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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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.
Sandra
My family really enjoyed this! A jar of this jam just disappeared in an hour!!
Catalina
wow! This sounds so interesting. OMG! I want to try it!
Allyson Zea
Wow, I’ve never tried bacon jam! I will have to give it a try ASAP!
Beti
This Bacon Jam is amazing!! My family would love it!!
katerina @ diethood.com
WOW!! I am loving this bacon jam!! It sounds incredibly delicious!!
Patricia
Love your suggestions about how to use this delightful, delicious jam! What a great recipe!
Erin
This Bacon Jam looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Suzanne Richardson
We love this recipe..I added 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts as well for even more texture and flavor….wonderful!!
Beth Pierce
That sounds wonderful Suzanne! Thanks for the suggestion!
Tara
This is so good!! Never thought it is so easy to make bacon jam! Thanks for sharing this!
Jason
This amazing Bacon Jam looks incredibly delicious!