For the last 13 years, my wife & I have had an annual Backyard BBQ at our house.
It started when we were still living in our apartment, with just a few of our friends, some chips, dips & beers.
Now, we’ve got a pool, a hot tub, giant Jello-shot Jenga, live bands, karaoke, beers, and of course, a smorgasbord of culinary delights!
And while our friends try to out-do one another with their various delicacies, I stick to what I know.
Bacon.
Every year, I cook about 40lbs of Bacon for the party. I bake it in the oven and then put it out on the table for people to graze upon during the party. It’s almost always the first dish to get 86’d.
But what if you wanna make something for a party that contains Bacon? Here’s a few ideas:
The easiest & most obvious dish is a warm, cheesy Bacon dip. It’s friggin’ delicious, easy-to-make, and will definitely get gobbled up at any party.
Take 16oz of sour cream, a package of Bacon, 8oz of cream cheese, 8oz of your favorite shredded cheese, and 1/2 cup of chopped green onions. Preheat your oven to 400°, mix all the ingredients together, and put the mix in a baking dish. Bake about 30-35 minutes and serve with crackers or some soft, crusty bread slices.
Another great summer dish for a backyard get-together is chicken Bacon Ranch pasta salad!
Two boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon of Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons of canola oil
4oz cream cheese at room temp
8oz Bacon cooked & chopped
8oz sharp Cheddar cheese diced into small cubes
1 cup Ranch
1lb cooked fusilli pasta
Use the salt & pepper to season the chicken, then cook it with the canola oil in a large skillet. Let cool. Chop the chicken into large cubes.
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese & Ranch and mix well. Add the chicken, Bacon, cheese & pasta. Toss & serve!
Another party classic is the Bacon-wrapped little smokies! Bite size & amazing!
16oz package of little smokies
15 slices of Bacon, cut into sections long enough to wrap around smokies
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
pinch of black pepper
Take a large sheet pan, line it with aluminum foil & lightly coat it with non-stick cooking spray.
Preheat oven at 350°. Dry the sausages with a paper towel & wrap each smokie with a piece of Bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Combine the brown sugar, cayenne & black pepper in a ziplock bag. Put several of the wrapped sausages in the bag & lightly toss. Line the sheet pan with the sausages & bake for 30-35 minutes. Broil for a bit for extra crispiness.
There’s just a couple of ideas to add some more Bacon to your summer party! Feel free to comment with your favorite recipe!
