Texans love their bacon jam. This recipe combines the rich, smoky flavors of crispy bacon with caramelized onions, maple syrup, and a splash of bourbon to create a delicious, sweet and slightly spicy condiment that pairs perfectly with, well everything. It tastes great on scrambled eggs, potatoes, burgers, grilled cheese, Brussels sprouts, roasted vegetables and pork chops. It’s also really good with just cheese and crackers. If you're a bacon lover, Homemade Bacon Onion Jam with Bourbon and Maple Syrup is worth trying. In this post, we will explore the easy steps to create the delicious bacon jam.
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Ingredients
- Thick-cut bacon
- Sweet onions
- Garlic
- Maple syrup
- Dark brown sugar
- Bourbon
- Black coffee
- Molasses
- Balsamic vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt
- Red pepper flakes
- Cayenne pepper
- Chili powder
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
With the reserved bacon grease in the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low heat and add the sweet onions. Stir occasionally, making sure the onions don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the onions to soften and slowly develop a beautiful caramelized color. Add the garlic, stir and cook for 1 additional minute.
Stir in the cooked bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, black coffee, molasses, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and chili powder. Turn the heat down to low, and simmer stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken and takes on a jam-like consistency, about 30-35 minutes. The jam should be thick but spreadable. It will thicken more as it cools. Adjust the seasonings with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
How to Serve
The combination of smoked bacon, sweet onions, bourbon and spices creates an incredible balance of flavors. Bacon jam is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some serving ideas:
Bacon Jam Burgers – Spread a layer of bacon jam on your favorite burger for a smoky, sweet flavor.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Add a spoonful of bacon onion jam inside a classic grilled cheese for an indulgent twist.
Cheese Platters – Serve bacon jam with a selection of hard and soft cheeses, like sharp cheddar, goat cheese and brie.
Pulled Pork – Try bacon jam on a pulled pork sandwich instead of barbecue sauce.
Crackers – Spread bacon jam on crostini or crackers with a little goat cheese or cream cheese for an easy appetizer.
Substitutions
This recipe uses sweet onions, like Vidalia, but yellow onions or red onions would also work. If you prefer a smoother texture, pulse the finished jam in a food processor a few times. Be careful not to over-process, you still want some chunks for texture.
Equipment
Bacon jam can also be made in a slow cooker. Simply cook the bacon separately, then add the bacon plus 2 tablespoons of bacon grease to the slow cooker along with all of the ingredients. Cook on low heat for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.
Storage
Store leftover bacon jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Final Thoughts
This bacon jam recipe has the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. Enjoy!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Bacon Onion Jam with Bourbon and Maple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crispy, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the bacon is crispy, remove it using a slotted spoon and transfer it to a paper towel to drain. Keep 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease for cooking the onions and carefully pour the rest into a heat proof bowl.
- With the reserved bacon grease in the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low heat and add the sweet onions. Stir occasionally, making sure the onions don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the onions to soften and slowly develop a beautiful caramelized color. Add the garlic, stir and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Stir in the cooked bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, black coffee, molasses, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and chili powder. Turn the heat down to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken and takes on a jam-like consistency, about 30-35 minutes. The bacon jam should be thick but spreadable. It will thicken more as it cools. Adjust the seasonings with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
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