Can You Eat Turkey Bacon on the Carnivore Diet?

What Is Turkey Bacon?

Turkey bacon is a meat product that serves as an alternative to traditional pork bacon and is made from smoked and cured turkey meat. The turkey meat takes on the flavor and color of bacon through the curing and smoking process.

Turkey bacon is pre-cooked during the curing process, so it just needs to be heated before eating. The popularity of turkey bacon is due to its appeal to those seeking pork alternatives for dietary, religious, or health reasons.

High levels of fat and protein and low levels of carbohydrates in turkey bacon, make it suitable to eat in the Carnivore Diet.

Learn More: Can You Eat Pork Rinds on the Carnivore Diet?

Can You Eat Turkey Bacon on the Carnivore Diet?

Many Carnivore Dieters ask “Can you eat turkey bacon on the Carnivore Diet?” Yes, animal-based foods with high-fat and low-carb like turkey bacon are allowed in this Carnivore Diet.

Additionally, the nutritional profile of turkey bacon aligns well with Carnivore Diet principles because it’s high in protein and fat while low in carbohydrates.

However, when you want to buy turkey bacon, it's important to check the ingredients on its label and package because some turkey bacon products may contain small amounts of added sugars, fillers, or plant-based ingredients not allowed on the Carnivore Diet.

The table below summarizes the nutrients in 100 grams of turkey bacon [1].

This rich nutrition profile can provide various health benefits like better protein absorption and weight management.

Learn More: The Carnivore Diet: Is it Healthy? Benefits and Side Effects

The Benefits of Eating Turkey Bacon on the Carnivore Diet

Eating turkey bacon on a Carnivore Diet can help

• Promote Protein Intake,
• Support Weight Management,
• Provide Essential Nutrients, and
• Reduce Inflammation.

Promoting Protein Intake

Turkey bacon is a rich source of protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, enzymes, and hormones. It’s a crucial macronutrient for maintaining overall health and bodily functions [2].

Turkey bacon is a lean meat source that can provide good amounts of protein necessary for those on a Carnivore Diet and similar low-carb eating routines. Adequate protein consumption helps preserve lean muscle mass, which is essential for strength, metabolism, and overall physical function.

Without enough protein, the body may start breaking down muscle tissue for energy, leading to muscle loss and many other negative impacts on metabolic health, like decreased immune function and slow wound healing [3].

Supporting Weight Management

One key advantage of turkey bacon over regular pork bacon is its lower calorie content, which is essential for those trying to lose weight.

The Carnivore Diet can be an effective approach to weight management as it allows low-calorie, high-protein sources like turkey bacon. However, do not consume too much of even low-calorie foods, as consuming excessive amounts of any food, even those permitted on the diet, can lead to weight gain [4].

Turkey bacon contains fewer calories per serving than regular pork bacon, which allows dieters to enjoy a satisfying and flavorful meat option without consuming excessive calories.

Providing Essential Nutrients

Turkey bacon provides several essential nutrients that play crucial roles in maintaining overall health and bodily functions. One of these essential nutrients is iron.

Iron is a vital mineral that is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Adequate iron intake is important for maintaining healthy blood and optimal energy levels [6].

Turkey bacon is also a good source of zinc, which plays a role in various aspects of health, including immune function and wound healing. It supports the body's ability to fight off infections and promotes the healing of cuts and wounds [7].

Furthermore, turkey bacon contains several B vitamins, such as vitamin B12, niacin, and riboflavin. B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins needed for energy production and metabolism.

They help the body convert food into usable energy and support the proper functioning of various metabolic processes [8].

Reducing Inflammation

The Carnivore Diet has been associated with potential anti-inflammatory effects within the body by focusing on nutritious and anti-inflammatory foods like turkey bacon.

Inflammation is a natural response by the body's immune system to protect against injury or infection. However, chronic inflammation can contribute to various health issues, including autoimmune disorders and chronic pain [9].

Animal proteins, such as those found in turkey bacon, can have a positive impact on reducing inflammation in the body. This anti-inflammatory effect is due to the specific amino acid profiles and nutrient composition of animal-based foods.

So, if you want to have turkey bacon in your Carnivore Diet, you can use the following recipes. Also, you can find many low-carb and Carnivore recipes by checking these Carnivore Diet recipes.

The Best Ways to Eat Turkey Bacon

Here are 3 easy recipes to include turkey bacon in your Carnivore meals.

• Bacon Egg Breakfast Casserole
• Egg Muffins with Turkey Bacon
• Turkey Burger Sliders

You can see their ingredients and instructions in the following sections.

Bacon Egg Breakfast Casserole

Here are the ingredients and instructions you need to make 4 servings of this yummy, Carnivore-friendly casserole.

