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This bacon jam recipe is a great combination of sweet and savory jam and is the perfect topping for any burger you're looking to make. Or even using as an appetizer to serve with some crackers. It's made by slowly cooking bacon, onions, brown sugar, coffee, bourbon and spices until it becomes jam-like.
Have you ever had bacon onion jam? If you haven't, you are totally missing out. It has become a staple of ours during the summer to put mainly on top of burgers like this bison bacon jam burger or smoked burgers.
No this isn't your typical "jam." It isn't loaded with fruit. What it is loaded with is bacon and onions. The sweet onions and smoky bacon just make this hard to resist.
Why This Recipe Works
- Sweet and savory balance - Bacon jam strikes a perfect balance between the smoky, salty goodness of bacon and the sweetness of ingredients like brown sugar, maple syrup and caramelized onions.
- Versatile - It can be spread on burgers, sandwiches, and wraps, used as a topping for grilled meats, added to appetizers, or even incorporated into creative desserts.
- Party food - This jam has mass appeal and tends to be a crowd-pleaser at gatherings and events. Its unique flavor profile can be enjoyed by people with different taste preferences. It doesn't hurt that you can make ahead and serve when ready.
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Ingredient Notes
- Bacon - Use high-quality bacon that has a good balance of meat and fat. You can choose between regular or thick-cut bacon, depending on your preference for texture and smokiness. Cooking the bacon until it's crispy will give your bacon jam a better texture.
- Aromatics - Onions and garlic add sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Sweeteners - Brown sugar and maple syrup balance the savory bacon flavor. Adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste.
- Coffee - Helps balance the sweetness and adds a slightly bitter flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar - Balances the sweetness and cuts through the richness of the bacon.
- Bourbon - Adds notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak and helps with the caramelization.
- Spices - Adds extra flavor.
Ingredient Swaps
Swapping ingredients in bacon jam can be a fun way to customize the flavor to your preferences or dietary restrictions. Here are some ingredient swaps you can consider for bacon jam:
- If you prefer a lighter version, turkey bacon or vegetarian bacon can be used as a substitute. While the smoky flavor won't be as intense, you can still enjoy the sweet and savory aspects of bacon jam.
- You can adjust the sweetness of your jam by experimenting with different sweeteners. Instead of brown sugar and maple syrup, try using honey or agave nectar. For a lower-calorie option, you can use a sugar substitute like Stevia or erythritol.
- While sweet onions are commonly used, you can swap them for red onions for a slightly sweeter flavor or use shallots for a milder, more delicate onion taste.
- If you're not a fan of coffee, consider omitting these ingredients altogether. The jam will still be delicious with just the basic sweet and savory components.
- If you want to change the acidity level, you can swap the vinegar with lemon juice or lime juice.
- If you want to avoid alcohol, you can substitute bourbon or whiskey with apple juice or apple cider for a similar hint of sweetness and depth without the alcohol content.
Step-by-Step Photos
Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.
Cook bacon until crisp before removing some of the bacon fat and adding the onions and garlic, cooking for about 5 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients, bringing to a boil before adding to a slow cooker.
Cook on high for 4 hours, leaving uncovered.
FAQs
Instead of transferring the bacon mixture to a slow cooker after it comes to a boil, just reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes until it becomes jam-like.
I personally just like to throw in the slow cooker to let it do the rest.
The spiciness is subtle as all of the spices are mild. You can adjust the level of spiciness to your taste.
I personally like the texture of the jam where you get the bits of bacon and onion throughout. But if you want it all to meld together, just throw in a blender or food process until you reach your desired consistency.
Yes as the alcohol cooks off. Some bacon and other ingredients can be high in sodium. If you're concerned about salt intake, you can use lower-sodium versions of bacon and adjust the salt in your recipe.
Yes, it can be made in advance and stored. It should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can last for a week or more. You can also consider canning it for longer shelf life.
You can freeze in an airtight container for longer storage. Be sure to leave some space at the top of the container, as it may expand as it freezes. Thaw it in the refrigerator before using.
Jam Uses
Obviously the most obvious use for this bacon jam recipe is on a burger but you can use it in a variety of way. Some include:
- Cheese plate addition
- Grilled cheese sandwiches
- On top of salad
- Mixed with roasted vegetables
- Spooned into soup
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Use Quality Bacon - When bacon is the start, don't skimp on it. You've got to go with the real deal bacon. I like to get thick-cut if possible.
- Use Coffee and Bourbon - Like I mentioned above, if you don't want to have bourbon in your jam, you can just replace with additional coffee, but combined that add a great flavor profile to the jam. I mean bourbon and bacon are meant to go together.
- Leave Slow Cooker Uncovered - It is key to leave the slow cooker uncovered to allow the liquid to evaporate at a slower rate than it would covered.
- Don't Throw in Food Processor - I think bacon onion jam should have bits of bacon and onion throughout. If you throw in food processor or blender, you take that away.
Other Jam Recipes
If you’ve tried this bacon jam recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon, cut into small pieces
- 2 medium sweet onions, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup brewed coffee
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon bourbon
- 3 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Heat large skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp. Transfer cooked bacon to pager towel lined plate to drain. Pour off bacon fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the skillet. (I also like to save the leftover bacon fat and put in a sealed container in the fridge to use for cooking)
- Add onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until onions are translucent. (About 5-7 minutes) Add brown sugar, coffee, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, cumin, paprika and chili powder to skillet and bring to boil. (You can add ¼ cup of coffee and leave out bourbon if you don't want it) Stir in bacon pieces and remove from heat.
- Add mixture to a slow cooker and cook, uncovered, on high setting for 4 hours. If you want a more jam like consistency, add to blender of food processor and pulse until desired consistency. (I don't do this step as I like the bigger bacon bits) Place in air tight container and put in fridge for up to four weeks.
Notes
- Use Quality Bacon - When bacon is the start, don't skimp on it. You've got to go with the real deal bacon. I like to get thick-cut if possible.
- Use Coffee and Bourbon - Like I mentioned above, if you don't want to have bourbon in your jam, you can just replace with additional coffee, but combined that add a great flavor profile to the jam. I mean bourbon and bacon are meant to go together.
- Leave Slow Cooker Uncovered - It is key to leave the slow cooker uncovered to allow the liquid to evaporate at a slower rate than it would covered.
- Don't Throw in Food Processor - I think bacon onion jam should have bits of bacon and onion throughout. If you throw in food processor or blender, you take that away.
Sylvia says
I have not yet had the pleasure of tasting bacon jam but it sounds so-o-o good. I could buy a mini bottle of Bourbin. Most of the other ingredients I have, so I look forward to making this in the near future.
Ryan says
Bourbon isn't a necessity so if you want to just use an extra 1/4 cup of coffee it will still taste great!
Sylvia says
I will let you know how it turns out. That may be my project for tomorrow.
Chris says
Bacon is the jam!