Name: Cook Bacon on a Pellet Grill
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Bacon Regular cut (sliced)

Want to cook bacon like a pro on a pellet grill and get that unbeatable smoky flavor with a perfectly crispy texture? Let me tell you—this is hands down the best way to make bacon. Whether you’re whipping up breakfast or need the ultimate topping for your burgers, this recipe delivers every single time.

Let’s Prep

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First things first—gather your supplies. You’ll need a pound of bacon (I recommend thick-cut bacon, but regular works great too), a baking sheet (cookie sheet), aluminum foil, and a wire rack. Trust me, the wire rack is key for getting that evenly cooked and letting the grease drip down. That's all you need to cook bacon!

A box of unbleached parchment paper labeled Non-stick, Home Compostable sits on a wire cooling rack. The packaging displays a colorful dish with crisply cooked bacon, highlighting its use for non-stick cooking or baking needs.

Cover the baking sheet with a layer of aluminum foil. Make sure the foil covers the whole thing because it makes cleanup ridiculously easy. Nobody wants to scrape bacon grease off a pan after they cook bacon, right?

Eight slices of raw bacon are evenly spaced on a metal rack over a baking sheet. The background features wooden planks, adding a rustic touch to the scene.

Now, let’s talk about the grill. Preheat your pellet smoker to 375 degrees F. While that’s warming up, choose your wood pellets. Apple wood is my top pick for a mild sweetness, but if you want a bolder flavor, hickory pellets or even a mix with maple syrup notes will do the trick.

Smoker grill with open lid, emitting smoke. The clean grates eagerly await sizzling strips of bacon, set against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and trees.

Pro tip: Use paper towels to blot the bacon before grilling. It helps reduce splatter and gives you a better chance at that picture-perfect crispy bacon.

Let’s Cook

Time to cook bacon!

Once your pellet smoker hits 375 degrees F, it’s time to cook bacon! Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack, making sure none of them overlap. Overlapping bacon just ends up chewy, and nobody wants that - not a good way to cook bacon. This will also inhibit the smoke flavor that you'll get on the bacon.

Outdoor grill with an open lid showing strips of bacon cooking on a tray inside. Smoke is visible, and a fence and tree are in the background.

Place the rack on the cookie sheet and place on the grill grates and let the magic happen. The cook time is about 15-20 minutes, but keep an eye on it. Pellet grills can have hot spots, so you may need to shuffle things around to cook bacon evenly.

Here’s where you can get creative. Want something sweet? Brush on a little maple syrup in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Feeling adventurous? Sprinkle on some black pepper or brown sugar for a spicy-sweet kick when you cook bacon. Whatever you do, don’t walk too far away. Bacon cooks fast, and you don’t want to miss the sweet spot between crispy and burnt.

Uncooked bacon strips on a wire rack inside a smoker. Smoke surrounds the meat, and a red tray is placed underneath the rack to catch drippings. Brown parchment paper lines the tray.

Something important to note is that for most meat we can tell when are done by the internal temperature. Since that's not possible with bacon, we need to look at texture and color over the internal temperature. For best results, I always recommend cooking bacon until it's a dark golden amber color. Don't wait until it's crispy or feels hard while on the pellet smoker. That will result in overly cooked bacon.

Slices of bacon cooking on a grill, placed neatly on a wire rack for even heat distribution. The bacon is sizzling and appears close to being perfectly crispy, set against a dark grill background.

Let’s Eat

When you've mastered the art to cook bacon, and it's to your liking, use tongs to transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate. This step is non-negotiable—it absorbs the extra grease and keeps the bacon from getting soggy. Doing this is the only way to cook bacon!

Now comes the fun part: eating! Pair your smoky bacon with hash browns and French toast for breakfast, or crumble it onto a salad for a smoky crunch. If you’re like me, you might just eat a few strips straight off the plate.

Close-up of several strips of crispy bacon sizzling on a grill rack. The bacon is a rich golden brown with visible fat and slight charring. The grill beneath the rack is dark, providing contrast to the vibrant color of the bacon.

Oh, and don’t toss that bacon grease! Pour it into an airtight container and save it for later. It’s a secret weapon for frying eggs, roasting veggies, or even making cornbread. Seriously, it’s liquid gold.

Why This Method Rocks

Let’s be real—this is more than just a bacon recipe. It’s a life hack. Cooking bacon on a pellet grill gives you the best of both worlds: smoky flavor and even cooking without all the mess of stovetop frying.

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The beauty of this method is its versatility. Whether you’re using store-bought bacon, experimenting with your own homemade bacon, or trying different types of bacon, the pellet grill makes it all better. Plus, it frees up your stove for other dishes.

Another bonus? The whole cooking process is easy enough for a first time griller but delivers the kind of results that will make you look like a pro. The gentle heat of the pellet grill prevents burning, while the indirect heat ensures every strip comes out crispy and evenly cooked.

Pro Tips for Next Time

Want to take it to the next level? Try these ideas:

Use a smoke tube with extra apple wood for an even deeper flavor.
Experiment with different seasonings, like garlic powder or a dash of black pepper.
If you’re feeling bold, cure your own pork belly and make homemade bacon. The flavor difference is incredible.

Also, if you’re cooking for a crowd, use a second baking sheet or your Traeger (or preferred) pellet grill’s extra racks to double your output. The more bacon, the better!

Four crispy strips of bacon resting on white paper towels, placed on a wooden surface. The bacon has a rich, red-brown color, indicating its well-cooked. A hint of a blue plate is visible on the side.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—the ultimate guide on how to cook my favorite bacon on a pellet grill. This method is simple, versatile, and absolutely foolproof. Whether you’re making breakfast, a snack, or the perfect burger topping, this is guaranteed to be your new favorite way to cook bacon.

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So, fire up that pellet smoker and give it a try. I promise, once you’ve tasted bacon with that perfect smoky flavor, you’ll never go back to cooking it any other way.

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