Bacon Jam

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5 from 15 votes
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Discover the sweet and savory magic of homemade bacon jam! Perfect for burgers, sandwiches, or breakfast, this easy recipe will elevate your meals. Try it today!

A wooden bowl full of bacon jam with a spoon in the bowl. The bowl is sitting on a white plate next to a stack of crackers and bowl of cream cheese.
Table of Contents
  1. The Ultimate Flavor Boost for Any Dish
  2. Ingredients in Bacon Jam
  3. How to Make Homemade Bacon Jam
  4. Delicious Ways To Enjoy Bacon Jam
  5. Get The Flavor Just Right
  6. More Ways to Customize Your Jam
  7. Which Bacon Is Best?
  8. How to Cook Bacon for Bacon Jam
  9. Reviews About Our Bacon Jam
  10. Questions About Bacon Jam
  11. How To Store Bacon Jam
  12. Bacon Jam Recipe
  13. More Recipes For Bacon Lovers

The Ultimate Flavor Boost for Any Dish

Have you ever tried bacon jam? If not, you’re in for a treat! This sweet and savory spread is incredibly easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll want to slather it on everything from burgers to breakfast toast.

Bacon jam is a bacon lover’s dream come true. It is a winning combination of crispy bacon, caramelized onions, sweet brown sugar, and tangy balsamic vinegar. The result? A rich, smoky spread that’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Whether you’re hosting a brunch or looking to elevate your sandwich game, bacon jam is a versatile condiment that’ll wow your taste buds.

Spooning a large spoonful of bacon jam over a cracker spread with cream cheese.

Ingredients in Bacon Jam

Making bacon jam is simple and requires just a few basic ingredients:

  1. Bacon Slices – Thick-cut bacon works the best and gives the jam its hearty texture.
  2. Onion – Red or white, your choice! Each brings a unique flavor.
  3. Brown Sugar – Adds that sweet caramelized touch. Dark brown sugar offers a deeper molasses flavor.
  4. Balsamic Vinegar – Brings a tangy element that pairs well with the sweetness.
Ingredients to make bacon jam including bacon, balsamic vinegar, onion, water, and brown sugar.

How to Make Homemade Bacon Jam

Making bacon jam is straightforward and easy. Follow these steps to whip up your own batch in no time!

  1. Cook the Bacon – In a large skillet, cook the bacon until it’s nice and crispy. Drain most of the grease, leaving about two tablespoons in the pan. 
  2. Saute the Onion – Add chopped onions to the pan and cook until soft and translucent.
  3. Simmer – Mix in the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and water. Let everything simmer until it reaches a syrupy consistency. Chop the bacon into small pieces and stir it back into the mix.
  4. Serve – Your bacon jam can be served warm or at room temperature. Spread it on just about anything!
Holding a spoonful of bacon jam over a slightly blurred out plate of crackers and cream cheese.

Delicious Ways To Enjoy Bacon Jam

This savory spread can be used to liven up just about anything! Try some of our favorite things to add bacon jam to!

  • Burgers – Take your burgers to the next level with a generous dollop of bacon jam.
  • Sandwiches – It’s so good on all types of sandwiches, especially on turkey or roast beef sandwiches. Also tastes delicious on grilled cheese, an egg sandwich
  • Protein – Spoon it over grilled chicken, steak, or pork chops.
  • Breakfast – Spread on toast, bagels, or English muffins. Try it on pancakes or waffles with a drizzle of maple syrup. Top a fried egg with this bacon jam and serve with a hearty breakfast.
  • Pizza – A unique topping that adds a smoky sweetness.
  • Salads – Kick up the flavor of your green salad, or use as a veggie spread.
  • Charcuterie board – Include as a spread on charcuterie boards with crackers and cream cheese.
Thick roast beef sandwich cut in half to show the colors and textures of the beef and toppings.

Get The Flavor Just Right

What I love about this jam is that you can easily adjust the flavor to your liking. Here are some ideas:

  • Sweeter: Add more brown sugar or use maple-flavored bacon.
  • Tangier: Increase the amount of balsamic vinegar.
  • Spicy: Sprinkle in some chili flakes or cayenne pepper.
  • Garlicky: Add minced garlic for an extra layer of flavor.
Cooked bacon jam with a wooden spoon in a black skillet

More Ways to Customize Your Jam

Here are some more ideas to customize the jam. The options are endless!

  • Apple cider – You can substitute about ⅛ cup apple cider vinegar for the balsamic.
  • Black pepper – Add extra black pepper to taste.
  • Browned bits – For additional texture, scrape the browned bits of bacon from the large skillet.
  • Onions – Dice red onion or red pepper for added flavor and texture. Use diced shallots in place of regular yellow onion. Bacon onion jam is full of flavor!
  • Herbs – Garnish with some fresh thyme.

Which Bacon Is Best?

Cooking strips of bacon in a black skillet.

