This easy candied bacon recipe combines brown sugar and spices with a splash of bourbon to easily brush on the bacon before baking.
If you like this recipe, check out my Bacon Wrapped Smokies next!
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Have you ever had candied bacon? I’ve seen it called ‘pig candy’, and ‘millionaire’s bacon’ on restaurant menus. Elevating the salty, smoky, crispy, fatty flavor of bacon seems almost redundant. Bacon is already bacon after all. Bacon lovers know how good it is already. But trust me, candy bacon might be the best bacon with its perfect combination of brown sugar and seasonings and crackly crust. This sweet and salty treat is a perfect garnish for your favorite Bloody Mary. My candied bacon would be equally at home included in a brunch spread or as part of your tailgating festivities.
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Ingredients for candied bacon
- Bacon – My favorite bacon is Hormel Black Label bacon. I think it bakes evenly with crispy edges and has really good flavor. I like to use regular bacon in this recipe best. If you choose to use thick-cut bacon, I’d increase the flavoring ingredients a little bit. You’ll need to increase your cooking time depending on the thickness of your bacon.
- Brown Sugar – Use light brown sugar in this recipe. I have not tested it with dark brown sugar.
- Chipotle Chili Pepper – This bacon has a moderate amount of heat. If you like more spicy flavors, then increase the amount of chili powder to 1 1/2 teaspoons.
- Smoked Paprika – This provides a nice balance of flavors to the bacon, complimenting the smoky flavors the bacon already has.
- Black Pepper – Adds more flavor and an extra little kick to the bacon.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Acid and fat are a natural pairing and compliment each other.
- Bourbon – You can use water instead. But bourbon and bacon are such a match made in heaven. Plus the liquid makes it easier to spread the seasoning mixture onto each slice of bacon evenly before baking it in the oven.
Instructions for making bacon candy
For full recipe, continue scrolling to the bottom of this post for my printable recipe card.
Whisk together the brown sugar, seasonings, vinegar and bourbon in a small bowl until completely combined. Brush each slice of bacon (one side only) with the mixture.
Bake the bacon at 375 degrees F for about 25 minutes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment. You’ll rotate your pans halfway through baking time (after about the first 10-15 minutes). And you might need to flip some of the bacon slices over to get perfect crispy bacon. Allow the bacon to cool to room temperature (resting on clean parchment paper to prevent sticking) before serving.
Pro tips
Parchment paper is a must for this recipe, I can’t stress this enough. I’ve tried baking bacon (even without the candy seasoning) on a foil-lined baking sheet and it becomes a sticky mess. The foil sticks and peels on the sheet pans and the bacon strips.
A wire rack is not needed for my recipe. Lining your sheet pans with parchment paper is all that is necessary for making this bacon candy.
Brushing the seasoning mixture on top of the bacon is the only way to go! It is so much easier than sprinkling dry ingredients and coats the bacon evenly. If you don’t want to use bourbon in this recipe, simply replace it with water.
Use a silicone pastry brush to evenly coat your bacon with the brown sugar mixture before baking it in the oven.
Cool the spicy candied bacon on clean sheets of parchment paper. Do not use a paper towel because it will stick and you will ruin your bacon!
Storage directions
You can store candied bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. I don’t recommend freezing leftover bacon.
Serving suggestions
This candied bacon makes a perfect garnish for the best Bloody Mary recipe. Serve it as part of a brunch spread with my Eggs Benedict Breakfast Bake, Spinach Strawberry Salad and fresh fruit. Or serve it for game day with your favorite tailgating food, like my Buffalo Chicken Nachos and Jalapeño Popper Dip.
Kitchen tools
- Sheet pans for baking the bacon
- Parchment paper liners – which are essential for preventing the bacon from sticking to the pans
- Silicone pastry brush for brushing the sugar and seasoning mixture onto the bacon
- Metal tongs for flipping the bacon and removing it from the baking pans
Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 16 oz bacon
- 1/4 c light brown sugar
- 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp bourbon
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This is essential to prevent the bacon from sticking to the pans. Foil will not work and makes a sticky mess that is really hard to clean up. Don't use foil!
- Place the strips of bacon evenly divided in a single layer on each baking pan. There will be about 8 slices of bacon on each sheet pan.
- Combine the brown sugar, chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, apple cider vinegar and bourbon. Blend together with a fork.
- Use a pastry brush to evenly spread each slice of bacon (the top side of the bacon only) with the brown sugar mixture.
- Bake the bacon in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Rotate your baking pans, front to back and top to bottom.
- Bake again and start checking the bacon for doneness after an additional 10 minutes. It might be necessary to flip the slices of bacon over to get it as crispy as you like.
- Remove the pans from the oven once the bacon is as done as you like. Use metal tongs to gently transfer each slice of candied bacon to a clean sheet of parchment paper. Allow the bacon to cool and reach room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
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Bobby says
The bourbon is such a nice touch. Delicious!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you!!
Chenee says
I’ve tried to make candied bacon so many times and it never comes out the way I want it to, until now. Bourbon must be the secret ingredient, because this was amazing!
foodtasticmom says
It’s so helpful to help spread the seasoning mixture evenly on the bacon. I’ve tried it with water too. They both work! It’s adding a liquid to the dry seasoning and brown sugar mix that is really the game changer. I’m so glad you loved it!
Justine says
I could eat so many pieces of this, it’s sooooo good. Loved it in my bloody mary, too!
foodtasticmom says
I know, right?? It’s sooooo good. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it too!
Casey says
I made a huge batch of this and gave it as gifts to coworkers at the holiday party. It got lots of compliments!
foodtasticmom says
What a great idea! I’m glad everyone like the bacon!
Kim says
This was absolutely delicious and totally addictive! I could have eaten the entire pound of bacon myself but thankfully my husband shared!
foodtasticmom says
It is addictive. I can’t make it very often! lol