Chef John's Bacon Jam

4.6
(160)

This bacon jam takes some time to make with expert-level stirring, but it's a small price when considering the final results. Whether you make this for a Super Bowl party or another festive occasion, I hope you give this amazing bacon jam a try soon.

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close up view of a few jars of chef john's bacon jam sitting on the kitchen counter with a metal spoon
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
12
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • 1 ½ pounds bacon, chopped

  • 2 teaspoons butter

  • 4 large yellow onions, diced

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • ¼ cup sherry vinegar

  • 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, divided

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

  • ½ cup water

  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. Warm a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add bacon; cook and stir until crispy and rendered fat starts to foam, about 10 minutes. Pour bacon and rendered fat into a strainer placed over a bowl. When fat is drained and bacon is cool enough to handle, remove bacon to a cutting board and finely chop.

    Cook bacon until crispy and rendered fat starts to foam, pour fat into strainer over a bowl.

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  2. Return the pot to medium heat; drizzle 2 teaspoons reserved bacon fat and butter into the pot. Add onions and salt; cook until until soft and translucent, 7 to 10 minutes.

    Add bacon back to pot, with bacon fat and butter, then add onions and salt.

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    Cooking until soft and translucent.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Stir brown sugar, sherry vinegar, 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, black pepper, and cayenne into onion mixture; add bacon. Stir water into bacon mixture and cook until jam has a brick-brown color and thick consistency, 10 to 15 minutes.

    Stir in brown sugar, sherry vinegar, thyme, black pepper and cayenne into onion mixture.

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  4. Remove from heat and add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme; stir until shiny and heated through.

    Stirring until shiny and heated through.

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  5. Store in an airtight container.

    close up view of a few jars of chef john's bacon jam sitting on the kitchen counter with a metal spoon

    MommyFromSeattle

285 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

154 Calories
9g Fat
10g Carbs
8g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 154
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 634mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 8g 15%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 193mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.