Baked Maple-Glazed Bacon

Sweet and smoky bacon adds the perfect bite to anything!

Baked Maple-Glazed Bacon

Bacon is a multitalented food, the beloved chameleon of the culinary world:* a breakfast indulgence, a snack-treat, the best bite of a salad, the toothsome garnish on pasta. Why not supercharge it with extra flavor and complexity? Enter baked maple-glazed bacon: sweet and smoky to taste, chewy and crispy to bite, bringing a new level of taste bud joy to any dish.

Thick-cut bacon is our canvas, hefty enough to absorb the glaze and retain some chew after baking in the oven. Maple syrup, one of the greatest substances on earth, provides the base of the glaze, and Dijon mustard, paprika, and black pepper add a background earthiness that cuts through the dominant sweetness of the syrup.

Maple-Glazed Bacon Ingredients

What's in this maple-glazed bacon?

• Bacon: thick-cut bacon becomes crispy and a bit chewy

• Maple syrup: provides maple flavor

• Brown sugar: a touch of sweetness

• Dijon mustard: brings complexity and viscosity to the glaze

• Paprika: adds a mild earthiness

• Black pepper: a savory contrast to the salty sweetness

Glazing the Bacon

The steps are simple and come together quickly:

1. Combine the glaze ingredients.

2. Arrange the bacon on a wire rack on a sheet pan.

3. Brush the glaze on top of the bacon and bake.

4. Flip the bacon, glaze, and bake some more.

5. Allow the bacon to cool and crisp up, and enjoy!

   
   

I added bits of this bacon to a broccoli salad after taking a couple slices as an appetizer. Bacon's versatility is one of its superpowers. And baked maple-glazed bacon does it all!

Baked Maple-Glazed Bacon

*"Bacon bits are like the fairy dust of the food community."

~Jim Gaffigan, comedian

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Baked Maple-Glazed Bacon Makes 16-18 slices

Author: Ambika

This baked maple-glazed bacon it delicious! The combination of sweet, smoky, salty, and earthy makes it easy to showcase as a fancy appetizer or to use chopped up as a specialty ingredient in another dish. Use it as you will, and enjoy!

Total Time: 1hr Prep. Time: 5-10 mins

Ingredients

• 12 oz thick-cut bacon

• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Helpful Equipment: Baking sheet, aluminum foil (optional), wire rack, oil spray, pastry brush

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup (optional). Spray the wire rack with oil spray and place on the lined baking sheet.

2. Make the glaze: In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, paprika, and black pepper.

3. Prep the bacon on one side: Place the bacon slices on the wire rack. Brush the tops of the bacon with approximately half of the glaze.

4. Bake: Bake the bacon for 15 minutes. Take out of the oven and flip each slice. Brush the tops of the bacon with the remaining glaze and bake another 20 minutes. If you'd like your bacon crispier, bake for an additional 3-5 minutes (watch it closely so that it doesn't burn).

5. Take the bacon out of the oven and remove the slices to a plate. Make sure the plate is NOT lined with paper towels--the bacon will stick to them! Let the bacon cool on the plate until ready to eat. It will crisp up as it cools.

   
   

How to Store: Store baked maple-glazed bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Did you try this recipe? Feel free to leave any comments or questions below!