Candied bacon is the perfect salty and sweet treat to add to any of your favorite brunch recipes, use as a garnish, or snack on by itself! Thick-cut bacon is lightly seasoned and then coated with brown sugar that melts down in the oven! It's so delicious that you will start adding it to everything!
Amazing Candied Bacon Recipe
Bacon is a pretty perfect thing as it is, am I right? Everything is better with bacon! Burgers, salads, breakfast, pizza- you name it!
However, seasoning and coating it in caramelized brown sugar definitely makes it even better. Also known as pig candy or million dollar bacon, candied bacon is as easy to make as simply seasoning it, rubbing it with brown sugar, and then popping it into the oven!
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🥘 Ingredients For Candied Bacon
Another miraculous thing about candied bacon is that it only uses a handful of ingredients! Using the liquid smoke adds a nice smoky flavor or you can easily kick up the heat with some cayenne!
- Bacon - 1 pound of thick-cut bacon. Of course, this recipe will work with standard bacon as well!
- Liquid Smoke (optional) - 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke to brush over the bacon before seasoning, if desired.
- Pepper - 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper.
- Cayenne (optional) - A pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you want to add some heat!
- Brown Sugar - 1 cup of light brown sugar.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Candied Bacon
Even if you've never cooked anything before- you can easily become a master at making this candied bacon! You will need a baking sheet, some aluminum foil, a wire rack, and a basting brush if you want to use the liquid smoke.
This recipe is for 1 pound of candied bacon. The actual number of slices depends on whether you are using thick-cut bacon or not.
- Prepare. Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack over the top. *I usually coat my wire rack with non-stick cooking spray before assembling the candied bacon.
- Arrange and season. Arrange 1 pound of bacon strips onto the wire rack and brush them with the optional 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke if using. Then, sprinkle the bacon with 1 tablespoon of black pepper and the optional pinch of cayenne pepper, if using.
- Add the sugar. Crumble 1 cup of brown sugar over the top of the bacon and use your fingers to gently pat it down, creating a thin (or thick, depending on how many bacon strips you have) layer.
- Bake. Move the baking sheet to the oven and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-27 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the brown sugar has melted.
- Cool. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the bacon cool for 10 minutes on the wire rack before transferring it to a sheet of parchment paper to finish cooling. You'll want to let it cool to room temperature so that the caramelized sugar can set (and you won't burn yourself!)
Sprinkle your candied bacon over your favorite wedge salad, use it as a garnish for your bloody Mary, or just eat it as a snack! It's delicious no matter how you serve it! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Using a wire rack over the baking sheet allows the air to circulate underneath the baking, making it nice and crispy!
- You'll need to bake your bacon in the oven for this recipe. If you try to cook it in a skillet, the sugar will make a giant mess once it starts to melt.
- Make sure to line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup!
- Thick-cut bacon will have fewer pieces per pound, so you will need to either reduce the amount of light brown sugar between ⅔ to ¾ cup or layer it onto the bacon in a heavier layer (which is what I like to do).
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep your candied bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating Candied Bacon
Of course, you can always enjoy this candied bacon cold! Or, you can pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds to reheat.
🥓 How To Use Candied Bacon
While candied bacon can easily be enjoyed by itself, you can also use it in so many other ways too! It can be a side dish to practically any brunch or breakfast recipe.
Additionally, you can use it as a garnish for drinks (like a Bloody Mary), sprinkle it over your salad, or use it to top some deviled eggs!
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Candied bacon (also known as pig candy or million dollar bacon) is bacon that has been coated in brown sugar and then baked in the oven until the sugar caramelizes. It is the perfect combination of sweet and salty!
Yep! You can make it up to 2 days ahead of time. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat it.
Yes, candied bacon is not shelf stable. It can be left at room temperature for up to 2 hours, but then needs to be moved to the refrigerator.
🥚 Tasty Brunch Recipes
- Overnight Oats - Prepare these hearty and delicious oats the night before so that they are ready to go as soon as you wake up!
- Overnight French Toast Bake - Great for a crowd, this French toast bake can be made at bedtime and then popped in the oven in the morning!
- Homemade Pancakes - Nothing is more classic than waking up to some homemade pancakes!
- Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts - These lemon flavored donuts are baked in the oven and then rolled in sugar!
- Ham & Cheese Omelet - Omelets are a great way to start the day (and they taste great with candied bacon!)
- Apple Banana Bread - This sweet bread is easy to make and loved by the whole family!
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📖 Recipe Card
Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon (thick cut)
- 2 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional, or red pepper flakes)
- 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack over the top. *I usually coat my wire rack with non-stick cooking spray before assembling the candied bacon.
- Arrange the strips of bacon onto the wire rack and brush them with the optional liquid smoke if using. Then, sprinkle the bacon with black pepper and the optional cayenne pepper, if using.
- Crumble the brown sugar over the top of the bacon and use your fingers to gently pat it down, creating a thin layer.
- Move the baking sheet to the oven and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-27 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the brown sugar has melted.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the bacon cool for 10 minutes on the wire rack before transferring it to a sheet of parchment paper to finish cooling.
Notes
- Using a wire rack over the baking sheet allows the air to circulate underneath the baking, making it nice and crispy!
- You'll need to bake your bacon in the oven for this recipe. If you try to cook it in a skillet, the sugar will make a giant mess once it starts to melt.
- Make sure to line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup!
- Thick-cut bacon will have fewer pieces per pound, so you will need to either reduce the amount of light brown sugar between ⅔ to ¾ cup or layer it onto the bacon in a heavier layer (which is what I like to do).
- To store: Keep your candied bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat: Of course, you can always enjoy this candied bacon cold! Or, you can pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds to reheat.
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