Bacon Butty (a Beloved British Sandwich)
A bacon butty is virtually unheard of in the US, but there is a love affair with them across The Pond. If you love bacon, this is for you!
A bacon butty is a thing of beauty!
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As someone who grew up eating bacon sandwiches, bacon rolls and essentially, bacon in any form of bread, the bacon butty was what I’d have when I was in England. In Scotland, the bacon roll is the more preferred terminology, except it’s the exact same thing.
What is a Bacon Butty?
A bacon butty is grilled or fried bacon rashers placed in a roll, or slices of bread. It’s optional whether you want to slather the bread with butter or brown sauce before adding the cured meat. Personally, my choice is without butter or HP Sauce (or ketchup as another addition), but either one is totally acceptable. These are not just a sandwich, they are pure comfort food to Brits.
I cannot tell you the elation I felt when I saw this plate of bacon rolls at the Glasgow airport lounge a few years ago! There’s another pile in the background, too!
NOTE: many Americans ask “What is a bacon bunty in England?” but it’s a bacon BUTTY not BUNTY.
To explain further, depending on the location, the names of plain bacon sandwiches will vary.
Bacon Sandwiches Around the World
England: BACON BUTTY/BACON SARNIE
Scotland: BACON ROLL
US/Canada: BACON SANDWICH (a BLT is much more popular – bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich)
Australia: BACON SANDWICH (BACON SARNIE – uncommon) – see photo below
And possibly even a BACON BAP in some parts of Great Britain. (If you live somewhere I’ve not mentioned and have another local name for a bacon sandwich (in English), please let me know and I’ll research and add it to this list!)
As I stated earlier, Brits have a love affair with bacon butties, to the extent that best man, Prince Harry, ordered them as a post-wedding breakfast option to a full English at Prince William and Kate’s wedding. Now, that’s saying something! Below you can see what is pretty close to a full Scottish breakfast with square sausage, and why some Royal guests may have opted for the bacon sandwich as their choice.
A bacon butty is typical hangover cuisine, as well as being food truck fare, or something you can pick up when you’re out and about. Here’s a picture from my cousin Denisa’s in England. Her husband, Duncan, grilled a ton of bacon, and we made bacon butties using baguettes the morning after a fun evening of friends, family, food, and music!
A bacon butty sandwich is easy to eat and can be enjoyed hot, warm or cold. If you’ve never had a plain bacon butty (not a BLT) I am writing this to encourage you to give it a try! I think you’ll be very pleased and have a new favorite sandwich!
You an always spot a Brit if you’re in a place like Lake Como and you see someone making a bacon butty at the breakfast buffet! Yes, this is mine. I found it on my phone photos 😬
This is also mine. The evidence from the pile of bacon rolls from the Glasgow airport. Note the requisite mug of tea. Sorry for the poor quality picture; this was never meant to end up on my site. It was just to make my family and friends envious!
Notes on Bacon Butty Ingredients
Bacon
While the standard or usual bacon in the UK is back bacon, which has much less fat than American bacon, this is not easy to find here, so normal US bacon is fine. I buy sugar free and nitrate/nitrite free bacon (only natural nitrates.) If you want to try British style back bacon, the Scottish Grocer carries it. You can enter CHRISTINASCUCINA for 10% off your entire order, too.
US bacon would be referred to as streaky bacon in the UK and is totally fine to put into a sandwich. In general, UK cooks their bacon to a much lesser degree than the US. It is not hard and crispy, but still a little flexible. To be honest, it has much more flavor when it’s not hard and crunchy, you should give it a try. Just don’t undercook it too much.
Did you know that one strip of bacon is called a rasher?
Bread
A soft roll is the usual pairing for a bacon butty, but the rolls in the UK and quite different than rolls here in the US, so choose your favorite. I don’t even mind a small ciabatta roll as I prefer that to a super sweet store-bought roll. Homemade bread is also a good choice, but make sure it’s not sweet.
The bread or roll is not usually toasted on a bacon butty.
Optional Ingredients
Butter
If you choose to butter your bread, just use a good quality butter, like Lewis Road Creamery from New Zealand (now available in the USA.)
Brown Sauce (HP Sauce)
My favorite brown sauce is HP Sauce. In the US, I would advise you to buy HP Sauce at Cost Plus, your local British/Scottish shop or online at The British Grocer HP Sauce. It’s miles better and incomparable to A1 Sauce.
Ketchup
Ketchup is not something I use, and since it’s so sweet, I wouldn’t recommend it in your bacon butty, but if I fail to mention it here, I’ll surely get some nasty-grams! Ha ha! Personally, I don’t know anyone who adds ketchup to their bacon butty, but if you like it, don’t let me stop you from adding a dash.
Bacon Butty Recipe
by Christina Conte serves 1
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- bacon
- roll/bread
- OPTIONAL: butter, brown sauce or ketchup
Directions
Grill, fry or use an air fryer to cook your bacon as desired, but do not make it crisp and hard.
If desired, butter your roll, or add your desired condiment.
Pile on the bacon.
Add the top of the roll or other piece of bread and your butty is complete!
Ta dah, a work of art!
A requisite to serve with any bacon butty, sarnie or bacon roll is a hot cup of tea. The puffin mug is by Roy Kirkham.
Now you’ll no longer wonder “What are bacon butties?” when you see or hear stories about them in British TV shows, movies, or books!
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Bacon Butty
Ingredients
- 3 rashers bacon back or streak bacon, preferably nitrate and sugar free
- 1 roll soft, like a Morton roll (in Scotland)
- 1 tsp butter optional
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a frying pan, grill or air fryer until done, but not super crisp and hard.
- Butter the bread roll, if using. Then add the bacon.
- Place the other half of the bread on top.
- Enjoy with a hot cup of tea!
Notes
- Brown sauce or HP Sauce to spread on roll/bread.
- Ketchup, if desired.
Nutrition
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The new website is perfect. Beautiful pictures and very easy to find recipes.
Not so much a review, as a question – have you found rolls in the US that are similar to Scottish morning rolls? Or perhaps a recipe? Thank you!
Hi Judy, never found morning rolls here, but plan on sharing a recipe soon!
SUCH A AMAZING POST!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING……
Will you hate me if I admit that I don’t really like bacon? It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? No, it’s not an abhorrence, but I would much rather have prosciutto or Jamón Serrano. Still, this looks really appealing… especially with the HP sauce. I love HP sauce!
I hate sweet or super smokey bacon, too, so it has to be the right kind. BUT, jamon and prosciutto are in an entirely different class! Glad to know you share my love of HP! :)