The Best Bacon Jam You’ll Want to Add To Everything
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If you’ve never made bacon jam before, prepare to become completely obsessed. This rich, savory-sweet spread is made by slowly cooking bacon, onions, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coffee until everything transforms into a thick, caramelized, flavor-packed jam. It’s smoky, slightly sweet, a little tangy, and loaded with crispy bacon bits in every bite.
Homemade bacon jam sounds fancy, but it’s surprisingly simple to make with just a handful of ingredients and one pan. As the bacon renders and the onions soften, everything simmers together into a glossy, jammy mixture that’s perfect for spreading on burgers, toast, biscuits, sandwiches, or even a cheese board. Once you try it, you’ll start finding excuses to add it to everything.
For more delicious recipes, try my Caramelized Onions, Pickled Jalapenos, Fried Goat Cheese, Baked Brie, or My Favorite Bread Dipping Oil.
Table Talk with Tawnie
I am a condiment and sauce girly to my core. Any chance I can add or enhance something with sauces or fun flavor add-ons, I’m doing it! When I saw bacon jam scrolling on my socials the other day, I knew I had to make it. And I am sooo happy I did because this stuff is MAGIC. Sweet, savory, umami goodness that you’ll literally want on everything. I don’t think I ever want my burgers or sandwiches without it ever again! 😆
- Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon that is finely chopped into small pieces so it renders evenly and creates the perfect jammy texture with lots of crispy bits throughout.
- Yellow onion: You’ll sauté your finely chopped onions in butter until they are lightly caramelized. Then the onions will continue to cook down and caramelize as they simmer with the bacon.
- Black coffee: Adding a cup of freshly brewed black coffee helps to deepen the flavor of the jam and adds rich, slightly bitter notes that help balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Brown sugar: I use dark brown sugar to provide sweetness and add that deep molasses flavor, helping the jam develop its signature rich, sticky consistency.
- Maple syrup: Real maple syrup (not pancake syrup) enhances the sweetness while adding a warm, caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with the smoky bacon.
Step by Step Directions
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Cook the bacon
In a large skillet, cook the bacon until brown and crispy. Then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate (leaving 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan).
Sauté the aromatics
Add the chopped onion and butter to the skillet and cook until softened and lightly caramelized. Then stir in the garlic and cook for ~30 seconds.
Build the jam
Add the bacon and all other bacon jam ingredients to the pan and bring to a simmer.
Let simmer
Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for ~1 hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture should be glossy and sticky, with most of the liquid reduced. Tip: You can add beef stock if needed throughout the simmer period if you notice it needs a little extra liquid.
ENJOY!
Serve warm on burgers, grilled cheese, breakfast sammies, tacos, charcuterie boards, etc. and ENJOY!
Expert Tips
- Chop the bacon small: Cutting the bacon into small pieces helps it cook evenly and creates the perfect jam texture. You want the pieces to be pretty small, so they will distribute evenly throughout the spread, and you get bacon in every bite.
- Render the bacon slowly: Cook the bacon over medium-low heat so the fat renders gradually. This helps the bacon crisp up without burning and creates the flavorful fat you’ll use to cook the onions. Lower the heat if the fat starts popping or the bacon pieces begin to brown too quickly.
- Let the jam simmer until thick: Don’t rush it! Allow the bacon jam to gently simmer until it becomes thick and jammy. If it looks a little loose at first, that’s normal; it will continue to thicken as it cooks.
- Stir occasionally toward the end: As the jam reduces, it can start to stick. Give it a stir every few minutes during the last part of cooking to prevent burning. Add a little beef stock if needed throughout the simmer period if you notice it needs a little extra liquid.
- Adjust the texture if needed: For a chunkier bacon jam, leave it as is (my preference!). If you prefer a more spreadable consistency, you can pulse it a few times in a food processor, just enough to break it down slightly.
Ways To Enjoy Bacon Jam
There are so many ways to enjoy this bacon jam! The options are endless!! A few of my favorite recipes include:
- Burgers: Perfect for grilling season! Add to my favorite homemade burgers or chicken burgers!
- Tacos: Add this jam to my favorite cheeseburger tacos!🌮
- Scrambled eggs: This bacon jam + scrambled eggs = breakfast perfection!👌
- Biscuits or toast: Spread this jam on top of your favorite biscuits or toast!
- Egg salad: Give my favorite high protein egg salad sandwich extra flavor with the bacon jam 🥚
- Breakfast sandwiches: Elevate your meal prep breakfast sandwich game with a layer of this bacon jam!🍳
- Cheeseburger Salad: Cheeseburger but in salad form? Yes! This bacon jam is the perfect addition, along with all your other favorite burger toppings.🥗
- Sliders: Spread a layer of bacon jam on these cheeseburger sliders or Hawaiian roll breakfast sliders!
- As an appetizer: Serve alongside my pickled jalapenos, fried goat cheese, cheesy pull apart garlic bread, baked brie, bread dipping oil, etc.
Learn How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
If you love all things bacon, learn how to cook bacon in the oven with this easy, no-preheat method. It’s hands-off, mess-free, and the best way to get perfectly crispy bacon every time. Perfect for burgers, tacos, breakfast, etc.
Storage / Freezing
- Refrigerator: Store bacon jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The fat will firm up when chilled, so simply warm it slightly before serving to loosen it.
- Freezer: This bacon jam also freezes well. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave in short intervals or gently on the stovetop until it becomes soft and spreadable again.
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Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 lb. thick-cut bacon (finely chopped (you want pretty small pieces!))
- 1 large yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 2-3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 cup freshly brewed strong black coffee
- 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Pinch of cayenne or chili flakes (optional)
- Beef broth (only if needed)
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- NOTE: please be aware this recipe does take some time. I just don’t want you to start it and then realize you dont have enough time to make it 🙂
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the chopped bacon until browned and crispy. This can take up to ~15-20 minutes. Start Timer Be sure to lower the heat if the fat starts popping or the bacon pieces begin to brown too quickly.1 lb. thick-cut bacon
- Remove bacon: Once the bacon is crispy and the fat has rendered, use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon pieces to a paper-towel-lined plate. Leave 2 Tbsp. of bacon fat in the pan, and discard the excess bacon grease or repurpose as you’d like (I like to store mine in this bacon bin).
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the chopped onion and butter to the skillet and cook over medium heat until softened and lightly caramelized, ~8-10 minutes Start Timer. Stir occasionally, and be careful not to let the onion burn. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.1 large yellow onion, 1 Tbsp. butter, 2-3 cloves garlic
- Build the jam: Add the bacon back in, along with all other bacon jam ingredients listed (except the beef broth). Bring to a simmer.1 cup freshly brewed strong black coffee, 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, Salt and pepper, Pinch of cayenne or chili flakes
- Reduce: Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for ~1 hour Start Timer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and jam-like. The mixture should be glossy and sticky, with most of the liquid reduced. You can add beef stock if needed throughout the simmer period if you notice it needs a little extra liquid. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper as needed.Beef broth
- All done! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Serve warm on burgers, grilled cheese, breakfast sammies, or tacos, charcuterie boards, etc.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
📸 Photography by Creating Kaitlin
