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Bacon/ Cheese

Cheese and Bacon Turnovers

November 13, 2019 (Last Updated: January 31, 2023) by Chris Collins

Looking for a delicious and easy after school snack? Look no further than these Puff Pastry Cheese and Bacon Turnovers!

For my UK readers out there, these are just like the ones from Greggs, but with a secret ingredient they’re 10x more delicious. Yeah, I went there 🤣

closeup over cheese and bacon turnover with focus on bacon

Cheese and Bacon Turnovers

For those of you not in UK, these are essentially very similar to a popular pastry served at the largest bakery chain in the UK. Simply cheese and bacon wrapped in a blanket of puff pastry. Simple, yet outrageously delicious. Because really, who can turn down cheesy bacon pastry?! Certainly not me, clearly.

Any who, these are awesome for so many different reasons. But here’s just a few:

  • Easy – Literally no cooking ability required.
  • Quick – The only thing better than food is fast food.
  • Delicious – A game changing ingredient that’ll take these to the next level 😏

holding cheese and bacon wrap pastry to camera with more blurred underneath

The Magic Ingredient!

Look, don’t get me wrong, cheese, bacon and puff pastry is a combo to die for. BUT, there’s definitely room for more.

Caramelized Onions

All up in my face. Oh yes. Bacon and onion? Yep. Cheese and Onion? Yep. It all just makes sense. Also, the sweetness from the onions balances out the saltiness of the bacon nicely.

To keep in theme of ‘quick and easy’ I recommend making a big batch of caramelized onions, just so you can scoop them out as you need. So do check out my full post on How to make Caramelized Onions. But for now –

How to Caramelize Onions (quick summary)

  1. Add onions to a pan of olive oil and fry low and slow.
  2. Add balsamic vinegar, sugar and seasoning.
  3. Continue to fry on low heat until sweet, soft and sticky.

How to caramelize onions - 3 step by step photos

Cheese and Bacon Puff Pastry

One of your main ingredients is of course puff pastry. Definitely keeping in with the theme here, we will NOT be making our own puff pastry. That wouldn’t make for a very convenient after school snack 🤣 As such, pre-made from the store works just fine.

I recommend getting a pre-rolled puff pastry, just so you know you’re going to get even slices. If you’ve got a slab of pastry, just make sure you roll it out to 14″x9″ (35.5cmx22cm).

Alongside the ingredients we’ve discussed, all you’ll need is an egg for egg wash.

How to make Cheese and Bacon Turnovers (quick summary)

  1. Roll out pastry.
  2. Divide into 8.
  3. Add onions.
  4. Top with cheese and bacon.
  5. Fold in and pinch sides together.
  6. Brush with egg wash and bake.

How to make cheese and bacon turnovers - 6 step by step photos

What Cheese to use – I recommend a nice sharp cheddar, just to add a punch of flavour. There aren’t many ingredients here so it’s important to bring out the best in each one.

And there we have it! Easy right? Just quickly, if you like the look of these I know you’ll love these other recipes!

For another Greggs inspired recipe check out my Sausage, Bean & Cheese Melts!

Savoury Puff Pastry Recipes

Okay, let’s tuck into this cheese and bacon puffs recipe, I’m getting hungry all over again 😋

overhead shot over Cheese and Bacon Puff Pastry Rolls fresh out the oven

How to make Cheese and Bacon Turnovers (Full Recipe & Video)

closeup over cheese and bacon turnover with focus on bacon

Cheese and Bacon Turnovers

Looking for a delicious and easy after school snack? Look no further than these Puff Pastry Cheese and Bacon Turnovers! I recommend making a big batch of caramelized onions beforehand, just so you can scoop them out when needed. As such, timing below is assuming the onions are made in advance. Recipe for them still included.
5 from 12 votes
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Servings (click & slide): 8 turnovers
Course: Lunch / Snack
Cuisine: British
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories per serving: 395kcal
Cost per serving: £1 / $1

Equipment:

  • Large Frying Pan & Wooden Spoon
  • Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
  • Greased Baking Tray
  • Small Pot and Brush (for egg wash)

Ingredients (check list):

Turnovers

  • 1 sheet of Puff Pastry (see notes)
  • 8 rashers of Streaky Bacon (see notes)
  • 4 square slices of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, halved
  • 1 Egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Caramelized Onions

  • 1lb / 500g Red or White Onion, finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt & Black Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  • Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat and add 1lb/500g sliced onions. Fry until they start to soften and caramelize (10-15mins), then add 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar and salt & pepper to taste. Turn heat to low and continue caramelizing for another 20mins, or until super soft and sticky. The aim of the game is to fry low and slow, don't let them catch and start to char at any point.
  • Roll out your sheet of pastry on a floured surface and divide into 8. Take one section and slant it so a corner is at the top and bottom. Place a spoonful of onions in the centre, top with a slice of cheese, then a slice of bacon. Make sure the onions are hidden otherwise they'll burn.
  • Fold in one corner, gently wet with your finger, then fold in over the second corner. Very tightly pinch together so they don't unfold in the oven, then brush with egg wash. See video for guidance on this section.
  • Pop in the oven at 390F/200C for 15-20mins or until deep golden and crispy. Allow to rest and cool for 5mins, this will allow the final bit of steam to escape and help them crisp up (they might be slightly soft when they first come out).

