This three-ingredient Candied Bacon Recipe is a cinch to prepare, and it is incredibly good with crispy edges and flavor from brown sugar, fresh ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. It really should come with an intervention program because this pig candy is addicting.
Serve this sweet and salty snack treat up as a side dish for Sunday brunch, along with scrambled eggs and pancakes, and watch it disappear. Try it in grilled cheese sandwiches or crumbled over mac and cheese.
How do you make Candied Bacon?
This million-dollar bacon is made with three easy ingredients. It is as simple as spreading a thin layer of brown sugar mixture over the strips of bacon and cooking in the oven for around 12-15 minutes. Then remove the baking pan from the oven, flip and sprinkle a little more brown sugar mixture on the bacon using the flat part of a spoon to spread it this time because it is hot. Then bake for another 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. This bacon is best served at room temperature. There is really nothing to it.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- I like to season the bacon with fresh ground black pepper, but it is also delicious with a light sprinkle of cayenne, chili powder, red pepper flakes, or smoked paprika.
- I have made this recipe with both medium and thick-cut bacon slices. For medium-sliced bacon, use a light coat of brown sugar. For thicker sliced bacon, you can use a little more brown sugar. The thicker bacon takes longer to cook and brown therefore allowing for a slightly heavier coating.
- For easier cleanup, cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- For maple bacon or copycat, First Watch Million Dollar Bacon glaze the uncooked bacon slices with maple syrup before adding the brown sugar mixture.
- Chop this delectable bacon and use it in quesadillas, omelettes, cold and warm dips, salads, casseroles, and soups.
- Use whole slices on burgers, sandwiches, and wraps.
- Add it as a garnish to your favorite Bloody Mary recipe and surprise your guests.
Storage and Reheat
Place leftovers in a zipper storage bag or an airtight container and store them in the fridge. To warm and re-crisp, heat in a 350-degree oven for 5 minutes or an air fryer for about 2 minutes.
This delectable millionaire’s bacon is the perfect party appetizer or Christmas brunch addition. Chop it and use it as a topping in your favorite dishes. Add it to your to-try list today, and let me know what you think.
More bacon recipes you will love!
Easy Candied Bacon Recipe
Three-ingredient candied bacon is a slightly sweet, slightly spicy crackly crust bacon that’s the perfect addition to so many recipes! Whip up a double batch of this deliciously crisp bacon with a candied texture and add to salads, sandwiches, dips, and more.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices
- Category: snack
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 12 strips bacon (not too thin)
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Cover a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy-clean up. Place an oven-proof wired rack over the aluminum foil.
- In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Place bacon on the wire rack in a single layer with no overlapping. If need be work in batches. Sprinkle lightly with the brown sugar mixture. Use the backside of a spoon to smooth it and spread it evenly. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Carefully remove the bacon from the oven and flip it. Sprinkle lightly with a little more brown sugar mixture. Use the backside of a spoon to smooth it and spread it evenly. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Using tongs move the bacon to parchment paper so it does not stick to the cooling rack. Let it cool for a few minutes before handling it.
- Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container or zipper bag in the refrigerator.
Notes
- I like to season the bacon with fresh ground black pepper but it is also delicious with a light sprinkle of cayenne, chili powder, red pepper flakes, or smoked paprika.
- I have made this recipe with both medium and thick-cut bacon slices. For medium-sliced bacon, use a light coat of brown sugar. For thicker sliced bacon, you can use a little more brown sugar. The thicker bacon takes longer to cook and brown therefore allowing for a slightly heavier coating.
- For easier cleanup, cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- For maple bacon or copycat First Watch Million Dollar Bacon glaze the uncooked bacon slices with maple syrup before adding the brown sugar mixture.
- Leftovers should be placed in a zipper storage bag or an airtight container and stored in the fridge. To warm and re-crisp, heat in a 350-degree oven for 5 minutes.
- Chop this delectable bacon and use it in quesadillas, omelettes, cold and warm dips, salads, casseroles, and soups.
- Use whole slices on burgers, sandwiches, and wraps.
- Add it as a garnish to your favorite Bloody Mary recipe and surprise your guests.
Keywords: candied bacon, pig candy, how to make candied bacon, game day food, bacon recipes,
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
Fransic verso
This is a great recipe! We really enjoyed it.
★★★★★
April
The recipe looks and sounds fabulous! My fiance will love it! Definitely going to try!
★★★★★
Vasudevan
Thanks so much for sharing this. I have never heard of candied bacon, but it looks like really an interesting dish for Christmas time! So tempting.
