While there are many wonderful ingredients in the culinary world, few have the universal appeal of bacon. These crispy slices of smoked pork belly add delicious flavor and texture to a wide variety of dishes from breakfast to dinner and beyond. Whether you prefer to cook your strips in the oven, in a pan or in the microwave there’s no wrong way to eat these sizzling slices of goodness.

These BLT burgers combine the best of two sandwiches by topping a juicy cheese burger with lettuce, tomato and crispy bacon. The bacon is candied to give it a crisp texture and slightly sweet flavor. Add to that a magical bacon mayonnaise that’s full of chopped fresh chives and tangy sour cream to pull all these rich flavors together and you have a scrumptious meal to serve any time.

This classic side dish makes a great addition to any meal. Wrap a few spears of trimmed asparagus with uncooked bacon then toss in a quick brown sugar and soy sauce. Roast until the bacon is crispy and spears are tender for a delicious way to serve asparagus.

Many of us have probably noshed on a few bites of leftover pizza for breakfast from time to time, but what if we could enjoy pizza for breakfast on purpose? This genius recipe from Ree Drummond serves a crowd by topping pizza dough with classic breakfast ingredients, like diced peppers, hash browns, sunny-side up eggs and, of course, crisp bacon. All in, the recipe is cooked in less than an hour and ready to start your day right.

A cozy, creamy soup is just the thing for a cool fall evening. This potato-based recipe is full of fall flavors, like tart apples and toasted rye bread. Like any decent chowder, the soup has plenty of chopped bacon to infuse the soup with smokey pork flavor.

Take a simple quesadilla to a more elevated place by adding in a few flavorful ingredients pulled right from a fancy charcuterie board. For cheese, this quesadilla uses salty Spanish manchego cheese and pairs it with slices of sweet dates and strips of crunchy bacon. Top it off with a pistachio cream that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.

If you want to love French toast but lack a sweet tooth, try this savory twist on the classic dessert. Fluffy white bread is filled with a homemade tomato, onion, and bacon jam that is infused with just a hint of fresh oregano. The bread is then soaked in a lightly spiced egg mixture and topped with salty Gruyere cheese before being griddled to golden brown perfection and topped with fried, sunny-side up eggs.

A typical, straightforward batch of macaroni and cheese can be decadent in its own right, but what if you kicked it up a notch? Start by crisping bacon and building your cheese sauce right in the bacon fat. Finish off the pasta with a mixture of three cheeses and the crispy bacon pieces to create a Mac and cheese that’s truly an explosion of flavor.

Bacon easily lends itself to desserts and baking recipes, offering a salty balance to sweet flavors. These chocolate cupcakes have bits of chopped bacon baked right into the batter plus a few pieces of candied bacon stuck on top. The dulce de leche frosting is the cherry on top, which adds a deep, caramel note to this decadent dessert.

Fried chicken and waffles is a classic combo, with savory golden brown breading and a drizzle of sweet maple syrup over the top. This version takes it to the next level by adding a few strips of bacon to the side as well as mixing chopped crispy bacon into the waffle batter. Add the leftover bacon grease to your chicken frying oil to add another layer of deliciousness to the dish.

Pineapple upside-down cake never fails to be a show-stopping addition to your table. Give your next one a twist by adding a sprinkle of bacon to the bottom of the pan in between each slice of succulent pineapple. The smoky-salty-sweet combination is just right, with no flavor overpowering the other.

Wrapping a beef filet in bacon is a great hack for adding flavor and moisture to even low-cost cuts. This simple recipe walks you through the process, setting the stage for endless customization. Pair the filet with a baked potato, sautéed spinach or whatever else your heart desires.

A galette is a fuss-free freeform pie that is a bit easier to pull off than your standard double-crust pie. A single sheet of pie dough is piled high with sliced apples that are tossed in sugar, cinnamon and a hint of lemon juice. This version also has a sprinkling of crisped bacon to add a smoky, savory taste to this sweet dessert.

Great as an appetizer or as a main protein, these bacon-wrapped shrimp are juicy packed with flavor. The shrimp marinate in a tangy garlic and paprika sauce while the oven preheats. The key to this recipe is the broiler, which crisps the bacon and adds a nice char to the shrimp.

Bacon can come to the rescue next time you’re looking to serve a large group. Simply mix a mustardy blackberry sauce to marinade a boneless center-cut pork loin, then wrap the loin in strips of bacon and roast. Roast for about 90 minutes and you have a show-stopping main protein that pairs with anything from salad to corn pudding.

A crisp, tangy slaw is a crucial recipe to have on hand, whether you need to top a pulled pork sandwich or serve a side for golden fried chicken. This coleslaw adds a few surprising ingredients, like thinly sliced apple, scallions and chopped bacon. The dressing is a tasty mustardy mix that’s flecked with celery seeds and just a hint of cayenne.

Imagine your favorite slice of pecan pie reimagined as a fuss-free tray of squares. The gooey pecan filling has all the soft caramel goodness but swaps a pie crust for an easy press-in one. Added in is a sprinkle of salty bacon to temper the sweetness, ensuring you’ll keep coming back for seconds (and thirds!).

Rumor has it that Elvis’ favorite sandwich featured peanut butter, banana, and bacon. This sandwich takes that concept in a slightly Italian direction by swapping the peanut butter for chocolate-hazelnut spread and mashing the banana with creamy mascarpone cheese. Build the sandwich then griddle it to golden-brown perfection in a large skillet.

