The Hands-Down Best Turkey Bacon You Can Buy Has Rich Flavor That Goes With Almost Any Meal

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Turkey bacon gets a bad rap. But, here at Tasting Table, we would argue that naysayers simply haven't tried the right offering yet. Not all turkey bacon is created equal (far from it, in fact). In our definitive ranking of nine turkey bacon brands, Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon ranked No. 1 — and it can make a believer out of the staunchest pork bacon fan.

As we mentioned in our review, Applegate's turkey bacon ultimately "tasted more like turkey than any other brand, with a rich intense flavor. You could swap this out one-for-one for deli meat [...] With 150 milligrams of sodium and a mere 30 calories per slice, this is as good as turkey bacon gets." It's worth noting that turkey bacon as a category is less umami-forward, salty, and smoky than traditional pork bacon. Instead, the tasting profile leans meatier with simpler savoriness.

The only ingredients here are turkey, water, and cayenne powder, plus less than 2% of sea salt, celery powder, and onion powder. This is because "uncured" bacon is typically cured with sea salt and some form of celery (which is packed with natural nitrates) rather than soaked in sodium nitrites and sugar to "cure," as with traditional bacon. Its sugar-free curing process makes for a meatier flavor and also makes this turkey bacon a solid option for foodies with a range of dietary needs. We also appreciate Applegate turkey bacon's "Whole30" approval rating, which indicates a dairy-, grain-, sugar-, alcohol, and legume-free product.

We aren't the only ones digging Applegate's turkey bacon. Customer reviews via Target rave, "Go-to breakfast item. Best turkey bacon ever," and "Better than pork bacon. This Turkey bacon is amazing! This is the closest turkey bacon I've ever tried that is so close to pork bacon, and it's better! Plus none of the bad stuff!"

If we were going to dock points anywhere, it'd be for price point. At a Target in Chicago, an eight-ounce package of Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon costs around $6.99. For reference, an eight-ounce package of Target brand Good & Gather uncured turkey bacon can often be found for under $6.00, and a larger 12-ounce package of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon runs for under $5.00. So, Applegate's offering is a tad pricier than competitor offerings — but for its exceedingly high marks in quality, we think the extra dollar is well worth it. Applegate brand products come backed by a commitment to ethical livestock raising, never using antibiotics or added nitrites, and no gluten or casein.

Elsewhere online, Amazon reviews echo this praise: "I never don't have this in my kitchen. It has the perfect flavor and isn't overly sweet or salty," and "Expensive but worth the price." From BLT sandwiches to full breakfast spreads, soups, frittatas, and even an elevated pasta carbonara, or in any dish where you might replace regular bacon with turkey bacon, Applegate's offering gets the job done without sacrificing flavor or texture. Whatever you do, just steer clear of Butterball's turkey bacon.