Delicious Homemade Bacon Jam

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This bacon jam recipe is too good not to share. You will want to spread, dip, and top everything with this rich, smoky, porky goodness. It’s a great gift too!

Learn how to make bacon jam at home and make the most of the smoky, streaky bacon we love.

This bacon jam recipe slow-cooks bacon, garlic, and onions with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and a whole array of secret ingredients to make the ultimate bacon jam that puts your good ol’ simple-tasting strawberry jam to shame.

I know that bacon and jam are words you don’t expect to see next to each other, but this is your sign to leave their lexical definitions and give this unique but incredibly tasty invention a try. 😋

What Is Bacon Jam Made Of?

Bacon jam is made of chopped bacon, onion, garlic, and various ingredients to create the perfect balance of savory and sweet.

The result is a complex-tasting relish with a consistency that resembles a sticky fruit jam.

Think of bacon jam as a spread, dip, topping, or “chutney” to take ordinary meals to the next level. If you’re starting to be bored of your toast, pizza, salad, or barbecue, this jam is literally your jam.

The secret is patience and simmering it for hours until the consistency is worthy of the title “jam.” Slow cooking also ensures that the flavors are fused into each other. 🤤

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you love bacon, then it’s a guarantee that you’ll love this bacon jam recipe. But if that’s not enough to convince you to learn how to make bacon jam, perhaps these will:

• Easy: This bacon jam recipe is ridiculously easy yet offers a complex flavor worthy of a special gift idea! You’re essentially just cooking your bacon slowly, and you can choose between using a crockpot or a stove, whichever is more convenient. 
• Versatile: This bacon jam can be a topping, spread, or dip! You can make it ahead so it’s ready for your gathering or when you want a quick way to elevate your weekday meals.
• Savory and Sweet: If there’s a flavor combo that will delight everyone, it’s savory and sweet. The two balance each other out, making this bacon jam recipe the perfect pair for anything, whether it’s a slice of bread, cheese boards, or even brownie batter (more on these perfect pairings later!)

What Does Bacon Jam Taste Like?

So what does bacon jam taste like?

The quick answer is it is savory, sweet, and salty all at once in the best way possible. You’ll notice how the slow cooking process is worth it because the flavors are deep, rich, and highlight the smoky, porky bacon deliciously.

You’ll also taste some oakiness, and the herbs added in the jam just make the overall taste complex. 😋

The caramelized onion and garlic in bacon fat, thyme, espresso, molasses, and whiskey are, dare I say, essential for this multifaceted jam that will make any bacon lover go wild.

Is This Bacon Jam Recipe Healthy?

This bacon jam recipe’s star is bacon, so we all know this delicious and indulgent creation is not a superfood.

However, it’s a tasty way to make healthy dishes more exciting.

Let’s say you don’t usually like salads.

You can make a quick dressing by mixing bacon jam with your preferred oil and vinegar. Trust me; the result is heavenly.

If you learn how to make bacon jam at home, you’re also opening the doors to more delicious veggie dishes. Try its incredible flavor with roasted broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprouts!

What Are The Benefits Of Bacon Jam?

The main benefit of this bacon jam recipe is its versatility. Make it ahead so you have a condiment ready to enhance your meals.

You can also prepare this easy recipe, and surprise loved ones with a quirky take on bacon. Nothing is more satisfying than witnessing people unsure of trying bacon jam, only for them to ask you for the recipe later. 😆

Oh, and did I mention a jar or two of this sweet and savory jam makes a great gift idea?

