Recipe for Bacon Jam! (2024)

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This Bacon Jam Recipe is a bacon lover's dream! I mean bacon is one of my top joys in life... I know I am not alone on that! Right??

Recipe for Bacon Jam! (1)

When I was a kid growing up in Philly, I would often stay overnight at my Grammy's. When I woke she would give me all the bacon I could eat. ALL-the-bacon-I-could-eat!

As the oldest of 5 kids growing up in Philly, THAT was monumental! At home, I could maybe snag 3 strips... if I was lucky! I still smile at the thought of those lazy weekend mornings at my Grammy's...and all of that glorious bacon. Food memories are some of my favorite memories!

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Bacon makes everything better or so the saying goes. BUT this Bacon Jam Recipe...really, really does!

Besides Burgers, What do I put Bacon Jam on?

IF you can stop yourself from gobblingthisupspoonful after spoonful... you will love it spread on:

  • hot biscuits
  • place atop a round or wedge of warmed Brie or Camembert cheese (so incredible)
  • toast
  • eggs
  • steamed or sautéed veggies
  • pancakes
  • BLTs
  • grilled cheese sandwiches
  • burgers (I mean...OMG!!!)
  • pierogis and so much more!

The list can go on and on! Homemade Bacon Jam is a fantastic offering to put out for a Burger Bar at a BBQ.

Other Uses for Bacon Jam

Homemade Bacon Jam is an amazing food gift during the holiday season (or any time of the year) . Make a batch for you and one for a friend, scrape it into a 4, 6 or 8 oz. jar, wrap some ribbon around it, attach the recipe and you will have a happy friend or loved one.

I'm all about food gifts. You can view my best homemade food gifts post for even more options.

I would totally be your BFF if you gifted me with a jar of Bacon Jam!

What bacon should I use to make bacon jam?

Of course, the number one ingredient is BACON. It's the most important ingredient and my favorite bacon to date is Hatfield bacon (AND they are local to me).

Hatfield is a 120-year-old business. Before the roads had cars on them, Hatfield was delivering meats to the doors of Pennsylvanians. Today, they produce quality meats forfar more than just Pennsylvania! Love that!

Turn bacon into Bacon Jam!!

Recipe for Bacon Jam! (3)

Check out my 1 minute TikTok video on how to make this easy recipe for Bacon Jam

Ingredients for Bacon Jam

  • Bacon
  • Vidalia onion
  • Garlic
  • Brown sugar
  • Sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Water(you could also add in a TBS or two of bourbon vs water)
  • Fresh thyme
  • Black pepper
  • Optional: Cayennered pepper / maple syrup

Ingredients to make Bacon Jam

  • Bacon
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Red wine or sherry vinegar,
  • Balsamic vinegar,
  • Brown sugar,
  • Black pepper,
  • Red pepper,
  • Fresh thyme
  • Water.
Recipe for Bacon Jam! (4)

Bacon Jam is not one of those things you can walk away from as it cooks. Taste as you go and adjust to your liking. Once you make this a couple of times, it's a piece of cake. Soon it'll be a signature dish or food gift of yours.

Tips

  • If you want a more sticky gooey jam, add in a ½ cup to 1 cup of fig jam after you remove what you made from the heat, just stir until its mixed in. It complements the bacon perfectly. I have made this both with and without.
  • The addition of the fig jam makes the Bacon Jam sweeter. You can counter that (if you wish) by adding in some Cayenne pepper, which I do in the written recipe. I typically like some heat.
  • The trick to making it is having your ingredients prepped and organized and then as the mixture cooks down into jam that you pay attention to taste and texture. You don't want it to burn.

How to use this Bacon Onion Jam

Oh! The list is almost endless! Atop fried eggs, on toast, on avocado toast, on burgers, on a round of Brie cheese warm from the oven (or cold), in a small bowl with a tiny spoon as a part of a cheese or charcuterie board or on crackers.

I love it atop fresh steamed green beans and off of a spoon all by itself...Heaven! I am sure you can come up with many more uses. It makes the best food gift!!

Love Bacon as much as I do? Try one of my top 6 Bacon dishes:

  1. Bacon Cheese Jalapeno Quick Bread!
  2. Glazed Bacon Wrapped Sausage Bites
  3. Grilled Bacon Wrapped Chicken Skewers
  4. Steamed Green Beans With Bacon Jam
  5. Sriracha Candied Bacon (Pig Candy)
  6. Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Chipotle Glaze

This recipe originally published on December 13, 2016. Updated April 26, 2022, to reflect changes in the recipe which I think make it better and easier.

If you make this, show me 🙂 Tag me on Instagram or Facebook @sb15admin

Enjoy! -Colleen

Recipe for Bacon Jam! (6)

Recipe for Bacon Jam

Colleen Kennedy

This Bacon Jam recipe makes an amazing food gift. use it as an appetizer and top a baked Brie or crostini. Spread onto toast. avocado toast or add a dollop to your fried eggs or avocado toast. I also love it atop green beans and burgers! So many uses.

4.74 from 19 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 12 oz

Calories 398 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Bacon
  • 1 ½ cups of chopped Vidalia onion
  • 4 large cloves garlic, minced or 3 TBS garlic paste
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • 2 TBS balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup water (you could also add in a TBS or two of bourbon vs water)
  • 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • Black pepper
  • Optional: a couple of dashes Cayenne red pepper IF you like heat and sometimes I add in 2 TBS of maple syrup towards the end

Instructions

  • Chop your bacon and cook until almost crisp, stirring it around often.

