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Chicken Fried Bacon: A Crispy, Savory Step-by-Step Recipe

Chicken Fried Bacon is a bold comfort-food recipe made by coating thick-cut bacon in a seasoned flour batter, frying it until golden and crisp, and serving it with creamy gravy or dipping sauce. It has the crunch of fried chicken, the smoky flavor of bacon, and the rich Southern-style taste of a homemade fried appetizer.

This recipe is perfect for brunch, game-day snacks, party platters, or anytime you want something crispy, salty, and satisfying. The outside becomes crunchy and flavorful, while the bacon inside stays smoky, tender, and rich.

What Is Chicken Fried Bacon?

Chicken Fried Bacon does not contain chicken. The name comes from the cooking method. The bacon is prepared the same way as chicken-fried steak or fried chicken: dipped in flour, coated in egg or buttermilk, coated again in seasoned flour, then fried.

The result is a crispy bacon strip with a thick, golden crust. It can be served plain, with white country gravy, ranch dressing, honey mustard, maple syrup, or spicy sauce.

Ingredients

For the Bacon

12 slices thick-cut bacon
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
2 large eggs
¾ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
Oil for frying

For the Creamy Country Gravy

2 tablespoons butter or bacon drippings
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups milk
½ teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste

Step 1: Choose the Right Bacon

Use thick-cut bacon for this recipe. Thin bacon can become too fragile during coating and frying. Thick-cut bacon holds its shape better and gives a meatier bite.

You can use smoked bacon, peppered bacon, maple bacon, or regular bacon. Smoked bacon gives the deepest flavor, while maple bacon adds a slightly sweet taste.