Easy Bacon Onion Jam

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This bacon onion jam recipe is easy to make in a large skillet on the stovetop, and it only requires a few basic ingredients. The perfect topping for everything from cheeseburgers to grilled cheese to breakfast sandwiches!

There are few things better than the smell of sizzling bacon and caramelizing sweet onions. That’s what inspired me to whip up an easy bacon onion jam – a savory-sweet spread that I never knew my breakfast sandwiches needed until now.

I initially stumbled upon the idea when brainstorming toppings for a breakfast patty melt. I wanted something special, something that would transform an already delicious sandwich into something extraordinary.

And after a little experimenting, this bacon onion jam was born. With crispy, salty bacon, sweet onions, and a hint of maple syrup, it was love at first bite. Slathered on a toasted patty melt with melted cheese, a perfectly cooked egg, and juicy sausage, it’s a breakfast creation that’s out of this world delicious.

And now, I’m hooked – it’s hard to imagine a patty melt (or any warm griddled sandwich) without it. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make, and you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge for burgers, toast, or just about anything that could use a bit of extra special flavor.

Ingredients Notes

Obviously, you’ll need bacon and onions for this easy sandwich topping recipe. Here’s a closer look at the ingredients and a few of my suggestions for the best onion bacon jam:

• bacon – Just regular sliced bacon. Grab whatever brand is on sale – nothing fancy needed, but make sure to get regular sliced NOT thick sliced. *I would recommend saving your money on the bacon to upgrade your maple syrup instead.
• onion – One regular sweet onion diced. You can use a Vidalia onion if you wish, but we just used a sweet yellow onion and our jam turned out perfectly!
• brown sugar
• garlic – A few fresh minced garlic cloves.
• maple syrup – For this recipe, you’ll definitely want a good quality pure maple syrup – none of that high fructose corn syrup junk.
• apple cider vinegar – Gives your jam a nice tang and helps to balance out the sweetness of the sugary ingredients.
• chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper – These pantry staples give your onion and bacon jam just the right amount of spice. I know that chili powder and cayenne pepper are not traditionally used in jam recipes, but trust me on this one!

How to Use Bacon and Onion Jam

Since this isn’t your typical condiment, you may be wondering how to use the leftovers. Here are some suggestions:

• Top your favorite breakfast sandwiches with the bacon jam – This is what we did for one of the best breakfast patty melts ever!
• Add the jam to a grilled cheese sandwich as it’s cooking
• Use onion and bacon jam as a burger topping – It would be perfect for a big thick pub burger or this Boursin cheese burger.
• Spoon some on top of a block of cream cheese for an easy appetizer
• Spread some bacon jam on your sandwich bread for a Club sandwich or warm turkey sandwich
• Place a small jar of the jam on a charcuterie board with a selection of gourmet cheeses, meats, and crackers

How to Make Onion Bacon Jam

This easy recipe cooks up in a single skillet in about 40 minutes. No special canning or jelly ingredients needed. Just follow these steps:

1. Cook diced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat renders out and the bacon becomes crispy. Then remove the bacon from the pan and transfer to paper towels to drain, reserving about 4 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.
2. Turn the heat down to medium-low and add the diced onions to the skillet with the bacon grease. Allow the onions to sweat, stirring occasionally to gather the fond (that layer of flavor-infused drippings) left in the pan. Cook until the onions are about halfway tender, then add in the minced garlic and sauté for a few more minutes.
3. Return the cooked crispy bacon to the pan. Stir in brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, seasonings, and maple syrup.
4. Stew the mixture on medium-low for 7 to 10 minutes until all the flavors are well-combined and the mixture thickens. *The bacon onion jam will continue to thicken as it cools.

Once your jam has reached a thick, caramel-like consistency, remove from the heat and let it cool. The sweet jam should look something like this:

How to Store the Bacon and Onion Jam

Store the leftover bacon jam in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days. Or, you can add the leftover jam to a freezer-safe mason jar or zip top bag and store it in the freezer for about 2-3 months.

You can reheat the jam in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval. Or serve it cold as a sandwich or cracker spread. Just give it a good stir before using.

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