Instant Pot Bacon
If you’ve never tried making instant pot bacon, you might be surprised by how easy it is. While most people think of an electric pressure cooker for soups, dry beans, or easy recipes, it’s actually a great way to cook bacon with less mess and easy cleanup.
I love putting my Instant Pot to use around here! Try these easy appetizers, Instant Pot Little Smokies and Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot next!
I am more of a breakfast for dinner kinda gal, but my husband would much rather eat dinner for breakfast! Anyway, this Loaded Biscuits and Gravy recipe is his creation and labor of love to me! It pairs beautifully with this yummy, Instant Pot Bacon Recipe.
I just love the saute function on the Instant Pot. It allows you to make perfectly cooked bacon without dealing with messy splatters all over your stove top. And there is not as much smokiness in the air when cooking it. Whether you’re making bacon for breakfast, meal prep, salads, or adding bacon pieces to your favorite dishes, this method is simple, fast, and reliable.
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Why You’ll Love Making Instant Pot Bacon
There are plenty of ways to make bacon, including the oven method, air fryer, and traditional stovetop bacon. However, cooking bacon in an Instant Pot offers several advantages:
- Less mess than cooking on the stove top
- Easy cleanup
- No hot grease splattering around your kitchen
- Great for meal prep
- Creates crispy bacon with minimal effort
- Easy way to save leftover bacon grease
- Perfect for small batches
The best part is that you can use the rendered bacon grease for cooking green beans, dry beans, yellow onion, or other savory dishes later.
Ingredients
- 8 to 12 bacon slices
- Paper towel for draining
That’s it!
How to Make Instant Pot Bacon
Step 1: Preheat the Instant Pot
Press the saute button or sauté function on your Instant Pot. Allow the pot to heat for 2 to 3 minutes. While waiting, slice your bacon in half.
Step 2: Arrange the Bacon
Place the bacon strips in a single layer on the bottom of the pot. Depending on the size of your electric pressure cooker, you may need to cook in batches.
You can use regular bacon, streaky bacon, thin bacon, or thick-cut bacon.
Step 3: Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon for approximately 4 to 6 minutes per side.
The exact cook time will vary depending on:
- Thickness of the bacon
- Desired crispiness
- Amount of fat in the bacon
Turn the bacon using tongs once the first side begins to brown.
Step 4: Drain and Serve
Transfer the cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towel to absorb excess grease.
Allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Bacon
Use Thick-Cut Bacon
While regular bacon works well, thick-cut bacon tends to stay juicy while still developing crispy edges.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pot
For the best results, always cook bacon in a single layer. Overlapping bacon slices can cook unevenly.
Save the Bacon Grease
Carefully remove the rendered grease after cooking. Leftover bacon grease can add smoky flavor and onion flavor to soups, vegetables, and beans.
What About Pressure Cooking Bacon?
You may see some recipes online that suggest pressure cooking bacon using high pressure, followed by either a quick release or natural release.
While technically possible, most home cooks prefer using the saute function because it creates truly crispy bacon. Pressure cooking tends to steam the bacon rather than crisp it.
The sauté method produces much better texture and flavor and I just don’t think bacon is something we should be pressure cooking!
Favorite Ways to Use Instant Pot Bacon
Once you’ve made a batch of delicious bacon, here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Crumble into salads
- Make homemade bacon bits
- Add to instant pot pinto beans
- Stir into scrambled eggs
- Top baked potatoes
- Mix into green beans
- Add smoky depth to soups
- Use in breakfast casseroles
- Serve alongside hard-boiled eggs
The addition of bacon instantly adds a savory backbone and smoky flavor to countless recipes.
Storing Leftover Bacon (but I doubt you will have leftovers)
Allow bacon to cool completely before storing.
Place cooled bacon pieces in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze cooked bacon in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both methods work well. However, many people prefer Instant Pot bacon because there are fewer messy splatters and less cleanup compared to traditional stovetop bacon. I also find that it doesn’t smoke as much while cooking. I like my bacon crispy 😉
Yes. Small pieces cook quickly and are ideal when making bacon bits for salads or soups.
You do not have to, but when I make it, I usually add a tiny little bit of butter or cooking spray. The first batch sometimes sticks to the bottom of the pot. But after the first batch, there will be plenty of fat from the bacon, so it will not stick.
Yes. The browned bits left on the bottom of the pot are packed with flavor. Deglaze the pot with a splash of chicken broth and use it as the base for soups or beans.
Instant Pot Bacon
Ingredients
- 8-12 bacon slices
Instructions
- Press the Sauté button on your Instant Pot and allow it to preheat for 2-3 minutes.
- While waiting, slice the bacon in half.
- Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the bottom of the pot. Work in batches if necessary.
- Cook for 4-6 minutes, or until the bacon begins to brown.
- Flip the bacon using tongs and continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes until it reaches your desired crispness.
- Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease.
- Serve immediately or allow to cool before storing.
Notes
- add a little bit of cooking oil for the first batch to prevent sticking.
- Thick-cut bacon may require an additional 1-2 minutes of cooking time.
- For extra crispy bacon, leave it on the sauté setting a little longer after flipping.
- Save the leftover bacon grease for cooking beans, vegetables, potatoes, or eggs.
- Avoid overcrowding the pot to ensure even cooking.
- Cook bacon in batches for best results.
Storage
Store cooled bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.This instant pot bacon recipe is one of the easiest ways to make perfectly crispy bacon with less mess and minimal cleanup. Whether you’re preparing breakfast, doing meal prep, or adding delicious bacon to your favorite recipes, the Instant Pot makes the cooking process simple and convenient.
Next time you’re craving crispy bacon, skip the messy stove top and give this method a try. You may discover it’s your new favorite way to cook bacon!
