Thanksgiving Dinner....with Bacon!

I love bacon. Bacon Everything. I love sunsets, but not long walks in the sand. And, I like bacon.

Thanksgiving Recipes with Bacon

What's better than Thanksgiving dinner? Nothing right? Nothing could be better than turkey, and stuffing, and cranberry sauce, and squash, and .....

That's what I thought until I ate a turkey club sandwich for lunch today and it hit me. The only thing better than Thanksgiving dinner is Thanksgiving dinner WITH BACON!!!

Just think of it...Bacon Thanksgiving. Turkey wrapped in bacon with bacon cider gravy, apple bacon stuffing, bacon stuffed acorn squash, green beans with bacon and onions,and smashed potatoes with bacon. Can you imagine the bacon-induced bliss your family will experience?

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Bacon Turkey (Not turkey bacon)

Let the great bacon feast begin! You already know this is going to be good, right?

If you're wrapping your turkey in bacon, don't put it on too soon. You will want to have your turkey in for a while first so the bacon does not burn. You don't want a black charred turkey, plus you want the skin to crisp up a bit first. About 45 minutes before the turkey is done, remove your turkey, baste it, and then add your bacon wrap.

Wondering about the nutritional facts on this meal? Stop being a party pooper. It's Thanksgiving!

How to Make a Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Here is the printed recipe for the first video: How to Cook a Bacon-Wrapped Turkey with Pear Cider Gravy Recipe.

Recipes for Bacon Turkey Gravy

Don't underrate the value of the gravy. It's poured over the turkey and the potatoes, and chances are a bit of it will reach nearly everything else on the plate, at least a little. Whether you cooked the turkey in bacon or not, you can liven up the gravy with bacon.

• Sage and Bacon Turkey Gravy - with dry vermouth
• Bacon Cider Gravy - mmm.
• Redeye Turkey Gravy - with coffee
• Bacon, Tarragon and Applejack Gravy - brandy optional
• Pancetta Sage Turkey Gravy - with white wine

Recipes for Dressings with Bacon

Bacon Stuffing Recipes

The stuffing has always been, and will always be, my favorite part of the Thanksgiving feast.

And, unless you pull it off perfectly, this is where you will feel the biggest resistance to change. People are fussy about their stuffing. They like what they like. But if they're going to accept any change at all, it will be one that includes bacon!

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Try one of these great bacon dressing varieties:

• Bacon Nut Stuffing
• Sourdough Stuffing with Apples and Bacon
• Bacon and Bourbon Thanksgiving Stuffing
• Bacon, Pumpkin and Pecan Stuffing
• Sweet Potato Stuffing with Bacon and Thyme
• Bacon, Apple and Fennel Stuffing
• Boston Brown Bread Stuffing with Bacon and Tarragon
• Smoked Oyster and Bacon Stuffing
• Sourdough stuffing with bacon and mushrooms

Potatoes .... with Bacon!

It's not Thanksgiving without the mashed potatoes! Whether you are one to smother them in gravy, or enjoy them on their own, the mashed potatoes are critical to the Thanksgiving dinner. Make your potatoes to die for with a hint of bacon in them.

• Bacon Smashed Potatoes
  Bacon Smashed Potatoes was submitted to the Epicurious 15th Anniversary recipe content! Did you submit a recipe yet?
• Bacon and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
  Bacon and Buttermilk. Heaven.
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Baking Bites
  Baking Bites - Mashed potatoes are a great side dish any time, but are especially good when gravy is involved in a meal, which is why I always make sure that they make an appearance at my Thanksgiving dinner...
• Roasted Potatoes with Bacon, Onions, and Sage
  If you're not a mashed potato person (and we won't judge you), have roasted potatoes on your table.

