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Nothing says “I love you” like a heart on a plate. Ok, there are many things that say, “I love you” in a far less corny fashion. (Yes, heart-shaped food is ridiculously corny but it is also very sweet.) And if your lover is into bacon, the endearing gesture of bacon hearts is a true gift. It makes the ultimate heart-shaped breakfast presentation. That’s why I’ve created this simple guide to cooking heart-shaped bacon.

Table of Contents

What bacon is best for making bacon hearts?

While you might guess that you want to use the thinnest cut of bacon possible to make this recipe, I find that thinly sliced bacon is hard to work with. Instead, this heart bacon recipe calls for thick-cut strips, sliced in half lengthwise. The thickness makes them easy to shape.

The recipe calls for applewood smoked bacon. I think the smoky flavor of hardwood smoked bacon is sexy but if you have a preference for a different, thick-cut bacon, by all means, use your favorite.

Cooking thick-cut bacon in the oven

If you’re a pan fry person, you’re going to love learning how to cook bacon in the oven. This relatively mess-free method for cooking bacon is not only fast but it can produce perfectly crisp, crunchy strips (or hearts) of bacon.

You do need one (not so) special piece of equipment for this oven-baked bacon recipe. Your baking tray must have a lip on all four sides to keep the bacon grease from running off the pan and into the bottom of your oven. If you don’t already have a baking sheet like this, you can order one from Amazon. Here’s a link to the one I recommend:

Buy my favorite baking sheets online

Because we’re using thick-cut bacon, you’ll need to gauge the timing for yourself because it can change, depending on the thickness of your bacon. But in general, this quick trick for making bacon hearts only takes about ten minutes. Check the oven frequently the first time you make this bacon recipe to make sure your hearts don’t burn.

Incidentally, if you’ve never cooked bacon in the oven before, this is a great technique for cooking regular strips as well. Because you don’t have the splatter you get from cooking bacon in a pan, the cleanup is quick.

Serving suggestions

Heart-shaped bacon makes an endearing topper for soft scrambled eggs. (Think Valentine’s Day breakfast in bed.) They are also incredibly charming as the centerpiece on an open-faced BLT. (See the link to my favorite variation on a BLT below.) You can use them any way you would normally use bacon but I think the trick is finding a presentation that showcases your love on the plate.

I’d love to hear how you serve your heart-shaped bacon. If you come up with a great way to display these crispy hearts of salty goodness, share a photo in the comments below.

Heart Shaped Bacon

Print Recipe

If the way to your lover's heart is through their stomach, then you need this simple technique for turning bacon into hearts.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Seasonal Valentine's Day

Ingredient Bacon

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 20

Servings hearts

Author Amy Reiley

Ingredients

6 strips of thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, (or your favorite thick bacon)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degress.
Cut the strips of uncooked bacon in half lengthwise.
Like a baking sheet, (one with a lip around all four sides), with parchment. (Lining the baking sheet is optional but it does prevent sticking.) Using a baking sheet with an edge is a must because it keeps the grease from running into your oven.
Shape each of the 12 slices into hearts, with the two ends meeting at the point. If you can, tuck one end under the other to try to keep the hearts from falling apart during cooking. (Remember that bacon shrinks as it cooks.)
Cook for 10-12 minutes until the bacon is crisp. (Depending on thickness, the bacon may need to cook longer. Check it frequently until it is crisp and golden.)

Pin this easy heart-shaped food DIY:

This article was written in 2018 and was most recently revised in February 2023 with updated links.

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Amy Reiley

Eat Something Sexy's Creator & Editor-in-Chief Amy Reiley is the award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks. She has her Master of Arts in Gastronomy, awarded by Le Cordon Bleu and The University of Adelaide. She is also a Certified Nutrition Coach awarded by the International Sports Sciences Association and she is a California Certified Massage Therapist.

Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.

Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.

Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.

Bacon Hearts – easy instructions to make heart-shaped bacon