This bacon jam recipe is one of THE best things I’ve ever eaten. Sweet, salty and savory and a great gift!
I am a BIG fan of edible gifts around the holidays, and this Bacon Jam recipe is one of my favorites! People LOVE to receive it, and I love to make it!
This bacon and onion jam is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and savory with just a *little* kick of spicy!
You can definitely buy this jam, but honestly, it’s just not the same. They have to put heavy preservatives in it to make it safe to eat, and you can tell!
What is Bacon Jam, you say?
It’s a sweet and salty relish that you can use as a topping or spread on any number of things: toast or crostini’s, baked cheese, turkey sandwiches, baked potatoes, or quiche.
A local company here in Kansas City makes a similar jam, but it’s SO expensive, upwards of $20 per tiny jar.
This jam recipe does require a TON of bacon to be used, so it’s one of those recipes that really pays off to make at home.
And, I am notexaggeratingwhen I say that this particular jam recipe is one of the best things I have ever eaten. Seriously. No lies.
I packaged this jam gift in half pint jars. You can attach super simple chalkboard labels and write on them with awhite paint pen.
Add some decorative twine or a festive holiday ribbon, and you’re good to go! It was super simple to get these little jars ofbacon goodness ready for gift giving.
If you’re looking for more edible gift ideas for the holidays, I recommend this delicious Garlic Infused Olive Oil, my Christmas Cracker Candy or this homemade Hot Cocoa Mix.
Can you can bacon jam?
I absolutely hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no, you cannot safely can bacon jam.
I tried to can the first batch I made and opened it after 3 months. The smell was off, so I threw it out. It turns out that it’s very likely bacteria will grow for this type of meat marmalade. And, there are several recipes out there that say you are able to this jam safely, so be cautious, friends! We don’t want to get ourselves or others sick.
After doing a bit more research, I learned that the best way to store this jam is to freeze it.
To freeze it, just leave a bit of head room in your freezer safe jar. When you’re ready to use it, thaw the jam. Once thawed, you can store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Serving Suggestions:
Bacon Jam is incredibly versatile and can be used in several ways! Use it:
On top of brie or soft cheese
On baked potatoes
As a sandwich spread
On top of your favorite grilled protein
Michelle's Bacon Jam Recipe
Yield: 1.5 pints
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Bacon Jam Recipe. Sweet, salty and savory with brown sugar. Spread on crackers, bruschetta, baked brie or top baked potatoes or grilled meat! So versatile, and so yummy.
Ingredients
2 pounds bacon, raw, chopped
2 large yellow onions, diced
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
½ cup water
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
Add chopped bacon to a large pot (I used a Dutch oven). Cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes until the bacon starts to get crispy, and the fat is foaming.
Drain bacon using a colander placed over a bowl. Save the drained fat.
Add 2 teaspoons of bacon fat to pot and return to medium heat. Add onion and salt, then sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
While onions sauté, place the cooled bacon on a cutting board. Chop into small pieces, less than ½ inch.
To onion mixture, add brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, dried thyme, black pepper and pinch of cayenne. Add bacon back in to pot and stir.
Add water and balsamic vinegar. Cook on low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the mixture is "brick-brown" in color and thick.
Notes
This is best served slightly warm.
This recipe yields 1.5 pints. I recommend packaging in small half pint jars.
If the jam seems dry after all steps are completed, add another ½ cup of water and continue to simmer. It should have the consistency of a relish when all is said and done. It won't be thick like a jelly.
Bacon jam can be safely refrigerated for two to four weeks. Any amount that you keep in the fridge will need to be used within that length of time. You can store bacon jam in any refrigerator-safe container. Many bacon jam enthusiasts choose to use mason jars for aesthetic reasons.
Crisp salty bacon is simmered for hours with onions, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a couple of secret ingredients to create a soft, spreadable jam that's divine on crackers, toast, crostini or bruschetta, fresh vegetables, pita bread, new potatoes... the list goes on and on!
For safety, we strongly recommend that bacon jam be refrigerated for times suggested by the recipe (2-4 weeks) or that it be frozen for longer storage.
Homemade jam and jelly can last for a long time, depending on factors such as ingredients, storage conditions, and preparation methods. Typically, homemade jam will last around 6 to 12 months when unopened and stored properly. Once opened, it should be consumed within 1 to 3 months to ensure the best taste and quality.
To achieve a thick texture, all of the liquids need time to reduce. Make sure you're cooking your bacon jam without a lid over your Dutch oven, so your bacon jam can evaporate. If it's still not thick enough, it just needs more time.
Bake the bacon in a 400°F oven until well-browned and crisp, this should take between 15 and 18 minutes depending on the thickness of your bacon. To follow Martha's method to a T, you'll need to rotate the sheet pan halfway through.
You source very high quality fruit. Typically jammers have extra fruit from their own garden that they are preserving for later in the year. This homegrown (or even from the farmer's market) fruit is grown in nutrient rich soil, since you (or local farmers) take care of the garden.
Depending on which bacon you use, it may taste like barbecue sauce. But it's usually a little sweeter. The taste of bacon jam is fantastic because, although it is salty, it is also sweet at the same time. It can even feel like maple syrup.
On the other hand, cured bacon is preserved with a combination of salt and sodium nitrites, giving the raw product that extra pink color we've all come to know. The added nitrates and nitrite found in cured bacon help preserve the product a little longer.
Gift giving: A jar of Bacon Jam makes an excellent gift but be sure to attach a tag to let the recipient know that the jam should be stored in the refrigerator and used within 2 to 3 weeks.
For an extra festive (and useful!) touch, you might bundle jars of jam, jelly, and marmalade with a pretty dish towel, a spoon, or an edible accompaniment, like bread or cheese.
Sweet and salty is one of the best flavor combinations to date. One of the most simply delicious recipes we have found to date is bacon and brown sugar. Grab your thick-cut applewood smoked bacon and sprinkle it with some dark brown sugar.
Here's how long homemade jam lasts: For homemade jam, using sugar and processed by canning in a hot water bath, you can expect to get about two years of shelf life when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, keep your homemade jam in the refrigerator for up to three months.
Put the jam into containers and freeze: Pour the jam into clean freezer containers or canning jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. (Plastic freezer containers with tight-fitting lids work well for storing freezer jams and jellies.) Cover the containers and let stand for 24 hours, or until the jam has set and become firm.
Expect the jam to last around 1 month if refrigerated. Always check the jar for growth of mold or smell before using. My rule of thumb is if it looks and smells good- it's ok to eat. 6.
If you're making fruit jam at home and skipping the canning process, what is often called quick jam or freezer jam, store in the fridge or freezer to preserve, and be aware that it should be consumed within 10 days if refrigerated and 3 months if frozen. It's not shelf stable without proper canning.
Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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