Bourbon Bacon Jam

Summer is here and burger season is in full swing. If you’re looking for the ultimate topping to elevate your grilled burgers, this Bourbon Bacon Jam is exactly what you need. It’s smoky, sweet, sticky, and dangerously addictive, and once you make it, you’ll want to put it on absolutely everything.

Six Ingredients, One Incredible Spread

This is one of those bacon recipes that starts with a lot of bacon, a chopped onion, brown sugar, coffee, bourbon, and red pepper flakes, and transforms them into the most incredible resulting spread you’ve ever tasted. The whole process is low and slow, deeply satisfying, and absolutely worth the wait.This sticky sweet and savory jam is ideal for everything, from topping a burger to adding to your charcuterie board.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

– Only 6 ingredients — simple pantry staples, big payoff
– One pan, easy cleanup — no fancy equipment needed
– Incredibly versatile — burgers, cheese boards, grilled cheese, and more
– Make-ahead friendly — keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
– Deeply flavored — slow cooking does all the hard work

What Is Bourbon Bacon Jam?

Bourbon Bacon Jam is a slow-cooked, savory-sweet condiment. It’s made by rendering cooked bacon with caramelized onion. Everything simmers together with brown sugar, coffee, bourbon, and red pepper flakes until it thickens into a rich, glossy jam.

The bourbon’s alcohol cooks off during the long simmer. What’s left behind is a deep, complex sweetness that takes this spread to a whole other level. It’s part jam, part condiment, part magic. It absolutely belongs in your fridge at all times.

Ingredients

Bacon — You’ll start with a full pound of bacon chopped into small pieces, and yes, you need every bit of it. The fat renders down significantly during cooking, so what looks like a lot of bacon at the start becomes a deeply concentrated, rich jam by the end. Any style works, regular, thick-cut, or smoked all produce great results.

Brown Sugar — Light brown sugar is used here, but dark brown sugar works just as well and adds a slightly deeper molasses flavor. The sugar is what gives the jam its signature sticky, glossy texture and helps the liquid reduce into that thick, jammy consistency.

Coffee — Brewed coffee adds a welcome bitterness that keeps the jam from being overly sweet. Use whatever you have on hand, even leftover morning coffee works perfectly. Don’t skip it. It’s what gives this jam its depth.

Bourbon — Bourbon is an American whiskey made from at least 51% corn and aged in charred oak barrels. The alcohol fully cooks off during the long simmer, leaving behind that signature caramel-oak flavor. If you don’t have bourbon on hand, rye whiskey is the best substitute.

Red Pepper Flakes — Just a pinch (or more, depending on your heat tolerance) adds a subtle kick that keeps every bite interesting. Start with a small amount and add more to taste before the final simmer.

How to Make Bourbon Bacon Jam

This bacon jam should come with a warning. Once you discover how delicious it is and how easy it is to make, it is sure to become a recipe staple.

Step 1: Cook the Bacon

First, heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cutting it small helps it cook evenly and gives better texture in the final jam. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat is fully rendered and the bacon turns slightly crispy. This takes about 10–12 minutes.

Step 2: Drain and Reserve

Next, use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Then pour off most of the excess fat, leaving just a thin coating in the pan. This is your flavor base.

Step 3: Caramelize the Onion

Add the chopped onion to the pan and turn the heat to low. Stir occasionally, letting it caramelize slowly over 30–40 minutes. Don’t rush this step, because the patience pays off. Properly caramelized onion is what gives this jam its incredible sweetness and depth.

Step 4: Build the Jam

Now, add the cooked bacon back into the pan, along with the brown sugar, coffee, bourbon, and red pepper flakes. Stir everything together, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom, since those hold pure concentrated flavor. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then immediately reduce to a low simmer.

Step 5: Simmer Until Thick

Let it cook low and slow for about an hour. Stir every 15–20 minutes, until the liquid reduces and the jam turns thick, sticky, and glossy. The longer it simmers, the more intense the flavor becomes.

Step 6: Transfer and Store

Finally, spoon the jam into a jar or airtight container. If you’d prefer a smoother texture, pulse it a few times in a food processor first. Let it cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate.

Variations & Substitutions

The beauty of this recipe is that it utilizes readily available ingredients. However, you can make substitutions with what you have on hand.

• Brown Sugar — Light or dark both work. Dark brown sugar adds a richer molasses flavor and slightly deeper color to the resulting spread.
• Bourbon — If you’d rather cook without alcohol, substitute with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar plus 2 extra tablespoons of coffee. You’ll lose some of bourbon’s distinctive depth, but the jam will still be delicious.
• Red Pepper Flakes — For a smokier heat, swap with a teaspoon of smoked paprika or chili powder. For more fire, add a pinch of cayenne alongside the flakes.
• Onion — A sweet onion (like Vidalia) caramelizes especially beautifully here and adds a more mellow, complex sweetness than a standard yellow onion.

Ways to Use Bourbon Bacon Jam

This jam is one of the most versatile condiments you’ll ever keep in your fridge. Here are a few favorite ways to use it:

• Burgers — Spoon it generously over your next grilled or smash burger.
• Charcuterie Board — Pair it with sharp cheddar, aged gouda, and crackers.
• Grilled Cheese — Add a spoonful inside for a sweet-savory upgrade.
• Mac & Cheese — Swirl in a tablespoon or two for a smoky, indulgent twist.
• Baked Brie — Top a wheel of brie with the jam, then bake until gooey.
• Eggs & Toast — A teaspoon on fried eggs and toast makes a great weekend breakfast.

Equipment

There are no special tools required for this porky delight. All you need is a cutting board, sharp knife, and saucepan.

Storage for Bourbon Bacon Jam

Fridge

Spoon the jam into a clean jar or airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Because the jam thickens when cold, let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before serving. Or, if you’re short on time, warm it briefly in the microwave.

Freezer

For longer storage, portion the jam into small freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, when you’re ready to use it, thaw overnight in the fridge.

Make-Ahead Tip

In fact, this jam tastes even better the next day, once the flavors meld. So it’s a great one to make ahead for parties or holidays, especially when you want a crowd-pleasing condiment ready to go.

Top Tip

• Reserve a little fat — Don’t wipe the pan completely clean after draining. A thin layer of fat at the bottom of the pan is your flavor base for caramelizing the onion.
• Low heat is everything — Caramelizing onions properly takes 30–40 minutes on low heat. High heat burns them; patience sweetens them.
• Scrape the pan — When you add the bacon and remaining ingredients back in, scrape up all those browned bits from the bottom of the pan. That’s concentrated flavor you don’t want to lose.
• Stir regularly — During the final hour of simmering, stir every 15–20 minutes to prevent the sugar from sticking and burning at the bottom of the pan.
• Food processor for spreading — If you’re using this as a burger topping or spread on toast, a few quick pulses in a food processor makes it much easier to work with.
• Taste before finishing — Adjust salt and red pepper flakes before the final simmer. Every bacon brand has a different salt level, so always taste first.
  

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