  • Drain all but ½ TBS or so of the bacon grease out.

  • Add in the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes.

  • Next, add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring the whole time.

  • Add in brown sugar, vinegars and water. Stir and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

  • Add in Thyme sprigs and pepper and continue simmering another few minutes, stirring often, being careful not to burn.

  • Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference if necessary.

  • Remove Thyme sprigs and allow the mixture to cool.

  • You can then pulse the jam a few times in your food processor for a finer jam or leave it as is. Up to you.

  • Once completely cool, store in airtight jars in your refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

  • Heat it up a bit to enjoy on whatever you like. If you need to after reheating adding a TBS or so of water if the jam is too thick.

Notes

You can tinker withy the flavors in the easy to make condiment. Add in some minced jalapenos if you enjoy spicy. Add in a TBS or two of Bourbon (in place of part of the water) for a different flavor.

Swap out shallots for onions, change up the type of vinegar you use etc. Make it your own.

Nutrition

Serving: 12gCalories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 10gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 508mgPotassium: 212mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Bacon Jam, How to make bacon jam

Follow me on Tik Tok for 1 minute videos

Enjoy!!

Since I am not a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist, I use a WordPress plug-in to calculate the nutritional information provided in the recipe card.

Recipe for Bacon Jam! (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade bacon jam last? ›

Bacon jam can be safely refrigerated for two to four weeks. Any amount that you keep in the fridge will need to be used within that length of time. You can store bacon jam in any refrigerator-safe container. Many bacon jam enthusiasts choose to use mason jars for aesthetic reasons.

What is the bacon jam made of? ›

Crisp salty bacon is simmered for hours with onions, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a couple of secret ingredients to create a soft, spreadable jam that's divine on crackers, toast, crostini or bruschetta, fresh vegetables, pita bread, new potatoes... the list goes on and on!

What can you eat bacon jam with? ›

How to Serve Bacon Jam
  • Bacon Jam Biscuits.
  • Bacon Jam Omelet.
  • Pimiento Cheese and Bacon Jam Sandwiches.
  • Add Bacon Jam to a Charcuterie Board.
  • Add Bacon Jam to Grilled Burgers.
  • Cream Cheese and Bacon Jam.
  • Grilled Cheese and Bacon Jam.
  • Bacon Jam Baked Beans.
Nov 24, 2021

Can you leave bacon jam out overnight? ›

Please do not store bacon jam at room temperature. Storing bacon jam at room temperature poses the risk of botulism, a serious foodborne illness caused by the nerve toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, a spore forming bacteria.

Can you use homemade jam straight away? ›

If you have a dry, cool cellar or garage, then either of those would be good. Unlike chutneys and pickles, jams don't need any maturing. So you can enjoy them straight away. Once opened, store in the fridge and use within a few weeks.

Is homemade jam good after 5 years? ›

Shelf Life of Homemade Jam

Typically, homemade jam will last around 6 to 12 months when unopened and stored properly. Once opened, it should be consumed within 1 to 3 months to ensure the best taste and quality.

Where is bacon jam popular? ›

The Bacon Jams, a gourmet food producer in the Philadelphia area, which sells at festivals and nationwide online.

What flavors go best with bacon? ›

Sweet and salty is one of the best flavor combinations to date. One of the most simply delicious recipes we have found to date is bacon and brown sugar. Grab your thick-cut applewood smoked bacon and sprinkle it with some dark brown sugar.

What is Carls Jr bacon jam? ›

The jam combines bacon pieces, balsamic vinegar, caramelized onions and molasses, and according to Brad Haley, the chief marketing officer for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, the bacon jam is the true winner of the new burger.

How to tell if bacon jam is bad? ›

How do you tell if Bacon Jam is bad? Bacon jam getting bad isn't always super noticeable, particularly if it is homemade. You should check for any signs of mold developing on the surface, discoloration, an off smell, or a change in texture like hardening or lumps. These can suggest that your bacon jam has gone bad.

How to tell if bacon is bad? ›

The most notable sign of rancid bacon is a change in appearance. Bacon that has gone bad doesn't retain its redness and will instead take on a brown, gray, or greenish hue, and the color itself will seem faded. Rancid bacon also takes on an unpleasant odor and may become sticky or slimy.

Can I eat cooked bacon that sat out all night? ›

The general rule of food safety is to not let raw meat or cooked food sit out for more than 2 hours, and that rule applies to uncooked or cooked bacon. It's wise to be careful with uncooked pork products since they can harbor and grow bacterial pathogens like salmonella and trichinosis.

How long does homemade jam last in a Mason jar? ›

The act of canning doesn't preserve food forever. But you can often get 18 months to two years out of your higher sugar products like jams and fruit canned in syrup. As long as the seal is good and the lid seems properly concave, your product should be just fine.

How do you preserve homemade jam for a long time? ›

Put the jam into containers and freeze: Pour the jam into clean freezer containers or canning jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. (Plastic freezer containers with tight-fitting lids work well for storing freezer jams and jellies.) Cover the containers and let stand for 24 hours, or until the jam has set and become firm.

How long does homemade bacon last in the fridge? ›

Cooked bacon, however, only lasts four to five days in the fridge. If you can't eat it up that quickly, the USDA says you can freeze it for up to a month.

Should homemade jam be kept in the fridge or cupboard? ›

Home-made jam should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct light and used within 12 months of making. Once opened the jar should be stored in the refrigerator and used within one month. We would suggest discarding any jars of jam that have mould growing on top.

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