Salty, sweet and spicy candied bacon made with brown sugar, black pepper, maple syrup and a touch of cayenne.
This recipe is inspired by First Watch restaurant. On our way to pick up Leo, our fluffy corgi, in Richmond, Virginia, we decided to stop by First Watch for breakfast. We saw Million Dollar Bacon on the menu and had to try it. Props to their marketing team for naming this item.
Love at first bite is real. I've never tried anything like it- a candied bacon with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and maple syrup drizzle.
The brown sugar caramelizes the bacon beautifully with crisp and slightly burnt edges.
Anything with bacon is automatically delicious but Million Dollar bacon is really good by itself. I can also see it on an amazing breakfast sandwich or a breakfast inspired burger with a runny egg.
Candied bacon is a great side dish for breakfast or snack throughout the week. Store in the fridge for a few days and heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds!
Tips to make the best Million Dollar Bacon
- Bake the bacon in the oven. Low and slow is the way to go to allow the sugar to caramelize, plus it's less messy than cooking on the stove.
- I highly recommend using thick cut bacon for crispy edges and meaty, jerky like, candied bacon. You can use regular bacon if you like the classic full crisp.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up. The caramelized sugar and grease will not be fun to clean up otherwise.
- A hint of spiciness from cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes is what sets this candied bacon apart from others. Hot sauce also works!
This recipe only takes 30 minutes to make and will instantly impress anyone at the table, including yourself!
If you make this recipe, leave a comment and tag me on Instagram @beyondthenoms. I'd love to see your creations!
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Million Dollar Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick cut bacon
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon parsley or chives optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the bacon on the pan.
- Combine brown sugar, black pepper and cayenne pepper in a bowl and coat both sides of the bacon.
- Bake for 15 minutes then flip the bacon and bake for 15 minutes more. Remove the bacon and place on a wire rack or new sheet of parchment paper to remove excess fat then drizzle maple syrup over the bacon.
- Garnish with parsley or chives as desired. Happy nomming!
Notes
- If using thinner bacon, check for desired doneness around 15-20 minutes.
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