Simple Bacon Wrapped Olives

Name: Simple Bacon Wrapped Olives
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 10 ounce jar of large pimento olives; 48 ounces of bacon; 24 toothpicks

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Bacon is a popular food item that bacon lovers can't get enough of. Whether you're having bacon for breakfast or wrapping it around other foods for an appetizer, it's hard to resist the savory, salty, and smoky flavors that bacon brings. That's why today, we're introducing a new recipe for bacon lovers everywhere: Bacon Wrapped Olives.

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This recipe calls for 36 green olives wrapped in a bacon slice and baked to perfection. The end result is a tasty, appetizing dish that's perfect for a dinner party, cocktail party, or any gathering where food is involved. If you're a fan of olives and love the crispness of bacon, you'll love this recipe. It's a simple, easy-to-follow recipe that requires only a jar of green olives and a batch of bacon slices.

Each piece of bacon is carefully wrapped around a green olive, creating a perfect balance of flavors. As the olives and bacon cook in the oven, the bacon piece crisps up and enhances the overall flavor of the dish. The crisp bacon and the salty green olives make a perfect pairing, and the toothpicks used to secure the bacon piece in place make it easy to pick up and eat. So, gather your ingredients and let's get started on making a delicious batch of Bacon-Wrapped Olives.

Looking for more gluten free recipes? Check out How to Make the BEST Oven Dried Orange Slices, Easy No-Knead Gluten Free Bread, and No Bake Chocolate Pomegranate Bites.

Why You'll Love Bacon Olives

This Bacon-Wrapped Olive recipe is one of the best bacon appetizer recipes out there. You'll love it for its crispy bacon and delicious mix of fillings. It's the perfect party appetizer that's easy to make and requires minimal cooking time.

You can also make this dish in the oven or in an Air Fryer. In just 20-25 minutes, you'll have a tray of delicious, salty bacon wrapped around juicy olives. Simply place each piece of bacon wrapped around an olive on an oven on a baking sheet and let it cook to perfection.

This recipe is perfect for a holiday party, where you want to impress your guests with delicious appetizers that are both easy to make and delicious to eat. The crispy bacon, juicy olives, and the salty flavor of the bacon make this recipe one you'll want to make again and again. So, get ready to impress your guests and make this amazing bacon appetizer recipe today!

Key Ingredients

Pimento olives: 10 ounces of large, pimento olives are used in this recipe. You can use either oil-packed olives or regular olives.
Bacon: 48 ounces of bacon are used in this recipe, which is typically 1 package of bacon. The bacon is cut into halves to make the perfect size for wrapping around an olive.
Toothpicks: 24 toothpicks are soaked in water to secure the bacon around the olives.
Option for variation: If you'd like to add some spice to your Bacon-Wrapped Olives, you can use jalapeno-stuffed olives instead of pimento olives. You can also try using roasted olives for a different twist on the traditional recipe.

Each piece of bacon is wrapped around an olive, and the toothpick holds it in place. The bacon pieces cook in the oven, making them crispy and adding a savory flavor to the dish. By using pieces of bacon instead of whole slices of bacon, the recipe allows for a perfect balance of flavors in every bite.

Can I add cream cheese?

Yes, you can add cream cheese inside the olives. Here's how:

Mix cream cheese with goat cheese, green onion, and a minced garlic clove.
Fill each olive with the mixture of cream cheese and goat cheese.
Wrap the filled olives with a half-slice of bacon.
Place the bacon-wrapped fillings on a sheet with parchment paper.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.

This addition of cream cheese creates a richer and creamier flavor inside the olives. It's a delicious twist on a classic recipe and is sure to impress your guests. Enjoy!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cut 1 package of thick-cut bacon in half.

Wrapping the Olives:

Fill each olive with the cream cheese mixture.
Wrap each filled olive with a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
Place the bacon-wrapped olives on a prepared baking sheet.

Baking:

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is golden brown.
As the bacon cooks, it will release bacon fat and bacon grease.
Keep an eye on the olives to make sure they don't burn.

Serving:

Once the bacon is crispy and golden brown, remove the olives from the oven.
Serve hot and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Soak toothpicks in cold water before using. This prevents them from burning in the oven.
Keep a bowl of water nearby when wrapping the olives with bacon. This makes it easier to wet your fingers and handle the olives.
Place bowls with water next to your work area. This allows you to clean your hands as you work, preventing the mixture from becoming too sticky.
Drain the wrapped olives on paper towels before placing them on the baking sheet. This removes excess grease and prevents the olives from becoming too greasy.
Consider using thicker cut bacon, as it tends to stay crispy and retains its shape better during cooking.
Keep a close eye on the olives during the last few minutes of cooking, as they can go from perfectly crispy to burnt quickly.

Follow these tips and you'll have perfectly crispy and delicious bacon-wrapped olives every time!

