Crispy Bacon Pizza Bites: The Ultimate Appetizer & A Deep Dive into Bacon Production
Get ready to delight your taste buds and impress your guests with these incredible Bacon Pizza Bites! They are the quintessential crowd-pleaser and the absolute perfect appetizer for any gathering, party, or even a fun family dinner. Imagine flaky phyllo dough cups, generously filled with savory tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and crispy, flavorful bacon, all baked until warm and irresistibly golden. Trust us, your guests, young and old, are going to absolutely adore these bite-sized wonders!
Today’s post is truly packed with value, offering not just a mouthwatering recipe but also a fascinating journey into the world of bacon. We’ll start with how to whip up these simple, four-ingredient Bacon Pizza Bites that burst with flavor in every small cup. They are an absolute hit as an appetizer or finger food and are always a big favorite with children.
But beyond the immediate deliciousness of these bites, we’re going to dive deep into a topic many of us enjoy but few truly understand: bacon. Have you ever paused to wonder how bacon makes its way from the farm to your plate? Well, you’re in for a treat! We’re here to unveil the intricate process and help you gain a greater appreciation for the food you love to consume. Once you discover the journey your bacon undertakes, we bet you’ll be craving it even more, which makes this pizza bite recipe the perfect way to satisfy that newfound desire!
Behind the Bacon: A Visit to Fresh Mark and the Ohio Pork Council
I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Fresh Mark, in collaboration with the Ohio Pork Council. Many of you might already be familiar with their highly reputable brands, Sugardale Foods and Superior’s Brand Meats. Fresh Mark is a remarkable family-owned and operated company that has built its foundation on strong family values, a commitment to producing high-quality products, and delivering world-class customer service. Their story began way back in 1920 as the Stark Provisions Company, and they have proudly remained an Ohio-based company ever since. What truly resonates with me is their unwavering dedication to producing only American-made products, supporting local economies and ensuring top-notch standards.
Their state-of-the-art production facility, nestled in Ohio, employs a massive team of 3,000 dedicated individuals across the company. This vast workforce is essential for producing the wide array of quality meats they offer, including their renowned bacon, delicious hams, classic hot dogs, savory dry sausages, and a variety of fresh lunch meats. If you’ve ever attended a sporting event in the Ohio area, there’s a very high chance you’ve enjoyed a Sugardale hot dog. They are the official hot dog partner for beloved teams like the Indians, Browns, Cavs, and many more, making them a staple in local traditions and celebrations.
From Pork Belly to Plate: The Bacon Making Process
Our tour specifically focused on their impressive bacon facility, where we had the unique opportunity to witness the entire transformation, from raw pork belly to the perfectly sliced bacon you pick up at your local grocery store. I was genuinely astonished by the sheer volume of bacon produced in their facility, but it makes perfect sense when you consider just how much Americans love their bacon. To put it into perspective, they produce enough bacon to feed an astounding 652 million people breakfast each and every year – a truly mind-boggling scale of operation!
One of their most beloved bacon varieties, undoubtedly familiar to many of you, is the classic Sugardale Hickory Smoked Bacon. But rest assured, their range is extensive enough to cater to every preference. You’ll find a wide variety of bacon options, including robust thick-sliced and extra thick-sliced versions for those who love a hearty bite, natural uncured options, lean center-cut choices, aromatic applewood smoked varieties, zesty peppered bacon, lower sodium alternatives, and even convenient pre-cooked applewood smoked bacon. And for the devoted ham lovers, Sugardale offers some fantastic ham products too. A personal favorite of mine was their Sugardale Simple Carve Ham, which would make an absolutely perfect, hassle-free main dish for any holiday celebration.
How is Bacon Made? A Step-by-Step Guide
I found the entire process of making bacon to be incredibly fascinating and far more intricate than I had ever imagined. It truly highlights the importance of understanding where our food comes from and the careful steps it undergoes before it reaches our dinner tables. So, let’s delve into the detailed journey of how delicious bacon is crafted!
The journey begins with the arrival of fresh pork bellies, meticulously packed in large plastic-lined containers known as “combos.” Upon their arrival, Sugardale’s dedicated raw receiving team swings into action. Their crucial first task is to thoroughly inspect each and every product, ensuring that it meets the company’s stringent quality standards. This initial quality check is vital to guarantee that only the best cuts proceed to the next stages of production.
Once approved, these premium pork bellies are then perfectly prepared to begin their remarkable transformation into the bacon we all know and love. This is where the magic truly starts.
Next, the pork bellies are expertly infused with Sugardale’s exclusive, special blend of sugar and spices. This proprietary blend is the secret behind the signature flavor that has made Sugardale Bacon a beloved favorite for nearly a century. After this crucial flavoring stage, the bellies are carefully hung on metal trees, which then transport them to the smokehouse. Here, they undergo a slow and deliberate smoking process using authentic natural hickory hardwood. This traditional smoking method imparts that distinctive, deep smoky aroma and rich flavor that is characteristic of high-quality bacon.
Once the pork bellies have completed their time in the smokehouse, absorbing all that wonderful hickory flavor, they enter a critical resting period where they are carefully chilled. This cooling process is essential as it allows the flavors to fully develop and helps the meat firm up, preparing it for precise slicing. Following the chilling, the bellies are expertly trimmed to remove any excess, ensuring a perfect, uniform shape. Finally, they are meticulously sliced into the familiar strips of bacon, ready for the next step: packaging.
The freshly sliced bacon is then carefully packed into boxes, sealed for freshness, and begins its final journey. From the production facility, these boxes of delicious Sugardale bacon make their way to the shelves of your local grocery store, eagerly awaiting to be taken home and transformed into your next savory meal or, perhaps, these delightful Bacon Pizza Bites!
Whip Up Your Own Bacon Pizza Bites!
Now that you’ve discovered the incredible journey of bacon, it’s time to put that craving to good use! Get ready to make these irresistibly easy Bacon Pizza Bites. They are quick, fun, and guaranteed to be a hit with everyone. Follow the simple recipe below and enjoy a taste of homemade perfection.
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Bacon Pizza Bites
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Ingredients
- 15 mini phyllo dough shells
- 2 cups pizza sauce {or tomato sauce}
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 pieces of bacon, cooked
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped thin
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
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Arrange the mini phyllo dough cups neatly on a baking sheet.
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Using a small spoon, carefully fill each phyllo dough shell with your preferred pizza or tomato sauce. Then, generously top each with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbling and the phyllo cups are lightly golden.
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While the pizza bites are baking to perfection, cook your bacon to your desired crispness. Once cooked, chop the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
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Carefully remove the hot pizza bites from the oven. Immediately sprinkle the chopped, cooked bacon over them, along with a garnish of fresh basil.
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Serve and enjoy warm for the best flavor!
Notes
- These delightful bites can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. To reheat, simply place them back in the oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 15 minutes, until thoroughly warmed through and crispy again.
- Feel free to customize your pizza bites with other delicious toppings! Try adding finely chopped cooked sausage, mini pepperoni, or even a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post is sponsored by OhioPork.org. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.