10 Best Bacon Brands

Bacon is an American breakfast staple cut from the belly of a hog, usually between 6 and 7 months old. Today’s bacon slices include pork, turkey, beef, and vegetarian options. The meat contains sodium, cholesterol, fat, protein, vitamins, and essential minerals. These ingredients have specific health benefits and risks. For example, bacon contains choline, a nutrient that helps with mood, memory, and muscle control. Choline can improve brain health. B vitamins in small amounts in bacon help your body process the foods you eat into energy and boost red blood cells. Eat bacon with vegetables and other nutritious foods to maximize its health benefits and flavor. But which are the best bacon brands? [1]

Table of Contents

1. Smithfield Foods Inc.

Smithfield is a Virginia-based food-processing company founded in 1936 by Joseph W. Luter and his son. It is the world’s largest pork producer. The brand offers Smithfield thick-cut naturally hickory-smoked bacon. In Jan 2025, Smithfield Foods filed for its NYSE IPO. Hong Kong-based WH Group took Smithfield private in 2013 for $4.7 billion. You can buy Smithfield’s bacon on Amazon. [2]

Image source: Smithfield Foods

Pros: Smithfield offers high-quality bacon with an authentic hickory-smoked flavor profile. Its bacon options include thick-cut, center-cut, and applewood-smoked. The bacon’s fat-to-meat ratio delivers a perfect crispy texture. You can buy Smithfield’s Hometown Original fully cooked, ready-to-eat bacon for quick meals. In Oct 2025, Smithfield partnered with Mike’s Hot Honey to infuse its hickory-smoked bacon with honey. Smithfield Mike’s Hot Honey Bacon stands out for its irresistible balance of smoky and sweet. Its heat transforms everyday moments into flavor-packed occasions. [3]

Cons: Some consumers complained about the salt levels of Smithfield bacon and the inconsistent slice thickness in thick-cut packages.

Price Range: $6.99-$10.99 per pound

2. North Country Smokehouse

North Country is an American bacon brand based in New England. The brand handcrafts premium meats through culinary excellence, animal care, and respect for the land. In Oct 2025, North Country launched its new Organic Uncured Genoa Salami with Citterio. This product is a slow-cured salami. [4]

Image source: North Country

Pros: North Country is praised for its high-quality, premium bacon, with a smoky and sweet maple flavor. The bacon is Certified-Humane, non-GMO, and farmed without antibiotics or hormones. Its uncured and sugar-free products cater to paleo and health-conscious consumers. Another advantage of North Country’s bacon is its smoking process. For example, the brand smokes its slow-smoked bacon over applewood or fruitwood embers rather than liquid smoke. This authentic smoking process delivers delicious bacon slices with crispy edges and a chewy center.

Cons: North Country’s premium bacon can be pricey. Some customers complain about the challenges of separating the brand’s thin, delicate bacon slices.

Price Range: $11-$16 per pound

3. 365 by Whole Foods

365 is Whole Foods Market’s budget-friendly private-label brand with over 2,500 products. Its meat portfolio includes uncured applewood-smoked bacon. In Sep 2025, Whole Foods expanded its 365 brand to Singapore, with around 300 products. Singaporeans can now access Whole Foods’ 365 meats, groceries, and everyday essentials from Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and specialty retailers in Asia for the first time. Visit the Whole Foods store on Amazon. [5]

Image source: 365 by Whole Foods

Pros: 365 by Whole Foods Market offers uncured bacon with no artificial preservatives and fillers. For example, most of 365’s bacon products contain only pork, water, sea salt, and a small amount of sugar or celery powder. Its bacon is often praised for its excellent texture. The brand focuses on affordable, natural, and sustainable options.

Cons: Some consumers reported that 365’s bacon can be excessively fatty and difficult to separate the slices.

Price Range: $5.99-$8 per pound

4. Applegate Farms

Founded in 1987, Applegate produces high-quality organic hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, sausages, cheese, and frozen products. It is America’s leading natural and organic meat brand. In Apr 2024, Applegate introduced its APPLEGATE NATURALS Fully Cooked Sunday Bacon. You can enjoy this 100% natural bacon in minutes without the mess that often comes with frying bacon on the stove. Visit the Applegate store on Amazon. [6]

Image source: Applegate

Pros: Applegate offers high-quality, natural, turkey, no-sugar, fully cooked, and hickory-smoked uncured bacon varieties. Each option has a natural taste and good texture. Its meaty composition is not overly fatty. The bacon brand doesn’t use GMO ingredients and prioritizes ethical sourcing.

Cons: Applegate’s bacon costs more than conventional, store-brand bacon. Some consumers have reported inconsistent fat-to-meat ratios in some batches.

Price Range: $5.69-$10.19 for an 8-ounce package ($11.38-$20.38 per pound)

5. Jimmy Dean

Jimmy Dean is a bacon brand founded in 1969 by country music singer Jimmy Dean and produced by Tyson Foods, Inc. The brand is a staple in the American breakfast category. In Mar 2026, Jimmy Dean introduced three high-protein frozen breakfast options. The list includes protein bowls with Chipotle chicken, classic sausage & bacon, and zesty Monterey & bacon flavors. Jimmy Dean plans to expand this high-protein combo across Walmart stores and other US retailers. You can buy Jimmy Dean’s bacon on Amazon. [7]

Image source: Amazon

Pros: Jimmy Dean bacon is recognized for its convenience, crispiness, and classic smoky flavor. For example, the Jimmy Dean Fully Cooked bacon is microwaveable and ready in minutes. You can add this crispy bacon to your breakfast, recipes, or other dishes. Each serving offers at least 5 grams of protein.