Squash with Bacon

• Bacon-Stuffed Acorn Squash
  This bacon stuffed acorn squash recipe has all the best of taste and presentation. It will look gorgeous on your table, and make your guests feel special that you made this just for them.
• Corn and Squash Soup
  Smooth and creamy awesomeness kicked up with some crunchy bits of, you guessed it, bacon.
• Bacon, Butternut Squash, and Basil Baked Risotto
  Certainly not every cook has time to make risotto on Thanksgiving Day, but if you're bringing one dish to the event, they will love this!
• Unsquashed Squash Soup
  Mmm Unsquashed Squash Soup.
• Stewed Butternut Squash with Apples and Smoked Bacon
  This Emeril Lagasse recipe is AMAZING (but use less chicken stock or you could end up with mush).
• Spaghetti Squash Carbonara
  Super good twist on traditional Thanksgiving squash. Plus it's a great excuse to get some cheese on the table.

Thanksgiving Dinner Buns & Rolls

I love the buns at Thanksgiving dinner. I sometimes make a little Thanksgiving sandwich with it, right there at Thanksgiving dinner.

My father uses the bun simply as a way of sopping up the gravy and getting it into his mouth. (He's big on the gravy).

Add a bit of bacon to your buns...

Sweet Potato Cranberry Bacon Rolls

Onion & Bacon Rolls

Herb and Bacon Rolls

Cheese and Bacon Rolls

Crispy Bacon Buns

Bacon-Scallion Cornbread

Piragi - Latvian Bacon Buns

Cranberry Sauce

Bacon in the cranberry sauce? It can be done.

While many might just crack open a can of cranberry sauce and call it done, others put great love into the dish.

Go for something creative this year and try this Bacon Cranberry sauce:

• Rustic Cranberry Bacon Chutney with Rosemary and Port

Sweet Potatoes

Yams & Bacon!

Call them sweet potatoes or call them yams - they are a Thanksgiving Day tradition and they are AMAZING with bacon!

• Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Bacon
• Spicy Maple Sweet Potatoes with Apple & Bacon (pictured)
• Savory Sweet Potatoes With Bacon & Swiss
• Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Bacon
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Smoked Bacon and Beer

Thanksgiving Recipes for Vegetables Cooked with Bacon

How can you get your family to eat their vegetables at Thanksgiving dinner? Cook them with bacon! It's Thanksgiving, so you can get a bit more fancy with your veggies. Try something new. Try something bacon-y good!

• Braised Brussels Sprouts in Bacon and Shallots
  "This is a super simple recipe for braising brussels sprouts. Sauté up a bit of bacon then add some chopped shallots....."
• Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Bacon
  Robert Irvine makes these brussels sprouts taste Thanksgivingish by including cranberries. Then makes them taste awesome by adding bacon.
• Creamy Spinach Casserole
  This side is jam packed with flavor and will leave everyone feeling satisfied.
• Roasted Celery Root, Celery, Onions, and Bacon
  This is one of those garden sides that feels decadent and special, but is super easy to make.
• Curly Endive Salad with Cranberry-Bacon Vinaigrette
  Yeah, I guess it wouldn't kill us to have some salad on the table despite it being our Thanksgiving Bacon Feast. Try this cranberry bacon vinaigrette on whatever greens you prefer.
• Creamed Onions with Bacon and Chives
  Sure, it may sound like creamed onions = cream + onions but this is more. It's smoky salty drippings and nutmeg and thickened cream and sherry and chives and bits of browned bacon....
• Cauliflower with Bacon, Capers, Peppers, and Raisins
  Hey, they can't call you boring. This may sound like an odd mix, but the flavors do something great here. Give it a shot.
• Peas and Bacon with Dill
  I'm a freak for dill. This simple recipe adds a little interest to what could otherwise be a boring bowl of peas. Tip: don't put the bacon in until just before you eat or it could get soggy.
• Celery and Fennel with Bacon
  "I was actually surprised by how delicious this was. The celery was surprisingly flavorful. The fennel's anise-y flavor paired beautifully with the bacon ....."
• Sauteed Corn, Bacon, and Scallions
  Martha Stewart's Sauteed Corn, Bacon, and Scallions recipe. Um. Yeah!

