It’s a well-known fact that bacon is amazing;). Honestly, I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like bacon! The smell, the taste, the texture- I’m drooling just thinking about it! However, one of the things I don’t love about bacon, is the grease you deal with afterwards. What do you do with the leftover bacon grease? We know we’re not supposed to just dump it down the drain, but am I the only one who absolutely hates throwing anything way?? Here are some ways to practice frugality and use up that grease;).

Sauté your vegetables. Have a bacon lover that is not as big a fan of veggies? Sauté them in bacon grease for a hint of that delectable flavor. Green beans, mushrooms- just a tablespoon or so of bacon grease and you’re taking your veggies to the next level!

Stir-fry. If you’re going to sauté vegetables anyway, why not throw in some noodles or rice to make a delicious side or entrée for dinner? My mom always made a bacon-fried rice dish that was amazing. Simply sauté the rice in bacon grease, add bacon crumbles, scrambled egg, shredded carrot, green onions, brussel sprouts, and just a dash of soy sauce. An explosion of delicious flavor! ;)

Cook a delectable chicken breast. If you’re going to make a meal that requires you to cook the chicken in a pan beforehand, why not add some extra flavor by cooking it in bacon grease instead of cooking oil? Chicken and bacon are a match made in heaven! And you’ll be taking your chicken to the next level;).

Upgrade your cornbread. Instead of melted butter or oil, use bacon grease in your cornbread recipes! You could even take it up a notch by using bacon grease to grease the pan or muffin tins before you bake it. Even your cornbread haters might want a bite after that!

Amazing oven fries. Christy from the Southern Plate puts a layer of bacon greases on a jelly roll pan before putting her sliced potatoes on the pan to make some amazing oven fries. Top with some crumbled bacon and you have quite the amazing appetizer!

Fry Eggs. Bacon and eggs are must meant to be eaten together, so why not take it even farther by frying your eggs in bacon grease? All the more reason to have bacon and eggs for breakfast, right? And who says it has to stop at eggs? Why not try this with your French toast or pancakes? There’s no such thing as too much bacon ;).

Dried beans seasoner. If you’re cooking some dried beans and want a little more flavor than the bean itself, add a couple tablespoons of bacon grease to the water and those beans are going to be a hit!

Popcorn intensifier. Everyone loves bacon, and everyone loves popcorn, so why not put those two together?? Instead of using butter or oil, try flavoring your popcorn with a little bit of bacon grease!

Biscuits and gravy. This is probably one of my favorite meals, and if you want to add just a little more flavor, add a tablespoon or so of bacon grease to the gravy for a real show-stopper!

Now, bacon grease may not be the healthiest option, but if you’re making a special dinner or really trying to wow your guests, it’s a great secret ingredient to have on hand! Try it in soups, pasta sauces, even as dressings for your salad! What do you do with your leftover bacon grease? Share in the comments below!