Million Dollar Bacon
Thick-cut bacon baked with a glaze of brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper until it is deeply caramelized and impossibly crispy. This million dollar bacon is sweet, salty, spicy, and smoky all at once — the kind of bacon that ruins regular bacon for you forever.
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Wire cooling rack
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
Bacon and Glaze
- 1 lb thick-cut bacon about 12 slices
- 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper reduce to 1/2 tsp for less heat
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup not pancake syrup
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil, then set a wire cooling rack on top of the sheet. This keeps the bacon elevated so the fat drips away and every side gets crispy.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and smoked paprika until well combined.
Assemble and Glaze
- Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack. The slices can be close together but should not overlap.
- Drizzle the maple syrup lightly over each slice of bacon. Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to spread it evenly.
- Generously press the brown sugar mixture onto the top of each bacon slice. Use all of the mixture — do not be shy. The sugar will melt and caramelize during baking.
Bake
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. The bacon is done when the sugar is deeply caramelized and bubbling, and the bacon is a rich mahogany color.
- Remove from the oven and let the bacon cool on the rack for at least 5 minutes. The glaze will harden as it cools, creating a candy-like shell. Do not try to move the bacon until it has set.
Nutrition
Calories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 8gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 120mgSugar: 13gVitamin A: 85IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
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