Ingredients

• 4 strips of turkey bacon
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees.
2. Mix eggs, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese. Then add sauteed bacon in a large bowl. Spoon into a lightly greased 9x9 square dish.
3. Bake for 45 minutes until the casserole is firm.
4. Enjoy!

Egg Muffins with Turkey Bacon

You can make these muffins in about 45 minutes, which yields 12 servings using the ingredients and instructions below.

Ingredients

• 12 slices turkey bacon
• 2.5 oz. turkey sausage
• 20 oz. egg whites
• 3 small eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 175˚C.
2. Spray a muffin pan or muffin forms with a cooking spray.
3. Wrap a slice of turkey bacon around each muffin form.
4. Cut the turkey sausage into small pieces and add them to muffins.
5. mix the egg whites, whole eggs, and salt in a large bowl.
6. Pour the egg mixture into the muffin forms.
7. Bake for 25 minutes.

Turkey Burger Sliders

Using the ingredients and instructions provided below, you can make 6 servings of this meal in about 40 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1.5 pound ground turkey or lean ground beef
• 3-4 slices cooked turkey bacon
• 1.5 tsp steak seasoning
• 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. Mix ground turkey with steak seasoning. Form into 8-10 mini patties, around 1/4 cup meat each.
2. Grill the turkey patties and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until fully cooked.
3. Enjoy your burgers!

To make these delicious Carnivore dishes, you can use the high-quality turkey bacon brands introduced below.

Learn More: The 10 Best Meat Sticks: How to Eat Them?

The 5 Best Turkey Bacon

Here are the top 5 best brands of turkey bacon on the Carnivore Diet selected based on brand reputation, product features, and overall customer reviews.

• Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon,
• Wellshire Organic Classic Uncured Turkey Bacon,
• John F. Martin & Sons Turkey Bacon,
• Godshall's Maple Turkey Bacon, and
• Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon

Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon

Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon has a rich turkey flavor and is made from high-quality bacon with no antibiotics or nitrates.

The slices are thin but hold together when cooked. This brand is Whole30 approved, meaning it's free of dairy, grains, sugar, and other off-limits ingredients found in most brands of turkey bacon. It's also gluten-free, casein-free, low in sodium and calories.

The table below shows the nutritional values in 1 slice (15 g) of Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon.

Wellshire Organic Classic Uncured Turkey Bacon

Wellshire USDA-Certified Organic Turkey Bacon is a farm-based brand that focuses on sustainable and humane livestock methods. The organic certification ensures the turkeys are fed with 100% organic food, allowed to roam pastures, and also raised without antibiotics or added hormones. The thick-cut bacon slices of this brand have a nice chewy texture.

Wellshire Organic Classic Uncured Turkey Bacon’s nutritional values in 1 slice (28 g) are provided in the table below.

John F. Martin & Sons Turkey Bacon

John F. Martin's turkey bacon is known for its rich bacon-like taste due to this company's long history in the butchery business. This bacon tastes more like pork bacon than any other brand introduced here, with a proper chewiness that makes it a good substitute for pork bacon.

Here are its nutritional values in 1 slice (28 g).

Godshall's Maple Turkey Bacon

Godshall specializes in turkey bacon products by including a variety of turkey bacon items and a beef bacon option. This Pennsylvania-based food supplier even holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest Piece of Turkey Bacon, measuring over 17 feet long and nearly 2 feet wide, which is 1500 times bigger than the average slice!

The cooking process for Godshall's turkey bacon differs from most other brands. It requires a preheated pan instead of starting in a cold pan, causing the bacon to cook faster and brown better, giving it a more traditional bacon appearance.

Here are Godshall's Maple Turkey Bacon’s nutritional values in 1 slice (28 g).

Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon

Oscar Mayer is known for its popular hot dogs, but it also offers turkey bacon. Oscar Mayer's Turkey Bacon is a low-sodium choice with just 140 milligrams of sodium in each slice (18 grams), which is 57% less than traditional pork bacon.

Here are the nutritional values of Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon in 1 slice (18 g).

Turkey bacon can be consumed as an alternative to pork bacon due to fewer calories or religious beliefs. Although they’re different, there are some similarities between Turkey bacon and pork bacon.

Turkey Bacon vs Pork Bacon

Two popular bacon options are turkey bacon and pork bacon. While both are known for their savory flavor and crispy texture, they differ in several key aspects, including their nutritional profiles, taste, and cooking features.

Summary

The answer to the question, “Can I use turkey bacon on the Carnivore Diet?”, is yes because turkey bacon is a rich source of fat and protein with low carbohydrates.

But please remember to eat turkey bacon in moderation because consuming excessive bacon can cause weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease and kidney stones due to its high sodium content.