Bacon

Chopped fresh oysters lend depth and moisture to this classic Thanksgiving side dish.

Bacon and sea salt make this big, warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie sweet and salty. Serve it with a few scoops of vanilla bean ice cream.

You only need one bowl to mix this easy, cheesy, savory-and-sweet corn muffins.

Chanterelle mushrooms and a crunchy, sweet, and salty walnut-bacon topping make this holiday side dish a stand-out.

This summer soup is deeply savory, with anchovies, bacon, and a brown butter–tomato sauce anchoring the whole thing. 

There are many variations of Gobernadores, but they typically include shrimp, mild chiles, and cheese. Here, chef David Castro Hussong adds bacon, which gives the dish a surf-and-turf feeling.

Peaches and tomatoes might not sound filling, but hear us out. Crisp some bacon, char the peaches (and some bread) in the rendered fat, toss the tomatoes in a garlicky, spicy brine, and you’ve got dinner.

Sweet peaches, spicy pimento cheese spread, and smoky grilled bread combine in this ultimate summer toast.

No cookout in the South is complete without baked beans. This is a simple recipe that combines sweet and smoky ingredients for a thick, rich, and perfect side dish.

In this easy pantry pasta, make-ahead lentils add heft, while bacon lends a deep, savory flavor to the sauce. It’s a hearty and comforting dinner that's perfect for cool fall evenings.

This one-skillet meal is ideal for both chilly evenings and weekend mornings when hot melted cheese and comfort is all you want. Leave a handful of chips undressed to tuck into the skillet at the last minute. Their salsa-free points add the perfect layer of crunch.

These rolls can be assembled 2 days ahead and refrigerated. If you want to serve them alongside pork or turkey, simply add them to the same oven in the last 40 minutes of roasting time.

Thick-cut bacon grills much better than thin strips, which have a tendency to get burnt and overly crisp.

With lots of fiber and slow-digesting carbs, these breakfast bowls won’t put you into a sugar coma.