This Bacon Bourbon Jam is the perfect addition to a crostini, pimento cheese, a grilled cheese sandwich, or even roasted vegetables!

Bacon. Bourbon. Jam.

Really, what could possibly be wrong with this? It’s meaty, sweet, tangy, salty… And its bacon! Some of my favorite places around town have been using bacon jam to top their breakfast sandwiches or their pimento cheese appetizers and I just can’t get enough of it. Anyone who knows me knows that if I love something I have in a restaurant, I have to get in the kitchen and figure it out.

Mission accomplished.

Before making this recipe, I had never tried bacon bourbon jam, but just as bacon makes everything better, I believe the same is true for bourbon. The bourbon just gives it a little something extra that sets it over the edge and makes this stuff downright addictive. Smear a little of our Cheeseball with Pimento Cheese on a cracker and top it with this bacon jam and you’ve got absolute perfection.

Know someone else who loves bourbon? Check out our Bourbon Lovers Gift Guide

The key to a good bacon jam is extra thick bacon, cooked extra crispy. I managed to find some in my neighborhood grocery store, but next time I think I’ll head to my local meat market to find some that is even a little thicker. You want to cook it a bit past the point that you typically would.. not burnt, but done enough that it crumbles easily when cooled and most of the fat has cooked off.

Once you have the bacon cooked and crumbled, the rest of the bacon bourbon jam process is really pretty easy! Set aside the bacon and drain off all but about a tablespoon of the bacon grease. Toss in the minced shallots and onions. (Hint: cut the onions and shallots into chunks and pulse them a couple times in a food processor. Instant mince.) Cook them on medium high heat until the onions caramelize (about 10 minutes). Add in your garlic and cook for a minute longer.

Next, add your spices, bourbon, and maple syrup and let it boil. Be sure to stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to get all that bacon goodness. Let it boil for 3 minutes, stirring. Then, add your balsamic and brown sugar and stir for another 3 minutes.

Add the bacon back to the pan and lower the temperature to low. Let it simmer for 10 minutes and you’re done! The only question now is what to put it on…

The Possibilities Are Endless

We tried this bacon bourbon jam on crostini with melted cheese… delish. On top of pimento cheese? Perfection. My friend Ken got a jar from me and put it on top of some homemade Mexican Cornbread… out of this world. How about on top of our Pimento Cheese Stuffed Burger Sliders? That sounds like heaven.

I’ve seen it in restaurants served on top of roasted brussel sprouts and avocado toast… why not? The sky is the limit. If you’re reading this no doubt you love bacon like we do. You’ll also love this Baked Brie topped with Apples and Bacon. 

What are you going to do with your bacon bourbon jam?

FYI: Stored refrigerated in a mason jar, this jam will keep for up to 2 weeks, but if you don’t use it by then I hear it freezes well too! I can’t imagine not eating it before then, though…

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I can think of a few things this would be perfection on…

Herb and Cheese Biscuits

Grilled Peaches with Toasted Pecans

Mama’s Mexican Cornbread

For another fun bacon recipe, check out this one on Fave Southern Recipes. 

For this and a lot of other great recipes be sure to check out Meal Plan Monday

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