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
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Susan
What can i substitute for the coffee?
Nicole Larsen
Great recipe! Used it three times. First night on burgers, second night spinach salads and third topped a wheel of Brie for football night. Currently the most popular mom cook around 🙂
Beth Pierce
That is awesome! There is nothing wrong with being the favorite cook! 🙂
Stephanie
Can you can this to last longer than a week?
Beth Pierce
Maybe a little bit. I don’t like to push food safety issues too far. You can freeze it.
Kathy
How long will it keep in the refrigerator?
Beth Pierce
7-8 days. A reader said that she had great success freezing it.
Margaret Gibbs
I bought a small jar of Bacon Jam. Now I’m using this recipe to make and gift in small jars during Christmas season.
Beth Pierce
Sounds fabulous. Make sure you include instructions to refrigerate.
Maria
Wow! This one looks unique, a different type of jam the the usual of sweets!
Amy
Oh wow what an amazing recipe, bacon anything is a win for me!
Jeff Albom
I never would have thought of this. So good that it disappeared in no time.
Jacque Hastert
I love the blends of spices you have added to this jam. I mean you’ve made bacon jam and you can’t go wrong with bacon. I am making this tonight!
Denay
This bacon jam is so savory and delicious! I’ll be making this recipe again and again during the holidays. It’s a such a special treat!