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Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Snacks

Bourbon bacon jam

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 6, 2025 | Published: Mar 9, 2017
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Bourbon bacon jam is a salty-sweet spread with big bacon flavor that’s perfect for an appetizer with some cheese and crackers or on burgers or sandwiches or in salad dressings or soups!A bowl of bourbon bacon jam with a bowl of crackers in the background

It's been a strange week of ups and downs.

Got some good news (J was evaluated for speech therapy and found to be A-OK and right on track for a 3-year-old), some bad news (a close family member is sick), had 3x as much work going on at my day job but also had a fun girls night out with some other mamas at J's preschool, have half of my house packed into the other half of my house (hardwood floors being refinished this weekend), and hubby and I are packing up for a little weekend getaway, just us.

(We're headed to D.C. to visit some friends and I'm SO excited!)

But needless to say, I'm a little out of sorts and you know what? That kinda goes with today's recipe.

This is a little different than my normal healthy, easy family food fare, but you guys, I have literally had this bourbon bacon jam on my “to make” list for AGES.

Bacon jam with bourbon served in a white bowl with crackers nearby

Seriously, I have a post-it note that I move in my planner from week to week of things I need to make beyond our regular dinners. Like, if we’re almost out of whole wheat pumpkin muffins or spinach banana mini-muffins for the kids, I’ll write that down.  Or if I need to do another double batch of my easy whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread for the kids’ breakfast, that’ll go on the list.

Other times, I’ll have a recipe I’m just dying to test and it’ll go on the list so I don’t forget. My memory these days is the WORST!

And this bourbon bacon jam? It got written on the post-it note every week. And not made. Then written on the next week’s post-it note. And neglected once again.

(And y’all know it’s not because I didn’t have any bourbon in the house! #bourbonlover )

Bourbon bacon jam in a white bowl with crumbled bacon scattered around the bowl

Poor bourbon bacon jam, I’m sorry I ignored you for so long.

But you were worth the wait and then some!

This bacon jam has such a deep, smoky flavor, a nice hint of sweetness (hence the jam) that’s balanced by the acids. And my version gets some serious background flavor from the bourbon, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Seriously delicious friends!

Notes on making bourbon bacon jam:

  • You gotta cook a lot of bacon for this recipe. The whole 1-pound pack. I used two pans to make this go faster because you only need two tablespoons of the bacon grease for the recipe, which you’ll definitely have in one of the pans by itself.
  • As always, I prefer to use thick-cut bacon but you could substitute your favorite kind.
  • You might think there’s way too much onion and shallot in this recipe, but I promise it cooks down and practically melts into the recipe by the time it’s done cooking.
  • I used just maple syrup cause I do like naturally sweetened best. You can add some brown sugar if you would like through, as it’s pretty traditional to have both in most bacon jam recipes. (Either replace ¼ of the maple syrup and add ¼ cup brown sugar or add an additional ¼ cup sugar to this recipe to sweeten it up more.)
  • You can also add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to spice this up a little - I plan to do that next time!

A spoon resting in a bowl of bourbon bacon jam with extra bacon pieces nearby

Serving ideas for bourbon bacon jam:

- Spoon it on top of some burgers or even grilled chicken.

- Serve on its own with crackers or a baguette or pair with cheese — and pimiento cheese for an extra decadent, Southern twist!(Or combine both of those and serve it on top of my easy pimiento cheese crackers!)

- Also would be yummy with slow roasted cherry tomatoes on a baguette for a massively flavorful crostini bite.

- You could also spoon this on top of my easy microwave baked brie.

- I love bacon and sweet potatoes together, and I think I’m gonna have to try this on my sweet potato toast. Breakfast deliciousness!

- It would also be good as part of a dressing for a spinach salad, part of a turkey sandwich or grilled cheese, with poached or fried eggs and an English muffin, as a garnish for soup, with pasta and sauce, and on and on.

Crackers with pimiento cheese and bacon jam on top served on a small white plate

So put this on your list and do better than me and actually make it before 3 more months go by.

In fact, it’d be great for all the March Madness games coming up! Perfect guy food for a crowd and for game watching.

Have a wonderful weekend and happy cooking!

XO,

Kathryn

A homemade bacon jam with bourbon in a white bowl with a separate bowl of crackers and a blue napkin to the back.
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5 from 2 votes

Bourbon bacon jam

Bourbon bacon jam is a salty-sweet spread with big bacon flavor that’s perfect for an appetizer, on burgers or with salad dressings!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound thick-cut bacon, cut in half
  • 1 large sweet onion, finely diced
  • 1 large shallot, finely diced
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup bourbon
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Working in batches, cook the bacon in a large pan over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon to paper towels to absorb the extra grease and drain all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease from the pan. 
  • Return the pan to medium heat and add onions and shallot. Sauté until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil then cook over medium for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Crumble the reserved bacon (or chop it) and add to the pan. I like to reserve a couple of tablespoons of bacon pieces for serving, but that’s not necessary.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and cook another 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is syrupy and thickened, stirring occasionally.
  • Let cool then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

If you want your bacon jam to be smoother, you can transfer the cooled mixture to a food processor and pulse it until it’s more combined. I happen to like the bigger bacon chunks in mine.
Bacon jam will keep stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 1013mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!

A collage of homemade bacon jam with bourbon in a white bowl with a blue text box in the middle.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    March 11, 2017 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    A week of up and downs is better than a week of just downs, right?! I'm trying to work on REALLY staying positive.. so I may come across as that obnoxious, overly optimistic chick. lol. Anyways, I hope you and the hubs have a nice get away!! So bourbon bacon jam = YUM!! There was a place back in Orlando that I loooooved to eat lunch at, and they had a burger topped with onion rings and bourbon bacon jam that I seriously went crazy for. Naturally I'm thinking I need to recreate it at home since you were nice enough to post this fabulous recipe for bourbon bacon jam! I could definitely eat this jam straight from the jar with just a spoon!! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend! xo

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      March 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      Absolutely true! I'm the same way - always trying to see the bright side and keep a little perspective in mind! And yes, you definitely need to recreate that burger and top it with some of this bourbon bacon jam - SO much deliciousness! XO

      Reply
  2. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    March 12, 2017 at 11:07 am

    What a time you are having - I hope everything works out okay on all ends. And as for this recipe - I think the title contains all my favorite words, so you KNOW I will be pinning and trying this one! Hang in there my friend - sending all good vibes your way!

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      March 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      Thanks so much Kate! Things are looking up already 😉 And yes, you need to get on this bourbon bacon jam - it's right up your alley! XO

      Reply
  3. julia-tag&tibby

    March 17, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    I've always wanted to try bacon jam. Definitely pinning for later!

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      March 18, 2017 at 9:46 am

      It's a must - you will love it Julia!

      Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

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