I know what you are thinking, "Candied bacon on a cheeseburger???"
Well, yes. Candied bacon on a cheeseburger absolutely works.
The combination of sweet, salty, savory, and smokey adds a new dimension to the classic cheeseburger. The brown sugar glaze ads a rich yet subtle sweetness to the bacon which works well alongside the rich beefiness of the burger patty, the creamy cheese, and the tangy dill of the pickles.
Definitely give this a try. There are only a few ingredients needed for this recipe and it is easy to make.
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Ingredients for Candied Bacon
- 12 strips bacon (not thick-cut, about one pound)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional Ingredients
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp granulated garlic
- Hot honey
Directions for making Candied Bacon
Preheat oven to 225° F. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Place an oven-safe wire rack on each pan. Lay the bacon strips on the wire racks making sure the strips of bacon do not overlap.
In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, black pepper, and optional ingredients.
Sprinkle the bacon strips with the mixture divided equally on all of the bacon.
Bake the bacon in the 225° F oven for 10-15 minutes.
After 15 minutes has elapsed, increase the oven temperature to 400° F.
Rotate the pans to ensure even baking.
Start checking the bacon after another 15 minutes has elapsed. The candied bacon will be done when the brown sugar is melted and the bacon is a deep brown color.
The candied bacon will continue to darken and crisp as it cools.
Caution: the candied bacon will be hot.
Allow the bacon to cool on the wire rack for about 10 minutes.
Remove the bacon from the wire rack.
Add the candied bacon to your favorite cheeseburger recipe.
Enjoy!
