I have no doubt my grandfather would have been a TikTok legend for his wacky and slightly unhinged adventures in the kitchen. But there was always a method to the madness. While his loosey-goosey recipes initially sounded a bit odd, they were always a hit—like the unexpected yet charming ingredient he’d add to his coffee every morning.
The rest of his breakfast consisted of toast with apple butter, scrambled eggs, an orange, and bacon. Except it wasn’t really bacon.
My Grandpa’s Toaster Oven Bacon
My grandfather was obsessed with the toaster oven. He probably used the countertop appliance even more than the microwave. If it could fit in the toaster oven, he’d skip the actual oven entirely. So, bare this in mind when I tell you that my grandfather made bacon in the toaster oven…with deli meat.
The story I was told as a kid is that because my grandfather was diabetic and had had heart surgery, real bacon was off the menu. So, he faked it with low-sodium ham slices cut into strips and baked in the toaster oven.
Was it crunchy, crispy, or greasy like bacon? No, absolutely not. But it did have a novel texture that I can honestly say I have never experienced again in any cuisine around the world. It was like a cross between bacon and jerky—and it was surprisingly good.
Now, anytime I have shared this strange anecdote with folks (especially fellow southerners), I get all kinds of furrowed brows, scrunched noses, and wide eyes. But, it turns out that TikTok is on my grandfather’s side—sort of.
Recently, while scrolling, I came across a video from @romemcelroy, sharing their deli meat bacon creation. “My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I cannot be the only person to get sliced deli meat—turkey in my case—and fry it up like bacon,” the creator shared.
In the video, this method looks a little too crispy for my grandfather’s tastes. To get the weird jerky hybrid sensation, you’ll want to skip the stovetop, crank that toaster oven up to 375 degrees F, and bake until you start to see some burned spots. My grandfather would use the same aluminum foil-wrapped tray over and over again, like a seasoned cast iron pan littered with remnants of toasts past, but I would strongly caution you not do that.
But, if your toaster oven has fallen out of favor against more trendy, modern appliances, like the air fryer or pressure cooker, I challenge you to dust it off and try deli meat bacon-jerky. It’s a great high-protein snack or sandwich addition. It is not, however, designed to be easily crumbled on salads or baked potatoes.
That’s just not the way of deli meat bacon-jerky. Like my grandfather, it’s in a category all its own.