The Texas Treat – crispy, spicy, and downright sinful
Fresh from the skillet — new cookin' straight from the holler!
Lord, I ain’t never had nothing like this growing up in the holler. We fried a lot of things, but bacon? That was usually just for breakfast, not turned into something you had to fight your cousins for. I first heard about chicken fried bacon down in Texas and thought, “Well that sounds like pure trouble.” One bite and I was hooked. Crispy, spicy, crunchy on the outside, smoky and tender inside — it’s the kind of sinful snack that makes you want to holler “thank you, Lord” between bites.
This is my take using Wendy’s thick-cut bacon from Kroger (because it holds up to the fry) and a homemade KFC-style spice blend. We double-dip for max crunch and serve it with a Chick-fil-A copycat dipping sauce that’ll make you forget all about regular bacon.
Bacon: 1 pack Wendy’s thick-cut bacon (or any thick-cut bacon)
KFC Spice Blend (mix ahead):
2 Tbsp paprika • 1 Tbsp salt • 1 Tbsp white pepper • 2 tsp garlic salt • 2 tsp onion powder • 1 tsp dried basil • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp dried thyme • 1 tsp celery salt • 1 tsp ground mustard • ½ tsp ground ginger • Optional: pinch cayenne
Breading:
1 cup all-purpose flour (or crushed pork rinds) + all the KFC spice blend
2 eggs, beaten (add a splash of heavy cream if you want it richer)
Oil or bacon grease for frying
1. Mix all the KFC spice blend ingredients into the flour. Taste a pinch and adjust if needed.
2. Cut each bacon strip in half so they’re easier to handle.
3. Set up your breading station: beaten eggs in one bowl, spiced flour in another.
4. Dip each bacon piece in egg wash, then into the spiced flour. Press the flour on firmly. Dip back in egg, then final flour coat.
5. Heat your cast iron skillet with oil or bacon grease to 350°F. Fry the bacon pieces in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until deep golden and extra crispy.
6. Drain on a wire rack so they stay crunchy.
½ cup real mayonnaise • 2 Tbsp smoky barbecue sauce • 2 Tbsp honey • 1 Tbsp yellow mustard • 1 tsp lemon juice • Pinch smoked paprika
Whisk everything together and chill for a few minutes so it thickens up nicely.
Thick-cut bacon is key — regular bacon shrivels up and gets lost in the breading.
Don’t crowd the skillet or the temperature will drop and they’ll get greasy instead of crispy.
Make extra spice blend — it’s killer on fries, chicken, or even popcorn.
This is pure Texas-meets-holler chaos. My possum-chasing cousins would’ve fought over the last piece.
Bacon Lover’s Version: Use even thicker bacon and add more bacon bits in the breading.
Spicy Texas Twist: Add extra cayenne or a dash of hot sauce to the egg wash.
Sweet Heat: Drizzle a little honey on the finished bacon before serving.
Shop this Cast Iron Skillet on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Got a tweak or your own chicken fried creation? Drop it in the comments or holler at me! I read every one.