BEST Candied Bacon Recipe (How to Make Cowboy Candy!) (2024)

To me, it is Candied Bacon, but this delicious snack, appetizer and sometimes dessert goes by many names.

Caramelized Bacon, Millionaire’s Bacon, Bacon Candy, Brown Sugar Bacon, Pig Candy, Beggin’ Strips, Cowboy Candy and even get this one… Man Candy, are just some of the other names it goes by.

Candied Bacon recipes are made many different ways. Most recipes start with a brown sugar base, but some even dip bacon strips in a hard caramel sauce, like candied apples.

Complementary flavors include bourbon, maple syrup, cayenne, chili powder and more. I like mine to be sweet, salty, spicy… and sticky, so I make mine with chili powder and cayenne.

So here you go foodie friends, an amazing munchie for parties, topper of ice cream, pie or even cheesecake, salad addition or anytime snack, the ultimate salty and sweet treat: Spicy Candied Bacon!

Why You’ll Love This Candied Bacon Recipe

Bacon slices coated in a sweet, crackly crust for the perfect balance of sweet and salty- what’s not to love!

• Perfect combination of salty and sweet – If you’re a sweet and salty snacker like me, you will love the balance of flavors in this bacon.
• Great for gifting – Add it to a bag and tie it with a bow to gift to the bacon lover in your life.
• Simple ingredients – It really can’t get much easier or simple than a recipe that only requires three ingredients.

Ingredients

You only need three simple ingredients to make the candied bacon of your dreams!

• Center cut bacon – If you like crispy bacon with crispy edges, make sure to buy a thinner cut. But thick-cut bacon is perfect if you prefer it to be chewier. Center cut has a little less fat so it ensures you’ll have meaty strips.
• Dark brown sugar – Adding dark brown sugar to the thick cut bacon is the perfect addition for adding a little sweetness and molasses. Light brown sugar can also be used.
• Coarse kosher salt – Although bacon is already quite salty, coarse salt adds a little more flavor and crunch and helps to balance the sweetness.
• Smoked Paprika or Chile Powder– These are both optional but can offer smokiness or spice to the bacon strips. Both or one of the other can be used.

How to Make Candied Bacon

You are going to love how easy it is to make this million dollar bacon recipe.

1. Prepare oven and pan. Preheat the oven and place wire racks on rimmed baking sheets. Set aside.
2. Combine sugar and salt. Mix together dark brown sugar, salt and other add-ins like chili powder, cayenne or smoked paprika in a medium bowl.
3. Add mixture to bacon. Arrange the bacon strips in a single layer on the wire racks. Evenly spoon brown sugar mixture over bacon strips. You might need to do this in batches, depending on your oven.
4. Bake on middle rack. Keep an eye on bacon, sugar can burn easily. The goal is for bacon strips to be almost crispy, but still a little chewy. The natural fats will be sizzling and bubbling around them.
5. Allow to sit. Remove bacon strips and allow to sit. Transfer the bacon strips from the wire racks to parchment paper until they come to room temperature.
6. Serve or store. When fully cooled, serve or store in an airtight container at room temperature

Ways to Use Candied Bacon

The best part about this bacon is that you can use it in almost anything! We enjoy eating this delicious recipe as is for the perfect sweet and salty snack.

You can add it to your Sunday brunch spread in place or in addition to your regular bacon. But my favorite way is to use it as a garnish to a bloody mary!

Variations

There are plenty of ways for you to make this easy candied bacon recipe your own.

• Make it spicy – Try adding some freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, a dash of cayenne pepper or a tablespoon of chili powder.
• Maple – Try using maple bacon, or even adding a drizzle of pure maple syrup to the candy bacon for even more delicious flavor.
• Chocolate – To add another element of sweet, try drizzling some milk or white chocolate over the slice of bacon.

Storage

How to Store Candied Bacon

Store candied bacon in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Can I Make This Ahead?

You can make it in advance, just make sure it is fully cooked. You can keep it out at room temperature for about 2 hours before serving. If you put it in the fridge, the brown sugar topping will get sticky and lose its texture.

How to Freeze Candied Bacon

This is one of the few recipes that I do not recommend for freezing. It will not thaw to a nice texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes That Use Bacon

For my fellow bacon lovers, more recipes that use bacon!