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+ servings
Jar full of freshly made bacon jam on top of a golden-brown napkin
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5 from 1 vote

Bacon Jam

Bacon Jam is a sweet and savory spread perfect for enjoying on crackers, toasted bread, and including in your charcuterie boards.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16 Servings
Calories: 140kcal
Author: Julia

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces thick-cut bacon
  • 2 large yellow onions sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup**
  • cup balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar*

Instructions

  • Chop the bacon and cook it in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crispy, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
    Chopped bacon cooking in a skillet
  • Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked bacon to a bowl and set it aside. Discard the majority of the bacon fat, leaving about 1 to 2 tablespoons to cook the onions. Note: Don't leave too much bacon grease or it will solidify in the jam in the refrigerator.
    Sliced onions sautéing in a skillet
  • Transfer the sliced onions to the skillet and sprinkle liberally with sea salt. Sauté the onions for 10 minutes on high heat until they begin to turn golden-brown, then reduce the heat to medium heat and continue cooking for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the onions are very soft, caramelized, and golden-brown. Note: I cover the skillet to get the cooking process going faster and remove the lid from time to time to stir the onions well. If at any time the edges of the onions begin to turn too dark, lower the heat slightly and add a few tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan. 
  • Add the garlic, reserved bacon, coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until much of the liquid has evaporated and you’re left with a thick, sticky soft mixture, about another 10 minutes. 
  • Transfer the bacon jam to an airtight container such as a mason jar and refrigerate until completely chilled. Serve the jam on crackers with cheese or on toasted bread with cheese or butter.
    Finished bacon jam in a skillet

Notes

*You can also use strong brewed coffee for a unique flavor
**Use molasses as a replacement for pure maple syrup if you like the flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 8g | Sugar: 10g