Thanksgiving Pie - With BACON! Mmmmm. Pie.....

Yep. We're going there.

You cannot let the bacon feast end before dessert hits the table. They need pie. They don't just want it. They NEED it. Pie is an outright necessity in the Thanksgiving world.

So, don't just feed them any old pie. It's Thanksgiving! Feed them the best pie you can think of. And I can't think of anything better than bacon!

Bacon Thanksgiving Pie Recipes - Mmmm....Bacon Pie

• Bacon and Bourbon Pecan Pie
  When I was a kid, I secretly enjoyed having maple syrup flow onto my bacon or sausage. While most people would save their sausages from drowning by moving them to higher ground, I left them in the lowlands, gleefully watching...
• Beautiful Bacon Apple Pie
  "Sit down kids, it's time for a story. A year ago two of my co-workers went to an apple orchard. On the way home, they stopped at a butcher and bought, among other things, cinnamon bacon. ..."
• Big Oven Bacon Pumpkin Pie
  It's Thanksgiving. Of course there is pumpkin pie.
• Joe's Incredible Bacon Pumpkin Pie
  I've made this pie for six years running. Some have suggested melting cheese on it and I say 'go for it!' Others pile on the whipped cream - another stellar move...
• Chocolate Bacon Chess Pie
  This dessert is a straightforward combination of the universe's two most awesome foodstuffs: pie and bacon. ...
• Pumpkin Pie Spiced Candied Bacon
  Pumpkin pie spice adds a deep, warming spice to these candied strips.

Bacon Drinks

There is a Bacon soda that may not be the delight of every guest at Thanksgiving, but I found it to be an interesting flavor and worth a try. Bacon die-hards should check it off their bucket list.

Bacon Drinks

• Maple-Bacon Shake
  If you're reading this and are dubious about the combo, think for a second about the deliciousness of a crisp piece of bacon running through a puddle of maple syrup.

Guestbook

rdcbizz on December 19, 2012:

I do love bacon

CeyhunDonmez on November 27, 2012:

Great food items.Thanks for Sharing.Keep Posting

CraftyDaddy on November 26, 2012:

All my favorite recipes... begin by rendering a pound of bacon...

Bartukas on November 25, 2012:

Great recipes thank you :)

Laura from Australia on November 24, 2012:

Delicious recipes!

Joan4 on November 22, 2012:

Cooking with bacon - always a winner! yummy!

Nancy Tate Hellams from Pendleton, SC on November 22, 2012:

Well, we didn't have any bacon this year but we sure had a lot of everything else. Maybe next year we will add a little bacon.

babynstar on November 22, 2012:

Oh my gosh! If only Canadian Thanksgiving hadn't already happened

eccles1 on November 21, 2012:

I can't wait to make a couple of these I love bacon, I can't help it.

Happy Thanksgiving

lshields lm on November 20, 2012:

What a selection uses of bacon, have to try a few. Thanks for the great lens

Michey LM on November 20, 2012:

The surprise for me was squash with bacon.... great lens it is like enciclopedia on food for Thanksgiving Thanks

Blessings!a and Happy thanksgiving.

Michael Oksa on November 20, 2012:

I didn't think it was possible, but you made vegetables actually sound tasty. Great lens!

montanatravel52 on November 20, 2012:

Wow, what a coincidence, I decided we were going to have a "bacon" Thanksgiving this year b/c my kids love bacon, and will eat almost anything if it has bacon in in it:)! Love the ideas, I already have my menu pretty much planned, but got a couple of ideas from your page, thanks - and awesome tribute to bacon!

ruth-williams lm on November 20, 2012:

Some mouthwatering ideas here, will have to give some a go!

VeseliDan on November 19, 2012:

These recipes are delicious. I love bacon but I shouldn't eat too much of it. *blessed*

anonymous on November 19, 2012:

Am already salivating! Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

dealnation on November 19, 2012:

mmmmm bacon!

