Bacon Seasoning Guide For Meat: Which Is Best?

About
Latest Posts

Amy Hand is passionate about one thing in life: creativity. She balances her time in between pursuing her love of food as a pastry chef and she spends the rest of her time writing about it! Living in South Africa, she has a unique aspect of culinary arts that you don’t normally see from those in the United States. If you want to see a refreshing spin on food, check out Amy’s work!

The Wonderous World of Bacon Seasoning

Bacon seasoning is a very clever seasoning blend that has hit the market by storm in recent times! It literally makes absolutely anything taste like bacon adding a distinct smoky flavor to enrich your dishes with.

Most of these seasonings consist of various preservatives and flavorings (natural or synthetic), paprika and garlic extracts, spices, natural smoke flavor, sugar, and dehydrated vegetables. Those that are not suitable for vegans can even contain dehydrated rendered bacon and bacon fat to get that authentic bacon flavor the natural way.

With its unique notes and novelty ‘bacon in a jar’ flavor, this will quickly become essential in any spice rack. But why do you want to season various things with bacon?

Bacon has a unique balance of flavors that play with sweet, salty, and smoky to create a very layered flavor that is created during the smoking and curing process. The seasoning then gifts these flavors to the meat it has been married with, which creates a complex depth of flavor. All these factors make this seasoning a must add to any protein rubs to take your meat to the next level.

What does a meat rub actually do?

A meat rub is a spice blend or seasoning that is rubbed into your meat before cooking or grilling to infuse a certain flavor into the meat. The best way to apply a rub for the best results is to dry the surface of the meat so as little moisture remains as possible. Sprinkle the dried meat with your seasoning and massage it well into the meat so the whole cut is covered. Unlike a marinade there is no need to leave your meat rub on for a long period of time, just rub it on and slap it on the grill (or pan). The rub will cause the meat to brown and caramelize to create a delicious crispy crust.

All of these characteristics make bacon seasoning absolutely perfect for any meat applications you can think of, but what about our plant-based friends?

Is bacon seasoning vegan?

If you’re vegan but you really miss the seductively smoky flavor of bacon don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! A large percentage of bacon seasoning brands on the market right now are in fact vegan!

This smoky flavor is obtained by condensing the smoke from burning wood and bottling it. This infuses any dish with a distinctive flavor that varies depending on what wood was used.

This gives you a unique opportunity to tailor the flavor profile exactly to your tastes by choosing certain woods for their exclusive flavors. By using this to season your plant-based meat you can infuse the fake meat with a more authentic flavor that will trick your taste buds into thinking you’re eating the real thing with none of the guilt!

Going hand in hand with this fact, since it contains no actual bacon, it means that many of these brands are certified as kosher. This means those that haven’t been able to eat bacon due to their religious beliefs get to indulge in some delicious bacon flavor without compromising on their diets.

The fact that a seasoning that tastes so convincingly like bacon can not only enhance the meat-eaters experience but also include vegetarians, vegans, and kosher eaters really shows how innovative this seasoning really is.

Best Bacon Seasoning Products on the Market Right Now

There are a lot of bacon seasonings on the market right now that range from natural to synthetic and vegan friendly to ones just for the meat-eaters. They come in a variety of flavors so you can spice up your bacon flavor even more and many are available to purchase conveniently online:

These are just a few great options out there at the moment:

Deliciou Bacon Seasoning

Deliciou is a brand that is completely vegan and gluten-free but some house manages to mimic the flavor of bacon flawlessly. It has no preservatives or additives and not only is it cholesterol-free and GMO-free it’s also certified kosher, which means that even kosher eaters can appreciate the flavor of bacon once in a while without compromising. This remarkable seasoning has 0 calories, 0 carbs, and 0 fat and comes in a variety of flavors including maple bacon, cheesy bacon, spicy, smoky BBQ, and chipotle so you can really play with your flavors in different dishes.

The meats that are most recommended to use with Deliciou seasoning are chicken, pork, and beef.

Deliciou seasonings will cost you $6.99 for 2 oz so this is a great middle-of-the-road option that lets you buy small quantities if you aren’t looking at buying in bulk.

La Grille Clubhouse Bacon Seasoning

As one of the few brands that offer bacon seasoning with actual bacon in it, this particular seasoning has been specially designed with grilling proteins in mind especially pork, chicken, and beef. Simply sprinkle across your meat and rub it into the surface, slap on the grill, and cook until caramelized and golden brown to really bring out the flavor in both the meat and the seasoning.

What sets this seasoning apart is that it includes brown sugar, maple syrup, a variation of spices, rendered bacon fat and bacon, coffee, and Worchestershire sauce that creates an intensely rich flavor. This takes real natural ingredients and brings them together in a harmonious and scrumptious way. This brand also contains no flavorings or colorants and is also gluten-free into the bargain.

This seasoning sells for $16.49 for 5.3 oz which makes this the best value for money at $3 an ounce. Buying in bulk will always work out better for your budget so if you grill a lot or are just a massive fan of bacon this one is the choice for you.

