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- Food & Beverage
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- CookingFood
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- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every December 30
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- 🥓
National Bacon Day crackles to life every December 30, inviting everyone to celebrate the universally adored breakfast staple. Whether you prefer it crispy, chewy, or candied, this is your day to indulge. Fry up a batch, experiment with new recipes, or visit your favorite diner for a bacon-filled feast!
Want to sponsor National Bacon Day? Learn how
Expected National Bacon Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Bacon Day often brings sizzling deals from major food chains and retailers. Look for special offers from restaurants like Denny’s, IHOP, and Waffle House, which frequently feature bacon in their breakfast and all-day menus. Grocery stores such as Kroger and Walmart may offer discounts on popular bacon brands like Hormel, Oscar Mayer, and Smithfield. Keep an eye out for unique bacon-flavored products or limited-time menu items from fast-food giants. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 30 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Bacon Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalBaconDay. Film a creative recipe, a bacon taste test, or a ‘bacon ASMR’ video.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBaconDay. Share mouth-watering photos or reels of your favorite bacon dishes and preparations.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalBaconDay. Ask your community to share their ultimate bacon recipes or memories.
National Bacon Day Hero
George A. Hormel
History of National Bacon Day
Though the holiday was created in 1997 as a way to take a break from celebrating the traditional winter holidays, the consumption of pork dates back thousands of years to 4900 B.C. where the Chinese domesticated pigs and preserved pork bellies with salt. This practice is believed to have made its way to the Romans and Greeks through conquests in the Middle East and by 1500 B.C. had largely impacted both production and preservation of pork in the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman’s early form of bacon, or “petaso,” was pig shoulder broiled with dried figs, browned and served with wine.
The word “bacon” can be traced back to various languages from before the 12th century. Most notably from the French word “bako,” the Germanic “bakkon” and the Old Teutonic word “backe,” all of which specifically refer to the rear of the pig. During the 16th Century, the word “bacoun” was used to refer to any kind of pork. And it wasn’t until the 17th Century that “bacon” was used solely to refer to the salted and smoked pork belly that we know today.
Considering how easy and cheap it was to own pigs, its no wonder during Medieval Times bacon was very common among Anglo-Saxon peasants. Each family and butcher had their own recipe for curing and smoking bacon. The sheer variety of bacon, sausage, and black pudding that you could buy in Victorian England created an almost golden age of pork.
The popular phrase “bring home the bacon” can be traced to the 12 century, in the English town of Dunmow. The church promised to reward a side of bacon to any married man who swore before God and the congregation that he would not quarrel with his wife for a year and a day.
National Bacon Day timeline
Christopher Columbus brings 8 pigs to Cuba at the insistence of Queen Isabella.
Hernando de Soto brought 13 pigs to Tampa Bay.
John Harris sets up the first large-scale bacon curing business.
Oscar Mayer is established in the United States.
Hardees is one of the first fast-food companies to add bacon to their sandwich.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Bacon Day
Local restaurants and cafes can create special bacon-themed menus, offering unique dishes like bacon-wrapped appetizers, gourmet bacon burgers, or even bacon-infused desserts. Butcher shops can highlight different cuts and curing methods of bacon, perhaps offering tasting samples or special bundles. Food trucks could feature a ‘bacon takeover’ with an entire menu dedicated to the savory strip. Retailers might offer discounts on cooking accessories or ingredients that pair well with bacon, encouraging customers to experiment at home.
National Bacon Day FAQs
When is National Bacon Day?
National Bacon Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 30, offering a mid-week opportunity to celebrate everyone’s favorite crispy treat.
How much bacon is consumed annually?
Americans consume billions of pounds of bacon each year, with estimates often placing total consumption well over 1.5 billion pounds annually. This figure highlights bacon’s enduring popularity across the country.
What makes bacon so irresistible?
Bacon’s appeal lies in its unique combination of savory, salty, and umami flavors, coupled with its satisfying crispy texture. The fat renders during cooking, creating a rich aroma and mouthfeel that is hard to resist.
What are the different types of bacon?
The most common type is streaky bacon (from pork belly), but there’s also back bacon (leaner, from pork loin), and jowl bacon (from the pig’s cheek). Curing methods also vary, from dry-cured to wet-cured.
National Bacon Day Activities
Order bacon pizza
It’s time to switch things up and get outside of your box. Live life on the wild side and swap your normal pepperoni and sausage pizza order. The delivery man is judging you, and frankly, we are too. To earn our respect back, you have to order a pizza with nothing but crispy, mouth-watering bacon as a topping. You’ll thank us later — if you’re not already thanking us now for thinking of this awesome idea.
Buy some bacon-covered donuts
We get it — it sounds wrong. We were once among the unbelievers too. But if maple-bacon donuts are wrong, we don’t want to be right! You can thank the Swirls bakery in Nebraska for starting the trend. They first conceptualized the donut and decided to call it the “Elvis.” Later, it was picked up by Voodoo Donuts in Portland, Dynamo Donuts in San Francisco, and more. So live on the edge and try this trendy delicacy! Again, you’ll thank us later.
Eat bacon-wrapped hot dogs
You’re probably asking yourself how things could get any better. I mean, we just introduced you to maple-bacon donuts! However, we’re about to outdo ourselves. Get ready for… bacon-wrapped hot dogs! You’ve probably seen these beautiful concoctions before (we’re guessing they were selling them outside of that concert you attended this summer). But we’re willing to bet you’ve never tried them — and you’re missing out! You’ll be hooked after your first bite. And guess what? You’ll want to thank us for the third time.
5 TASTY BACON FACTS
It Helped During WWII
During WWII the U.S. government urged citizens to donate their excess bacon fat to the army. The fat was used to make bombs.
18 Pounds of Goodness
The average American consumes 18 pounds of bacon a year.
Bacon Blessed
There is a church in Las Vegas called “The United Church of Bacon” and it is exactly what it sounds like.
Bacon Camp
The exact antithesis of fat camp, in Ann Arbor Michigan you can go to a camp with activities entirely curated around bacon.
One Small Bite for Man
Bacon was included in the first meal eaten on the moon.
Why We Love National Bacon Day
It's amazing
Check your pulse if you don’t believe us — you’re clearly a zombie masquerading as a real person. Why do we like it so much? It complements everything it comes in touch with, whether it’s spicing up a boring salad or taking donuts to the next level. They say Midas has the golden touch, but we beg to differ.
It's convenient
Look, there’s never enough time in one day. Between our jobs, errands, and friends, we’re always struggling to find time to cook. However, when you opt to have bacon as a meal, that’s not a problem. All you need to do is heat up a pan and pour in a little bit of oil. Your bacon will be ready in minutes and the gnarly hunger monster inside of you will be sated. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved!
It has superpowers
Bacon contains a nutrient (we know, we’re surprised too) called “choline.” It’s been known to increase intelligence and memory, fight Alzheimer’s Disease, and protect the heart from developing lethal problems. We never thought our favorite food could get any better, but then we learn about its health benefits. Thank you, bacon; you’re the gift that keeps on giving.
National Bacon Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 30 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | December 30 | Thursday |
| 2028 | December 30 | Saturday |
| 2029 | December 30 | Sunday |
| 2030 | December 30 | Monday |
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