Recipe Variations

Smoky Bacon-Wrapped Olives: Use smoky bacon for a bold and flavorful twist on the classic recipe.
Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Figs: Wrap strips of bacon around figs and air fry for an alternative to oven baking.
BBQ Sauce Bacon-Wrapped Olives: Brush your bacon-wrapped olives with BBQ sauce for a tangy and savory snack.
Garlic Cream Sauce Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts: Wrap bacon around water chestnuts and serve with a garlic cream sauce.
Honey and Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Drizzle honey and sprinkle brown sugar on bacon-wrapped dates for a sweet and savory appetizer.
Coconut Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Figs: Replace brown sugar with coconut sugar for a healthier twist on the above recipe.
Blue Cheese Bacon-Wrapped Pickles: Replace olives with pickles and stuff with blue cheese for a unique and delicious snack.
Cream Cheese Mixture Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts: Fill water chestnuts with a cream cheese mixture for a creamy and crunchy appetizer.
Goat Cheese Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Stuff dates with 6-8 ounces of goat cheese for a sweet and savory snack.
Parmesan Cheese Bacon-Wrapped Figs: Roll figs in grated Parmesan cheese before wrapping with bacon for a nutty and salty snack.
Pepperjack Cheese Bacon-Wrapped Pickles: Stuff pickles with pepperjack cheese for a spicy and tangy appetizer.
Apricot Glazed Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Brush your bacon-wrapped dates with an apricot glaze for a sweet and sticky snack.
Maple Syrup Bacon: Brush strips of bacon with maple syrup for a sweet and crispy snack.
Garlic Cream Cheese Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Stuff dates with a garlic cream cheese mixture for a sweet and savory snack.

Ingredient Substitutions

Apricot Glazed Bacon Wrapped Figs: Replace dates with figs for a sweet and sticky snack.
Turkey Bacon Wrapped Olives: Replace the bacon strip with a turkey bacon slice for a healthier alternative.
Honey Glazed Bacon Wrapped Olives: Replace the apricot glaze with a drizzle of honey for a sweet and sticky snack.
Beef Bacon Wrapped Olives: Replace the bacon strip with a slice of beef for a bold and meaty flavor.
Soy Sauce Glazed Bacon Wrapped Olives: a brush of soy sauce for a salty and savory snack.
Cherry Glazed Bacon Wrapped Olives: use a cherry glaze for a sweet and fruity snack.
Balsamic Glazed Bacon Wrapped Olives: use a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a tangy and savory snack.
Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Olives: Replace the bacon in maple syrup with a sprinkle of brown sugar for a sweet and savory snack.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a Honey Glaze: Drizzle a honey glaze over your bacon-wrapped olives for a sweet and sticky addition.
Sprinkle with Salt: Season your bacon-wrapped olives with salt for a savory and salty snack.
Serve with Dipping Sauces: Offer a variety of dipping sauces, such as BBQ, garlic cream, or honey mustard, to complement your olives.
Serve as a Side Dish: Serve your bacon-wrapped olives as a side dish to a larger meal, such as grilled chicken or steak.
Serve as a Starter: Offer your olives as a starter or appetizer at your next dinner party or gathering.
Serve with a Salad: Pair your bacon-wrapped olives with a mixed greens salad for a light and fresh contrast.
Serve with Crackers: Serve your bacon-wrapped olives with crackers for a crunchy and satisfying snack.
Serve with Roasted Vegetables: Serve your olives alongside roasted vegetables for a delicious and healthy meal.

Can I make this in advance?

Pre-Wrap and Chill: Wrap your olives in bacon, secure with toothpicks, and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Bake on Demand: When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, place the bacon-wrapped olives on a baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes.
Bake and Reheat: Bake your bacon-wrapped olives as directed, allow to cool, and store in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Pre-Cook Bacon Slices: Cook the bacon slices until just partially cooked, wrap around the olives, secure with toothpicks, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Bake in the oven on a baking sheet for 20-25 minutes.

Storage Instructions

Store in the Refrigerator: Place the baked and cooled olives in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Freeze for Long-Term Storage: Wrap the olives in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, place in a freezer-safe airtight container, and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Reheat from Frozen: To reheat from frozen, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, place the olives on a baking sheet, and bake for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.
Thaw Before Reheating: Before reheating, allow the olives to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then, follow the reheating instructions as above.

Note: To ensure food safety, it is important to store the bacon-wrapped olives properly and follow safe food handling practices.

FAQ

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can wrap the olives in bacon, secure with toothpicks, and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.

Can I use turkey bacon instead of pork bacon?

Yes, you can use turkey bacon as a healthier alternative to pork bacon.

How long do I bake the bacon-wrapped olives?

Bake the bacon-wrapped olives in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes.

Can I use a different type of olive?

Yes, you can use any type of large olive, such as Kalamata or Green Manzanilla olives.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover bacon-wrapped olives in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Can I freeze the bacon-wrapped olives?

Yes, you can freeze the bacon-wrapped olives for up to 2-3 months.

How do I reheat the frozen bacon-wrapped olives?

Reheat frozen bacon-wrapped olives in a preheated 350-degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.

Can I put olives in the oven?

Yes, you can put olives in the oven. In this recipe, the olives are wrapped in bacon and baked in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes.

What goes well with olives?

What goes well with olives? Olives pair well with many foods, such as crusty bread, cheese, meats, crackers, and spreads. They can also be used in salads, pasta dishes, and pizzas. Additionally, olives can be paired with complementary flavors like lemon, garlic, herbs, and wine.