EnlightenedPen on November 19, 2012:

Yummy lens... I was with you all the way up until the pie and the drinks. You have to draw the line somewhere!

Zienna1 on November 19, 2012:

That's the only time I'm eating bacon..I love it crunchy, melt in my mouth sort of thing. I used to hide them so I can have it all by myself...hahahaha..sounds griddy, sort of, only when it comes to bacon. I haven't tried doing the presentation that way. I think that will not be good. I will not have it all for myself.. Sorry still thinking griddy. All in all, I loved it. I'm already getting hungry. The worst part I have to cook it myself. Will be good if you will come and cook it for me.

Heidi from Benson, IL on November 19, 2012:

Bacon everything! Some of these ideas look delicious. But then, I'm the kind of person who tasted a maple syrup and bacon flavored muffin one time. I should have asked for the recipe.

jadapotata on November 19, 2012:

Great lens!

tamjo5 on November 05, 2012:

Intriguing uses of bacon in cooking. I'm not sure of wrapping my Thanksgiving Turkey with bacon, but many of the pictures and recipes you shared look delish!

Yum..

RosaMorelli on November 04, 2012:

My mum used to drape a slice or two of bacon over the turkey for Christmas dinner, but nothing like this wonderful selection of bacon-y delights! Love bacon, and love all the ideas in this Lens. Maybe if I'm feeling brave enough I might even try the bacon and maple smoothie! :)

MyWebsiteHostin on November 04, 2012:

Seeing this just mad me very hungry.. and with Bacon, what a brilliant addition to an already brilliant traditional thanksgiving meal!

Best Regards,

Michael James Swan

http://www.squidoo.com/michael-james-swan

sweetstickyrainbo on November 03, 2012:

it's better with bacon

Mr-Panda LM on November 03, 2012:

That's a bird I would eat =)

flowski lm on November 03, 2012:

For some reason I never thought of bacon on the bird itself, I think your on to something here!

Bob Zau on October 25, 2012:

Mmmm, does this look tasty!

eightieschild on October 23, 2012:

I'm from the UK, so we don't have thanksgiving, but anything with bacon is awesome! :)

SandraWilson LM on October 23, 2012:

The rest of the lens was interesting and gave me some good ideas. Sorry though. I have to draw the line at bacon in dessert and drink. lol

gatornic15 on May 03, 2012:

I will have to bookmark this for later. Bacon makes almost everything taste better!

anonymous on February 20, 2012:

i like to try some

anonymous on January 20, 2012:

Returning with a fresh blessing....the turkey that dreams are made of!

baby-strollers on December 27, 2011:

I like bacon, therefore I like your lens.

Priore on December 07, 2011:

Love the ideas about using bacon thank you so much for sharing

love4randomness1 on December 07, 2011:

Haha cool bacon lens yummy! Squid-liked :)

smartbiz38129 on December 06, 2011:

Everything tastes better with bacon!

Clairissa from OREFIELD, PA on December 06, 2011:

Everything is better with bacon! Great lens, I will have to share this with my daughter she is huge bacon fan. Great lens...

viscri8 on December 06, 2011:

I like bacon very much -- good to put it in everything. Keep well! This lens is blessed!

WriterJanis2 on December 06, 2011:

I have turkey for Christmas and this has given me some great ideas. Thanks!

LDWorld on December 04, 2011:

I love bacon, but my wife does not :((

colleenw1 on December 04, 2011:

Perfect for the lover of Bacon - hog heaven for sure!!! lol

h2ofs1 on December 02, 2011:

OMG what can i say other than just.....YUM YUM :)

Rose Jones on December 02, 2011:

Really sounds great! This lens deserves all the attention it has got - you rock1

Deadicated LM on November 30, 2011:

Bacon Rules! The only thing that rivals it is chocolate ;-)

lasertek lm on November 30, 2011:

Great idea!

DeannaDiaz on November 30, 2011:

How about making bacon better with...BEER?!?

cocktailsexaminer on November 30, 2011:

You had me at bacon.

