This Instant Pot Bacon is ready in less than 15 minutes and is the best, fuss-free way to make bacon! No messy clean up, uneven cooking, or stovetop required. This cook method is guaranteed to be your new favorite!
You may think your Instant Pot is only good for pressure cooking staples like yellow rice, sushi rice or soups like Instant Pot Chicken Rice Soup, but that's not the case! Put the "sauté" setting to use and give this bacon recipe a try.
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📋 About the Recipe
- Perfect bacon every time. The heat on the sauté function of the Instant Pot is extremely consistent and will cook your bacon through with perfect results every time. No more burning bacon.
- Ideal beginner Instant Pot recipe! If you were gifted an Instant Pot over the holidays, give this Instant Pot bacon a try first! It will get you comfortable using other functions and help build up your confidence when it comes time to cook a pressure cooker recipe. Then, check out my Instant Pot category for tons more delicious recipes to try!
- Versatile. There are so many ways to use up cooked bacon, you’ll never let it go to waste. Eat it as a breakfast side, stuffed in a BLT, sprinkled on a loaded burger bowl, or chop it up and sprinkle it over Chicken Chili Without Tomatoes. And if you’ve still got extra bacon, throw it in the freezer for later!
🛒 Ingredients
A few notes about the ingredients:
Bacon - Although any cut of bacon will work here, I always recommend purchasing the highest quality bacon your budget will allow. Cheaper versions of bacon are typically lower quality cuts of meat and much higher in excess fat. This will make your bacon extra greasy and less appetizing.
When possible, I recommend uncured bacon free of nitrates and nitrites. It's minimally processed with no artificial ingredients.
⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
- Cook the bacon on the stovetop. When cooking bacon in the Instant Pot, we are skipping the pressure cooking feature and essentially using the Instant Pot as a stovetop. If you’d like, you can use this same cooking method using your favorite non-stick pan over medium-high heat. A cast iron skillet would work well for this too!
- Instant Pot air fryer method: If you have an Instant Pot with an air frying lid, air fry the bacon at 400 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes, or until your desired doneness is reached.
- Turkey bacon option: If you're looking for a lighter option, simply swap the pork bacon for turkey bacon! They will have a similar cook time. The only difference is turkey bacon is lower in fat so you may want to heat a tablespoon of oil or butter in the bottom of the Instant pot before laying the bacon strips in.
📓 Instructions
- Lay bacon in the bottom of the Instant Pot. You can layer them in closely and up the sides slightly if they are longer, but do not overlap. Work in a couple of batches if needed.
- Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes. Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function and sauté the bacon for 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until crispy!
- Transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Once the Instant Pot bacon is cooked through to your liking, transfer each slice to a paper towel lined plate to help absorb any excess grease.
- Enjoy hot or cold!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
What can't you serve bacon with? Bacon's good with breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack right out of the fridge. Here are my top 5 ways to eat bacon:
- Layer it on an Apple Turkey Burger or make a bacon chicken sandwich with Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts and Challah Buns.
- Add it to Homemade Beef and Bacon Instant Pot Dirty Rice.
- Turn it into Bacon Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites with Strawberries.
- Serve it alongside Mediterranean Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche and Air Fryer Potato Latkes.
- Sprinkle it on your favorite salad. I love it with my Summer Tortellini Caprese Salad!
❄️ How to Store
Storing uncooked bacon: An unopened package of bacon can be stored in the refrigerator in the vacuum-sealed package it came in. Once opened, place the package inside a zip top bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing shut. Raw bacon will store for up to 7 days once opened.
Storing cooked bacon: Cooked bacon will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How to freeze bacon: Bacon can be frozen raw or cooked for up to 2 months. Raw bacon can be frozen directly in the package it was purchased in. Cooked bacon strips will store best wrapped in paper towels for cushion.
How to reheat bacon: Bacon can be reheated directly in the Instant Pot using the sauté function until warmed through again. Or, place the bacon on a paper towel lined plate and microwave the bacon for 20 to 30 seconds, or until hot.
🔍 Recipe FAQs
Bacon will cook through and be safe to eat if you cook it under pressure in a soup for example, but it will not be crispy! Pressure cookers need liquid in order to come to pressure, and the liquid would prevent the bacon from getting crispy.
Depending on the article, you’ll find that there are many different cuts and types of bacon. In the United States, the most common bacon you’ll find is pork belly bacon. It’s also often labeled as “side bacon” or “streaky bacon.” For more information on various cuts of bacon, check out this article by Taste of Home: “14 Types of Bacon You Should Know.”
💭 A Couple More Tips
- Carefully monitor the bacon so it doesn't overcook. Remove the bacon just before it reaches your desired doneness, as it does cook a little bit more when removed from the pot.
- Save the bacon grease! Bacon grease is really flavorful. Reserve it and use it to cook or fry additional dishes. Learn how to safely store bacon grease from Southern Living.
🍴 More Breakfast Recipes
Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!
Instant Pot Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 slices of bacon
Instructions
- Lay bacon in a single layer at the bottom of your instant pot. Do not overlap. You might need to work in batches if all the bacon doesn’t fit.* It’s okay if the ends of the bacon have to go up the sides a little bit. *You can also cut the strips in half to fit.
- Set instant pot to the “sauté” setting and cook bacon for 5 to 7 minutes before flipping and cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove bacon from the pot and set on a paper towel lined plate to absorb any remaining grease.
Notes
- For the best results, buy the best quality bacon you can afford. Cheaper bacon is usually fattier and produces more grease in the bottom of the pot.
- Carefully monitor the bacon so it doesn't overcook. Remove the bacon just before it reaches your desired doneness, as it does cook a little bit more when removed from the pot.
Nutrition
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