Ingredients For This Bacon Jam Recipe

• Bacon – You can use any bacon you like, but smoked bacon in my opinion makes the best bacon jam.
• Vidalia onion – I suggest Vidalia onion for this bacon jam recipe as it’s sweet and not as pungent as other types.
• Garlic cloves – Besides onion, we’ll also saute garlic in the bacon fat to create a delicious savory base for bacon jam.
• Apple cider vinegar – This bacon jam is not just salty and sweet. We’ll also have another layer of flavor from the tangy-sweet apple cider vinegar.
• Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar’s caramel-like sweetness counters the savory, smoky flavor of the bacon deliciously. 
• Pure maple syrup – It’s no secret that maple syrup goes well with bacon. 
• Molasses – The warm, somewhat smoky, sweet molasses flavor adds complexity to bacon jam.
• Brewed espresso – Don’t worry, you won’t taste a weird bacon-coffee flavor. With everything else added to this jam, espresso just makes the bacon jam’s flavors more pronounced.
• Thyme leaves – You can experiment with other herbs, but I find fresh thyme’s earthy-lemony flavor best for this sweet and savory jam.
• Whiskey – Some bacon jam recipes use water, but whiskey adds a distinct warm taste to create a more complex flavor profile.
• Cayenne pepper – Yes, we’re adding some extra heat to this sweet, smoky, and savory jam. It’s not overpowering, but you can also leave it out of you’re not a fan of spicy flavors.
• Instant espresso powder – Using coffee in this bacon jam recipe won’t create a sharp coffee taste. Instead, we’re adding it to deepen the bacon flavor.

Tools Needed To Prepare Bacon Jam

• Skillet for cooking the ingredients
• Paper towels for absorbing the bacon grease
• Crockpot for cooking the jam slowly
• Dutch oven for cooking the jam slowly
• Food processor for getting a coarse texture on the jam
• Glass jars for storing the bacon jam

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Bacon Jam

Espresso

Let me reassure you that the coffee in this bacon jam won’t taste overpowering.

But if you don’t like coffee in general, you can omit it or substitute it with brewed orange pekoe tea.

Maple syrup

If you don’t have maple syrup, simply use more molasses or replace maple syrup with amber syrup. We want the sweetness on our bacon jam to taste deep and rich and not just sugary sweet.

Apple cider vinegar

If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use rice vinegar to give this bacon jam acidity. The sourness of vinegar balances the rich, savory flavors of the meat.

How to Make Bacon Jam

Ingredients:

• 1 pound bacon, chopped roughly into one-inch pieces
• 1 large Vidalia onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, well-packed
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 6 tablespoons brewed espresso
• 1-2 sprigs of thyme leaves, stripped from the stem
• 6 tablespoons whiskey
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder

Tools you need:

• Skillet
• Paper towels
• Crockpot
• Dutch oven
• Food processor
• Glass jars

Instructions:

STEP 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until it’s brown and crispy. You may need to do this in two or three batches, depending on the size of your skillet.

STEP 2: Drain the cooked bacon on paper towels and set aside.

STEP 3: Pour off all the bacon fat from the pan but leave a tablespoon or two.

STEP 4: With the heat on medium-low, saute the onion and garlic in the bacon fat for a minute or two or until they are translucent.

STEP 5: Add the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, espresso, thyme leaves, whiskey, cayenne pepper, and espresso powder.

STEP 6: Turn the heat to high, then cook the ingredients for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

STEP 7: Turn off the heat and stir in the bacon, combining everything together.

STEP 8: If using a crockpot, transfer the mixture to the crockpot and cook on high, uncovered, for 4 to 4 and a half hours or until the mixture is thick and burnished. Remember to stir every so often during the cooking process. If the jam gets too dry, just add a tablespoon or two of water.

STEP 9: If cooking on the stove, transfer to a medium-sized Dutch oven or tall-sided pot and cook on medium-low for 4 to 4 and a half hours or until the mixture is thick and burnished. Stir every so often during the cooking process, and, as above, if the mixture gets too dry, just add a tablespoon or two of water.

STEP 10: Next, transfer the jam to the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

STEP 11: Portion the jam into glass jars (two 6-ounce jars or three 4-ounce jars) and allow to cool to room temperature before covering them with their lids.

STEP 12: Transfer to the fridge. You can keep your homemade bacon jam for up to a month refrigerated, so make sure to write the date when you made it on the jar.

What To Serve With Bacon Jam

You can serve this bacon jam with just about anything.

The sweet, salty, savory, deep, and smoky taste will pair well with a crisp butter toast for a delicious breakfast.

For lunch, you can smear this bacon jam on your buns when constructing your favorite beef, turkey, or veggie burger.

Personally, I love the jam’s savory-sweet flavor with grilled cheese sandwiches. 🤤

What about dinner? This bacon jam is perfect for any recipe that can use some smoky, porky goodness. Braised short ribs and chicken cordon bleu with bacon jam, anyone?

