Brown Sugar Bacon is crispy bacon coated in brown sugar and baked until caramelized. Sweet, savory, and crunchy, it makes a delicious brunch side or a flavorful topping for salads, burgers, fried rice, and more.
The brown sugar forms a sticky glaze that enhances the bacon’s savory flavor and creates a pleasant crunch. To make it, simply sprinkle brown sugar over bacon strips, bake until the sugar caramelizes, then cool briefly and serve.
Why You’ll Love Baked Brown Sugar Bacon
- Taste – Brown sugar brings a rich, molasses-sweet balance to salty bacon.
- Texture – The sugar caramelizes into a crisp, slightly crunchy coating while the bacon becomes perfectly crisp.
- Quick – Prep takes about 5 minutes, baking around 15–20 minutes, plus a short cool time.
Key Ingredients
- Bacon – Thick-cut bacon works best for a meaty bite and to hold the caramelized sugar. Choose your favorite brand or pick thicker cuts from a butcher for extra heft.
- Brown sugar – Light or dark brown sugar both work; dark will add a deeper molasses flavor.
See the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Seasoning – Add a sprinkle of black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, or Cajun seasoning for a savory or spicy twist.
- Nuts – Finish with chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for extra crunch and a nutty flavor.
Instructions
- Heat oven – Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare bacon – Lay bacon in a single layer, leaving space between slices. Evenly sprinkle brown sugar over each slice and gently press the sugar into the meat with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
- Bake bacon – Bake 15–20 minutes, watching closely near the end so the sugar doesn’t burn. Remove when the bacon is crisp and the sugar has caramelized. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
Pro tip: Decide how you’ll serve the bacon before baking so you can prepare other components while the bacon cooks.
Other Baking Tips
- Monitor the bacon in the final minutes — sugar can go from caramelized to burned quickly.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan; slices need space to crisp and release steam.
What to Serve with Caramelized Bacon
This brown sugar bacon pairs beautifully with breakfast and brunch dishes like French toast, fried eggs, and waffles. It’s also excellent crumbled over salads, stirred into mac and cheese, or added to sandwiches and burgers for a sweet-savory boost.
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📖 Recipe
Oven Baked Brown Sugar Bacon
5
15
20
Equipment
- 1 sheet pan
- Aluminum foil (for lining the pan)
Ingredients
- 6 oz bacon
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven – Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
- Prepare bacon – Arrange bacon in a single layer with space between slices. Evenly sprinkle brown sugar and gently press it into the bacon.
- Bake bacon – Bake 15–20 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the sugar is caramelized. Remove and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
Notes
- Enjoy bacon fresh for best texture. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on a baking sheet in a 250°F (120°C) oven until warmed through to help restore crispiness.
Baking Tips
- Plan what you’ll serve with the bacon and prepare other components while it bakes.
- Watch closely near the end of baking so the sugar caramelizes without burning.
- Leave space between slices on the pan so the bacon crisps instead of steaming.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 4 g
| Fat: 28 g
| Sugar: 4 g
Tried this recipe?Share your results and any serving ideas.