Prepare and measure all of your ingredients, especially if this is your first time making this recipe. Slice the bacon and the onions into small pieces.

Place your cast iron pan or dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the diced bacon.

After the bacon is cooked through and starting to get crispy, remove it from the bacon fat 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 burner to medium heat.

Add the onions and stir them well. The moisture from the onions will help deglaze the pan you are cooking in.

Let the onion cook for 10-15 minutes. This process is important for developing their sweet flavor.

Add the minced garlic and thyme. Stir that in well and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes.

While the onions are cooking, transfer the cooked bacon to your food processor and pulse until you have smaller crispy bacon pieces. Set this aside until you are ready to add them back to the onions.

Add the water or bourbon to the pan and increase the heat. Cook the onions for another 2-3 minutes. Now you can add the brown sugar and maple syrup.

Add the cooked bacon back to the onion mixture and 1 tablespoon of water.

Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes and everything will come together. After the water has reduced, repeat the process one more time.

Turn off the heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar. Remove from the heat and let cool before serving or transferring to jars.