This simple, yet flavorful recipe for Billionaire Bacon is a slightly spicy candied bacon that can easily be made in your oven.
Delicious in burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more, this bacon candy is the perfect way to add a unique touch to your favorite dishes.
Ever since I was a young girl, I was a big fan of Martha Stewart. As someone who caught an early passion for cooking, I found her first books to be great teachers at a time when the internet was something you accessed at the public library and google didn't exist.
In recent years, Martha has developed a relationship with another idol of the 1990's: Snoop Dogg. So of course when he released a cookbook and the rave reviews started rolling in, I had to grab one for my ever-expanding collection.
One of the recipes that stuck out to me was a recipe for Billionaire's Bacon. Very obviously inspired by the classic million dollar bacon recipe, it was spicy, sweet, and super delicious. So after tweaking the recipe for my family and testing the best cooking methods, I had to share it here!
I know you'll love it as much as we do. It's amazing tucked into burgers and sandwiches, but honestly? My favorite way to eat it is straight off the cooling rack.
You Will Need:
- Bacon: Use a good quality bacon with even slices. While you could use thick-cut bacon, I find the texture from standard sliced bacon is best.
- Brown sugar: Use whatever type you have on hand! I like using light brown sugar, as find the flavor more mild compared to dark brown sugar.
- Crushed red pepper: This is for added heat! Also known as crushed chilies, use as much (or as little) as you like.
- Black pepper: For added flavor and a touch of heat. If you like things mild, use less than the recipe calls for (or use white pepper instead).
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Wire cooking rack (optional, but recommended)
- Parchment paper (or aluminum foil) - for easy clean-up
How to Make Billionaire Bacon
Also known as pig candy, this spicier version of candied bacon is super simple to make in an oven. All you need is 4 simple ingredients and a baking sheet!
- Add ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and ½-1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (AKA crushed chilies) to a small bowl.
- Stir everything together until well combined.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (or aluminum foil) and place an oven-safe baking rack inside.
- Place the bacon on top of the baking rack, leaving a small amount of space between each slice.
- Sprinkle ⅔ of the brown sugar mixture on top of the bacon slices.
- Bake in a 425ºF (218ºC) oven for 15 minutes.
- Once the 15 minutes are up, remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip each of the slices over.
- Top the other half of the bacon with the remaining ⅓ of brown sugar.
- Return the bacon to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until it's as crispy as you like.
- Allow the bacon to cool for 5 minutes before serving. It should crisp up as it cools.
Without a Wire Rack
If you don't have an oven-safe cooking rack, you can still make this recipe - just line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or foil and spread the bacon on top of it. Then sprinkle with all of the brown sugar mixture and bake.
Keep in mind that the bacon won't crisp up because it will be cooking in bacon fat and brown sugar, but it still does taste quite delicious!
Storing Leftovers
- Allow the bacon to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight storage container.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For the best results, re-crisp the bacon in the oven (350ºF/177ºC) for 5-10 minutes.
- It can also be reheated in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
Expert Tips
- Use a wire rack. The best bacon and crispiest results are had when you use an oven-safe cooling rack set inside of a rimmed baking sheet. This allows the rendered fat to drip below, creating a crispy and candied bacon that has an excellent texture. You can skip it, but the bacon will be slightly floppy and does not crisp as well.
- No draining needed. While it's standard to drain cooked bacon on paper towels, that is one step you'll want to skip for this recipe. The brown sugar will stick to the paper towel as it cools, leaving a big mess (and a lot of paper towel pieces on your bacon).
- Maple syrup? I tried including maple syrup when I was developing my candied bacon recipe, but I found it to be too sticky and too sweet. It's a lot easier to sprinkle on the brown sugar mixture when maple syrup isn't involved.
Ways to Use Billionaire's Bacon
- Burgers
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- With eggs and toast
- Crumbled
- On salads
- With eggs (poached, fried, scrambled, etc)
- To garnish a Bloody Mary
- Pancakes (or waffles)
- With deviled eggs
- At a brunch buffet
- Game day snack
- Added to twice baked potatoes
- In baked potato soup
Variations
- Billionaire bacon twists - Coat the bacon with most of the brown sugar mixture on one side, then use both hands to form them into twists. Sprinkle on the remaining brown sugar combo, then bake at 400ºF for 20 minutes, then flip and cook for another 15 minutes - or until crisp.
- Million dollar bacon - This billionaire bacon recipe is a spicier version of the popular recipe for millionaire bacon. Use the same amount of brown sugar, but instead use ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Thick cut bacon - Add 2-3 minutes per side if using thick cut bacon.
More Bacon Recipes
If you loved this recipe for Billionaire Bacon, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Billionaire Bacon
Equipment
- Wire baking rack oven-safe
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon regular, not thick or thin cut*
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (chile flakes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF (218ºC). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, and place an oven-safe baking rack on top of the parchment paper.
- Place the bacon slices on the baking rack, keeping them evenly spaced with no overlapping.
- Add the brown sugar, black pepper, and crushed chile flakes to a small bowl. Stir well.
- Sprinkle ⅔ of the brown sugar mixture carefully on top of the bacon slices.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Use a fork to flip the bacon slices over, then gently sprinkle on the remaining brown sugar mixture.
- Return to the oven to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bacon slices to cool on the baking rack for 4-5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Marion
We loved this recipe! Billionaire Bacon is 🔥