Bacon, Ham Or Sausage Recipe

Prepare and cook bacon

Arrange a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of neutral oil only if your bacon is very lean; otherwise omit. When the pan is hot (oil shimmering), add the 8 slices of bacon in a single layer without overlapping. Cook over medium heat 4–6 minutes per side, flipping with tongs every 2–3 minutes so they render evenly and crisp without burning. Adjust heat down if edges brown too quickly. Total cook time for bacon should be about 8–12 minutes depending on thickness. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

Cook ham steak

Wipe the pan lightly if stuck-on bacon bits remain (you can keep a little fat for flavor). Increase heat to medium-high. Pat the 2 ham steaks dry with paper towel. Optional: sprinkle 1 tablespoon brown sugar evenly over both sides of the ham for a glaze. Place ham steaks in the hot pan and sear 2–3 minutes per side until edges caramelize and internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) or ham is hot through. Reduce heat if sugar begins to burn. Remove and keep warm.

Cook sausage links

Reduce heat to medium. Add the 8 breakfast sausage links to the pan, spacing them so they don't touch. Cook, turning every 2–3 minutes, until evenly browned on all sides and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), about 10–12 minutes total depending on size. If using thicker sausages, you can add 1/4 cup water, cover, and steam for 5 minutes to ensure thorough cooking, then uncover and brown any remaining time. Remove sausages and keep warm with the bacon and ham.

Once all proteins are cooked, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper over them if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning; most cured bacon and ham do not need additional salt.

Serve

Arrange bacon, ham steak, and sausage links on a warmed serving plate. Offer maple syrup for sausage or ham, and hot sauce on the side. Serve immediately with eggs, toast, or pancakes.