This sweet, savory Bacon Jam Recipe is the ultimate bacon lover’s taste treat. It combines the flavors of smoked bacon, onion, garlic, brown sugar, and vinegar into a tasty jam. The variety of ways to serve this is only limited by your imagination.
Calling all bacon lovers, and you know who you are! This slow-cooked, simmered bacon onion jam is pure heaven. The delectable possibilities with this jam are endless.
What is Bacon Jam?
Bacon Jam is a bacon-based relish made by slow-cooking bacon, onions, garlic, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices. It is absolutely divine and a must-try. You can store it for a little over a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it in the microwave for short intervals at reduced power.
How to Use It
- On top of hash browns
- Spooned over an omelet or scrambled eggs
- Stuffed in a grilled cheese
- Over waffles and pancakes
- On a club sandwich
- On a cracker with a piece of Gruyere or Gouda cheese
- Tossed in your favorite spinach salad
- Spooned over grilled chicken, steak, burgers, or other meats
- Over a baked potato or mashed potatoes
- Stuffed in pastry puff with Brie cheese
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Bacon: Use any hickory-smoked, uncured bacon.
- Brown Sugar: You can substitute dark brown sugar.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: You can substitute white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, or sherry vinegar.
- Coffee: Try some of our favorites, Peet’s Coffee, Death Wish Coffee, or Folgers Black Silk.
How to make Bacon Jam
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Chop the bacon really fine and cook it in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy. Move the cooked bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Carefully ladle off all but 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease. Toss in the onions and salt. Cook over low heat until browned and slightly caramelized.
- Add in the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Tilt the pan and remove all but about a half tablespoon of excess grease.
- Stir in the cooked bacon, brown sugar, cider vinegar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, and prepared strong black coffee. Cook the mixture until slightly thickened and browned.
- Remove from the heat and stir in a bit of balsamic vinegar.
Preparation Tips For Success
- If a finer consistency is desired, put the jam in a food processor and pulse several times until the desired consistency is achieved.
- You can substitute maple syrup for the brown sugar.
- Refrigerate this bacon jam. It is not shelf-stable.
More Bacon Recipes
Bacon Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound hickory smoked bacon slices finely chopped
- 1 large yellow onion finely diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ cup fresh brewed dark coffee
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- In a heavy skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, move the cooked bacon to paper towels to drain. Tilt the pan to one side and carefully ladle off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
- Add the onions and salt; cook over low heat until browned and slightly caramelized. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute. Tilt the pan and remove all but ½ tablespoon of excess grease.
- Stir in the cooked bacon, brown sugar, cider vinegar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, and prepared strong black coffee. Let the mixture cook down until slightly thickened and browned, 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Serve warm over crusty French bread or crostini.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container or mason jar for 7-10 days.
- This recipe is not shelf-stable, and it must be stored in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Elizabeth
Yum! So good! Served it on mini brioche toasts and it was devoured. 😀
Trish
I want to try this recipe. What I am wondering is how do I freeze bacon jam? I’ve never canned anything and I would like to learn the proper way.
Beth Pierce
Yes you can freeze it for up to 3 months in freezer safe containers or in freezer zipper bags. Bacon jam is not suitable for canning. Store for up to ten days in the refrigerator.
Jackie
Awesome. Just made this and awesome is all that needs to be said.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jackie! So glad that you liked it!!
Diann Sapien
I made this last night and put it in fancy little jars with handmade tags and giving some to my daughters for mothers day today! (Along with some other goodies!) It tastes wonderful!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Diann! So glad that you liked it and I bet they looked awesome!
Beth Pierce
No sorry it can not.
Peter Fryns
I made this today because I had some leftover bacon but I made a few substitutions and added maple syrup. I knew my husband wouldn’t like the coffee so I replaced that with some stock. I also couldn’t find my cumin so used garam masala instead. In any event, it tasted delicious while I was sampling it but I plan on serving it on seared scallops.
Beth Pierce
I love a good cook that can improvise. Putting that on scallops sounds amazing.
Mark A. Clark
This recipe is awesome!!! We just made the Bacon Jam and loved it!!! We used cherry wood smoked bacon instead of hickory smoked, but I am positive that the hickory smoked bacon would be just as good!!!
Mark Clark
We just made this recipe, and it is absolutely delicious!!! One thing we used that was different than the original recipe was cherry wood smoked bacon instead of hickory smoked, as my wife and I prefer cherry over hickory. but I know it would still be awesome with hickory!!! Apple smoked would be good as well.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Mark! So glad that you and wife liked it. Thanks for the great tips!
Debra
can I omit the coffee, don’t like coffee, lol
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. Use water instead.
Darlene pitcher
I made this today and I used the apple wood smoked bacon it is delicious!! 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Darlene! So glad that you like it.
Mary
Can this be made with some kind of substitute for the black coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker, so I don’t buy it.
Beth Pierce
I would just use water.