Baked Brown-Sugar Bacon

Got a brunch coming up? Make Baked Brown-Sugar Bacon—it combines salty and sweet to make the best bacon you’ve ever had!

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Just when you take a bite out of a strip of bacon and think, It can’t possibly get any better than this… It does! It’s true. While many think bacon is the perfect food, there is a way you can improve on perfection. How? Add brown sugar.

There’s something about combining salty and sweet ingredients that our taste buds just go crazy for. It’s the best of both worlds. That’s the thinking behind Brown-Sugar Bacon. Previously, bacon could be eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. NOW, I can serve it for dessert and no one in my family would bat an eye. Yes, it is that tasty. In fact, we’ve even added ‘spicy’ to the mix with the inclusion of cayenne pepper, so there’s something in each bite for everyone.

Is THIS the perfect food? Well, considering it is sweet, spicy, and salty, AND can be eaten as part of any meal, including dessert, I’d say it’s definitely in the running!

Is Brown-Sugar Bacon Healthy?

Brown-sugar bacon should be enjoyed in moderation, due to the sodium and fat in the bacon and the empty calories in the sugar. So while I say you can have it for any meal, I don’t suggest eating it for EVERY meal. The simplicity of the recipe does lend itself to gluten-free and dairy-free diets, though. Those on paleo or keto diets will want to avoid this recipe or replace the brown sugar with a compliant sweetener (i.e., maple syrup or honey for paleo diets; erythritol or stevia for keto diets).

What is Brown Sugar?

The simple answer is that brown sugar is refined white sugar with molasses added. Originally, though, brown sugar wasn’t the product of the refining process but rather, the product being processed. It was an unrefined cane sugar with naturally occurring molasses. That molasses was removed to turn the sugar into white sugar. So, “brown sugar” can actually refer to two things. You might also find brown sugar tends to clump up if left unstirred. That’s because it contains more moisture than regular sugar, making it slightly more high maintenance than its white counterpart.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. thick-cut bacon
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp cayenne pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cover a baking tray with aluminum foil. Place a metal cooling rack in the pan.

Arrange

Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the cooling rack.

Sprinkle

Sprinkle the brown sugar and cayenne pepper over the bacon slices.

Cook

Bake for 15 minutes, until the bacon is golden brown and crispy.

DEVOUR!

Baked Brown Sugar Bacon - the best bacon you'll ever have! featured image side focus

FAQs & Tips

How do I store the bacon?

Let the bacon cool completely then either wrap it in plastic/aluminum or store it in an airtight container. You can then keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the bacon. Use the airtight container or wrap it first in plastic then in aluminum. The strips should keep for up to 3 months. You can reheat them from frozen in either the microwave or the oven (set to 350°F and cook for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through).

Do I need to flip the bacon?

No, the wire rack ensures the heat can access the strips from all angles, so they should cook evenly.

How do I make this spicier?

Sprinkle some red pepper flakes or freshly ground black pepper over the bacon. You can also use your favorite hot sauce, just don’t overdo it; you want to taste the bacon (and brown sugar), not the sauce alone.

Do I need to use oil for any step?

Nope. That’s the benefit of baking the bacon with a wire rack. The bacon’s natural fats drip off the strips, resulting in a healthier meal. And, because the bacon won’t be sitting in its own grease, your strips should turn out nice and crispy.

What does rinsing the bacon do?

Some people rinse bacon because they think it will reduce the salt and fat content, but my research tells me this isn’t really the case. The sodium and fat is embedded in the bacon; it doesn’t live on its surface. So if you rinse/washed your bacon, you’ll just end up with soggy bacon.

Baked Brown Sugar Bacon - the best bacon you'll ever have! diagonal shot

Serving Suggestions

Assuming you’ve made this recipe for brunch, I’m going to suggest you provide your guests with a stack of Blueberry Pancakes for a sweet variation on a breakfast staple. Another staple? Breakfast Potatoes. Seasoned little spuds you can pop in your mouth with ease. The younger members of your guest list will appreciate these Easy-Baked Eggs in Avocado while you sip on a Mimosa!