ProfDrJuan on November 28, 2011:

nyumi...

JoyfulPamela2 from Pennsylvania, USA on November 27, 2011:

My teenage son would eat a pig whole if I let him, so I know he would love these! =D

Treasures By Brenda from Canada on November 25, 2011:

Oh my, I'd lensroll this to my page about the Krispy Kreme Bacon Double Cheeseburger Donut, if I could. Love bacon.

seosmm on November 25, 2011:

Lots of good info. Very nice lens!

SchaatserBob on November 25, 2011:

This is really nice! I will make one with Christmas!

Vikki from US on November 24, 2011:

Blessed; Happy Thanksgiving ;)

Tamara14 on November 24, 2011:

And in my house bacon on top of macaroni and cheese, roasted in oven. Hmmmm:) This is just delicious idea! Blessed by a SquidAngel :)

KonaGirl from New York on November 24, 2011:

A little too much bacon to devour all at once for me even though "pork fat rules"! I do have to admit though that this year I am roasting brussel sprouts in a little bacon fat for that wonderful smokey flavor.

Serj on November 24, 2011:

Man! This looks delicious but talk about the holiday weight gain guilt!!! Nicely done lens!

Philipuk1983 on November 23, 2011:

nothing quite like bacon to get the appatite going lol

kengibbons4 on November 23, 2011:

Just gave you a squidoo like and love the page. If you could give me a squidoo like since I am trying to spread the word on the tax topic. Hoping more people will foster animals if the now they can deduct the expenses on their tax return.

DebMartin on November 23, 2011:

Okay. You've got me on the mashed potatoes with bacon. And maybe even the gravy. I'm struggling a little with the turkey wrapped in bacon. Although I've got to admit, I love bacon. Nice, nice lens. Really clean and well done.

Anthony Godinho from Ontario, Canada on November 22, 2011:

A little late to the party, but nonetheless, congrats on LOTD. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving, with bacon! ;)

anonymous on November 22, 2011:

Who would have thought that bacon could be part of every Thanksgiving dish on the table! Very creative and interesting lens.Congratulations on LOTD! Here's hoping you start some new Thanksgiving traditions.

anonymous on November 22, 2011:

Congratulations and nice recipe, love bacon

CreativeMind2011 on November 22, 2011:

I love turkey! Happy Thanksgiving! nice lens!

Vicki from USA on November 22, 2011:

Congratulations on LOTD. That bacon-wrapped turkey sure is pretty, and I can only begin to imagine what it must smell and taste like! Crumbled bacon in veges is always good, makes the veges not so vege-ish. Great-looking lens, I love the layout!

Srena44 on November 21, 2011:

awesome lens

JoleneBelmain on November 21, 2011:

Delicious... everything tastes better with bacon :) .....even turkey!

manicnymph on November 21, 2011:

Mmmm... Bacon... Well done!

Dee Gallemore on November 21, 2011:

Nom, nom, nom . . . Bacon! Congrats on LOTD. Well deserved!

Rhidawn on November 21, 2011:

Grats on LOTD! Great lens. Although the bacon drink fizz tablets sound kinda icky lol.

MyFairLadyah2 on November 21, 2011:

Yes, I guess it can be done

All Thanksgiving with bacon

Congrats on LOTD

djroll on November 21, 2011:

This lens makes my mouth water and gives me some new ideas for this year. Bacon ... yummy! Congrats on you LOTD and Happy Thanksgiving.

KimGiancaterino on November 21, 2011:

Congratulations on LOTD ... hope your Thanksgiving celebration is bacon-y delicious! (security word = pigsquid)

SiochainGraSonas on November 21, 2011:

Wow! I would never have thought about using bacon in so many of our Thanksgiving dishes. All the recipes sound delicious.

foxx2jett on November 21, 2011:

Wow, that's all I have to say about this lens! Congrats on LOTD.

