Million Dollar Bacon or "Millionaire's Bacon" hit the ground running in San Francisco in 2017. It was an expensive chunk of thick bacon, coated with sugar and spice before cooking. It felt so decadent, and pricey, that people started calling it Millionaire's Bacon. My Million Dollar Candied Bacon Recipe is decadent too, but in the everyday-Joe price range. I sweeten it with honey and brown sugar, and spice it up with Cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, and black pepper. I think this is the new Millionaire Bacon, although Snoop Dog now has a Billionaire Bacon!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Well, it's bacon. In case you haven't noticed, people love bacon. Whether you are head-over-heels in love with bacon, or just like it on your BLT, you'll love spicy candied bacon! It is a great snack from the first bite to the last!
- You don't need to be a millionaire to make my Million Dollar Candied Bacon Recipe.
- This spicy candied bacon is the perfect combination of heat and sweet. You can adjust either the heat or the sweet to get it just the way you like it. I use Cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper on half, and just Cayenne pepper on the other half. I like mine hot!
Ingredients for Million Dollar Candied Bacon
- Thick-Cut Bacon - regular bacon will not work as well. It is too thin and it burns before the sugars caramelize.
- Honey
- Cayenne Pepper
- Light Brown Sugar
- Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
For the full recipe with quantities, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Lay bacon in a single layer on a wire rack inside prepared sheet pan.
Squeeze honey on each slice.
Sprinkle Cayenne pepper on the bacon strips.
Sprinkle brown sugar on top.
Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to flatten the toppings.
Place the baking tray into a preheated 350 degree oven on the center rack.
Near the end of the cooking time, flip and add brown sugar to the other side.
Put they pan back onto the oven rack until the bacon is cooked through.
Remove the tray and let the bacon sit for a couple of minutes.
Carefully remove bacon and place it on a piece of parchment paper to firm up.
Variations
- First Watch bacon recipe is very similar to mine except for the maple syrup drizzle they use.
- Spicy candied bacon is just the beginning. You can add what ever spices you like. Leave off the honey and just use a generous amount of the sugar. Use your culinary imagination.
- Some people like their candied bacon dipped in chocolate and sprinkles.
- Use with a celery stick to garnish your Bloody Mary.
- I can actually imagine this chopped up and added to a chocolate bark. Use any spice mixture you like. Have fun and let me know what you come up with!
Recipe FAQ'S
Candied bacon is perishable. It should be stored in the refrigerator within 2 hours of making the recipe. Cooked candied bacon will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I find it best to store it flat with parchment paper between layers.
Let the bacon cool to room temperature and firm up. Wrap each piece of bacon in wax paper, foil, or parchment paper (to keep them from sticking). Seal them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Frozen candied bacon should keep for up to four to six months.
I would not advise it because of the rendered fat from the bacon from the bacon and the sugar that caramelizes on the baking sheet. It is quite messy. This is my baking sheet after making candied bacon. I would not want this in my air fryer.
Looking for More Bacon Recipes?
My Coolapeño Jalapeño Poppers give you all the flavor with less of the heat.
This Grilled Cheese with Pear and Bacon feels like lunch at a fancy restaurant.
Equipment
- Large baking sheet with wire rack.
- Parchment paper or a silicone baking pad.
- Tongs
- Offset spatula or dinner spoon
- Paper towels
Expert Tips
- Use parchment paper, foil, or a silicone pat under the wire rack.
- Watch your bacon like a hawk after the bacon cooks half the time. It can go from perfectly cooked to burned quickly.
- Do not leave the strips of bacon on the wire rack for more than five minutes after removing from the oven. The sugar will cause the bacon to stick to the wire and break apart when you lift it off.
- You can make this as sweet as you want, with as much heat as you want. Add a little more or a little less according to your taste. My baked bacon recipe leaves you with nice flat strips of bacon and less clean-up.
- After the first time you make this and determine how much Cayenne pepper you like, you can combine it with the brown sugar in a small bowl. Using a brown sugar mixture will save you a step.
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, parchment paper, or a silicone mat.
- Lay strips of bacon, evenly spaced on a wire rack placed inside the baking sheet.
- Brush one side of bacon slices with honey.
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper over honey, using as much or as little as you want. Start out easy for a little kick of heat.
- Sprinkle ½ the brown sugar over the bacon strips and smooth out with a back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until brown sugar has dissolved and begins to slightly harden. Remove baking sheet from oven. (Refer to images in step-by-step instructions.)
- Use tongs to gently turn the bacon strips over. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the bacon strips and return the pan to oven. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the bacon is fully cooked.
- Optional Step: You can flip again and add more brown sugar to the other side if the bacon is not fully cooked. BE CAREFUL. It burns easily at this point. Continue baking until the bacon is crispy.
- Remove from oven.
- Let the bacon slices sit for a few minutes before removing them from the cooling rack. The bacon will stick if you let it cool on the rack and will break apart when you try to lift it off.
Equipment
- Large baking sheet lined with foil, parchment or a silicone mat.
- Wire rack
- Tongs
- Offset spatula or dinner spoon.
- Paper towels this can get messy
Ingredients
- 6 strips Bacon
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup Light brown sugar
- 1 pinch Red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil, parchment paper, or a silicone baking pad.
- Lay strips of bacon, evenly spaced on a grid rack inside the baking sheet.
- Brush one side of bacon slices with honey or use a squeeze bottle.
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper over the honey, using as much or as little as you want. Start out easy.
- Sprinkle ½ the brown sugar over the bacon strips and smooth it out with a back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
- Bake for 15 minutes until brown sugar has dissolved and begins to slightly harden. Remove baking sheet from oven.
- Use tongs to gently turn the bacon strips over. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the bacon and return pan to oven. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or more. Check frequently because it can burn.
- Optional Step: You can flip again and add more brown sugar to the other side if the bacon is not fully cooked. BE CAREFUL. It burns easily at this point.
- Continue baking until the bacon is crispy and remove pan from oven.
- Let the millionaire's bacon sit for a few minutes before removing from rack. It will stick if you let it cool on the rack and will break apart when you try to take it off.
Conchetta says
5 Stars! Can anyone stop eating this candied bacon?
Nancy says
So addictive. I can’t stop snacking on these