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Bacon jam is easy to make using ingredients you can find in your kitchen. Add it to sandwiches, burgers, and more for a unique sweet and savory flavor.
Featured with this recipe
- What Is Bacon Jam?
- Ingredients in Bacon Jam
- What Does Bacon Jam Taste Like?
- Ways To Use Bacon Jam
- Getting The Flavor Just Right
- More Flavors to Try
- Which Bacon Is Best?
- How to Cook Bacon for Bacon Jam
- How To Store Bacon Jam
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes For Bacon Lovers
- How to Make Bacon Jam
- Bacon Jam Recipe
What Is Bacon Jam?
Bacon jam is a bacon lover’s dream come true. It is a sweet and savory spread made from onions, brown sugar, vinegar, and of course… bacon! This jam is best served at room temperature or warmer for easier spreading. It can be used as an appetizer spread or over your favorite grilled meats. Comment below and tell us your favorite way to use bacon jam!
Ingredients in Bacon Jam
With only 4 ingredients, this recipe couldn’t be easier.
- Bacon Slices. Thick cut bacon works the best and gives the jam it’s hearty texture.
- Onion. The kind of onion you use will affect the taste of the jam. We like to use a flavorful red onion, but a white onion is also very good in this recipe.
- Brown Sugar. This gives the sweetness to the jam. You can use dark or light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar has a more molasses flavor.
- Balsamic Vinegar. This gives the intense balsamic flavor, which comes from grapes, to the jam. It complements the bacon beautifully.
What Does Bacon Jam Taste Like?
Bacon jam has a unique flavor that is more sweet than savory. It really does taste like a sweet, caramelized jam with a hint of maple syrup, especially if you use a maple flavored bacon. Depending on the type of bacon you use, it can even have a bit of a smoky flavor, like BBQ sauce.
The texture can vary depending on how finely you chop the bacon and onions. It can be fine, with the texture similar to marmalade or preserves making it easier to spread. Use a food processor and pulse all of the ingredients until they’re the desired consistency. Or you can leave the pieces larger (like below) with the bacon in 1-inch pieces so the jam has more texture, similar to conserves or a relish.
Ways To Use Bacon Jam
This savory spread can be used to liven up just about anything! Here are some of our favorite things to add bacon jam to:
- Spread it on hamburgers or chickenburgers.
- It’s so good on all types of sandwiches, especially on turkey or roast beef sandwiches
- Also tastes delicious on grilled cheese, an egg sandwich
- Grilled chicken or steak
- Spoon on top of a pork roast or pork chops
- Grilled cheese sandwiches
- Spread on toast, bagels or English muffins.
- Use as a pizza topping
- Green salads or as a veggie spread
- As a spread on charcuterie boards
- With crackers and cream cheese
- Try it on pancakes with a drizzle of maple syrup
- Top a fried egg with this bacon jam and serve with a hearty breakfast
Getting The Flavor Just Right
What I love about this jam is that you can easily adjust the sweetness to your liking. The caramelized onions and added sugar give it a good amount of sweetness, in addition the balsamic vinegar brings that sweetness down and adds a punch of flavor.
If you prefer it more on the sweet side, reduce the amount of vinegar and try using dark brown sugar instead of light. If you want it to be more savory, add a little extra vinegar and cut down on the brown sugar. Experiment with how you like it best to make it your own!
More Flavors to Try
- You can also substitute about ⅛ cup apple cider vinegar for the balsamic.
- For extra spice, try adding a little chili powder or cayenne pepper.
- Use fresh garlic cloves.
- Add extra black pepper to taste.
- For additional texture, scrape the browned bits of bacon from the large skillet.
- Dice red onion or red pepper for added flavor and texture.
- Use diced shallots in place of regular yellow onion.
- Garnish with some fresh thyme.
Which Bacon Is Best?
You can’t go wrong with a thick-cut bacon for this recipe. Obviously if you get a higher-quality bacon you will get a better bacon jam. If all you have is regular-cut bacon, that works great too! Using smoked bacon will give your jam a nice rounded-out smoky flavor that will taste great on burgers or grilled meats.
Pre-cooked bacon doesn’t work well because you aren’t able to get enough drippings to make the jam. Also avoid getting maple flavored bacon as it may throw off the taste.
How to Cook Bacon for Bacon Jam
The easiest way to get perfectly cooked bacon is on the stovetop. Use a large skillet and cook the bacon in batches, turning them over every few minutes at medium heat until they’re nice and crisp. Then use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a plate with paper towels so it can drain.
You can also cook bacon in a Dutch oven, a regular oven, or sometimes in the microwave. Make sure to save about two tablespoons of the bacon grease from the pan to continue making the jam. The air fryer is also a great option.
How To Store Bacon Jam
Bacon jam should be refrigerated after it has cooled past room temperature. It can stay in the refrigerator for up to a month. You can also freeze your jam to make it last even longer. Just thaw in the refrigerator before serving. If your jam is hard and difficult to spread after refrigerating, you can take the desired amount from the jar and heat in the microwave (only for about 10 seconds at a time because it will heat up fast).
Remember, after the jam has been heated or brought to room temperature after refrigerating, it should not be refrigerated again. Be sure to only heat what you will be using. Keep the rest in the fridge until you need it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bacon jam is made of four simple ingredients: bacon slices, onion, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar.
Canning bacon jam is not recommended. It simply isn’t safe. If you want to store it long term, freezing is your best option. For more information, see this article: https://www.healthycanning.com/bacon-jam
Absolutely! You can freeze your jam for up to 6 months. Just put it in a freezer-safe container or even a freezer zip-top bag to store.
Read More:Air Fryer Bacon
More Recipes For Bacon Lovers
How to Make Bacon Jam
Bacon Jam
Video
Ingredients
- 10 slices bacon (thick cut works best)
- 1 cup chopped onion (red or white)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or cider vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a large non-stick skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the pan and remove bacon to drain on paper towels.
- Add onion to the pan and saute until soft.
- Add brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and water. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar and vinegar reduces to a light syrupy texture. Chop bacon into small pieces and add to the mixture. Stir well to combine.
- Can be served hot or cooled to room temperature.
Notes
Recipe Tips:
Here are a few ideas on different ways you could serve Bacon Jam.- Spread it on hamburgers or chickenburgers.
- It’s so good on all types of sandwiches, especially on turkey or roast beef sandwiches
- Also tastes delicious on grilled cheese, an egg sandwich
- Grilled chicken or steak
- Spoon on top of a pork roast or pork chops
- Grilled cheese sandwiches
- Spread on toast, bagels or English muffins.
- Use as a pizza topping
- Green salads or as a veggie spread
- As a spread on charcuterie boards
- With crackers and cream cheese
- Try it on pancakes with a drizzle of maple syrup
- Top a fried egg with this bacon jam and serve with a hearty breakfast
Nutrition Information
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This looks so good! Could I use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar? 🤔
I don’t see why not! Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. I have always loved bacon jam but have never made it.
Delicious! I want to put it on EVERYTHING!