Crispy Brown Sugar Bacon Recipe

Is there anything better than perfectly crispy bacon? We were hesitant to say yes until we set our eyes on what has to be one of the best combinations ever: bacon and brown sugar. This recipe by Susan Olayinka, who blogs at The Flexible Fridge, promises a tray of crispy brown sugar bacon that's ready in 10 minutes. Susan loves coming up with simple, tantalizing recipes that are "busy-life approved." This one definitely passes the test — it might even take your oven longer to preheat than the total cooking time. 

While ordinary crispy bacon has a place at the breakfast, lunch, and dinner table, this brown sugar twist might even find its way into your baked goods. The smokey flavors from the bacon work wonderfully with the caramelized aromas of melted brown sugar. We're just building up your anticipation, but don't take our word for it — see for yourself. We promise that once you make your first batch, you'll be looking for ways to sneak this tasty treat into any dish.

Part of what we love about this recipe (aside from the heavenly taste) is its simplicity. There's definitely no wasting time with elaborate cooking techniques or seeking out innumerable ingredients at every shop in town. A few minutes and two ingredients is all it takes before you can devour this crispy brown sugar bacon.

Susan's recipe cuts down on baking time by using thinly sliced bacon. She notes that "turkey bacon would work well too!" As for the sugar, Susan finds that "brown sugar caramelizes much better than white, and it leaves a nice brown finish." The molasses content definitely adds plenty of extra flavor, so you won't want to substitute it. When caramelized aromas come together with bacon, it might as well be magic. If you want to add a bit of earthiness, Susan recommends cinnamon — "just a pinch" should do the trick.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to begin. Next, prep your baking tray by lining it with aluminum foil so you don't have to spend twice the cook time cleaning the grease off your tray. Even better, you won't risk clogging your sink with bacon grease. Lay out the rashers of bacon side by side on the baking tray. It doesn't matter if they are close together since they will shrink as they bake and begin to get crispy. If you're feeling particularly indulgent, you can double the dose since the bacon holds quite well after it is cooked. 

Once the oven has reached 350 degrees Fahrenheit, transfer your bacon-covered tray to the oven. Bake it for eight minutes, though Susan warns to "be careful to keep an eye on the oven as the bacon cooks pretty fast depending on how hot your oven gets."

While some recipes add the brown sugar immediately at the start, Susan's recommends first baking only the bacon to allow it to become crispy by itself. Since thin bacon is used in the recipe, it won't take long. In case you can only find thicker cut bacon, bake it until it is crispy around the edges. Once the bacon is crispy, remove the tray from the oven immediately. 

Turn your oven grill to the highest setting. Measure out the brown sugar, and sprinkle it carefully over each slice of bacon. Susan's recipe keeps the quantities on the lower end so that it's still a virtuous breakfast, but you could go wild and increase the proportions. There's nothing wrong with a candied stick of bacon. If you're looking for an extra touch of pizazz, adding a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne will certainly do the trick. Either way, you won't feel like you're missing out if you only stick to brown sugar!

Once the bacon is evenly coated with brown sugar and your grill is at the right heat, pop the baking tray back into the oven. The temperature will be very hot at this point, so now is not the time to wander off. Grill the bacon for one minute or until the sugar has melted, which shouldn't be much longer. The moment the sugar has melted, remove the tray from the oven. It would certainly be a shame to end up with a tray of blackened bacon. 

Transfer the crispy, caramelized bacon to a dish. If you're having breakfast, Susan recommends toasting a piece of bread and frying a runny egg. Stack your freshly cooked bacon on top, and you have definitely started your day off on the right foot.

In case you're making this ahead of time, wait for it to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container bag. It will store in the refrigerator for a few weeks or in the freezer for a few months. Reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes, in the microwave, or in a toaster oven. We wouldn't disapprove if you ate it cold either.

Susan raves that "these are so good alone" — have them as an appetizer or salty sweet snack when the craving strikes. Aside from being a heavenly topping for eggs on toast, crispy brown sugar bacon pairs well with plenty of flavors. For an extra sweet touch, serve it with pancakes, French toast, or waffles and a drizzle of maple syrup while you're at. Use them for a deluxe addition to a classic cheeseburger or sandwich, or crumble them into pieces and use them in cornbread, cupcakes, muffins, or sprinkled on a salad. Honestly, you'll soon start to wonder what doesn't pair well with crispy brown sugar bacon. You're welcome!