Smoked Spicy Mustard Brown Sugar Bacon

Name: Smoked Spicy Mustard Brown Sugar Bacon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 lb bacon; 2 tbsp Moore's Spicy Mustard Hot Sauce*; 1/2 cup brown sugar

Brown sugar bacon gets even better when you add spicy mustard hot sauce to the glaze. The smoky treat melts in your mouth.

4.67 from 3 votes

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By Christie Vanover | Published December 8, 2018 | Last Updated February 28, 2023

Home | Recipes | Smoked Spicy Mustard Brown Sugar Bacon

This brown sugar bacon recipe (also known as Pig Candy or candied bacon) is such an addictive snack, because with each bite, you crack through a sweet, spicy shell.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is brown sugar bacon?
Ingredients
How to cook brown sugar bacon
How to serve brown sugar bacon
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
Breakfast Recipes

What is brown sugar bacon?

Brown sugar bacon is one of those delicious treats that are hard to stop eating.

Usually, it’s made with brown sugar and chili powder. Sometimes people add maple syrup or honey, too.

This recipe is just as easy, but instead of chili powder, I use my favorite hot sauce for pork – Moore’s Spicy Mustard Hot Sauce.

It has notes of mustard, vinegar, cayenne, sugar and black pepper.

Ingredients

Bacon: I prefer original or regular thickness. If you get thick-cut bacon, it doesn’t get as crispy.
Moore’s Spicy Mustard Hot Sauce
Brown Sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar. Personally, I prefer dark, because it has more molasses.

Substitutions: If you can’t find the spicy mustard hot sauce, you can use 1 1/2 tablespoons spicy mustard, 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and a couple dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

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).

Both cherry and pecan woods balance nicely with the spicy mustard hot sauce.

STEP ONE: Mix the hot sauce in a small bowl with a half cup of brown sugar. 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.

bacon strips on rack brushed with spicy mustard and brown sugar.

STEP THREE: Next, it’s time for a kiss of smoke. Place the entire cooling rack right on the grill, and smoke the bacon for about 30 minutes.

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.

glass of cooked brown sugar bacon next to Moore's bottle of spicy mustard sauce.

Once it’s cool, you can remove it from the rack and serve it on a plate or in a tall glass.

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

How long does candied bacon last?

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.

What is candied bacon made of?

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.

How do you bake bacon with brown sugar?

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.

Breakfast Recipes

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