Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon
There are few things that taste better during the summer than a toasty, mayo-slathered BLT sandwich filled with fresh lettuce, homegrown garden tomatoes, and crispy, salty bacon.
As we know, though, bacon isn’t the healthiest of meats. It’s highly processed and loaded with saturated fat and sodium. There are options out there to try to make it better for us, like lower-sodium bacon or turkey bacon.
Trader Joe’s, which is a cousin to Aldi, sells its own turkey bacon. I picked some up recently for BLTs.
We buy products for review using our own funds. I paid $3.99 for an 8-ounce package of Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon at my local TJ’s in April of 2025. That’s about 50 cents per ounce.
The package describes this as “turkey thighs chopped and formed.” It is hardwood smoked, and it has no added nitrates or nitrites except those naturally occurring in sea salt and cultured celery powder. This is not preserved, and it should be kept refrigerated.
Ingredients are turkey thigh, water, seasoning blend (cane sugar, sea salt, paprika [for flavor], onion powder, white pepper), sea salt, and cultured celery powder.
There are about 8 one-slice servings per package. One slice has 45 calories, 2 grams of total fat (3% DV), 0.5 grams of saturated fat (3% DV), 200 mg of sodium (9% DV), and no carbs, dietary fiber, or sugars. One serving also has 6 grams of protein.
The package has instructions for frying, baking, or microwaving the bacon.
To fry, cook in a skillet over low heat. Turn frequently, allowing slices to brown evenly.
To bake, place separated slices on a rack in a shallow pan. Set the oven to 400 degrees. Place the bacon in the oven for approximately 15 minutes. No turning is necessary.
To microwave, place slices in a shallow glass container or on a paper plate. Cover with a paper towel. Cook on high power for approximately 1 1/2 minutes for two slices.
Right out of the package, you can tell this isn’t regular bacon. It looks more like ham lunchmeat (but it’s not lunchmeat, so don’t eat it raw!).
It is a small package, so keep in mind that one pack won’t necessarily feed your whole family. The package I bought had eight slices.
I baked this in the oven for 15 minutes. It made decent BLTs. The bacon isn’t crispy like regular bacon. It has a softer, chewier texture. It does taste a lot like bacon; maybe slightly milder and less salty than traditional bacon. If you’re willing to accept some of those tradeoffs for bacon that isn’t as fatty, this fits the bill.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon is made from turkey thighs. It’s a lot lower in fat than regular bacon. It doesn’t cook up as crispy as regular bacon, but it does taste like bacon. If you’re looking for alternatives when it comes to bacon, this isn’t bad.
