Smoked Brown sugar candied bacon gets even better when you add mustard maple hot sauce to the glaze. The smoky treat melts in your mouth.
Table of Contents
What is candied bacon?
Candied bacon, also called Pig Candy or Millionaire’s Bacon, is one of those delicious treats that are hard to stop eating.
Usually, it’s made with brown sugar and chili powder or black pepper. Sometimes people add maple syrup or honey, too.
This recipe is just as easy, but instead of chili powder spices, I use a homemade mustard maple hot sauce. These flavors go so great with pork.
Ingredients
- Bacon: I prefer original or regular thickness. If you get thick-cut bacon, it doesn’t get as crispy.
- Brown Sugar: You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar. Personally, I prefer dark, because it has more molasses.
- Spicy Brown Mustard: This has a little more bite. If you prefer milder flavors, use Dijon mustard or yellow mustard.
- Maple Syrup
- Hot Sauce, Cayenne Pepper or Red Pepper Flakes
Substitutions: Instead of making the mustard maple sauce, you can use 3 tablespoons of hot honey.
How to cook brown sugar bacon
Start by setting up your grill with an indirect heat zone and a temperature of 300F degrees.
If you’re using a pellet grill, set the temp to 300F degrees, and be sure to line the pan under the grate with aluminum foil, because this cook is messy.
If you’re using a gas or charcoal grill, be sure to cook over indirect heat (the side without coals or the burners on).
Cherry, pecan, hickory or apple woods balance nicely with the spicy mustard hot sauce.
- STEP ONE: Mix the brown sugar, mustard, syrup and hot sauce in a small bowl. Zap it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. This will thin the glaze out so it’s easier to spread.
- STEP TWO: Use a pastry brush or basting brush to spread the sweet spicy brown sugar mixture on both sides of the bacon strips, and place the bacon slices in a single layer on a wire rack.
PRO TIP: For even easier cleanup, you can place the rack on a sheet pan lined with foil to collect the bacon grease.
- STEP THREE: Next, it’s time for a kiss of smoke. Place the entire cooling rack right on the grill, and smoke the slices of bacon for about 30 minutes.
PRO TIP: After 30 minutes, it will still be a little pliable, but that's okay. As the glaze cools, it hardens into sweet, spicy, salty, smoky candy that melts in your mouth.
How to serve brown sugar bacon
When it’s done smoking, remove the entire rack of bacon from the grill and let it cool over a baking pan.
Do not place the bacon onto paper towels or it will stick and you’ll end up with paper-coated bacon.
Once it’s cool, you can remove it from the rack and serve it on a plate or in a tall glass as a salty snack, appetizer or brunch side dish. It’s also great sprinkled onto a salad or served on a burger or sandwich.
Storage
This brown sugar bacon is best when eaten right away. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, but the sugars will start to melt and the bacon will become sticky.
If you’re going to refrigerate the cooked bacon. Store the pieces between sheets of wax paper or parchment paper in an airtight container.
GCG Pro Pitmaster Tips
- Choose bacon slices that aren’t too thick
- Microwave the glaze so it spreads on easily
- Smoke over indirect heat with a drip pan to collect grease and sugars
- Let cool on the rack; don’t use paper towels
Frequently Asked Questions
Cooked bacon, whether candied or not, should be stored in the refrigerator. It will last for about 7 days. However, the pig candy coating will start to dissolve once it’s refrigerated and it won’t be so crispy.
Candied bacon is most often made with bacon, brown sugar and maple syrup. This recipe uses a spicy mustard sauce in place of the maple syrup, which makes it both sweet and savory.
You don’t have to have a smoker to make this recipe. You can also place the cooling rack over a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake it in a 300F degree oven for 30 minutes.
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Smoked Brown Sugar Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp spicy mustard
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 dashes hot sauce
Instructions
- Heat Grill: Heat your smoker to 300F degrees with indirect heat.
- Make Glaze: Combine the brown sugar, mustard, syrup and hot sauce in a small bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds to thin in out. Stir well.
- Brush: Place the bacon on a baking rack in a single layer. Brush the brown sugar mix on both sides of the bacon.
- Smoke: Place the rack in the smoker, and smoke for 30-40 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon. The bacon will still be pliable, but will harden as it cools.
- Cool: Remove from the grill and let it cool on the rack over a baking sheet.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi This recipe looks great. Please could you give us the recipe using ingredients that are obtainable outside the USA as we can’t get this mustard sauce. Thanks
You can try combining your favorite yellow mustard with a dash or two of hot sauce.
LOVED this bacon. Made a version with smoked maple syrup too. Wondering if you think this could be refrigerated after, then given as a foodie gift the next day or so?
Thanks!
Oh yeah, your comp chicken thighs are the BOMB!!!!
Absolutely. The only down side to your plan is that your fiends are going to be asking you to make bacon all the time :)