Quick 1 min demo!

Notes:

a) Puff Pastry - The size you want the pastry (before dividing in 8) is 14"x9" (35.5cmx22cm). The weight of each pastry sheet (before dividing) is 320g/11.3oz, so if you are buying puff pastry that is not pre rolled (i.e a slab of pastry) make sure you are using that much weight and roll out to the dimensions above.
b) Caramelized onions - I recommend making a big batch of these in advance to save time, so do check out my full post on How to make Caramelized Onions! If you want to leave out the onions and just do cheese and bacon you can absolutely do that.
c) Bacon - Streaky bacon is great because it's quite thin, so it cooks at the same rate as the pastry. If you've got a larger/thicker cut of bacon consider frying for a couple of minutes before to part-cook it. Feel free to double up on the bacon if you wish - I just recommend slicing off some fat or using leaner bacon, otherwise the excess fat will make the insides go a little soggy.
d) Cheese - As there is only a few ingredients, I recommend a nice strong cheddar to punch a bit of flavour in there. However, do use a cheese of choice if you're not keen on sharp cheddar.
e) Prep Ahead - Fold and leave off egg wash, then tightly cover in the fridge overnight. Brush with egg wash and pop in the oven, adding on a few more mins cooking time if baking straight from the fridge.
f) Make Ahead/Freezing - Allow to completely cool then tightly cover in the fridge for 2-3days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the oven at 180C/356F straight from the fridge until piping hot and crispy again. Can also bake from frozen at the same temp, or thaw in the fridge and bake from there.
g) Calories - Per turnover.

Your Private Notes:

Nutrition:

Nutrition Facts
Cheese and Bacon Turnovers
Amount Per Serving
Calories 395 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28.03g43%
Saturated Fat 7.15g36%
Trans Fat 0.166g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.453g
Monounsaturated Fat 11.629g
Cholesterol 91mg30%
Sodium 267mg11%
Potassium 214mg6%
Carbohydrates 26.32g9%
Fiber 1.7g7%
Sugar 5.03g6%
Protein 9.76g20%
Vitamin A 200IU4%
Vitamin C 4.6mg6%
Calcium 125mg13%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.
Tried this recipe?Show me how you got on by tagging @dontgobaconmyheart_ on IG and #dontgobaconmyheart
Looking for more?You'll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook 'Comfy'

If you loved these Cheese and Bacon Turnover Recipe then be sure to pin it for later! Already made them or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments below and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!

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Recipe Rating




40 Comments

  • Reply
    James
    February 13, 2024 at 6:14 pm

    These are usually Back Bacon here, so way more fat to meat ratio than streaky, but I’ve not seen that outside of the UK.
    The Caramelized onion is a good shout though.

  • Reply
    Lisa James
    August 19, 2023 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    Making these for the second time tonight, they are absolutely delicious 🙂 I cook the bacon slightly beforehand and it’s perfect 🙂

  • Reply
    Vanessa
    November 3, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    Hey there when you say “streaky bacon” is there a certain brand you use?
    Thanks

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm

      Any brand of streaky bacon will do the trick 🙂

  • Reply
    Sharon
    November 9, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    The “streaky bacon” ingredient made me smile. My mom was from Scotland and when she came to the US, she ordered bacon on the train from NYC and said “What in the bloody hell is this?” when they brought her bacon. She has been gone 5 years now and that got me a little choke up. 🙂

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 10, 2021 at 7:05 pm

      Sharon, this is beautiful to hear. I’m actually from Scotland myself and usually say the same when in the US . Sending love and take care. C x

  • Reply
    Andrea
    September 17, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    I used the streaky bacon from uk and the pastry is pampas brand but it turn out so salty .

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      September 20, 2021 at 1:43 pm

      Sorry to hear that! I’m not sure how they turned out so salty, it’s only really the bacon that adds the salt aspect, unless the pastry for salty for some reason.

  • Reply
    Sharon
    October 15, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    Made these for the husbandman and he loves them. As I am a vegetarian I have cheese and sliced cherry tomatoes- lovely

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 15, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      That’s awesome to hear, Sharon! Might have to try the cheese and tomato version myself – sounds delish!

