If you’ve never tried bacon onion jam before, get ready—because this recipe might just change how you top burgers, sandwiches, and even breakfast toast forever. Sweet, savory, smoky, and just a little tangy, bacon onion jam is one of those next-level condiments that makes everything it touches taste gourmet. And the best part? It's surprisingly easy to make with simple ingredients!
My love for bacon goes way back to when I first started this blog. Some of you might even be familiar with the book 50 Shades of Bacon. It can be found on Amazon. I must admit that I don’t like cooking bacon at home much because of grease splatters or the fire alarm going off from all the smoke bacon produces. Yes, that’s happened quite a few times and can ruin your nice clothes.
That is why I prefer buying the already cooked bacon so I can just pop it in the microwave. The smell of bacon cooking along with onions is one of my most favorite smells ever. Caramelized onions and bacon go great on burgers so I thought why not make some kind of jam out of them so you don’t have to waste time cooking that before making a burger?
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💖Why You Will Like This Recipe
➤ It’s sweet, savory, tangy, and rich all in one bite
➤ Perfect for holiday appetizers, cheese boards, or everyday sandwich upgrades
➤ Made with just 6 simple ingredients
➤ Stores well in the fridge and reheats beautifully
➤ Whether you're hosting a backyard cookout or making a weekend brunch at home, this jam adds restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. I've also made this bacon jam on baked brie - Baked Brie with Maple Bacon Onion Jam
➤ Try this jam out on these Air Fryer Patty Melts!
Ingredients Needed
- Bacon, diced
- Yellow onions, diced small
- Garlic, crushed
- Fig jam - if there is no fig jam in season, just add some brown sugar to the mix
- Apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Bacon Onion Jam
Step 1 Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a plate, and leave about 1–2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.
Step 2 Add the diced onions to the pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until soft and golden—about 15–20 minutes. The goal is light caramelization.
Add the crushed garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant.
Stir in the fig jam and apple cider vinegar, mixing until everything is combined and glossy. Simmer for another 5–10 minutes, allowing the jam to thicken.
Return the bacon to the pan. Stir and simmer for a couple more minutes, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serving Suggestions
- Pile onto How to Cook Burgers on a Blackstone or sliders
- Spread on Air Fryer Grilled Cheese with Mayo or paninis
- Top Scrambled Eggs on Blackstone Griddle or Air Fryer Avocado Toast
- Stir into mashed potatoes or mac and cheese
- Serve with cheese boards or over brie
Pro Tips
- This jam stores well in the fridge for up to a week. Just reheat gently to soften.
- Want to make it ahead? It also freezes beautifully—just thaw and warm before using.
- Don’t rush the onions—slow caramelization is where the magic happens.
Recipe FAQS
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, bacon onion jam will keep for up to 7 days. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
It’s a perfect balance of both. The caramelized onions and brown sugar/maple syrup bring sweetness, while the bacon, vinegar, and coffee add savory, smoky, and tangy notes.
No, because it contains meat and low-acid ingredients, it is not safe to water-bath can for shelf storage. Stick to refrigerating or freezing.
Other Recipes to Try
If you tried this Bacon Onion Jam orany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Bacon Onion Jam
- Cook Time: 1 hr
- Total Time: 1 hr
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
- Category: Medium
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
Crisp cooked bacon with slow-cooked caramelized onions come together to make this awesome jam you can throw on any sandwich or burger.
Ingredients
1 pound bacon, diced
2 large yellow onions, diced small
2 tsp of garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons of fig jam
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is cooked and crisp 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are caramelized and browned, about 20 - 30 minutes. Add the vinegar and fig jam to the onions and stir. Add bacon back into the pot and stir to combine.
- Transfer mixture to a jar or however you wish to store the bacon jam. If you wish for the bacon jam to be pastier or jam-like process the jam in a food processor.
Notes
myWW: blue 6; green 6; purple 6
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 193
- Sugar: 2.7g
- Fat: 13.3g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Carbohydrates: 4.1g
- Fiber: .3g
- Protein: 13g
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