Candied Bacon (2024)

Easy Candied Bacon is the ultimate party snack. Thick sliced bacon coated in brown sugar before being baked until crispy, sticky, and caramelized. The most addicting appetizer ever.

People have strong feelings about bacon, and I’m one of them. I put bacon on or in any recipe and it makes it infinitely better in an instant, bacon grilled cheese anyone? But just when you think bacon couldn’t be any better…..Candied Bacon comes along.

Candied Bacon (1)

What is Candied Bacon

Also known as Pig Candy, Candied Bacon is made by coating thick sliced of bacon in something sweet such as brown sugar, maple syrup, or caramel before baking until caramelized.

It’s fantastic crumbled on a salad or just served alongside a pint of your favorite beer. You could totally get away with serving this sweet and salty snack at a fancy brunch or at a football tailgate. It’s magical like that.

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How to Make Candied Bacon

If you’ve wondered how to candy bacon, I am here to tell you that it is even simpler than you think! This easy Candied Bacon recipe is nothing short of miraculous. Three ingredients are all you need to make this deliciously addicting snack. And the prep work will take about two minutes flat. Most of the time is spent baking in the oven until caramelized and crisp.

  1. Arrange the bacon on a cooling rack placed on top of a baking sheet lined with foil.
  2. Season with fresh cracked pepper (if desired) and sprinkle liberally with brown sugar. If you’d like spicy candied bacon, add a little extra cracked pepper, or a pinch of chili peppers.
  3. Bake until edges are crisp and the center is caramelized.
  4. Allow it to cool 2-3 minutes before transferring to a serving platter to cool completely.

The bacon will crisp up even more after cooling.

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Tips for Making Candied Bacon

  • Bacon – Thick sliced bacon works best for this recipe but since every slice is not cut equally you may have to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Thin sliced bacon will burn before the sugar has a chance to caramelize.
  • Sugar – Brown sugar works best because it has a great caramel flavor when cooked. You can use granulated white sugar but the flavor won’t be as intense.
  • Seasoning – I like to use pepper for this recipe to offset the sweet just a bit but you can skip it. OR you can even make Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon using a variety of spices to make it even more addicting.
  • Bake – Only baking your bacon will work for this recipe. Trying to cook it on the stovetop will create a giant mess and the sugar won’t stick to the bacon. Same with the microwave. Low and slow is the way to go here.
  • Line Your Pan – Don’t skip the step of lining your baking sheet with foil or parchment. It’s going to save you a ton of time cleaning up so you won’t have to chisel off hardened caramelized sugar on the bottom of your pan.

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How to Serve Candied Bacon

You can serve your Candied Bacon any way you like. It’s fantastic alongside a stack of French Toast for Sunday brunch or crumbled on top of my favorite wedge salad. Or just add some flair to your favorite deviled eggs.

Try Candied Bacon in These Yummy Recipes

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Candied Bacon (6)

4.98 from 137 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Candied Bacon

Sweet and salty candied bacon is easy to make with just 3 ingredients. This is the best snack to have at your next party or brunch.

Candied Bacon (7)

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Equipment

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound thick cut bacon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.

  • Place a wire rack on a foil lined baking sheet. Arrange the bacon on the wire rack and sprinkle with the black pepper. Lightly pat the brown sugar on top of the bacon to create a thin layer.

  • Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the brown sugar has melted and the bacon is crisp.

  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the bacon to a parchment lined baking sheet and allow to cool to room temperature.

  • Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Notes

Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

4.98 from 137 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 343 | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Candied Bacon (13) Course Appetizer, Pork, Snack

Candied Bacon (14) Cuisine American

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Candied Bacon (2024)

FAQs

How long will candied bacon last? ›

You can store the cooked candied bacon in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Store it in an airtight container, such as a large zipper bag or plastic container with a lid. To reheat bacon in the microwave, place the bacon on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 30-60 seconds.

What is the secret to perfect bacon? ›

1: Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, and lay out as many bacon strips as will fit snuggly without overlapping. 2: Place in a cold oven. Then heat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake to desired crispness, 25 to 35 minutes. 3: Drain well on a paper-towel-lined platter.

How much did Snoop Dogg just eat? ›

Media estimates of what Snoop Dogg was paid vary considerably, with some sources speculating that he received more than £5m.

Who taught Snoop Dogg to cook? ›

Snoop Dogg's friendship with Martha Stewart has delighted fans for years, but the rapper recently revealed that another celebrity chef helped hone his kitchen skills. And that chef is the one and only Gordon Ramsay. "People didn't think I could cook," Snoop Dogg told The Mirror's Halina Watts in a recent interview.

Can I leave candied bacon out overnight? ›

The secret to prolonging the life of these golden, sugary strips lies in proper storage. The best practice for storing candied bacon is to keep it in the refrigerator.

Can I reheat candied bacon? ›

Reheating Candied Bacon

When ready to eat, reheat individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds until warm or crisp, or briefly in the oven at 350°F (175°C) on a baking sheet. This is like candy – we love it! I use a thick sliced pepper bacon and it is so good!

Can you freeze candied bacon? ›

When four days just won't cut it, freezing your candied bacon is an effective way to extend its shelf life to three months or longer. Immediately after cooling, wrap portions in plastic wrap and then in foil, ensuring a tight seal.

Why do chefs add water to bacon? ›

Why Does Cooking Bacon in Water Work? The addition of water keeps the initial cooking temperature low and gentle, so the meat retains its moisture and stays tender as the fat renders. Plus, since the water helps render the fat, there will be significantly less splatter as your bacon finishes in the pan.

Why does my bacon never get crispy? ›

As with other meats, allow some room between strips, about an inch, when placing bacon in the pan. Crowding creates steam and prevents the bacon from cooking evenly, giving you limp bacon instead of crispy strips. Cook in batches if needed.

How do hardee's make candied bacon? ›

Candied bacon is made in-house using Applewood-smoked bacon. It's then coated with caramelized brown sugar and finished with a hint of black pepper. We used a similar combination of flavors in our Candied Bacon Crackers.

What is candied bacon made of? ›

What is Candied Bacon. Also known as Pig Candy, Candied Bacon is made by coating thick sliced of bacon in something sweet such as brown sugar, maple syrup, or caramel before baking until caramelized. It's fantastic crumbled on a salad or just served alongside a pint of your favorite beer.

What is the history of candied bacon? ›

Bacon candy is believed to have first gained popularity in Washington, D.C.'s party circuit. But Thompson speculates that pig candy was most likely an import to the nation's capital brought from the kitchen of an unknown Southern hostess.

What is billionaire bacon at Twin Peaks? ›

Also known as “pig candy,” candied bacon or millionaire's bacon, the version at sports-bar chain Twin Peaks features thick-cut hickory-smoked artisan bacon baked with brown sugar, red chile flakes, black pepper, smoked paprika and cayenne. Slow-roasting yields a candied, crispy bacon.

How to make limp bacon? ›

It's not as weird as it sounds. After placing bacon in a hot skillet, pour just enough water to cover it and cook on high heat until the water boils. Keep the heat at medium high while the water cooks off and turn down to medium until the bacon is browned and cooked evenly through.

How to make crispy bacon that melts in your mouth? ›

Here's how:
  1. Line a pan with the bacon. ...
  2. Put the pan into a cold, unheated oven. ...
  3. Set the oven to bake at 400°F (204°C).
  4. Set the timer for 20 minutes. ...
  5. Remove the pan from the oven. ...
  6. Enjoy the best, crispiest, most delicious bacon you've ever had.
Jun 14, 2018

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