One way to add interest to a boneless, skinless, chicken breast is to stuff them with something delicious. These are filled with a mixture of blue cheese, toasted chopped pecans and scallions, then wrapped in bacon before roasting in the oven. Finish them off with a simple creamy mustard pan sauce and serve with your choice of side.

If you’re looking for a dessert that is over-the-top decadent in a totally unique way, try this twist on classic strawberry shortcakes. Start by baking fluffy shortcakes that are stuffed with chopped bacon pieces and roasted peanuts and fill each with fluffy peanut whipped cream. Add to that a dark rum caramel that’s mixed with more chopped bacon and sliced ripe banana to create a dessert you’ll never forget.

This version of a wedge salad borrows a few notes from a delicious baked potato. By swapping the blue cheese for sharp Cheddar, the salad takes on a milder flavor that still tastes great Sith a sprinkle of crispy bacon bits. The creamy buttermilk dressing ensures the salad is never dry and gets a wonderful tang from a large scoop of sour cream.

Bacon brittle, need we say more? Standard peanut brittle is already addictively delicious, but this recipe adds in chunks of crispy cooked bacon to take it to the next level. With a good quality candy thermometer and a sharp eye, you can make this candy to share with friends and neighbors—or keep all to yourself.

Traditionally, carbonara pasta uses Italian pancetta to add smokiness and depth to the deceptively simple sauce. This version swaps it for much easier to find bacon. Combine that with eggs, parmesan cheese and plenty of black pepper to make a classic Italian pasta that doesn’t need a special trip to the store.

Rule the brunch table with this elevated twist on crisp bacon. By making a brown sugar and pecan mixture and topping each piece of bacon with it, the slices are transformed into sweet, salty, caramelized goodness. There’s a secret spice from a combination of cayenne and black pepper to keep this appetizer from veering to sweet.

Pancetta and bacon can often be used interchangeably in recipes, like this pancetta and bacon pizza. Use chopped crispy bacon to give the pizza a slightly smokier flavor to pair with melted sliced leeks, fresh basil and garlic. Use the recipe to make your own crust and sauce, or save a few steps and use some store-bought versions.

Get more spinach into your diet by tossing some baby leaves with a warm bacon dressing. Once the bacon is cooked, a quick whisk with vinegar, honey, mustard and olive oil is all you need to finish it off. Add in some halved red grapes, blue cheese, and croutons, and you have a savory meal that’s ready in 10 minutes or less.

Some may say that good scallops need no alteration, but those people have probably never tried them wrapped in bacon. Adding a strip of the smoked pork belly helps lock moisture into the scallop and infuses each bite with a delectable surf-and-turf flavor pairing. This dish serves them with a tangy papaya salsa that’s tossed with bits of spicy jalapeño.

There’s nothing wrong with a jar of store-bought bacon bits but they’re so easy to make, why not whip them up yourself? This quick and simple method ensures perfectly cooked bacon that effortlessly chops into tiny, crispy bits. Use them to top baked potatoes, pizza or salad.

Can’t decide if you prefer a hot dog or a burger? These bacon burger dogs combine the best of both and wrap it in bacon, for good measure. Coat bratwursts in a seasoned mixture of ground beef and use a slice of bacon to keep everything tight and tucked in. Serve the dogs on a hot dog bun topped with sweet onion and shredded cheddar cheese, plus any condiments you prefer.

Thanks to some help from frozen, store-bought dumplings, this soup can come together in a snap with just a few ingredients from your pantry. After crisping the bacon, build the soup in the same pot by stir-frying ginger and scallions in the bacon fat. The soup is finished with some crunchy snow peas, watercress and a few chopped tomatoes to create a veggie-forward soup that you can eat any season.

Every been curious to try making your own bacon at home? This recipe walks you through the surprisingly simple process that just requires a smoker and a few pantry ingredients. Once you secure a pork belly, it’s just a matter of curing in a flavorful salt-honey mixture and smoking it for a few hours at a low temperature.

Chopped bacon has a way of turning even the staunchest of vegetable haters. This bacon and wilted green side is a wonderful addition to any dinner table and is ready to eat in just 10 minutes. Once the bacon crisps, just sauté a few handfuls of sliced garlic and shallot and add in the greens to wilt.

The magic of this bone-in pork chop recipe is the crunchy slaw that’s studded with strips of savory bacon. The slaw is full of fresh corn kernels and cherry tomatoes, making it the perfect side dish for a hot summer night. If you prefer, feel free to swap out the pork chop for your favorite protein, from steak to fish.

Softened, sautéed leeks melt into a slightly sweet, savory texture that is a natural companion to crispy, smoky bacon pieces. That combination is front-and-center in this pasta dish which uses a touch of cream to create a velvety sauce. Top it off with grated parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of parsley.

Take a page from the French and make this take on a classic frisee aux lardons salad. The salad traditionally uses a warm bacon vinaigrette that’s infused with a touch of Dijon mustard and tops it with a warm poached egg. The yolk spills into the salad and makes a savory yet light dish that has plenty of protein to keep you full.

Egg foo yong is a Chinese-American twist on an omelette that’s made with eggs and a variety of other mix-ins. While many are deep-freed, this pan-fried alternative is simple to make and features leaner Canadian bacon, along with peas, scallions and onion. Don’t forget to serve it with the mushroom gravy, which adds moisture and flavor.