K Bechand from NY on November 21, 2011:

Nasty - I certainly do not want to be sitting next to you on Thanksgiving !

Peggy Hazelwood from Desert Southwest, U.S.A. on November 21, 2011:

Yum, love me my bacon. These recipes are great!

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on November 21, 2011:

Congrats...showed your turkey to my husband and this is thanksgiving heaven...we are going to have bacon wrapped turkey.

badmsm on November 21, 2011:

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy bacon, so it's almost the same thing... ;) Liked & Blessed by a Squid Angel! Congrats on LOTD!

Joan Haines on November 21, 2011:

Why is bacon so darn yummy?

Joanie Ruppel from Keller, Texas on November 21, 2011:

Love your lens layout, very attractive. Gotta go, gotta make some bacon!

debsgreatfinds on November 21, 2011:

I love bacon also may try some of your tips :)

Tarra99 on November 21, 2011:

Well wrap me in bacon and call me a turkey!...this is one tasty lookin lens!

Congrats on LotD! Yumm!!!

Nancy Carol Brown Hardin from Las Vegas, NV on November 21, 2011:

Oh my...if you put bacon on foods I don't like, I'll eat them! So imagine what it will do to my appetite with Thanksgiving foods which I love. YUM! Congrats on LOTD...so well-deserved!

Laurel Johnson from Washington KS on November 21, 2011:

These recipes sounded YUMMMMMY. Congrats on LOTD.

Paula7928 on November 21, 2011:

Awesome lens. I love Thanksgiving food.

Pete Schultz on November 21, 2011:

congrats on LOTD, just in time to make thanksgiving more calorie filled....but I do love bacon.

miaponzo on November 21, 2011:

Congats on the LOTD!!!! Blessed!!! (but with beef, turkey, or veal bacon.. :)

patriciapeppy on November 21, 2011:

some yummy ideas congrats on LOTD

BarbaraCasey on November 21, 2011:

Great fun and bacon in the potatoes sounds pretty tasty. Raw bacon on an almost cooked turkey? Eeeewwww. Congrats on LOTD.

Ann Hinds from So Cal on November 21, 2011:

Ii think we would like to try some of the bacon delights but not on Thanksgiving. There are 364 other days to savor the wonders of bacon. Congrats on LOTD.

GypsyPirate LM on November 21, 2011:

Ha! yes, I saw what you said about the drink! Congratulations on LiTD dear friend, you so deserve it for this masterpiece. I love it more than my luggage!!

Mark Falco from Reno, Nevada on November 21, 2011:

Everything is better with bacon!

Frankie Kangas from California on November 21, 2011:

Wow. I've never heard of putting bacon on or in so many foods. Excellent lens and definitely worthy of LOTD. Congrats. Bear hugs, Frankster

mrducksmrnot on November 21, 2011:

Congratulations on a tasty Lens Of The Day. I always remember bacon was always included in the Thanksgiving meal in one way or another and tasty it was. Just seems to go together with just about anything. Thanks for this tasty reminder and I wish everyone a wonderful and Thankful Thanksgiving Day and Dinner.

beckyf on November 21, 2011:

Enjoyed reading your lens! That bacon fizzy drink sounds downright disgusting though. :)

justholidays on November 21, 2011:

What a creative menu... but if I eat such a menu, I'd end up in the hospital with an acute pancreatitis - or die :D

However very creative, smart and... attractive. I'm just frustrated with my no grease and no sugar diet ;)

Loraine Brummer from Hartington, Nebraska on November 21, 2011:

Congratulations on your LotD. Great lens.

Heather Burns from Wexford, Ireland on November 21, 2011:

wow! awesome! I have to try some of these bacon fixings. We love bacon. I'm brining my turkey as we speak. Happy Thanksgiving!

anonymous on November 21, 2011:

You have created Thanksgiving bacon heaven here...it does seem to make everything it touches taste oh so good, congratulations on an absolutely delicious LotD....I love the mummified turkey and do make a stuffing with bacon that is the best I've ever had.