Roasted Bacon with Fennel
Prep
15 mins
Cook
35 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
This is one of my favorite weeknight dinners because it's honestly foolproof and comes together in under an hour. Roasted bacon with fennel sounds fancy, but it's actually super simple: you just toss everything on a sheet pan and let the oven do the work. The fennel bulbs are wonderful here because they're packed with fiber and become sweet and tender when roasted. I love how the maple syrup and balsamic vinegar caramelize everything into this gorgeous glaze, while the fresh thyme and garlic add so much depth. It's the kind of dish that feels like you spent way more effort than you actually did, which makes it perfect for impressing people without stressing yourself out.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 12bacon strips(thick-cut)
- 2fennel bulb(sliced into wedges)
- 3 tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoonsmaple syrup
- 1 tablespoonbalsamic vinegar
- 4 sprigsfresh thyme
- 3garlic cloves(minced)
- ¾ teaspoonsea salt
- ½ teaspooncracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoonred pepper flakes(optional)
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large roasting pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Tip: Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup effortless.
- 2
Prepare the fennel by removing the fronds and cutting each bulb lengthwise into 8 wedges, keeping the core intact to hold them together.
Tip: Keep the core intact so the fennel wedges don't fall apart during roasting.
- 3
Arrange bacon strips in a crisscross pattern on the prepared pan, weaving them slightly to create pockets for the fennel.
Tip: Overlapping bacon creates a beautiful presentation and helps it cook evenly.
- 4
Place fennel wedges between the bacon strips, drizzle with olive oil, and season with minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.
Tip: Don't skip the garlic—it adds wonderful flavor to both the bacon and fennel.
- 5
Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until the bacon is starting to crisp and the fennel edges are golden brown.
Tip: Check halfway through—if bacon is cooking too fast, tent with foil.
- 6
In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle this mixture over the bacon and fennel.
Tip: The maple-balsamic glaze adds a sophisticated sweet-tart flavor.
- 7
Return to the oven for another 8-10 minutes until the bacon is fully crispy and the glaze is caramelized and sticky.
Tip: Watch carefully in the final minutes to prevent burning.
- 8
Remove from oven and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately while bacon is still crackling.
Tip: The residual heat will continue cooking the glaze, so serve right away for best texture.
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