Slow cooker bacon jam is salty and sweet with caramelized onions
What is Bacon Jam?
Bacon jam is a slow-cooked bacon and onion that caramelizes as it cooks with maple syrup into a salty sweet condiment.
Bacon Jam is the most wonderful appetizer when it’s on top of a crostini but is also perfect in many other dishes. This jam also makes a great gift when packaged in a glass jar.
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If you want to make your entertaining easy be sure you have a few appetizers that take just 5-minutes to prepare. This makes parties and gatherings much less stressful. This Bacon Jam recipe is perfect because you prepare it ahead of time in the slow cooker. Simply saute the bacon and onions and you can finish the rest, hands-off, in the slow cooker.
How to make Easy Slow Cooker Bacon Jam:
This recipe is super simple to make, but here are a few quick tips:
- Cut the bacon into 1/2″ pieces. The bacon will shrink as it cooks and you want to keep the pieces small.
- Saute the bacon in a pan over medium-high heat until lightly browned but not crispy.
- Transfer bacon from pan and drain on a paper towel. Pour off all but one tablespoon of drippings from the pan.
- Slice the onions thinly to ensure even cooking. Sweet yellow onions work best for this recipe because they help balance out the salty flavor of the bacon.
- Add the onions and garlic, and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add brown sugar and cook for one minute until sugar is melted.
- Add water, coffee, vinegar, and maple syrup. Mix to combine. Bring to a boil and cook for about 1 minute, scraping browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- If possible, use apple cider vinegar. Not only does it have a great taste, but it’s also really good for you. Be sure to use real maple syrup!
- Add bacon back to the pan and mix everything well to combine and pour into the slow cooker
- Cook uncovered on high for about 4 hours until the mixture is thickened to the consistency of jam and syrupy
- Serve or store in glass jars
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Bacon Jam:
- Bacon
- Sweet Yellow Onions
- Garlic
- Light Brown Sugar
- Brewed Coffee
- White or Apple Cider Vinegar
- Maple Syrup
How to store and give as a gift:
The best way to store easy slow cooker bacon jam is in glass jars. The jam is rich so using smaller 4-6 ounce jars is a good idea since a little goes a long way. This jam keeps for 1 month in the refrigerator. It tastes best at room temp or warmed slightly.
I use the 6-ounce wider mouth jars, which you can find on Amazon. This is the perfect gifting size! Attach a note, with ideas for use, and you’ve got an ideal gift. Everyone loves bacon!
How to use Bacon Jam:
There are so many great ways to enjoy this easy jam so try a few!
- Crostini topped with goat cheese/blue cheese and topped with jam. For easy instruction on making perfect crostini see our Bruschetta post.
- Slather on our warm Baking Powder Biscuits
- Dollop on top of waffles with warm maple syrup
- On top of our Buttermilk Pancakes
- Perfect spread on a BLT sandwich
- Great on a juicy burger
- Smother on top of herbed chicken breasts
- Top a glazed pork roast with a layer of bacon jam
- Wrap prosciutto around asparagus spears, brush with bacon jam. and broil until browned
- Top your toast with jam and avocado
- Make a bacon jam pizza
- Perfect as an added layer to a grilled cheese sandwich
Easy Slow Cooker Bacon Jam
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Bacon, thick-cut, cut into ½" pieces
- 2 cups sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp garlic, crushed
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup strong brewed coffee
- ¼ cup vinegar, white or apple cider
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add bacon pieces and cook until lightly browned but not crispy.
- With a slotted spoon transfer bacon from pan and drain on a paper towel. Pour off all but one tablespoon of drippings from the pan.
- Add the onions and garlic, and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes.
- Add brown sugar and cook for one minute until sugar is melted.
- Add water, coffee, vinegar, and maple syrup. Mix to combine. Bring to a boil and cook for about 1 minute, scraping browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add bacon and stir to combine. Transfer mixture into the slow cooker. Set the slow cooker temperature to high.
- Cook uncovered on high for about 4 hours until the mixture is thickened to the consistency of jam and syrupy.
- Serve or use immediately, or let cool and pack into glass jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. This jam tastes best at room temperature or slightly warm.
I love your bacon jam with onions – this really has just about every one of my favorite flavors in it!
This is so yummy on burgers!
What a great way to use the slow cooker. I want to put this bacon jam on everything.
I love Slow Cooker recipes and this bacon jam is perfect for the upcoming holiday season!! Is there any better combination than bacon with anything, haha I don’t think so, your recipe is SO delicious!!
A unique recipe. The combination of ingredients and the texture is so perfect. I cant wait to check this out.
This bacon jam is insanely good! We use it on everything from crostini, to eggs, we’ve even topped pizza with it! So good!
This sounds delicious. I really like all the ideas for how to use it. My family is going to love this.
Yum! This is amazing with cheese. The added coffee is really interesting.
I love how this recipe included coffee! I can’t wait to try it! I can only imagine the robust flavor!
This is such a clever idea. Looks great!
I’ve had this myself and it’s delish. I highly recommend, it’s so easy.