If you only ever smoke one thing, make Smoked Candied Bacon. This pork candy is off-the-charts delicious! Sweet, salty, spicy – it has it all, and it’s crazy easy to make! Grab some bacon and spices, and treat everyone today!
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When you’re craving insanely good flavor from a dish that’s crazy easy, check out Smoked Candied Bacon. This sweet and spicy bacon is one of the best things on the planet. Everyone loves candied bacon, but when you add a kiss of smoke, you amp up the flavor and transform it into pure bliss.
And all you need are a handful of ingredients! Maple syrup and brown sugar lend sweetness, and I like it with a bit of spice, too; smoky chipotle powder does the trick.
This is such an easy recipe it really should be on everyone’s radar. I’ve done it in the oven, too, but I prefer the added smoke that comes from popping this lacquered bacon onto my Traeger.
What you’ll love about Smoked Candied Bacon
- It’s sweet, spicy, and oh-so-crazy good! It’s called bacon candy for a reason!
- This smoked candied bacon recipe is so easy!
- You can smoke it at pretty much any temp!
Smoked Candied Bacon Starts With Great Bacon
You know that package of thick-cut, low-sodium fancy schmancy bacon you’re saving in your freezer? Now’s the time to defrost it. This Smoked Candied Bacon works best with great quality bacon, preferably homemade smoked bacon!
Ingredients
- Bacon – Thick cut or regular cut but do NOT use thin cut bacon.
- Brown sugar – I use golden brown sugar.
- Maple syrup – Use the real thing!
- Chipotle powder
How To Make The Best Smoked Candied Bacon
- Preheat your Traeger pellet grill smoker to 225-F.
- Lay the strips of bacon on a wire rack set above a baking sheet. I’ll tell you why below.
- Mix the brown sugar, maple syrup, and chipotle powder in a small bowl.
- Brush the top side of the bacon with the syrup mixture (or use a spoon to spread it on).
- Smoke the bacon for 30-40 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the glaze has set and is slightly tacky.
- Dig in!
Why Smoke The Bacon on a Rack?
You CAN smoke the bacon right on the grill inside your smoker, but the dripping grease and sugar make a nasty combination that’s perfect for smoking (the unwanted kind of smoke) and burning. You don’t want a fire in your pellet smoker, trust me. Keeping the bacon on a rack over a baking sheet (or even a sheet of foil with crimped edges) will catch any dripping fat and sugar and make cleanup a breeze.
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- Use good quality bacon. Now’s not the time to go cheap. When bacon is the star of the dish, use the good stuff!
- Chipotle powder can be spicy. As written, this recipe is somewhere between mild and medium spice. The age of the chipotle powder can affect the spiciness – it gets less spicy over time.
- For extra sweet and extra spicy bacon, brush the other side, too, flipping the bacon halfway through the smoking time.
Recommended
Make It A Meal
Smoked Candied Bacon can be an appetizer, side dish, or even dessert! I like it with a good brunch casserole, or a hearty meal of smoked meat like chicken thighs. Or, pair your pork candy with other appetizers like beef wellington bites, baked brie, or crab spanakopita. Don’t forget to add candied bacon to an awesome smoked pork board!
Step By Step Process
Smoked Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 12 slices sliced bacon thick or regular sliced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
Instructions
- Lay the bacon slices on a rack over a baking sheet so that they're barely touching.
- Mix the maple syrup, brown sugar, and chipotle powder in a small bowl.
- Brush the bacon slices with the glaze.
- Smoke at 225-F for one hour or until they are brown and firm to the touch.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- Use good quality bacon. Now’s not the time to go cheap. When bacon is the star of the dish, use the good stuff!
- Chipotle powder can be spicy. As written, this recipe is somewhere between mild and medium spice. The age of the chipotle powder can affect the spiciness – it gets less spicy over time.
- For extra sweet and extra spicy bacon, brush the other side, too, flipping the bacon halfway through the smoking time.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
