Bacon Jam
Rich and smokey, this easy Bacon Jam is perfect for serving on a charcuterie board or for spreading on some toasted baguette slices. You could always grill some juicy burgers and top them with this delicious spread to really wow friends and family! Grab some bacon and let’s get to fryin’ it up!
Once you start making your own little pantry and refrigerator staples like Bacon Jam, it’s hard to go back to any of the store bought stuff! Honestly, we love the rustic feeling of having a jar of Bacon Jam ready to go in our fridge. Feel like a real home chef with more recipes like Sunday Morning Strawberry Jam!
Bacon Onion Jam
Bacon Jam is always a good idea. Well, everything with bacon involved always seems like a good idea to us! If you’ve never had Bacon Jam before, this easy homemade recipe is the best way to first experience it.
Simply put, Bacon onion jam is exactly what it sounds like. Bacon is cooked to perfection, then made even more delicious with ingredients like buttery onions, bourbon, brown sugar and a medley of bold seasonings. It all heats up to one spreadable jam that you’ll want to put on just about everything!
How to Make Homemade Bacon Jam
- Add the bacon to a heavy bottom saucepan or a small Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat until the bacon is crispy.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of grease from the pan.
- Add the butter and onions to the pan and cook until caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the bourbon, brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne and let it simmer until all the alcohol is cooked off, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the maple syrup and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes then stir in the bacon. Remove the pan from heat before serving warm over toasted baguette slices.
Tips and Variations
- All out of brown sugar? You can make your own way easier than you may think, even if you don’t have any molasses! Just check out How to Make Brown Sugar.
- Don’t worry about breaking the bank with expensive bourbon here. A middle of the road bourbon works just fine, as the majority of the flavor is cooked off anyways.
- Try not to sear the onions! You’ll want to cook them slow and steady until they reach a golden brown color.
Storage
Storage: You can keep your Bacon Jam stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it in a small saucepan just until warmed through before serving.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 yellow onions, diced
- ½ cup bourbon
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Add the bacon to a heavy bottom saucepan or a small Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat until the bacon is crispy.12 ounces bacon
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of grease from the pan.
- Add the butter and onions to the pan and cook until caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.1 tablespoon unsalted butter2 yellow onions
- Stir in the bourbon, brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne and let it simmer until all the alcohol is cooked off, about 5 minutes.½ cup bourbon½ cup light brown sugar½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon ground black pepper½ teaspoon smoked paprika⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Stir in the maple syrup and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes then stir in the bacon. Remove the pan from heat before serving warm over toasted baguette slices.2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- See post for tips and storage options.
