Craving something sweet and salty? This Sweet And Spicy Candied Bacon Recipe (Millionaire's Bacon) is the perfect treat! It's thick-cut bacon, spiced up with a dry rub, and then coated in sweet brown sugar. It's super easy to make in the oven in under 30 minutes. Trust me, bacon lovers will go crazy for this!
It's the perfect addition breakfast and brunch recipes like our fluffy buttermilk pancakes, and easy homemade waffles. It's also a great addition to serve as a topping for burgers and cheesy potato soup, and so good in a bloody Mary.
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Here's What You Need
All you need are a few simple ingredients to make this delicious sweet & spicy treat.
- bacon - Thick-cut works best for this recipe as it will crisp up and hold it's shape better than regular strips.
- dry rub - Use your favorite dry rub or try our homemade dry rub recipe that we put on everything.
- ground black pepper - Fresh cracked black pepper or regular ground black pepper works here.
Substitutions: Tajin, red pepper flakes, chili powder, cayenne pepper. - light brown sugar - You can substitute dark brown sugar. Both work well in this recipe.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variation
Maple Candied Bacon - Make a brown sugar glaze with maple syrup and brush it on both sides with a pastry brush at the beginning of the cooking process. The cooking time will vary and there is no need to flip the strips.
How to Make Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon
Follow our easy step-by-step instructions below to make this sweet & spicy treat in under 30 minutes.
- Prepare It.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet.
Lay slices in a single layer on the wire rack.
Sprinkle dry rub on top of both sides of each piece and ground black pepper over the top.
- Bake For 20 Minutes.
Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of a preheated oven.
And bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Flip and Add Brown Sugar.
Take the pan out of the oven and flip the strips over to the other side.
Sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar over the top.
- Bake For An Additional 10-15 Minutes.
Put the pan back into the oven and let it cook for an additional 10-15 minutes. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness.
Pro Tip: Continue to bake for a few additional minutes for extra crispy bacon. Leave it in until the sides have crispy edges.
Serve. Sweet and Spicy Candied bacon is a tasty treat that goes so well with on a BLT sandwich, in a Bloody Mary, or as a side dish to serve with all your favorite breakfast and brunch recipes like Buttermilk Pancakes, or Homemade Waffles.
It's also so great sprinkled over vanilla ice cream with a delicious homemade Bourbon Caramel on top. You can find the recipe for our homemade bourbon caramel in our popular Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe.
Helpful Tips
- Tip For Easy Clean-Up. Use an aluminum foil or parchment-lined baking sheet (rimmed baking sheet) with a baking rack insert, like this non-stick baking sheet and cooling rack combo from USA Pan.
Be sure to place a piece of parchment paper or some aluminum foil underneath the baking rack. This will prevent the caramelized sugar coating from sticking to the baking sheet and save you a ton of clean up time. - For best results let it cool on the baking rack for a few minutes before serving. It will crisp up as it cools.
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Recipe FAQs
Reheat candied bacon in 10 second increments in the microwave on a plate lined with paper towel to catch any grease.
Candied bacon will keep for 3-4 days when stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Bacon can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
Exception: Do not leave it sit out for more than 1 hour if the room temperature exceeds 90°F.
Further Reading: Learn more about food safety in this article by the USDA on how to keep food out of the "Danger Zone" (40 °F - 140 °F)
Keep Food Out of the "Danger Zone"
(n.a.). (n.d.). "Danger Zone" (40 °F - 140 °F). USDA. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/danger-zone-40f-140f
Never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 °F, food should not be left out more than 1 hour.
How To Store Candied Bacon
Store candied bacon in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days. Any longer than that and you should put it in the freezer.
A zipper freezer bag will work well here. We also like to use these convenient glass storage containers from Amazon Basics. Not only are they airtight, they are dishwasher, microwave, oven, and freezer safe.
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📖 Recipe
The Best Sweet And Spicy Candied Bacon (Millionaire's Bacon)
Equipment
- baking sheet
- oven-safe wire rack
- parchment paper
- paper towel
Ingredients
- 1 lb thick cut bacon
- 2 tablespoons dry rub
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Instructions
Heat Oven To 375 Degrees F and Adjust Rack To Middle.
- Prepare. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Lay bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack. Sprinkle dry rub on top of both sides and ground black pepper over the top.1 lb thick cut bacon, 2 tablespoons dry rub, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Bake For 20 Minutes. Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of a preheated oven. And bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Flip and Add Brown Sugar. Take the pan out of the oven and flip the strips over to the other side. Sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar over the top.2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- Bake For An Additional 10-15 Minutes. Put the pan back into the oven and let it cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Serve. This sweet and spicy treat goes so well with on a BLT sandwich, in bloody Mary's, and as a side dish to serve with all your favorite breakfast and brunch recipes like Buttermilk Pancakes, or Homemade Waffles. It's also so great sprinkled over vanilla ice cream!
Russ B
Perfect in a Bloody Mary!
Seanna Borrows
Thanks Russ! We'll have to make them for Easter Brunch!