This sweet and savory Bacon Jam Recipe is the ultimate bacon lovers’ taste treat. It combines the flavors of smoked bacon, onion, garlic, brown sugar, and vinegar into a tasty jam. The variety of ways that you can serve this is only limited by your imagination.
Calling all bacon lovers, and you know who you are! This slow-cooked and 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 that is 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.
What to put it on
- 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
- Over the top of a grilled burger
- Spooned over mashed or baked potatoes
- On a cracker with a piece of Gruyere or Gouda cheese
- Tossed in your favorite spinach salad
- On a grilled cheese sandwich
- Spooned over grilled chicken
- Over a baked potato
- Stuffed in pastry puff with Brie cheese
- Over grilled steak
What is the best bacon to use?
I like to use hickory smoked uncured bacon. My personal favorite is Coleman Natural which I purchase from Costco. It is delicious bacon and cooks up really well every time. It is leaner than other bacon I have tried. However, any hickory smoked (preferably uncured bacon) will work for this recipe.
What is uncured bacon?
It is bacon that is preservative-free. It contains no nitrates or nitrites, which are known to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Without the preservatives, it must be refrigerated below forty degrees, and it does have a shorter use or freeze-by date than bacon with preservatives.
How to make Bacon Jam
First, chop the bacon real fine and cook in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat 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 two to three 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 minute. Again tilt the pan and remove all but about a half tablespoon of excess grease.
Then stir in the cooked bacon, brown sugar, cider vinegar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cumin, and prepared strong black coffee. Let the mixture cook down until slightly thickened and browned. This should take about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in just a touch of balsamic vinegar. Just enough to give it a little tang and pizzazz. Serve warm over crusty French bread or crostini. Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container or mason jar. It will keep for about 7-10 days stored in the back of the refrigerator.
This scrumptious Bacon Jam Recipe is a must-try for all you bacon lovers. Put the ingredients on your shopping list and make yourself a batch for this weekend. We enjoyed ours over hash brown potatoes, and then on Sunday, we put a little bit in our sandwich wraps! Oh my heavens!
Other bacon recipes you will love!
Bacon Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound hickory smoked bacon slices finely chopped
- 1 large yellow onion finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 cup fresh brewed dark coffee
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- In a heavy skillet or dutch oven over medium, 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 1/2 tablespoon of excess grease.
- Stir in the cooked bacon, brown sugar, cider vinegar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cumin, and prepared strong black coffee. Let the mixture cook down until slightly thickened and browned; 20-25 minutes. Remove from 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.
- If a finer consistency is desired, put the jam in a food processor and pulse several times until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Maple syrup may be substituted for brown sugar.
Nutrition
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Antonia
I made this to the recipe, I found it was a bit salty, must have been the bacon. I added more brown sugar, but it still was to much salt for me. I ate it on toast, next I am going to try it on cream cheese. All in all it was very good!
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!
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!