5 Best Bacon Brands in Grocery Stores, According to Chefs
Bacon is a breakfast staple that’s hard to beat. From crispy strips alongside eggs to savory additions in sandwiches, salads, and more, it’s undeniably irresistible—but the type you choose makes a difference. Great bacon starts with quality, from the cut of pork to the curing process and balance of smoke and seasoning. The best brands deliver consistent texture and deep, rich flavor, turning a simple strip into something truly crave-worthy. To find the best of the best, Eat This, Not That! asked chefs to share the bacon brands worthy of taking home.
Wright Brand
Wright Brand bacon because it hits a sweet spot that a lot of grocery-store bacon misses: thicker cuts, real smoky flavor, and consistent quality. It’s a go-to for Lisa Lotts, home cook, recipe developer, owner and publisher of Garlic and Zest when she makes bacon burgers (with bacon-wrapped onion rings. “Wright Brand bacon is consistently thick, has a crisp-chewy texture, and has a deep hickory flavor,” she says. “It’s as delicious for breakfast with eggs as it is on a BLT or club sandwich.” Carl Walker, GM & Culinary Director with Brennan’s of Houston, Houston, Texas, is also a big fan of Wright bacon. “It’s a good, solid, thick-cut bacon that cooks up nicely and has great flavor,” he says. “If I’m back home in Missouri, I’ll pick up bacon from family-run Burgers’ Smokehouse because their bacon and ham are hard to beat.”
Neuske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon
Neuske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon is an award-winning brand and is widely considered a premium, almost “gourmet” version of bacon—the kind chefs and serious food lovers reach for when they want something noticeably better than standard grocery-store options. According to Lotts, the brand “takes their time smoking the meat (24 hours), which is thicker than most and shrinks less than other brands, and the flavor is sweet and smoky with a deep, rich profile,” making it her favorite. Another culinary pro who raves about the brand is Joe Cervantez, Executive Chef at Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House in San Leon, Texas. “It’s great to cook with because you can really taste the smoke, and the flavor is a good balance of sweetness and salt,” he says.
Applegate
People like Applegate because it offers a cleaner, more natural take on bacon, with simple ingredients, humanely raised pork, and a flavor that feels less processed than many conventional brands. “Applegate Natural is worth the extra dollar,” says Emma Sullivan, home chef and recipe developer at DailyCookingRecipe.com. She explains, “Most grocery store bacon is loaded with so much water that it just steams in the pan instead of crisping. Applegate actually gets crispy and has a real smoky flavor.” Sullivan adds, “Plus no nitrates, which matters when you’re feeding kids.” One standout in its lineup is the Sunday Bacon, a fan-favorite that highlights the brand’s commitment to quality with its balanced smoky flavor and straightforward ingredient list. “Applegate’s Sunday bacon brings that perfect balance of smoke and salt without overwhelming whatever you’re building around it,” says Melanie Portman, chef and recipe developer with Droolrecipes.com. “I use it in my carbonara, and it renders clean fat that becomes the base of the sauce. No artificial flavors competing with the eggs and pecorino.”
Smithfield Thick Cut Maple Bacon
Smithfield Thick Cut Maple Bacon delivers a sweet-and-savory flavor combo, thick texture, and reliable grocery-store quality—it’s an easy upgrade from basic bacon without getting too fancy or expensive. “This bacon is by far the best–it’s got a great smoky flavor, thick, hearty slices and a hint of maple sweetness for the perfect finish,” says Chef Carl Miller — Executive Chef at Rita’s Seaside Grille on Folly Beach, SC. “It takes a little longer to cook, but it fries up nice and crispy in a cast-iron skillet.”
Niman Ranch Uncured Bacon
Niman Ranch Uncured Bacon is all about cleaner ingredients, ethical sourcing, and real wood-smoked flavor, making it a high-quality, feel-good option that still delivers an indulgent, satisfying taste and is a favorite among chefs. “It has a subtle smoke flavor and is uncured, which yields a less salty product,” says Chef Andres Kaifer of Customshopand Emmy Lou’s in Charlotte, NC. “Some store-bought bacon can be very salty, but the Niman Ranch bacon is well-balanced and super tasty.”