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Million dollar bacon recipe is a sweet and spicy strip of crispy heaven! Just try to eat just one. Coated with brown sugar, maple syrup, cayenne, ground ginger, pepper, and smoked paprika, this perfect savory yet sweet mixture creates a candy coating on your smoky strip of bacon, making it an irresistible, finger-licking treat.
Served for breakfast or brunch, alone as a snack, or as an appetizer, baking bacon in the oven will be the only way to go once you have tried it! My method will show you an easy way to cook bacon without getting splattered with hot oil, easy clean-up, and perfect every time! Scramble up some eggs or prepare the perfect brunch; this is the recipe you need to complete any morning meal!
I hope you’ll try more of our meaty dishes like our Bisquick sausage balls, Bisquick sausage muffins, bacon wrapped smokies, and bacon wrapped water chestnuts next!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS BACON!
- Cooked to perfection in the oven and dusted with spices.
- Smokey + Sweet + Salty + Crispy!
- Because it tastes better than anything that’s ever passed your lips!
- Breakfast food has never been so delicious.
WHAT IS FIRST WATCH MILLION DOLLAR BACON
No one is 100% sure where Million Dollar Bacon or Millionaire Bacon was first created. Many, if not most, people believe that Hoyul Steven Choi originally created it at his Pacific Heights brunch spot. The restaurant First Watch, however, is associated with Million Dollar Bacon because of its popularity and prominent inclusion on its menu.
MILLION DOLLAR BACON INGREDIENTS
- Dark Brown Sugar: The darker brown sugar has higher molasses content and has a deeper flavor.
- Maple Syrup: Made from the sap of maple trees, this natural sweetener is hard to substitute in flavor. Add the perfect, natural sweetness.
- Black Pepper: A little balance and spice.
- Cayenne Pepper: This little spice has a big impact. A little heat is nice. If you’d like it spicier, add red pepper flakes.
- Ground Ginger: Dried ginger adds a spicy, earthy flavor.
- Smoked Paprika: This dried red pepper adds a woody smoke to the bacon. This is the perfect complement to bacon!
- Bacon: Any brand, just make sure it is regular cut.
TIPS FOR PERFECT MILLION DOLLAR BACON
Watch It: Check on the bacon often during the last 5 minutes. Don’t walk away since sugar can burn quickly.
When Is It Done? Depending on how crispy you like your bacon, pull it out of the oven when it reaches the right crispness. You want fully cooked bacon where the edges crinkle.
Make It Thick: If you prefer thick-cut bacon, add 5 to 10 minutes of baking time on each side for a total of 40 to 50 minutes. I think this recipe is best made with regular-cut bacon. Thick-cut bacon, in my humble opinion, comes out like beef jerky, in my opinion.
Important Set-Up: We line a rimmed baking pan with aluminum foil, wrapping it around the edges. You can use parchment paper, but I think the foil does a better job for this recipe. Then we set a baking rack (aka cooling rack) inside it. With this setup, the bacon cooks and releases the excess grease, sitting above it to create a wonderful, crispy texture. Believe me, I’ve tried taking the shortcut of baking it directly on the baking pan, but it’s not worth it. It doesn’t come out the same! The setup also makes it easy to mop the grease with paper towels.
STORING + FREEZING + MAKE-AHEAD
- How Long Can You Keep This in The Refrigerator? Once made, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
- Reheat: I like to reheat leftovers in the toaster oven or in a skillet on the stovetop. The microwave doesn’t keep it crisp.
- Can You Store It In The Freezer? Wrap the cooled million-dollar bacon in plastic, then foil, label, and freeze for up to three months. When ready to eat, fully thaw, reheat, and enjoy!
- Make-Ahead: This delicious treat can be served at room temperature. Just loosely cover until ready to serve.
- Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety, check out this link.
SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS
Serve a million dollar bacon in sandwiches or on burgers. It’s not just for breakfast. But, if you’re hosting a brunch or having a big family breakfast, this bacon is an absolute MUST! It’s fabulous with simple pancakes, waffles, and toast with scrambled eggs. It’s also the perfect garnish for a bloody mary!
If you’re serving this for breakfast, I hope you’ll try our tater tot breakfast casserole or Pioneer Woman breakfast casserole, Bisquick quiche, our amazing blueberry coffee cake or sour cream coffee cake, apple scones, or Maple Pecan Scones!
HOW TO MAKE MILLION DOLLAR BACON
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set a wire baking rack inside the baking sheet.
- Make the spice mixture: Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, black and cayenne pepper, ginger, and paprika.
- Mix.
- Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack set inside a sheet pan. Bake and remove from the oven.
- Dip bacon slices in the sugar mixture, coating evenly on both sides. If there’s any extra brown sugar mixture, drizzle it over bacon. Return to the oven and bake.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven again and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the slices. Bake again.
- Serve.
***See the full instructions below.
MORE MILLION DOLLAR RECIPES
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Million Dollar Pie
- Million Dollar Dip
- Million Dollar Pound Cake
- Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Million Dollar Chicken
MORE EASY BREAKFAST RECIPES
- Sausage Pinwheels
- Bisquick Blueberry Muffins
- Bisquick Sausage Muffins
- Country Potatoes
- Cinnamon Roll Casserole
- Breakfast Egg Muffins
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Million Dollar Bacon
Ingredients
Topping:
- 1/2 cup, plus 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon dried smoked paprika
Bacon:
- 8 slices bacon (not thick sliced!)
Instructions
- Arrange oven rack to center position. Preheat oven to 350°F (177ºC). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set a wire baking rack inside the baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, maple syrup (1/3 cup), black (1/2 teaspoon) and cayenne pepper (1/4 teaspoon), ginger (1/4 teaspoon), and paprika (1/4 teaspoon) until evenly combined. The mixture will be wet.
- Arrange bacon slices (8), with space between the slices, on a wire rack and set it in the prepared baking sheet.
- Cook the bacon for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from oven and cool just until the bacon can be handled, a couple of minutes.
- Dip bacon slices in the sugar mixture, coating evenly on both sides. Arrange the coated bacon back on the wire rack. Return to oven and continue to bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven again and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the slices. Return to oven and cook until sugar melts, about 5 minutes. Bacon should be crisp. Remember sugar burns very quickly, so watch it like a hawk! Cool on the baking sheet for about 1 minute then remove to a serving plate.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Watch It: Check on the bacon often during the last 5 minutes. Don’t walk away since sugar can burn quickly.
- When Is It Done? Depending upon how crispy you like your bacon, pull it out of the oven when it reaches the right crisp for you. You are looking for fully cooked bacon where the edges crinkle.
- Make It Thick: If you prefer thick-cut bacon, add 5 to 10 minutes of baking time on each side for a total of 40 to 50 minutes baking time. I think this recipe is best made with regular-cut bacon. Thick cut comes out like beef jerky in my opinion.
Nutrition
I tripled the recipe, lol. Bacon is our fave! 🙂
Bacon, bacon, bacon! That’s awesome, Vicky. Thanks for the positive feedback and the 5 star rating 🙂