This easy homemade Bacon Onion Jam recipe is full of caramelized onions, shallots, garlic, brown sugar, maple syrup, spices, and plenty of delicious bacon. It’s the perfect sweet and salty condiment to go with just about everything.
Bacon jam is a thick spread made from cooking bacon, onions, and garlic with maple syrup, brown sugar, and spices. The combination of savory bacon and caramelized onions combined with maple syrup, brown sugar, and a touch of chili powder is truly a little taste of heaven.
Best Bacon Onion Jam Recipe
This salty-sweet bacon onion jam is further proof that everything tastes better with bacon. It’s easy to make, lasts for weeks, and is one of the most versatile condiments I’ve ever tried. I’ve eaten bacon and onion jam on everything from cheese plates, grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, scrambled eggs, breakfast casseroles, waffles, pasta, and pizza.
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Thankfully, this savory jam lasts for quite a while and is easy to make so you can always have a little stash on hand. Bacon jam also makes a great gift for any bacon-lovers that you know. Just fill a small mason jar, add a cute tag, and prepare to wow your friends and family.
Ways to Use Bacon Onion Jam
- Spread it on toast or avocado toast for a delicious breakfast treat.
- Use it as a glaze for roasted meats, like chicken or pork.
- Stir it into macaroni and cheese for a smoky, savory twist.
- Top a burger with it for the ultimate bacon cheeseburger experience.
- Mix it with cream cheese for an easy, flavorful dip.
- Drizzle it over grilled vegetables for a burst of flavor.
- Use it as a topping for pizza, along with your favorite cheese and veggies.
- Serve it as a condiment with charcuterie for a gourmet appetizer.
- Stir it into scrambled eggs for a protein-packed breakfast.
- Spread it on a sandwich with turkey or ham for a delicious twist on a classic.
Key Ingredients
- Bacon – you can use any kind of bacon that you want, including thin or thick cut bacon. You’ll want to chop the bacon into ¾” slices before cooking.
- Onion – I like to use either white or yellow onions when caramelizing onions because they have a slightly higher sugar content. You could also try using red onions.
- Shallots – shallots have such a beautiful sweet and mellow onion flavor that is delicious in this jam. You could also substitute yellow or white onions if you prefer.
- Garlic – fresh minced or grated garlic is the way to go for this recipe. You could use the jarred garlic in a pinch.
- Maple Syrup – for the best flavor, try and use pure maple syrup rather than pancake syrup which is mostly corn syrup.
- Brown Sugar – either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar will work.
- Chili Powder – feel free to add more or less depending on your own preference. Fresh cracked black pepper would also make a nice addition.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – the acidity rounds out the flavors beautifully. You could also substitute balsamic vinegar or a combination of the two.
How to Make Bacon Onion Jam
- Cook the bacon. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the bacon and cook until golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet using a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
- Cook the onions, shallots, and garlic. Remove all but about 3 Tablespoons of bacon fat from the pan, then add the diced onion and shallots. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized – about 7-8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes until caramelized and fragrant.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and cook. Add the reserved cooked bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, chili powder, and apple cider vinegar and cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture reaches a jam-like consistency, stirring constantly.
- Serve. Remove from heat and serve warm, or allow to cool and serve room temperature. Bacon Jam can be stored in a jar or another airtight container for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Bacon Jam can be used in so many different ways! It can be served as a snack with crackers, on a charcuterie board with other meats and cheeses, as a sandwich spread, over toast with fried eggs, and so much more.
As long as your Onion and Bacon Jam is stored in an airtight container, it will last for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Because of the low acidity and low sugar content that helps other preserves stay good for long periods of time, it is not recommended that you can Bacon Jam, or any other kind of meat or low acid foods. Of course for aesthetic purposes you can absolutely store or gift them in mason jars.
Yes! The easiest way to freeze Bacon Jam is in freezer bags. It can be stored frozen for up to 4 months and thawed overnight in the fridge.
One of the many beautiful things about Bacon Jam is that it can be served hot, cold, or served at room temperature. No matter what, it’s absolutely delicious.
Storing Bacon Jam
- Refrigerator: store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks in the fridge.
- Freezer: store in freezer bags or another airtight container in the freezer for up to 4 months.
- To reheat: if you want to serve it warm, you can reheat in a microwave or in a pan over low heat, stirring constantly.
Bacon Onion Jam Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon, cut into ¾" pieces
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 4 medium shallots, diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the bacon and cook until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the skillet using a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
- Remove all but about 3 tablespoons of bacon grease from the pan, then add the diced onion and shallots. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized—about 7-8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes until caramelized and fragrant.
- Add the reserved cooked bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, chili powder, and apple cider vinegar and cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture reaches a jam-like consistency, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and serve warm, or allow to cool and serve room temperature. Bacon jam can be stored in a jar or another airtight container for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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This is the best Bacon Jam recipe, chock full of savory sweet goodness. It’s made with caramelized onions, shallots, garlic, maple syrup, brown sugar, and spices and tastes great on just about anything.
Categories:
Appetizers, Breakfast, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Reader Favorites, Sauces & Condiments, Thanksgiving,
OMG! So good! I followed the recipe just as is. I served it warm over seared scallops. Will definitely make again, but maybe cut the sugar down a bit, but if you love sweet and tangy, this is it! Thanks for sharing.