This delicious bacon jam recipe is a bacon lover's dream. It combines the perfect balance of salty crispy bacon with sweet caramelized onions. It's the savory spread you've been waiting for your whole life.
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The Delicious Flavors in This Recipe
To make the best bacon jam, you need just a few ingredients and a little patience. Starting with the bacon, you can choose any kind for the base of your jam.
Sweet yellow onions are cooked low and slow until they've reached caramelized perfection. You're gonna finish off that sweet-salty combo with a hint of acid from apple cider vinegar, bring some earthy notes from thyme and garlic.
Bacon Onion Jam Ingredients
These are simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. The magic happens when we bring them together slowly and build a depth of flavor.
- bacon
- onions
- brown sugar
- pure maple syrup
- apple cider vinegar
- water or bourbon (bourbon is optional)
- thyme leaves
- black pepper
Helpful Supplies for Making Bacon Jam
- Large Skillet - a large cast iron skillet is ideal for this recipe because it hold a consistent temperature for the cooking time but any heavy bottomed pot will work
- Slotted Spoon
- Mason Jar or Airtight Container for storage
- Cutting Board
- Paper Towels
- Food Processor- a mini food processor is very helpful here
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Step-By-Step Instructions
This easy bacon jam recipe actually doesn't take a ton of skill. Just be patient and watch the magic happen.
- Prepare and measure all of your ingredients, especially if this is your first time making this recipe. Slice the bacon and onions into small pieces.
- Place your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the diced bacon.
- After the bacon is cooked though and starting to get crispy, remove it with a slotted spoon and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the pan and reduce the heat burner to medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook stir them in well. The moisture from the onions will help deglaze the pan you are cooking in.
- Let the onion cooks for 10-15 minutes. This process is important for developing their sweet flavor.
- Add the water or bourbon to the pan and increase the heat. Cook that for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked bacon back to the onion mixture.
- Now you can add the brown sugar, maple syrup, and thyme leaves. Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes and everything will come together.
- Chop the cooked bacon bits or transfer them to a food processor and pulse them a few times so you have smaller bacon pieces.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar. Remove from the heat and let cool before serving or transferring to jars.
When to Use Bacon Jam
There are so many ways! My favorite way is to mix it in with Traeger Roasted Brussel Sprouts.
Check out these ideas though:
As a sweet condiment on cheeseburgers. Highly recommend this one!
Spread over cream cheese or a topping for smoked creamed cheese makes it a great appetizer or addition to a charcuterie board. Add it to Smoked Cream Cheese of the Traeger.
It's also great as an appetizer to spread over crackers.
I love this as a steak topping.
Added to a grilled cheese sandwich.
Just like the brussel sprouts, you can use bacon onion jam to take any green vegetable to the next level. Broccoli, green beans, sautéed kale or spinach.
Recipe Modifications
Add a tablespoon of bourbon and make this Bourbon Bacon Jam. It adds a special depth of flavor and pulls together all of the caramelized sugars from the onions.
Balsamic Vinegar or sherry vinegar can be substituted for the apple cider vinegar
A pinch Red Pepper flakes or cayenne pepper can be added while you are caramelizing the sweet onions for a bright hit of heat
Safe Storage and Shelf Life of Bacon Jam
Store your prepared bacon jam in an airtight jar for up to a week in the refrigerator.
You can throw a ribbon on your jar of bacon jam and give it to the bacon lover in your life as a great gift.
Homemade Bacon Jam Recipe Card
Ultimate Bacon Jam Recipe
Equipment
- Heavy Bottomed Pan
- cutting board and sharp knife
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bacon
- 2 onions
- ½ brown sugar
- ¼ pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water or bourbon
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare and measure all of your ingredients, especially if this is your first time making this recipe. Slice the bacon and onions into small pieces.
- Place your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the diced bacon.
- After the bacon is cooked though and starting to get crispy, remove it with a slotted spoon and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the pan and reduce the heat burner to medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook stir them in well. The moisture from the onions will help deglaze the pan you are cooking in.
- Let the onion cooks for 10-15 minutes. This process is important for developing their sweet flavor.
- Add the water or bourbon to the pan and increase the heat. Cook that for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked bacon back to the onion mixture.
- Now you can add the brown sugar, maple syrup, and thyme leaves. Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes and everything will come together.
- Chop the cooked bacon bits or transfer them to a food processor and pulse them a few times so you have smaller bacon pieces.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar. Remove from the heat and let cool before serving or transferring to jars.
Dianna says
What are you doing with all of the rendered bacon fat?
Alexis says
Sometimes I save it in a mason jar. If I have plenty on hand, I just discard it.