Candied Bacon

by Sabrina Snyder

Published on Last updated

2 Comments

6
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Jump to FAQsJump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Candied Bacon is crispy, sweet and salty oven baked bacon strips and brown sugar. An easy side dish recipe for a special breakfast or brunch.

This is the perfect side for all your favorite Breakfast Recipes from Sheet Pan Pancakes to Breakfast Casserole! This easy sweet and savory side dish is ready in less than 30 minutes!

Candied Bacon on wire rack w/ baking sheet

CANDIED BACON

Bacon just got so much better! You may be thinking how could bacon get any better (who could blame you), but just wait until you’ve had a bite of this salty, sugary snack. Perfect for any time of the day, you’ll be looking for reasons to make Candied Bacon for every occasion.

Candied Bacon Slices for breakfast is a no brainer. Serve it instead of your usual maple breakfast sausage, right alongside your favorite savory main dishes like eggs and Breakfast Burritos. This easy crisp bacon candy makes a great brunch appetizer too.

This Candied Bacon recipe has only 3 ingredients, bacon, brown sugar, and coarse ground black pepper. Or it can be a 2 ingredient snack if you choose not to use the black pepper. Try it with the black pepper first though, as it adds a slightly spicy flavor that balances out the salty and sweet notes.

Candied Bacon can be used for desserts too. Just like a Salted Caramel Sauce, crispy sweet bacon adds depth to rich Chocolate Cakes and Brownies. Mix in Candied Bacon crumbles to your batter or sprinkle on top of Peanut Butter Frosting for a drool worthy dessert.

Candied Bacon Collage

Tips for making Candied Bacon:

  • Don’t attempt to make candied bacon in a skillet! It won’t get the right crispiness, stay flat, and all the grease will get trapped in the sugar coating. 
  • Elevate the bacon on a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet so that it gets crisp all over and doesn’t rest in the bacon grease.
  • Your baking time will depend on the thickness of your bacon. If you use thick-cut or center cut bacon, you will need to add time and start watching after 20 minutes so it doesn’t burn.

EASY BREAKFAST RECIPES TO SERVE WITH CANDIED BACON

Candied Bacon on plate

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of bacon can be used for Candied Bacon?

This recipe uses regular bacon but it works with turkey bacon, thick-cut bacon, applewood smoked bacon, hickory smoked bacon, or Canadian bacon.

What other sweeteners can be used for Candied Bacon?

Instead of brown sugar, you can drizzle the slices with pure maple syrup for Maple Candied Bacon or use honey for a glazed bacon snack.

How do you make Spicy Candied Bacon?

To make Spicy Candied Bacon, use ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper in your brown sugar mixture. Try other spices and herbs like thyme, cardamom, or cinnamon.

Can I add nuts to Candied Bacon?

Crush pecans or walnuts and sprinkle over bacon slices about halfway through cooking for an extra crunch.

How do you make Chocolate Candied Bacon?

Make a tasty holiday gift by dipping in chocolate! Freeze cooked bacon on a baking sheet for 1 hour. Dip halfway in melted chocolate disks and cool on a wire rack until chocolate sets.

More Ways to Use Candied Bacon:

The possibilities are practically endless on what to serve with Candied Bacon!

  • Sprinkle bacon crumbles on a savory salad for a sweet, salty crunch. Try it out on any creamy deli or garden Salad Recipes.
  • Candied Bacon is a fancy topping for Vanilla Ice Cream or any of your favorite Dessert Recipes.
  • Serve it with sweet breakfast baked goods like Cinnamon Rolls or French Toast Bake.
  • Carefully wrap warm bacon (before the crispiness sets in) around figs, peaches, or apple slices for an easy brunch appetizer.

MORE EASY CANDY RECIPES

HOW TO STORE CANDIED BACON

  • Serve: Candied Bacon can be at room temperature for up to 2 hours – if it lasts that long before getting eaten!
  • Store: Refrigerate any leftover Candied Bacon in a zippered plastic storage bag for up to 3 weeks. Reheat in a skillet on low heat.
  • Freeze: You can freeze cooked bacon for up to 3 months. Lay flat in a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour before transferring to a freezer bag so it doesn’t stick together.
Candied Bacon on plate with eggs and toast

Pin this recipe now to remember it later

Pin Recipe
Dinner, then Dessert

Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon is crispy, sweet and salty oven baked bacon strips and brown sugar. An easy side dish recipe for a special breakfast or brunch.
Yield 6
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder
Candied Bacon on wire rack w/ baking sheet
PrintRate

Ingredients
 

  • 12 slices bacon
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper and top with a metal cooling rack.
  • In a medium bowl toss the bacon with brown sugar and black pepper.
  • Lay the bacon over the cooling rack in a single layer and sprinkle with black pepper.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes until crispy and browned.

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Want to save this recipe? Create a free account to easily save your favorite recipes

Candied Bacon Collage

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

See more posts by Sabrina

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

Categories

Leave a comment & rating

Have you checked the FAQ section above to see if your question has already been answered? View previous questions.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

    1. Use a pastry brush to coat the bacon with your favorite maple syrup and then follow the recipe! Let us know what you think.

      Reply