Bacon Jam is the ultimate condiment for toast, eggs, sandwiches, and burgers! Also makes a great gift for the bacon lover!
If you like this recipe, you’ll also love our onion jam. We love fruit jams, too! Check out our raspberry jam and peach freezer jam.
Easy Bacon Jam Recipe
Bacon jam, you guys. I mean bacon. And jam. Together. Jam that’s made from bacon. *thud*
I feel like my entire youth was robbed, having only discovered this well into my adult years. But at least I get to live the second half of my life more fulfilled. Because I’m going to put this on all.the.things. And I have! It’s an incredible savory spread that makes so many awesome things even more awesome!
What is Bacon Jam?
Bacon jam is a bacon-based relish. It’s made by slow cooking bacon, along with other ingredients such as onions, vinegar, and brown sugar before blending in a food processor. We also put maple syrup and brewed coffee in our recipe – it’s so good!
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this bacon jam recipe.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Bacon – Our star ingredient. You can use regular or thick sliced bacon, but we don’t recommend anything “flavored.”
- Onions and garlic – For flavor and aromatics.
- Cider vinegar – Adds depth of flavor and a slight tang.
- Dark brown sugar – For sweetness and to balance out the tart vinegar.
- Maple syrup – Make sure it’s pure maple syrup and not pancake syrup.
- Strong brewed coffee – Enhances the overall taste.
How to Make Bacon Jam
Making bacon jam is easy! Here’s a brief summary:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Cook the bacon. Cook bacon in a large skillet, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Sauté the onions and garlic. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet; add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are soft and translucent.
- Stir in other ingredients. Add vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon back to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Simmer. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and syrupy.
- Blend into a jam consistency. Transfer to a food processor; pulse a few times until pureed, but still has some texture. Let cool, then spoon into lidded jars.
Recipe Notes
- Does it have to be blended? I’ve seen similar recipes where it’s served right from the pan, without the added step of blending it in a food processor. But I much prefer mulching it a bit, so that it actually does resemble jam and more closely to a condiment, than an appetizer. Either way, SO crazy delicious.
- Make it in a crock pot. You can also make this in a crock pot. After adding bacon back to the skillet with the onions, transfer mixture to a 6-quart crock pot and cook on high, uncovered, for about 3 hours. Then finished in the food processor.
What do you eat with Bacon Jam?
So, what do you put bacon jam on? Many things! Here’s a brief list of ways we like to use it:
- on toast
- as an appetizer with cheese
- sprinkled on scrambled eggs
- on a baked potato
- mixed into steamed or roasted vegetables
- mixed into pasta
- makes a grilled cheese sandwich come alive
- as a condiment for burgers – summer grilling has never looked so good!
Proper Storage
- Storing leftovers. Jam should be in airtight containers in the refrigerator. It will keep for 2 to 3 weeks.
- To freeze. To extend the life of your bacon jam, you can freeze it. Cook completely, then pack it into mason jars, leaving about 1-inch of headspace. It will keep in the freezer for a couple months. Thaw in the fridge and consume within 2 weeks.
- Can you can bacon jam? We do not recommend canning this jam due to the risk of botulism in low acidic foods. Some say it’s ok, but it’s not worth the risk in our opinion.
More Bacon Recipes:
- Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
- Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Fried Cabbage
- One Pot Bacon and Broccoli Pasta
- Creamy Bacon and Peas Pasta
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds bacon , diced
- 2 medium sweet onions , diced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes.
- Add bacon back to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and syrupy.
- Transfer to a food processor; pulse a few times until pureed, but still has some texture. Let cool, then spoon into lidded jars.
I don’t eat pork anymore but I remember the taste and this looks delicious. I’ll be trying it with turkey bacon wish me luck.
I made a huge double batch…and still think I should make more. LOL. My husband said “don’t lose that recipe!”
So is the jam served warm or cold? Making a day ahead for a breakfast get together. Not sure if should warm it back up first or just take straight from the fridge.
Warm or room temp.
I made this with hickory smoked bacon and it was a.ma.zing.
After trying a lot of different bacon jam recipes, this one was the winner!
A little late with this answer, but I just read about someone who freezes portions in small, freezer bags. When they want to use it they just transfer from the bag onto a plate, then into the microwave on the “defrost” setting and it’s ready to go.
Awesome recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Great recipe! Served it with burgers and everyone’s mind was blown. HA.
I know what I am about to ask will sound sacrilegious….but, do you taste the coffee flavor? I’m not a lover of that flavor, it’s a taste buds kinda of thing for me. If so, is there anything I could use to substitue it with? Sorry, but who doesn’t love bacon???? TIA!!
Ha! You really can’t. I don’t like the taste of coffee, either…and I love this jam!
This sounds delicious
Hi just wondering if it is possible to make this with sugar free brown sugar and as well sugar free maple syrup since my husband is a diabetic. Would it taste ok or not try it at all, l found your recipe on facebook
Hi Suzanne! I’ve only ever made it the way that is written here, so I honestly couldn’t say what the results would be like, sorry. But since it is a savory spread, maybe the lack of sweetness that comes from the sugar would be ok? I don’t know. Try it!
Looks delicious!!! Bring on the BACON!
This is the best BACON JAM recipe ever…I misplaced it and hunted on the internet high and low for it…I finally found it in some paperwork and now it is literally going in a frame on the kitchen wall!!!!
My 12 year old asks for it all the time….bacon jam sandwich…turkey..swiss..arugula…BJ on sourdough!!! YUM YUMMY
Thank you!
This is so delicious. We love it as an addition to a cheese board. Guests flock to it!
I made this but only had 1/2 pound bacon so I adjusted all the other ingredients accordingly. SO GOOD.
My family loves this recipe so much. We put it on burgers, waffles, pizza, pasta, and panini sandwiches!
I added a little bourbon. AMAZING.