Bacon Bloody Mary

Jump to Recipe Rate this Recipe

To make the best Bacon Bloody Mary recipe, start by making candied bacon! This addictive bacon recipe tastes so incredible, it puts your favorite cocktail over the top!

Bacon Bloody Mary with skewer of olives, cheese, bacon and celery.

Add extra garnishes and a Bloody Mary Bar for the perfect brunch or afternoon treat. This tomato based cocktail is also great for special occasions like Father's Day, Mother's Day, and barbecues of all shapes and sizes.

Jump To

Bacon Makes the Cocktail!
The Best Mix
How to Make Candied Bacon
Garnishes
How to Make A Bloody Mary Bar
Assembling the Drinks
Recipe FAQS
Party Tips
Brunch Recipes
Recipe Card
Reviews

Bacon Makes the Cocktail!

This isn't just any bacon. It's incredibly sweet and spicy bacon slices that make the best loaded Bloody Mary you've ever tasted!

Serve this delicious mixed drink in a large pitcher or pint glass rimmed with salt or a variety of seasonings. Offer guests a choice of garnishes, and make sure there's plenty of candied bacon slices to enjoy!

The Best Mix

A really good Bloody Mary needs a great Bloody Mary mix. If you have your own recipe...that's awesome! But I've never found a mix that's better than Zing Zang.(ad) It's got the perfect blend of vegetable juice and tomato puree with a spicy kick.

Zing Zang includes celery salt, black pepper and hot sauce mixed with worcestershire and bold spices. Add a lime wedge and a celery stalk and you're good to go. Or load it up with green olives and crispy bacon strips that wake up your taste buds!

Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix next to a rack of candied bacon.

How to Make Candied Bacon

My method is a little different when making candied slices. I've found that baking them for 20 minutes before adding the brown sugar creates a crispier slice.

I also use regular cut bacon instead of thick cut because it's not as chewy. There's no need to flip the slices over!

Place slices closely together on a sheet pan that has been covered with parchment paper.
Sprinkle slices with steak seasoning or cracked black pepper.

raw bacon strips with steak seasoning on a sheet pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until slices are crispy.

Take out of oven and sprinkle slices with brown sugar.

Bake for 5 more minutes until bacon is completely crisp throughout.
Remove bacon from oven and transfer to a wire rack to drain. Place paper towels underneath rack to catch bacon grease.

This recipe will make thick and straight slices if you bake them in the oven. Cooking them in a skillet on the stove won't create the same results.

Garnishes

Looking for extra flavor in your Bacon Bloody Mary? Try these variations and add ins for a loaded cocktail experience.

It's a PARTY in a glass!

Tajin seasoning, Old Bay, cayenne pepper, creole seasoning, hot pepper sauce
Heinz 57, A.1. Sauce, olive brine, pickle juice, clamato, chipotle, sriracha
bacon vodka, pepper vodka, Tito's, Smirnoff, or no alcohol for a Virgin Mary
gherkin slices, banana peppers, pickled okra, sweet pickles, jalapenos
stuffed olives, feta cheese cubes, hot horseradish, red pepper flakes
lemon wedges, celery stick, asparagus, pickled green beans, brussels sprouts
crispy pancetta, chilled shrimp, shucked oysters, beef jerky, beef sticks

Bloody Mary Bar with olives, candied bacon, pickles, brussels sprouts and Zing Zang mix.

How to Make A Bloody Mary Bar

Bloody Mary Bars put the FUN in every party! Guests love being able to choose their own garnishes and seasonings to create the perfect DIY beverage.

You can start off small and offer a few toppings, or go hog wild and put out every condiment in your fridge! Anything goes, but I like to keep it simple with a few classic choices.

Don't feel like you have to break the bank to create a nice presentation. A few garnishes can create a loaded cocktail in just seconds! As long as you offer this million dollar bacon recipe, you can't go wrong!

three Bloody Mary beverages in mason jars with a Tajin salted rim.

Assembling the Drinks

1 - Use a lime or lemon slice to moisten the rim of each glass or mason jar.

2 - Dip rims of glasses into sea salt or rim seasoning. I use Tajin Seasoning (ad) which is a combination of lime and chili powder with salt.

3 - Add ice cubes until they reach the top of each glass.

4 - Fill glasses ¾ full with Bloody Mary mix. Add 2 ounces of vodka if desired, or serve it alcohol-free. Stir well.

5 - Garnish with candied bacon, celery stalks and toppings of your choice.

three bloody Marys with garnish on a wooden tray.

Recipe FAQS

How long can you leave candied bacon sitting out?

Candied bacon can stay in an airtight container for up to 3 days. After that, it needs to be wrapped tightly and refrigerated.

What are other ways to use candied bacon?

Candied bacon tastes great crumbled on top of a salad, especially if it's a blue cheese wedge. It makes an amazing BLT sandwich, which is even better topped with pimento cheese. You can also toss these crumbles on top of brussels sprouts, cinnamon rolls and cupcakes!

Do you shake or stir a Bloody Mary?

The nice thing about this mixed drink is it's low maintenance. If you use a mix like Zing Zang, just pour it over ice and it's ready to sip. If you make your own mix, shake it in a cocktail shaker before pouring.

Party Tips

Provide plenty of stir sticks and skewers to help serve garnishes.
Need extra glasses? Use inexpensive mason jars for a fun presentation.
Purchase condiments and seasonings after the holidays to get the best deals.

bacon Bloody Mary with celery, olives and bacon in two glasses.

Brunch Recipes

Wondering what to serve with a Bloody Mary? I've got you covered with these awesome breakfast and brunch recipes...

View these ideas for Mother's Day Brunch and a traditional Southern Brunch too!

Recipe Card