  • Reply
    Graham
    September 27, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    5 stars
    Made these this morning for brunch, they are awesome and so easy to make.

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      September 27, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      That’s great to hear, Graham! Thanks for popping back and leaving a review 🙂

  • Reply
    PattyInColorado
    September 16, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    Hi Chris. I am going to do this for after school snack for the kiddos. Do you think I could use pre-cooked bacon?

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      September 17, 2020 at 9:39 am

      I haven’t used pre cooked bacon before, my fear is that it might become too crunchy/burn. If your bacon is quite thick, or you only part/lightly cook it you should be fine 🙂

      • Reply
        Emily
        March 12, 2021 at 4:15 pm

        Which way would be best to freeze them? It’s says in the recipe how to cook them from frozen but is that frozen raw or frozen cooked and reheated?

        • Reply
          Chris Collins
          March 13, 2021 at 12:18 pm

          You could do either! Method in the recipe notes is if they’re frozen once fully cooked. If you want to freeze them raw, I recommend leaving off the final egg wash and stacking them with parchment paper in between, just so they don’t stick together. From there you could thaw in the fridge and bake as instructed. Or cook from frozen at 180C/350F for an extra 5-10mins than the recipe states (or until piping hot/golden & crispy). I find cooking from frozen doesn’t crisp up quite as well, but will still work just fine. Hope this helps! Chris.

  • Reply
    Terry greenwell
    June 7, 2020 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    delicious, gone in minutes sorry to say

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      June 7, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      Glad to hear they went down well! 🙂

    • Reply
      Barbara Abner
      July 7, 2020 at 11:18 pm

      5 stars
      Could you put scrambled eggs in these?

      • Reply
        Chris Collins
        July 8, 2020 at 6:50 pm

        I’ve never tried it out of fear of them turning rubbery. If you were to give it a go I’d make sure to undercook them slightly and keep them hidden under the bacon/onions 🙂

  • Reply
    heather
    May 22, 2020 at 4:40 am

    HI, looks yummy. Can it be done in an air fryer, and if so, how? I just got one, and am a beginner still.

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      May 22, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Hi Heather! Unfortunately I’ve never tested this recipe in the air fryer so couldn’t offer any advice on this. So sorry!

  • Reply
    Martin Slater
    February 21, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    Hi Chris going to make these tomorrow have had them from shops and love them. But am going to cook off some small sausage and make them with bacon onions cheese and sausage. And see how they turn out.
    Cheers martin slater

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      February 21, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      That sounds like an awesome combo! Hope you enjoy

  • Reply
    Kim
    December 22, 2019 at 2:06 am

    Hi, I’m thinking of making these delicious little parcels for Christmas brunch. Is it possible to make them up to the point of being ready to go in the oven the day before, refrigerate thrm overnight, and then cook them the next day?

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      December 22, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      Hey Kim! That should be fine. In such case I’d just make sure the onions are completely cool before you make the parcels, ensure they’re stored completely airtight in the fridge and just leave off the egg wash until you pop them in the oven. Happy Christmas!

  • Reply
    Krissy Allori
    November 14, 2019 at 12:05 am

    5 stars
    Not sure how you can get better than bacon, cheese and puff pastry. Sign me up!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 14, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Perfect combo right?!

  • Reply
    Colleen
    November 13, 2019 at 11:50 pm

    5 stars
    These look amazing. You can’t go wrong with cheese plus bacon, wrapped in pastry. But the carmelized onion take it to the next level.

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 14, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Alllll about the onions! 🙂

  • Reply
    Adrianne
    November 13, 2019 at 11:40 pm

    5 stars
    Oh yum!! These sound so delicious!! I love bacon and the pastry combination is perfect. I love the thorough explanation as well, thanks for sharing!! I will be eating ALL the bacon haha, thanks Chris!!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 14, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Haha, enjoy!! 🙂

  • Reply
    Tracy
    November 13, 2019 at 10:56 pm

    5 stars
    Another AMAZING recipe! My family gobbled these up SO fast and then asked when I was going to make them again!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 14, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      That’s awesome to hear, thanks Tracy!!

  • Reply
    Mary
    November 13, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    5 stars
    What’s not to like! This is a great combination of flavors!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 14, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Thanks, Mary! 🙂

  • Reply
    Ashley
    November 13, 2019 at 10:07 pm

    5 stars
    I cannot wait to try this – I’ve got puff pastry thawing on my counter. After reading through this recipe I realized I had everything to make this!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 14, 2019 at 9:56 pm

      Hope you love them 🙂

    • Reply
      Holly
      July 30, 2021 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe, this website never lets me down!

      • Reply
        Chris Collins
        July 31, 2021 at 6:00 pm

        Great to hear, Holly! 🙂

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    DINNERS

    YOU'LL NEVER STOP MAKING!

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