Candied bacon is brown sugar-glazed bacon that tastes amazing! This recipe is so simple, and it takes just a few minutes to make.
Here are a few more bacon recipes we think you’ll love: Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs, Bacon Breakfast Pizza, and Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta.
Candied bacon can be a fun and delicious cooking ingredient. It adds sweetness and crunch to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and appetizer recipes! It’s sweet, salty, and smoky all at the same time!
While I typically bake bacon in the oven, making candied bacon is the quickest on the stove. Here is how to make it –
How to Make Candied Bacon
INGREDIENTS –
- 1/2 pound bacon slices, 10-12 slices – I like thick-cut bacon, but you can use whatever you prefer.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons of black pepper, optional – you can use cayenne pepper if you want even more spice.
INSTRUCTIONS –
- Mix the brown sugar and pepper in a small bowl.
- Place 5-6 strips of bacon on a frying pan or skillet in a single layer over medium heat. Rub the top side with the brown sugar mixture and cook for 2 minutes, or until sugar is melted.
- Flip the bacon, then sprinkle more brown sugar over the backside and cook for 2 more minutes, or until sugar is melted. Continue cooking until crispy, another minute or so, flipping as needed.
- Remove from heat to cool, and repeat the process with the remaining pieces of bacon.
TIPS + TRICKS –
- DO NOT PUT THE BACON ON NAPKINS OR PAPER TOWELS – the sticky sugar will stick to the paper towels and it’s hard to separate. I like to let my bacon cool on a baking sheet lined with brown paper bags or parchment paper, but you could put it directly on a cooling rack, too.
- It will be easier to spread the sugar on the bacon once it is melted, so don’t worry too much about spreading the sugar in crystal/powdered form on the sizzling bacon.
STORAGE –
Wrap any cooled bacon leftovers in aluminum foil, or put it in an airtight container and store for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. We do not recommend storing candied bacon in the freezer.
How to Use It
You can add candied bacon in just about any recipe that calls for regular bacon, but here are some of our favorites ways to use it –
- Bacon Brownies
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Bacon Cheeseburgers
- Broccoli and Bacon Salad
- Garnish the top of chocolate cupcakes
- Add it with some maple syrup to the top of your breakfast pancakes
- Add it to a BLT or an open-faced baked sandwich
HERE’S A PRINTABLE CANDIED BACON RECIPE CARD FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE –
Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound bacon slices, 10-12 slices
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons of black pepper, optional
Instructions
- Mix the brown sugar and pepper in a small bowl.
- Place 5-6 strips of bacon on a frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Rub the top side with brown sugar and cook for 2 minutes, or until sugar is melted.
- Flip the bacon, then rub more brown sugar over the backside and cook for 2 more minutes, or until sugar is melted. Continue cooking until crispy, another minute or so, flipping as needed.
- Remove from heat to cool, and repeat the process with the remaining pieces of bacon.
Notes
It will be easier to spread the sugar on the bacon once it is melted, so don’t worry too much about spreading the sugar in crystal/powdered form on the sizzling bacon.
Nutrition
Other Notes
