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This Million Dollar Bacon is coated in a sweet ‘n spicy mixture that crisps up perfectly in the oven! It’s a great brunch item or snack no matter the time of day and will quickly become your new favorite way to make bacon!
This post is sponsored by the Kansas Pork Association,
but all opinions and text are my own!
Have you ever been to a First Watch restaurant? Though we don’t have one nearby, they’re well-known for their “Million Dollar Bacon.” Essentially, it’s thick cut bacon strips cooked up with the perfect balance of sweetness and heat and garnished with real maple syrup. Best bacon EVER!!
Sounds amazing right?! Let’s make some First Watch bacon (aka billionaire bacon or pig candy) at home…it’s easy to do and you’ll quickly feel like a “millionaire” after the first bite!
Ingredients Needed
- Bacon – I use thick cut bacon for this recipe. If you choose to use regular bacon, see notes in the recipe card below.
- Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar works great.
- Maple Syrup – I use real maple syrup as it gives great depth of flavor! You can opt to use honey if you prefer.
- Spices – Cayenne, red pepper flakes and black pepper.
How to Make Million Dollar Bacon
Start by preheating the oven and lining a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. (This makes clean-up a breeze!)
Next, you’ll place an oven safe baking rack (wire/cooling rack) onto the pan. Cooking the bacon on the rack allows it to crisp up evenly and a little more quickly.
Arrange the bacon on top of the rack in a single layer.
Mix up the spicy brown sugar maple glaze! Once the ingredients are all combined, pop it in the microwave until it’s nice and runny. This will make it easier to drizzle on.
Spoon the mixture over the bacon and bake for about 30 minutes. I recommend rotating the pan in the oven after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.
Do not transfer to paper towels to remove excess grease – the sugary coating will make the bacon stick to the paper towels! Instead, move directly to a serving platter or a fresh parchment-lined tray.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley or drizzle maple syrup on top for a beautiful appearance….or skip it and dive right in! 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
Let the bacon cool completely then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen in well-sealed freezer bags for up to 2 months.
This million dollar bacon recipe is the perfect addition to almost any meal! Pair it with my Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake and Frozen Fruit Cups for a delightful brunch!
Try this millionaire’s bacon for an elevated BLT sandwich, on top of a burger or chopped up on top of deviled eggs!
Increasing the heat will cook the bacon more quickly. However, I like to cook it at a bit of a lower temperature to give more time for the fat to render a bit and become nice and crisp!
You want to be careful reheating the bacon as you don’t want to burn the sugary coating. I like to pop it in the microwave for a few seconds or in the air fryer just until warmed through.
Other Sweet ‘N Savory Bacon Recipes
Million Dollar Bacon
Equipment
- 1 rimmed sheet pan
- 1 wire rack
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉ and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe wire rack on top.
- Place the bacon in an even layer on top of the rack, making sure the pieces don't overlap.1 pound thick-cut bacon
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the brown sugar, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and black pepper.1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Microwave for 30-45 seconds, stirring once in the middle of the cook time. This will make the mixture more runny and easy to drizzle over the bacon.
- Drizzle over the bacon and spread with the back of a spoon. Don't worry if you can't get it super even – it'll melt and coat the bacon nicely!
- Bake for 28-32 min or until the bacon is golden brown and crisp.
- Serve warm and sprinkle with parsley, if desired.
