto the water-soaked wooden skewers.
- Grill bacon on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, with the grill lid shut. You will need to rotate or flip the bacon every five minutes.
- After the 10 to 15 minutes are up, mop the bacon with the sauce every 3 to 5 minutes until the bacon is done to your preference. You can either use fresh rosemary sprigs to mop the bacon or a grill-safe basting brush.
Suggestions:
- I threaded two slices of bacon onto each skewer because my skewers were rather large.
- Use a fresh rosemary sprig or two to mop the sauce onto the bacon while it is grilling.
- Every grill will cook at a different temperature, so you will have to use your best judgment to control the bacon from overcooking.
- Watch for flame-ups; they will happen. Occasionally, you will have to blow on a skewer to put out the flames. Try to avoid spitting on the bacon in the process.
- The slices of bacon actually taste best when they are a bit undercooked and have come to room temperature. It’s hard to resist eating them right away, though.
Improvements:
- Add 1 teaspoon of hot sauce to the mopping sauce.
- Add 2 cloves of minced garlic to the mopping sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
- 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Taco Seasoning
- 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 4 Tablespoons Orange Juice
- 1 Package of Thick-Sliced Bacon
- Wooden Skewers
- Fresh Rosemary Sprigs (Optional)
Directions:
- Mix all taco seasoning ingredients together, and then pour into a small glass jar to store.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
- Preheat grill to low.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all of the mopping sauce ingredients.
- Thread bacon onto the water-soaked wooden skewers.
- Grill bacon on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, with the grill lid shut. You will need to rotate or flip the bacon every five minutes.
- After the 10 to 15 minutes are up, mop the bacon with the sauce every 3 to 5 minutes until the bacon is done to your preference. You can either use fresh rosemary sprigs to mop the bacon or a grill-safe basting brush.
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Bacon-Wrapped Cranberry Jalapeño Crackers
Day 1 – Taco Seasoning: Grill Marinade