Cons: Jimmy Dean offers ultra-processed bacon with preservatives and high sodium and fat content.

Price: $3.99-$5.99 for a 12-ounce pack ($5.32-$7.98 per pound)

6. True Story Foods

True Story Foods is a family-owned meat brand based in Fairfield, California. It partners with farmers and ranchers to source humanely raised pork, beef, chicken, and turkey for its bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, sausages, and fresh pork. In Nov 2025, True Story entered the frozen aisle for the first time with two new products at Whole Foods Market. You can buy True Story Foods’ bacon on Amazon. [8]

Image source: True Story Foods

Pros: True Story Foods produces natural and organic bacon, including Applewood Smoked Uncured and Kurobuta varieties. It offers healthier alternatives to conventional processed meats. For example, True Story Foods Applewood Smoked Kurobata Bacon doesn’t contain antibiotics and synthetic nitrates and nitrites. The brand uses celery powder instead of sodium nitrite.

Cons: True Story Foods’ premium, organic, and heritage bacon come at a higher price point than conventional, mass-produced bacon.

Price: $9-$16 for a 12-ounce package ($12-$21 per pound)

7. Wright

Wright is Tyson Foods’ brand, founded in 1922 and based in Springdale, Arkansas. The brand specializes in hand-cut, real wood-smoked bacon. In Jun 2025, Tyson Foods launched its new Wright product line with three distinct varieties. The Wright Bacon, Cheddar & Jalapeño Premium Sausage is bold and spicy. [9]

Image source: Tyson Foods

Pros: Wright is one of the best widely available supermarket bacon brands. It stands out for its thick-cut, premium quality, and authentic wood-smoked flavor. First, the bacon has a high meat-to-fat ratio. This feature reduces shrinkage during cooking. Second, thick bacon slices are hearty and maintain their texture and rich flavor. You can buy Wright’s thick-cut bacon for your BLTs, burgers, or salads.

Cons: Wright is a premium bacon brand. Its products can be pricey. Thick-cut bacon tends to be more chewy than crispy.

Price Range: $3.76-$6.59 per pound

8. Boar’s Head

Boar’s Head is a North American bacon brand. Its portfolio includes naturally smoked bacon, applewood-smoked uncured ham, beef bologna, Canadian-style uncured bacon, pepper ham, and maple-glazed roast pork loin. In Jul 2024, Boar’s Head issued a recall for 71 meat products manufactured at its Virginia facility after a sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The brand recalled deli meats across 50 states. [10]

Image source: Boar’s Head

Pros: Boar’s Head offers a wide variety of bacon products, including uncured, natural, and gluten-free options. Its bacon slices have a balanced, rich, smoky, and butcher-quality flavor.

Cons: The 2024 product recall eroded public trust. Some consumers have expressed concerns regarding the brand’s quality control.

Price Range: $9-$14 per pound

9. Appleton Farms

Appleton Farms is a budget-friendly brand owned by German grocery chain ALDI. It offers bacon, ham, prosciutto, and salami. Its bacon portfolio includes thick-cut, maple-flavored, peppered, and lower-sodium varieties. In Mar 2024, ALDI denied claims that it sells lab-grown bacon from Appleton Meats. Appleton Meats is a Vancouver-based Canadian biotechnology meat producer. ALDI highlighted that its in-house Appleton Farms brand is not affiliated with Appleton Meats. You can buy Appleton Farms’ bacon on Amazon and at ALDI stores. [11]

Image source: ALDI

Pros: ALDI’s Appleton Farms offers affordable, high-quality bacon with a savory, smoky flavor. For example, you can buy Appleton Farms’ Hardwood Smoked Thick-Cut Bacon for only $4.39. Its 24-ounce Appleton Farms Gourmet Thick Sliced Maple Flavored Bacon costs $6.99. The package has 20 thick-cut bacon slices cured with maple syrup, which adds a hint of sweetness. Maple syrup also enhances the hickory smoke in the bacon. [12]

Cons: Some of Appleton Farms’ standard, lower-cost bacon options can be fatty.

Price Range: $4.39-$6.99 per pound

10. Oscar Mayer

Oscar Mayer is an American meat and cold cut producer founded in 1883 and owned by Kraft Heinz. Its products include Oscar Mayer Naturally Hardwood Smoked Bacon. The Chicago, Illinois-based brand also offers hot dogs, bologna, ham, and Lunchables. In Jul 2025, Kraft Heinz recalled over 360,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon products for possible Listeria contamination. The recall eroded consumer trust. [13]

Image source: Amazon

Pros: Oscar Mayer offers a wide variety of bacon slices, including center-cut (less fat), thick-cut, and lower-sodium options. Its bacon has a consistent, classic “porky” taste and savory, smoky flavor. The brand also stands out for its convenience. For example, you can microwave Oscar Mayer’s Fully Cooked Bacon and eat it in a few minutes. This option is easy to prepare and ideal for quick breakfasts or sandwiches.

Cons: Oscar Mayer’s 2025 product recall undermined consumer trust. Some packages have inconsistent quality and fat-to-meat ratio.

Price Range: $6.97-$12 per pound

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