Pig Out Pigless Bacon Seasoning

This brand is 100% plant-based and has the absolute cutest packaging around housing the seasoning in a little pink pig that is so cute it could live on your countertop. This seasoning has 0 calories, 0 carbohydrates, and 0 fat so you can get all of the flavors without worrying. In addition to that, it is also gluten-free, GMO-free, and kosher making this seasoning super inclusive and versatile.

This special seasoning is made entirely from plant-based ingredients and, the most important element; smoke flavoring which is a key element to impart that true bacon flavor. If you are in a house with meat and nonmeat eaters this seasoning is perfect because you can rub your regular meat and your plant-based meats liberally in the same seasoning before cooking and feast on those smoky meaty flavors together without your plant-based family members ever actually eating meat!

Pigless seasoning shakers are $7.99 for 1.6 oz so it appears that you are paying a premium for the packaging as this option has the worst value for money at $5 per ounce.

Flavour God Bacon Seasoning

On the pricier side of things, we have the $18.99 Flavour God bacon seasoning which is actually a great deal as the shakers hold 5 oz. This works out at $3.70 per oz so this is a great option if you want to buy a vegan option in large quantities.

This luxurious seasoning is vegan as well as having no fat or calories whatsoever making this a pretty healthy option. It is also kosher certified, paleo, and gluten-free so it is inclusive of a lot of different diets and food restrictions. One thing that really sets this seasoning apart is that it is low in sodium, which is a very rare thing to find in seasonings so it is ideal for those who are actively trying to reduce their sodium intake for health reasons.

This seasoning has been created with Hickory smoke flavoring that creates a lingering flavor that is distinctly reminiscent of a classic bacon flavor. It also includes garlic. onion and aromatic herbs as part of its flavor profile for a uniquely robust flavor. Its hefty price tag might be justified if you value only natural ingredients in your diet. Flavour God boasts a 100% natural product with no nasties and ingredients a regular person can’t even pronounce. This brand delivers you all the flavor with none of the harmful extras.

Homemade Bacon Seasoning Recipe

If you want to avoid preservatives and really want to create your own seasoning with its own flavour that is unique to you, you could try your hand at making your own bacon seasoning. Here’s a quick and easy recipe for you to try that you could even adapt by adding some spices to create your own signature bacon seasoning.

Ingredients

500g streaky bacon

½ cup salt

½ tsp freshly cracked pepper

¼ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp sugar

Method

Preheat your oven to 180^o C.
On a foil-lined baking sheet lay your bacon out in one layer and bake until very browned and crispy, as close to burned as you can get it to really render out the fat and extract that bacon flavor.
Drain on a paper towel and place another layer of paper towel on top, pressing down to absorb any excess oil.
Leave to cool for 2-3 hours.
In a blender or a food processor blend until fine and resembling fine breadcrumbs.
Add the salt, black pepper, cloves, and sugar and grind again.
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 3- 5 days

The benefit to making your own bacon seasoning is that you avoid all of the harmful additives and preservatives that are added to most commercial seasonings that make it a healthier choice in the long run. The downside, however, is that it doesn’t have a long shelf life and has to be stored in the fridge due to it containing actual bacon which can make you sick if not stored correctly. This means that you will have to make it when you need it rather than having it on hand in your pantry like a shop-bought seasoning.

FAQ

Question: Does bacon seasoning actually contain bacon?

Answer: Funnily enough, considering the name, not all bacon seasonings actually contain bacon itself. Some versions that really go for the all-natural flavor (like the La Grille seasoning we discussed earlier) actually feature rendered bacon fat as a key flavor element. However, it seems that the majority of brands actually rely on smoke flavoring to get the distinct flavor along with other plant-based ingredients so they are in fact vegan friendly. Try this out with plant-based meats to make them taste like the real deal.

Question: Can I make my own bacon seasoning safely?

Answer: Yes, by following the recipe we have provided you can make a bacon seasoning yourself pretty easily. What you need to be very careful with is how long you keep it. The bacon seasonings you buy in the shops are all dehydrated and use preservatives so they have a long shelf life. Since your homemade version doesn’t have these additives it has a very short shelf life and must be kept in the fridge to prevent you from getting sick.

Question: What else can I use bacon seasoning on besides meat?

Answer: Bacon seasoning is essentially just a smoky flavored seasoning that can be used for just about anything. The possibilities are endless! A few things it would be good on are:
-popcorn
-hot chips
-pasta salad
-roasted vegetables
-vegetarian meat
-grilled cheese
-any egg dish
-homemade potato chips
-baked potatoes

Conclusion

All in all bacon seasoning is an innovative and revolutionary new seasoning that makes everything it touches turn to figurative gold! I mean who can resist the smoky, sweet, succulent flavor of bacon? And this seasoning lets you achieve that even when there is no bacon in sight! When it comes to meat bacon seasoning is an absolute must-have in your flavor arsenal to really take your meat cookery and grilling up a notch. So the next time you are in the seasoning aisle of your local supermarket why not chuck some of it in your basket and discover the wondrous world of bacon seasoning.