Onion Bacon Jam is not the traditional flavor of preserves you may be used to, but it is definitely worth a try! It’s a savory and unique preserve that will elevate your taste buds. With a definite onion flavor supported by the saltiness of the bacon, Onion Bacon Jam is great on crackers with cheese or even mixed in ground beef for your next meatloaf recipe! I also have whiskey bacon jam and tomato bacon jam you will have to check out!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Bacon: The bacon can be broken up into pieces before or after being cooked. Do not make it ahead of time, since you will use some of the bacon grease to cook the onions and shallots. You could also use turkey bacon if preferred.
Onion: Look for one large yellow onion or about 3 small onions. You will need about 3 cups of chopped onion for the recipe.
Shallots: Shallots are a type of onion that are known for their sweeter, milder taste and delicate flavor. They are smaller in size compared to regular onions and have a long, narrow shape.
Sauce: The brown sugar, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and chili powder give you a sweet and spicy sauce.
How to Use Onion Bacon Jam
If you are looking for ways to use up your Onion Bacon Jam before it goes bad, there are many delicious options to consider:
- Use a dollop on a cracker with some cream cheese.
- Spread it on your grilled cheese sandwich before you grill it.
- Substitute Onion Bacon Jam for the bacon on your BLTs.
- Add it to your scrambled eggs.
- Use it as a topping for a hamburger or cheeseburger (my favorite).
- Mix it in with your macaroni and cheese.
- Top your favorite roasted vegetables.
These suggestions will help you fall in love with this jam. Let me know if you found other flavorful ways to use Onion Bacon Jam!
How to Store Onion Bacon Jam
Onion Bacon Jam is a delicious and popular condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes. However, it should not be stored at room temperature as it can spoil quickly. The best way to store it is in the refrigerator or freezer. When stored in the refrigerator, it will last for 2-4 weeks, while freezer storage will give it a longer shelf life. Since Onion Bacon Jam cannot be safely canned, it is important to consume it within 2-4 weeks when stored in the refrigerator or freeze it for longer storage. When freezing, be sure to use straight-sided mason jars (or glass jars) and leave about an inch of space at the top to allow for expansion.
More Appetizers
Onion Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon, diced
- 2 large yellow onions, finely chopped (about 3 cups)
- 2 large (or 6 small) shallots, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (85 g) maple syrup
- ⅓ cup (79 g) apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder, optional, but highly recommended
Instructions
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. While the bacon is cooking, line a plate with a paper towel.
- Place the cooked bacon onto the lined plate. Set aside.
- Leave about 4 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan, carefully removing the rest.
- To the pan, add the onion and diced shallots. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the onions and shallots are caramelized, 15-20 minutes, stirring often.
- Mix in the garlic, brown sugar, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, and pieces of cooked bacon.
- Simmer for 7-10 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened. It should be about the consistency of a jam.
- Serve warm or cold, but you may want to warm slightly if it has been refrigerated.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
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This was so good and much less complicated than other recipes I found for the bacon jam. Thank you so much! The chili I had must have been old didn’t get much flavor from it so I added some cayenne just 1/4 tsp and it was spot on!
How huge are the shallots to yield 1 1/2 cups diced?
It is 2 large shallots for 1 1/2 cups. You could always use 3 medium shallots.
Can this be canned for shelf life
Nope. It cannot. This one can be because it doesn’t contain bacon. https://iamhomesteader.com/spicy-tomato-jam/
I made one batch and found that the garlic and onion was overpowering the “jam”….I then made a second batch with no garlic and a small slice of onion chopped. I mixed them and it worked out well. I own a small restaurant and I made this as a topping for a special cheeseburger. Hopefully it will go over well.
What is the shelf life for this one batch please? I’m guessing about 3 – 4 days because of the meat content. Sounds AMAZING !!
I made this jam about 2 yrs ago for a luau in O’ahu. I spread some goat cheese on a toasted sliced of French bread, onion bacon jam then a thin slice of BBQ steak on top. Out of this world!
I did change things up a LITTLE. I tripled the recipe. Added half the Chile powder suggested, plus smoked paprika, just a few delicious dashes and a teaspoon of instant coffee.
A lot of bacon jam recipes call for black coffee, this one didn’t. But it adds an amazing depth to the flavor and brings out the sweetness in such a good way!
Also, simmered for about 30 minutes. I like mine thick and it did NOT disappoint
Do you think I can use white onion instead of yellow?
Sure
I made this today, but it came out a little bitter. I don’t think it’s the recipe, but I’m not sure what caused this; I suspect either the garlic or the shallots are the culprit. I added more brown sugar (I’m not a maple fan), a little salt, and a dash of liquid smoke, which mitigated the bitterness somewhat. Still puzzled by that.
After I made my adjustments I realized that I was out of chili powder, so I added in some dried harissa and it worked very well. In fact, in the future I will probably continue to use harissa instead of chili powder. Its flavor profile works really well in this application.
Absolutely Delicious!!! I added about a Tablespoon of Dijon mustard and a hint of worchershire sauce – fantastic on ham sliders for Christmas Eve lunch
I combined it with my brussel sprouts before baking, so so good!
Wayyyyy too sweet. It was like candied bacon. Went in the trash.
I’m not sure what your expectations are, but no where did I say this wasn’t sweet. It’s a jam. I’m sorry you felt the need to waste food and throw it away when it simply didn’t meet your expectations.