Television of Nomads
This looks so yummy! We’ll pretend it is healthy, too 🙂
Sonia Seivwright
Candid bacon… at first I thought,’ what is that?’ then I’m like’ wow, that’s interesting. I never thought of bacon as candid. Great recipe.
★★★★★
Alita
Candied bacon is delish. I can eat it as is, or crumble it over salad. Thank you for your recipe.
★★★★★
briannemanzb
Wow, love your recipe. Why didn’t I ever do this before? The magic really happens in the oven.
★★★★★
Leanne
That looks absolutely amazing! There’s nothing better than candied bacon. It’s the ultimate sweet and savory snack.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
So true!
Stephanie
Oh my! This is one of those recipes that I will make for the rest of my life. Bacon is perfect on its own – but this recipe takes it up a bunch of notches!!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
I agree 100%
Jasmine Martin
I have never in my life had candied bacon before, but I would definitely be interested in trying it. I always hear that it tastes pretty good.
Tammy
Ooh candied bacon is such a fun and delicious treat. I love it in the fall with pancakes…such a fun treat with so many things!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tammy! So glad that you like it!
Jupiter Hadley
I have never heard of candied bacon, but it sounds like a really interesting appitizer for Christmas time! Thank you so much for sharing.
Claudia
This candied bacon is made with only three easy ingredients? Wow, that is amazing. I cannot wait to try these!
★★★★★
Rhian Westbury
We’ve made candied bacon before, but never as crispy looking as this is. You can’t beat bacon like this on top of pancakes or something similar
Alice
Never had candied bacon, but I’m definitely missing out by the looks of it!
★★★★★
Kylie
This recipe should be illegal! The candied bacon is addictive!! SO DELICIOUS!
★★★★★
Dannii
Can you believe that I have never tried candied bacon before. It sounds amazing though, and I can’t wait to try.
★★★★★
Julia
This recipe is surely addictive! Never though I will love candied bacon this much! Really yummy!
★★★★★
Katie
This looks so good! Can’t wait to try it.
★★★★★
Shelley
Thanks for the terrific recipe – and the great ideas of other recipes to use it with! So simple but delicious – my daughter will go crazy for this!
★★★★★
Julia
This method of cooking bacon is such a treat! Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Lily
Bacon and candy two irresistible things put together even better, these were phenomenal. They were gone so quick you wouldn’t have known I was making them.
★★★★★
Katie
My mouth is watering just thinking about this. Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Lisalia
Wow this was good! I had mine crumbled and sprinkled on top of my salad. SO SO good! Makes eating a salad just like a treat!
★★★★★
Suzy
So addicting, we couldn’t just stop at one! Love how easy this is to make!
★★★★★
Cathy
How have I never had this before now!? It’s DELICIOUS!
Catalina
Who doesn’t love bacon! I am sure this will be our new favorite bacon recipe!
★★★★★
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
Oh my goodness, this candied bacon looks SO GOOD!! YUM!
★★★★★
katerina @ diethood.com
WOW! This candied bacon sounds amazing!
★★★★★
Paul
Great recipe. I really liked the addition of pepper.
★★★★★
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
I tried your recipe last night and loved it! Can’t wait to make it again!
★★★★★
Cindy
Love this recipe! Can I dip them into chocolate? Thanks!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Sure if you want.
Taryn
Sweet and salty perfection! Loved this candied bacon so much.
★★★★★
Charles Foley Sr
I make this all the time. I have never had any leftovers. I have to keep an eye on the finished platter or it gets eaten before I can get all of it cooked.
Beth Pierce
We love it too! It really does go fast!
Amanda
I love candied bacon and I love how easy this recipe is!
★★★★★
sandra duncan
I just finished (and I mean FINISHED) 1/2 lb of candied bacon!!! MY WHAT A DELICIOUS THING!!!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
LOL! Thanks so much Sandra! Yes it is rather delicious and addicting!
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
This bacon would be so good on a lot of things. Burgers are delicious with candied bacon.
★★★★★
Chrissie Baker
WOW!! Candied bacon sounds aahmaaazing!! I am definitely making this asap!!
★★★★★
Erin
This Candied Bacon is seriously making me hungry!
★★★★★
Vikki
This candied bacon sounds so gooood! Can’t wait to make some
★★★★★
Amanda
I cannot get enough of this recipe! So easy to make and a delicious outcome!
★★★★★
Jen
You were not lying about this being addicting!! WOW!! I may have to make a hidden stash just for me, haha!
★★★★★