And finally, did you know this bacon jam will work well in a brownie batter for dessert? Don’t believe us that bacon is perfect for sweet treats?

Just take a look at our maple bacon mini cupcakes and bacon chocolate chip cookies! (Yes, we made desserts with bacon.)

Tips About Making This Homemade Bacon Jam Recipe

Here are some additional tips for making this bacon jam:

• It’s easier to chop the bacon slices when frozen.
• You can achieve a sweeter bacon jam with a mouthwatering darker color by replacing apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar!
• Bacon jam tastes best at room temperature but is also delicious hot or cold.

How To Store Bacon Jam

Unlike jams made from fruits, storing bacon jam at room temperature won’t be a good idea. Remember to keep your bacon jam refrigerated to avoid the risk of food poisoning, like what has happened with a Toronto bakery’s cronut burgers with bacon jam. 😟

• Fridge: After transferring the bacon jam to jars, you can keep the jars in the fridge for 2 to 4 weeks.
• Freezer: If planning to store the bacon jam for longer, it’s best to keep them frozen. Simply thaw your bacon jam overnight before serving, and it’s good to go! And here’s a tip to avoid waste: just thaw the amount you will consume. 😉

Can you can bacon jam?

Even though this delicious relish is a jam, canning it is too risky because its main ingredient is meat.

What Are The Cooking Tools For This Bacon Jam Recipe

This bacon jam recipe is simple and easy, but using the right tools makes a huge difference.

For example, use a large cast-iron skillet when sauteing. Why? The large surface will make the thickening faster and even.

We also offer two options for slow-cooking bacon jam. You can either cook in a crockpot at medium-high heat or, if you have a Dutch oven, cook over medium-low.

Making bacon jam proves that good things come to those who wait since you’ll likely cook for 4 to 5 hours to reach the ideal jam-like consistency.

If the sweet and savory spread ends up too thick, just add small amounts of water as needed.

You might also wonder if you can use a slow cooker for this versatile condiment. Personally, I wouldn’t prefer it just because the evaporation is too slow, and the delicious bacon jam won’t be concentrated enough without evaporation.

Now, to get a nice coarse texture on the bacon jam, cool it first to room temperature before transferring it to a food processor. No need to go crazy in pulsing since bacon jam is more enjoyable with chunks of bacon. 😉

What Would You Use Bacon Jam For?

Bacon jam might be the condiment that’s missing on your boring sandwiches.

If you’re feeling exploratory, spread bacon jam on toasted bread with peanut butter and jelly!

I know it sounds too out of this world, but I was a skeptic too, and I’m so glad I wasn’t scared of the first bite. The warm, sweet, salty flavors of bacon jam pair well with the peanut butter and strawberry preserve.

You can also use bacon jam on homemade pepperoni pizza. Ricotta is perfect with the smoky, deep, sweet taste of bacon, garlic, and onion.

For backyard parties, delight your guests with bacon jam on grilled meat! The complex flavor of this condiment takes sausages, steaks, pork chops, burgers, grilled fish, and even veggies to the next level.

The technique is to spread the bacon jam on one side after the first flip so the heat from the meat will create a crisp glaze.

And for those who hate lengthy preparations, you can just serve your bacon jam as the dip in your charcuterie board (check out these unique ideas.)

Having cured meats and cold cuts with a bacon-based condiment seems redundant, but it’s like a richer, more complex fig jam.

Finally, if you’re not hosting and just want something quick for lunch or dinner, you can create a dressing with bacon jam to pour over mixed greens, use it as a dip on regular fries or fruit slices, or make a quick spread with bacon jam and cream cheese for pretzels and bagels.

What Bacon Should I Use To Make Bacon Jam?

You can use any regular high-quality bacon but smoked bacon, or thick-cut bacon would be best for bacon jam for flavor and texture.

And, of course, don’t go for anything flavored because we want the authentic porky and salty taste on our jam.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Bacon Jam Recipe

Conclusion

Although it sounds unfamiliar at first, there is no occasion that bacon jam will be frowned upon.

You can serve it as an appetizer or relish it alongside any meal at any time, and it is sure to steal the spotlight.

I know you can just buy bacon jam, but why give up the exciting and mouthwatering cooking process?

Love unique recipes like this bacon jam? Prepare to turn from a skeptic into a fan with these dishes:

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