2 Ingredient Candy Bacon
If you've never tried to candy bacon at home, you've been missing out. The sweet flavor of the caramelized brown sugar harmonizes with the smoky, salty bacon for a truly perfect combination.
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This is a crazy easy recipe that I developed over my years as a professional chef. It’s always a crowd pleaser and can be served in a million different ways.
The best part is that it comes together in 20 minutes and is as easy to clean up as it is to make!
I’m going to show you a few key tricks for getting this recipe just right. Keep reading to learn my secrets to candied bacon heaven!
Want to go a step even further? Try making your own homemade bacon first, then use it to make this brown sugar bacon recipe. The best part is that it comes together in 20 minutes and is as easy to clean up as it is to make!
Serve this easy candied bacon recipe with scrambled eggs, waffles, dutch baby pancake or as a snack with a spritzy cocktail!
For more great bacon recipes, try these Bacon Cheddar Burgers, this tailgate worthy warm, cheesy Bacon Dip or this breakfast recipe for Sweet Potato Bacon Hash with Crispy Fried Eggs.
What is Candied Bacon?
Candied bacon is a sweet and savory treat with an addictive salty-sweet flavor. It’s made by coating strips of bacon with a mixture of sugar and sometimes spices, then gets baked in the oven until crispy and caramelized. It can be served wtih breakfast in lieu of traditional bacon, or as a snack, appetizer or topping for other dishes like salads, burgers, or even desserts.
Why This Recipe Works
- Only two easy-to-find ingredients - brown sugar and bacon.
- Ready in 20 minutes.
- Use parchment paper for super simple cleanup.
- So versatile - serve with breakfast, dessert, on a burger, a BLT or other sandwich, or snack by itself!
Bacon - You can use thick cut bacon or regular bacon depending on your preference, but thick-cut bacon will take slightly longer to cook. Always use the best bacon This recipe will not work with turkey bacon or plant based bacon, since they do not contain enough fat to help with caramelizing.
Brown sugar - This recipe will work with both dark brown and light brown sugar, but note that dark brown sugar will have a deeper, more molassesy flavor.
*Find the full ingredient list in the recipe card below!
Helpful Equipment
Rimmed Baking Sheet - It's important that your baking sheet has edges high enough to catch the rendered bacon grease.
Cooling Rack - The bacon strips must be transferred to a wire rack to cool to keep it from sticking to the excess sugar on the baking pan.
Parchment Paper - If you don't use parchment paper, you will regret it when your bacon is stuck to the bottom of the pan and it's impossible to clean. Avoid aluminum foil, as it will stick to the bacon as it cools.
How to Make Candied Bacon
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then line a sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make for easier clean-up. Place bacon slices in a single layer, leaving a space between them.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over each strip of bacon, then use your fingers to gently press the sugar into the top of the bacon.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the bacon is deep brown, caramelized, and crisp. You can cook it for a few minutes longer if you want extra crispy bacon, but keep an eye on it to prevent it from burning.
- IMPORTANT: Remove the bacon from the pan as soon as it comes out of the oven, so it doesn't stick to the pan or paper. Allow it to cool down to room temperature on a baking rack before eating. Do NOT drain on paper towels or the bacon will stick.
Tips for Success
- Be sure to use a parchment lined baking sheet for less sticking and easier clean up.
- Pressing the brown sugar
- Avoid overcrowding the pan and work in batches if you have to. If the bacon slices are touching when they bake, they’ll stick together, and you’ll have difficulty getting them apart without breaking them.
- The baking time will ultimately depend on the thickness of your bacon. Adjust the cooking time as needed.
Flavor Variations
This brown sugar baked bacon recipe is so simple and delicious on its own, but it can be jazzed up by adding different spices to the brown sugar mixture, like black pepper, garlic powder or cayenne pepper. Just avoid any spice blends that include salt, as the bacon is salty enough already. You can also use a pastry brush to coat the bacon with a layer of pure maple syrup before pressing on the brown sugar to give it a hint of maple flavor.
What to Serve with Brown Sugar Candied Bacon
While this bacon is perfect for snacking on by itself, try it in these recipes for a unique sweet and savory flavor:
- Brussels Sprout, Kale, and Apple Salad with Sharp Cheddar and Bacon
- Bacon Cheddar Burgers
- Sweet Potato Bacon Hash with Crispy Fried Eggs
- Bacon Dip
Or try serving it along with other homemade candy, this Irish potato candy or homemade sea salted caramels.
FAQ About Candied Bacon
Candied bacon can be made up to 2 days ahead, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will need to be to be recrisped in a 275 degree oven for about 15 minutes and then cooled to room temperature before serving.
As bacon sits out, it can become chewy and lose its crispy texture. To keep your candied bacon crispy, lay it out on a pan in an oven that’s set to 200 degrees F for up to 2 hours. Prop the door open slightly to allower steam and extra heat to escape.
Yes! Air fry at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes or until caramelized and crispy.
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2 Ingredient Baked Brown Sugar Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 slices of bacon thick-cut or regular
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar light or dark
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then line a sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make for easier clean-up. Place bacon slices in a single layer, leaving a space between them.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over each strip of bacon, then use your fingers to gently press the sugar into the top of the bacon.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the bacon is deep brown, caramelized, and crisp. You can cook it for a few minutes longer if you want extra crispy bacon, but keep an eye on it to prevent it from burning.
- IMPORTANT: Remove the bacon from the pan as soon as it comes out of the oven, so it doesn't stick to the pan or paper. Allow it to cool down to room temperature on a baking rack before eating. Do NOT drain on paper towels or the bacon will stick.
Notes
- Be sure to use a parchment lined baking sheet for less sticking and easier clean up.
- Pressing the brown sugar
- Avoid overcrowding the pan and work in batches if you have to. If the bacon slices are touching when they bake, they’ll stick together, and you’ll have difficulty getting them apart without breaking them.
- The baking time will ultimately depend on the thickness of your bacon. Adjust the cooking time as needed.
I usually fry my bacon but have recently started baking it when I don't want to deal with the mess. I still take it off the parchment and put on paper towels to soak up the grease with no issue. I am Southern so the fact I bake bacon sometimes is sacrilegious! 😂 Just curious what issue you have had putting it on paper towels?
Hey Kimbers! The only reason I don't like using paper towels to drain the bacon in this recipe is because the caramelized sugar sticks to the paper towels and is really hard to remove when it hardens and cools. Otherwise, I'm all for it!
I tried it for the first time, it kinda burned in spots.This was with regular bacon,next time trying it with thick cut bacon.
Try lowering your oven to 325 degrees next time. Your oven might run hot, which is not uncommon. Hope this helps!
Super good and stuff 👍
Looks delicious!! How do you know I hunch over the sink
Thanks!! I'm pretty sure we all do it. Anyone who says they don't is lying 🙂