You can’t go wrong with a thick-cut bacon for this recipe. If you get a higher-quality bacon you will get a better bacon jam. If all you have is regular-cut bacon, that works great too! Using smoked bacon will give your jam a nice rounded-out smoky flavor that will taste great on burgers or grilled meats.

Pre-cooked bacon doesn’t work well because you aren’t able to get enough drippings to make the jam. Also, avoid getting maple-flavored bacon as it may throw off the taste.

How to Cook Bacon for Bacon Jam

The easiest way to get perfectly cooked bacon is on the stovetop. Use a large skillet and cook the bacon in batches, turning them over every few minutes at medium heat until they’re nice and crisp. Then use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a plate with paper towels so it can drain.

You can also cook bacon in a Dutch oven, a regular oven, or sometimes in the microwave. Make sure to save about two tablespoons of the bacon grease from the pan to continue making the jam. The air fryer is also a great option.

Close up of a wooden bowl of bacon jam next to crackers and cream cheese.

Reviews About Our Bacon Jam

“Delicious! I want to put it on EVERYTHING!”

-Allison

Questions About Bacon Jam

What does bacon jam taste like?

Bacon jam is a sublime mix of sweet and salty, with hints of smoky flavor, depending on how the bacon is flavored. The texture can vary depending on how finely you chop the bacon and onions. It can be fine, with a texture similar to marmalade or preserves making it easier to spread. Use a food processor and pulse all of the ingredients until they are the desired consistency. Or you can leave the pieces larger with the bacon in 1-inch pieces so the jam has more texture, similar to conserves or a relish.

What is bacon jam made of?

Bacon jam is made of four simple ingredients: bacon slices, onion, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar.

Can you put the bacon jam into a jar for canning?

Canning bacon jam is not recommended, due various health and safety concerns. If you want to store it long-term, freezing is your best option. For more information, see this article: https://www.healthycanning.com/bacon-jam.

Can I freeze bacon jam?

Absolutely! You can freeze your jam for up to 6 months. Just put it in a freezer-safe container or even a freezer zip-top bag to store.

How To Store Bacon Jam

Bacon jam should be refrigerated once cooled. It’ll stay fresh for up to a month in the fridge. If you want to keep it longer, pop it in the freezer. Just thaw it out when you’re ready to use it, and give it a quick warm-up if it’s too firm to spread.

Remember, after the jam has been heated or brought to room temperature after refrigerating, it should not be refrigerated again. Be sure to only heat what you will be using. Keep the rest in the fridge until you need it again.

Spoon in a wooden bowl of bacon jam.

Bacon Jam

5 from 15 votes
Bacon jam is easy to make using ingredients you can find in your kitchen. Add it to sandwiches, burgers, and more for a unique sweet and savory flavor.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Spread
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings

Video

Ingredients

  • 10 slices bacon (thick cut works best)
  • 1 cup chopped onion (white or red)
  • cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or cider vinegar)
  • 2 Tablespoons water

Instructions

  • In a large non-stick skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the pan and remove the bacon to drain on paper towels. 
    Cooking strips of bacon and a skillet.
  • Add onion to the pan and saute until soft.
    Skillet with cooked chopped onions, and a wooden spoon.
  • Add brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and water. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar and vinegar reduce to a light syrupy texture.
    Skillet with onions and balsamic sugar.
  • Chop bacon into small pieces and add to the mixture. Stir well to combine.
    Cooked bacon jam in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
  • Can be served hot or cooled to room temperature.
    Bowl of bacon jam next to crackers and a bowl of cream cheese.

Notes

Recipe Tips:

Here are a few ideas on different ways you could serve Bacon Jam.
    • Spread it on hamburgers or chickenburgers. 
    • It’s so good on all types of sandwiches, especially on turkey or roast beef sandwiches
    • Also tastes delicious on grilled cheese, an egg sandwich
    • Grilled chicken or steak
    • Spoon on top of a pork roast or pork chops
    • Grilled cheese sandwiches
    • Spread on toast, bagels, or English muffins.
    • Use as a pizza topping
    • Green salads or as a veggie spread
    • As a spread on charcuterie boards
    • With crackers and cream cheese
    • Try it on pancakes with a drizzle of maple syrup
    • Top a fried egg with this bacon jam and serve with a hearty breakfast

Nutrition Information

Calories: 37kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 37mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and their three daughters. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and has a passion for travel and adventure. Whether kayaking, hiking, or scuba diving, she loves exploring the world—and bringing her family along for the ride.

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Comments

  1. I have no balsamic vinegar. Is there a substitute or can I omit it? Also, how much water? And when to add it? I just don’t see it, unless I’m missing it. Thank you in advance

    1. Thanks for asking, Justin. You can use another vinegar in place of balsamic vinegar, but it won’t taste quite the same. Do you have apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar on hand? You can use either, but add 1 teaspoon of sugar to it to get closer to the flavor of balsamic vinegar. Also, you add the water at the same time you add the vinegar, just after you sauté the onions. I hope this helps!

    1. We haven’t tried it with turkey bacon, so I can’t say for sure. But let us know how it turns out if you try it!