Calories in Bacon: Per Slice and Per 100g

One cooked strip of bacon (about 12g) contains roughly 42 calories, 3g of fat, and 3g of protein — based on USDA FoodData Central data for pan-fried cured pork belly bacon (FDC ID 168277).

Bacon is calorie-dense because cooking removes most of the water weight, concentrating fat and protein into a small volume. Two strips can easily reach 80–90 calories before eggs or toast enter the picture. Here is the full breakdown by portion.

Calories and Macros by Serving Size

Portion	Weight	Calories	Fat	Protein	Carbs
1 thin slice (cooked)	8g	28 kcal	2g	2g	0g
1 regular slice (cooked)	12g	42 kcal	3g	3g	0g
1 thick-cut slice (cooked)	20g	108 kcal	8g	8g	0g
3 regular slices	36g	126 kcal	9g	9g	0g
100g cooked	100g	541 kcal	42g	37g	under 1g
100g raw (uncooked)	100g	458 kcal	39g	12g	0g

Source: USDA FoodData Central, pan-fried cured pork belly bacon.

Note that raw and cooked weights differ significantly — bacon loses roughly 50–60% of its mass during cooking as water and fat render off. Always log the cooked weight if you weigh after cooking, or use the raw weight entry if you weigh before.

Macro Profile

Bacon’s macros are almost entirely fat and protein, with negligible carbohydrate. The fat fraction is roughly 60% saturated, which is worth noting if you track saturated fat alongside total calories. The protein content is solid — three regular slices deliver about 9g, comparable to one large egg.

Sodium is the other number to watch. A single cooked strip can carry 180–200mg of sodium, so a three-strip serving is already 15–25% of the 2,300mg daily limit recommended by most guidelines.

Does It Fit Your Goals?

Weight loss: Bacon is not off-limits on a calorie deficit, but its energy density makes portion control essential. Three strips at 126 calories is manageable; six strips at 250-plus calories is less so, especially before accounting for the rest of the meal. Use the TDEE calculator to see your daily target and decide how many strips fit your budget.

Blood sugar: Bacon’s carbohydrate content is effectively zero, so it does not drive a direct glucose spike. This makes it a common choice for people managing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who want protein-forward meals. The fat and protein can, however, slow gastric emptying, which may blunt the glucose response of carbohydrates eaten alongside it. For mixed meals that include carbs with bacon, the glycemic load calculator can show the combined glucose impact.

Muscle gain or high-protein targets: Bacon contributes protein, but it is not a lean source. If your goal is to hit a high protein target without overshooting calories, leaner cuts like turkey bacon or back bacon (Canadian bacon) deliver similar protein at roughly half the calories per 100g. See protein targets for weight loss for guidance on how much protein actually matters.

The Portion Problem

The numbers above assume measured, single-strip servings. In practice, calorie estimates for bacon at brunch or in a sandwich diverge quickly from reality — strip thickness varies, restaurant portions differ, and crumbled bacon used as a topping is easy to underestimate. Photographing the plate before eating lets CalEye estimate the portion visually and log the calories in seconds, no scale required.

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Next time you plate up bacon, snap a photo in CalEye and get the calories logged before the plate is empty.