Go Back
+ servings

Homemade Smoked Bacon

No ratings yet
This smoked homemade bacon is sweet, smoky, and savory, thanks to a maple-garlic cure and hours of slow smoking. Perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, or as a standalone snack!
SERVINGS
Servings: 10
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Curing Time: 8 days
Total Time: 8 days 6 hours 20 minutes
homemade bacon

Ingredients  

  • 3 pounds pork belly
  • 1.5 tsp Prague Powder #1
  • 4 tbsp coarse kosher salt
  • 4 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp cracked black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix Prague Powder #1, kosher salt, brown sugar, garlic paste, maple syrup, and black pepper to form a cure.
  • Rub the cure evenly over all sides of the pork belly. Seal in a bag and refrigerate for 7 days, flipping daily.
  • Rinse the pork belly and pat dry. Refrigerate uncovered for 12-24 hours to develop a pellicle.
  • Smoke the pork belly at 165-170°F until it reaches an internal temperature of 155°F (about 5-6 hours).
  • Let cool completely, then slice to desired thickness.
  • Fry slices in a skillet until crispy and enjoy!

Notes

  • Pellet Choice — Again, I used apple pellets for this smoke, which came out really nice. Cherry pellets would be a good choice too, anything sweet and fruity.  
  • Storage — You can store any unused bacon in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to three months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1113kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 20gFat: 108gSaturated Fat: 38gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 49gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 267mgPotassium: 457mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 178IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!