The Best Candied Bacon (Quick & Simple Recipe)

With a sweet and spicy glaze and delicious smoky bacon, Candied Bacon couldn’t be any tastier! Also called pig candy, Million Dollar Bacon, or Millionaire’s Bacon because this bacon tastes like a million bucks! My candied bacon recipe is the perfect pick for Sunday brunch or breakfast with the family. And, you won’t believe how easy it is to make!

Candied Bacon

These days, you can find all sorts of bacon at the grocery store. From thick-cut to peppered bacon and even some other flavors, there always seems to be something new to try.

But Candied Bacon is the best of them all!

I love a good salty snack, but when you combine sweet with salty, it’s just over-the-top good!

With an irresistible sweet and spicy glaze, this bacon is so good you’ll want to make it again and again! And, with only a handful of ingredients, there’s no reason not to!

This easy candied bacon recipe is sure to become a regular rotation in your kitchen. With its simple ingredients and delicious flavor, it’s the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and spicy that will leave you wanting more! 

It might just become your new favorite way to eat bacon.

What is Bacon Candy?

Bacon candy, also known as “man candy” or “million-dollar bacon,” is bacon that’s been cooked into bacon strips with a coating of brown sugar and spices.

It’s a perfect combination of salty bacon and sweet caramelized sugar, and let me tell ya’ll, it’s so addictive!

The best part? It’s super easy to make, and the cooking process only takes about 10-15 minutes of prep-time before baking.

Why Everyone Loves My Candied Bacon

• Perfect Combination of Sweet and Spicy: This candied bacon has the perfect combination of brown sugar and spices, creating a delicious balance of sweet, salty, and a tad bit of spice.
• Easy to Make: With just a few simple ingredients, this easy candied bacon recipe comes together quickly. Just mix, sprinkle, and bake!
• Crispy and Caramelized: The bacon slices come out of the oven with crispy edges and a crackly crust of caramelized sugar.
• Customizable Heat and Sweetness: Adjust the spice level with more cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for extra kick, or add maple syrup for a touch of extra sweetness.
• Great for Gifting: Bacon candy makes a great gift. 

Ingredients to Make Candied Bacon

Fortunately, it doesn’t cost much to make million dollar bacon. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Bacon: See my comments below on the best bacon to make candied bacon.

• Brown Sugar: The brown sugar creates a sweet, caramelized crust on the bacon. You can use light or dark brown sugar; dark brown sugar will give a richer flavor due to its higher molasses content.

• Black Pepper: Adjust the amount based on how peppery you like your bacon.

• Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne gives the bacon a little bit of spice and heat. If you prefer milder bacon, you can reduce the amount or leave it out altogether.

• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: These add extra kick and a little bit of crunch to the candied bacon. 

What kind of bacon to use in Candied Bacon

Now is the time to use the good bacon!

Store brands are often injected with extra water to keep the bacon plump (to inflate the weight), but that water will cook out in the oven. National brands, however, tend to be of better quality. 

Look for thick-cut bacon and inspect the bacon through the package before buying it. However, you can use regular sliced bacon as well if you like a crispier candied bacon compared to a chewier one.

You want bacon that’s got a good meat-to-fat ratio. Some crispy fat is good, but you want to make sure your bacon isn’t mostly fat, or it’ll cook away to nothing in the oven.

How to Make Million Dollar Bacon

1. 1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. 

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   2. Prepare the Baking Sheet: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Make sure you use a rimmed baking sheet to catch any fat that cooks off, otherwise you might smoke up your kitchen! (Ask me how I know this!)

   3. Arrange the Bacon: Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure the strips of bacon don’t overlap, so they cook evenly and get crispy edges.

   4. Make the Brown Sugar Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. 

   5. Coat the Bacon: Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the bacon slices. Use your hands to gently pat the mixture down onto each slice of bacon. This helps the sugar stick during while it’s cooking and creates that delicious caramelized bacon we’re after.

   6. Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your bacon and how crispy you like it. The bacon should be brown and have a crackly crust when done.

   7. Cool the Bacon: Remove the bacon from the oven and let it cool on the sheet pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer the bacon to a cooling rack to finish cooling. 

   8. Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy your candied bacon warm or at room temperature. 

How to serve Candied Bacon

You can eat it just like it is for a delicious snack or make it a part of a heartier meal. Here are some of my favorite brunch recipes to pair with your millionaire bacon.

• Apple Fritter Bread and candied bacon go so well together!
• Who doesn’t love pancakes and bacon? 
• Grits are one of my guilty pleasures, and they’re soooo good with this Candied Bacon!

This easy bacon recipe goes with just about any other breakfast or brunch fare, or enjoy breakfast for dinner and watch how fast a pound of this delicious bacon gets gobbled up! 

How to Store Candied Bacon

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can warm it back up in the oven or your air fryer. It’s even delicious eaten cold right out of the refrigerator!

Ways to Eat Candied Bacon

• On Its Own as a Snack: Enjoy candied bacon as a sweet and salty snack straight from the baking sheet.

• As a Breakfast Side Dish: Serve candied bacon alongside your favorite breakfast items like scrambled eggs with onions, pecan pancakes, caramel pancakes, waffles, or French toast. 

• In a Bloody Mary: Use it as a garnish for a Bloody Mary. 

• On Burgers and Sandwiches: Add bacon strips to burgers or sandwiches for a sweet and crispy layer of deliciousness.

• Crumble Over Salads: Chop or crumble candied bacon over salads. It goes particularly well with spinach salads, Cobb salads, or any salad that includes apples, nuts, or cheese.

• In Charcuterie Boards: Add candied bacon to a charcuterie board (your guest will LOVE you!)

• With Tater Tots or Potatoes: Serve candied bacon alongside zuchinni tots, hash browns, or baked potatoes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More delicious Breakfast and Brunch recipes:

• Air Fryer Bacon
• Southern Style Creamy Grits
• Bisquick Sausage Muffins
• 3 Ingredient Biscuits
• Breakfast Casserole
• Hashbrown Casserole
• Southern Sausage Gravy
• Biscuit Casserole