Rich, smoky, sweet, and deeply savory, this Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam is a bold BBQ condiment that belongs on burgers, smoked cream cheese, grilled chicken, crackers, sandwiches, and just about anything that needs a serious flavor boost.
Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam
This Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam is the kind of homemade BBQ condiment that can turn a simple meal into something memorable. It combines crispy bacon, soft caramelized onions, whiskey, brown sugar, honey, balsamic vinegar, and a gentle kick of red pepper flakes. The result is a thick, spoonable bacon onion jam with layers of sweet, smoky, tangy, and savory flavor.
It is especially good on burgers, where the sticky sweetness of the jam balances the richness of the beef. It also works beautifully as an appetizer spooned over softened cream cheese or served with crackers. If you love easy BBQ recipes with big flavor, this bacon jam recipe is a great one to keep in your rotation. It takes about 40 minutes from start to finish, and the process is simple enough for a weeknight but impressive enough for a cookout or party.
What is bacon jam?
Bacon jam is a savory-sweet spread made by cooking bacon with onions, sugar, vinegar, and seasonings until the mixture becomes thick and glossy. It is not a traditional fruit jam, but it has the same spreadable texture and concentrated flavor. In this version, whiskey adds depth, honey brings smooth sweetness, balsamic vinegar adds tang, and red pepper flakes provide just enough warmth to keep the flavor balanced.
The magic happens as the onions soften and caramelize in the bacon drippings. They become sweet and mellow, soaking up the smoky bacon flavor before everything simmers together into a rich jam. The finished condiment is hearty, bold, and versatile. It can be served warm, gently reheated, or used straight from the refrigerator after warming slightly to loosen the texture.
Ingredients for this Recipe
This whiskey bacon jam uses a short list of ingredients, but each one has an important role. Bacon gives the jam its smoky, salty foundation. Sweet onion adds body and natural sweetness. Whiskey helps lift the browned bits from the pan and adds a deeper flavor. Brown sugar and honey create the sticky jam-like consistency, while balsamic vinegar cuts through the richness. Kosher salt sharpens the flavors, and red pepper flakes bring a mild heat.
- 1 pound bacon (diced)
- 1 large sweet onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup whiskey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 ½ Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Susie’s Bacon Jam Pro Tips
- Choose the right bacon: Thick-cut bacon works best because it keeps a satisfying texture after cooking. Avoid maple-flavored bacon, which can make the jam overly sweet.
- Chill before dicing: Place the bacon in the freezer for about 15 minutes before cutting. Slightly chilled bacon is easier to dice into even pieces, which helps it cook more consistently.
- Scrape the pan well: When the whiskey goes into the skillet, use a wooden spatula to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. Those bits carry a lot of smoky, savory flavor.
How to Make Bacon Jam
Making homemade bacon jam is straightforward, but the order of the steps matters. Start by rendering the bacon so you have plenty of flavorful fat for the onions. Then slowly cook the onions until they are soft and lightly browned. Once the whiskey, sweeteners, vinegar, and seasonings are added, the mixture reduces into a rich, dark jam.
- Cook bacon. Preheat a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and slightly crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set it aside.
- Add onion. Add the sliced onion to the bacon fat in the skillet. Reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the onions are soft, cooked through, and light brown.
- Add whiskey, brown sugar, and honey. Pour the whiskey into the skillet and scrape the bottom well to release the browned bits. Stir in the brown sugar and honey. Increase the heat to high, bring the mixture to a boil, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring.
- Add remaining ingredients. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, Kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Boil for another 1 to 2 minutes, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the cooked bacon back to the skillet and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon jam is thick, dark, and well combined.
- Enjoy. Serve the whiskey onion bacon jam warm, or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for later.
Ways to Use Bacon Jam
This bacon jam is one of those condiments that fits almost anywhere you want smoky sweetness. Spoon it over a juicy burger for a restaurant-style upgrade, spread it onto grilled cheese, or serve it with crackers as a quick appetizer. It is also excellent over softened cream cheese, where the warm jam melts slightly into the cheese and creates an easy party dish.
You can also use it as a topping for grilled chicken breast, add it to sandwiches, or include it on a charcuterie board with sharp cheddar, creamy brie, bread, and crackers. The flavor is rich, so a little goes a long way. Still, it is the kind of condiment people tend to come back to for another spoonful.
Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers, transfer the bacon onion jam to a lidded mason jar or another airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The jam will firm up as it chills, so warm it gently before serving. A short, slow reheat in the microwave works well. Stir it before serving so the texture becomes glossy and spreadable again.
More Condiment Recipes
If this Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam is your kind of recipe, try adding more homemade sauces, butters, dips, and spreads to your BBQ menu. A great condiment can make grilled meats, burgers, appetizers, and side dishes taste more complete without requiring a complicated cooking process.
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Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam Recipe
This Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam is a simple way to add bold BBQ flavor to everyday meals. It is sweet from the onions, brown sugar, and honey; smoky from the bacon; tangy from the balsamic vinegar; and slightly warm from the red pepper flakes. Make a batch for burgers, appetizers, sandwiches, grilled chicken, or a snack board, and serve it warm for the best texture.
Whiskey Onion Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon diced
- 1 sweet onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup whiskey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 ½ Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
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Cook bacon. Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until browned and slightly crisp, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
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Add onion. Add the sliced onion to the bacon fat in the pan. Reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the onions are light brown and cooked through.
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Add whiskey, brown sugar, and honey. Pour in the whiskey and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen the browned bits. Stir in the brown sugar and honey. Increase the heat to high, bring to a boil, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring.
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Add remaining ingredients. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, Kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Boil for 1 to 2 more minutes, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the cooked bacon and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick, dark, and well combined.
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Serve and store. Serve warm on crackers, softened cream cheese, burgers, sandwiches, or grilled chicken. Store leftovers in a lidded glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat gently before serving.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 5g
| Protein: 10g
| Fat: 30g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.