Bacon Jam

If you think you've made and eaten all the dips and spreads imaginable, we have one you just might not know yet: bacon jam. This rich, sweet-and-salty spread has been a restaurant favorite for more than a decade, but when home cooks find out how easy it is to make, any gathering is a good excuse to make bacon jam.

The flavors of bacon jam include sweet onions, smoky bacon, brown sugar, and umami-rich Worcestershire sauce. You can embrace the bacon jam by itself, scooped over crostini, or serve it with creamy, silky cheeses like goat cheese or cream cheese. We have more ideas for how to serve bacon jam below.

But first, learn how to make bacon jam, and impress all your friends and family with this particularly perfect holiday-friendly dip.

What Is Bacon Jam?

Bacon jam is a rich and savory condiment that's made with cooked bacon, sweet and silky onions, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika. The bacon is cooked until tender, rendering fat that will be used to caramelize the onions. Sugar, paprika, and Worcestershire then simmer and further flavor the bacon and onions in a syrupy glaze.

The final result, also sometimes called bacon marmalade, is a meaty spread that can be eaten along with vegetables, crostini, and cheese. Or really any way you can imagine—we have a few ideas below for that, too.

Bacon Jam Ingredients

The ingredient list for bacon jam is short, which is another reason you're going to love this appetizer.

• Bacon: We prefer to use thick-cut bacon so that each bite is meatier after it's cooked and the fat is rendered. You can use regular bacon if it's all you have, but cut the pieces a bit larger so you still get a nice chewy piece of bacon in each bite.
• Onion: Yellow onion or sweet onion are perfect for this because of their natural sweetness.
• Light brown sugar: You can use dark brown sugar if it's what you have. It'll just have a darker, more molasses-like final flavor.
• Smoked paprika: Get instant smoky flavor with this red pepper spice.
• Worcestershire sauce: For a major hit of umami flavor, Worcestershire sauce really delivers.
  

Then, make sure to grab whatever items you'll need for serving the jam, whether that's a baguette, vegetables, cheese, or even fresh tomatoes.

How To Make Bacon Jam

The full recipe with step-by-step photos is below, but here's a brief outline:

• Step 1. Cook the bacon until fat renders and the edges of the bacon pieces are just starting to brown and crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon, and pour the bacon grease into a heat-proof measuring cup. Pour back 2 tablespoons into the pan, and keep the rest of the bacon grease for another use.
• Step 2. Add onion and cooked bacon to the bacon drippings in the pan, and cook until the onions are golden brown and silky.
• Step 3. Add the brown sugar, some water, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce, and cook until the mixture is syrupy and jammy. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.

Ways To Use Bacon Jam

Once you have a bite of bacon jam, we think you'll not lack ideas for how to use it. But here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Serve over whipped goat cheese or cream cheese with toasted baguette.
• Use as a condiment on burgers or grilled chicken sandwiches.
• Spoon some into a bowl as a spread on charcuterie boards.
• Mix with boiled or roasted potatoes as a quick and easy potato salad.
• Dollop across grilled or roasted asparagus.
• Sandwich between layers of bread and cheese for a next-level grilled cheese.

Can You "Can" Bacon Jam?

No, you cannot can bacon jam. Despite the name, this isn't really a jam, and the low-acid environment will not preserve well, even with traditional canning methods. Plus, this recipe only makes about 1 cup of jam, which isn't really enough to put up.

How Long Will Bacon Jam Keep?

Just because you can't can bacon jam doesn't mean it won't last you a while. Put up in an airtight container, bacon jam can last up to 2 weeks. But if you see any sizes of mold growth, toss it.

More Bacon Appetizers

Because everything is better with bacon, make one of these appetizers next:

• Candied Bacon Crackers
• Millionaire Bacon
  
• Bacon Bites
• Bacon-Wrapped Dates
• Bacon-Cheese Gougères