Pig Candy (Candied Bacon)

This Pig Candy (or brown sugar bacon) is an irresistible and easy snack or breakfast side dish. It’s a sweet and salty combination that is guaranteed to please!

A SWEET AND SALTY SNACK

Ok, I know the name sounds weird but trust me on this one. You will soon see why it has that name. This is so easy and quick to whip up and the caramelization of the brown sugar over the bacon itself is just to die for! Add a dash of pepper and hot sauce and you have the perfect sweet, spicy and salty combination. Warning: you may not want to share! If you are looking for a versatile recipe to munch on, serve with breakfast or just to top or put in different recipes, then you have to try this Pig Candy recipe!

TIPS AND TRICKS ON MAKING PIG CANDY:

• Thick cut bacon works the best for this recipe. The thinner cut bacon will shrink up too much.
• Use your favorite hot sauce. I used tabasco for this recipe but I think Sriracha would be a great alternative.
• I cut the bacon strips in half but you can leave them whole. I think cutting them up helps them fit better on the wire rack.
• This should be baked on a wire rack over a lined baking sheet otherwise it might get stuck when the brown sugar caramelizes. If you don’t have a wire rack, you can use nonstick aluminum foil. It’ll be a little messier but it will work in a pinch.
• I haven’t tried this in an air fryer but I’m sure it would work great.
• If you don’t like that kick of spiciness, you can absolutely leave out the pepper and hot sauce.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

• thick cut bacon
• tabasco sauce
• pepper
• brown sugar

HOW TO MAKE PIG CANDY:

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Cut the bacon strips in half. Working with smaller slices will fit better on the baking rack. Line a baking sheet with foil and then place a cooling rack on top. Spray rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place bacon strips on top of the rack. Take your basting brush and brush hot sauce over the bacon.

Sprinkle bacon with brown sugar and freshly cracked black pepper.

Bake in a preheated oven for 10-20 minutes (how long you cook will depend on how crispy you want your bacon.)

Remove from oven and let cool slightly on pan before removing so the brown sugar hardens slightly.

Serve and enjoy!

HOW TO STORE:

• This Pig Candy can be stored in an airtight container, on the countertop, at room temperature for up to 3 days.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!

• EASY BACON RANCH CRACKERS
• AIR FRYER TWISTED BACON
• BACON WRAPPED MEATBALLS
• GLAZED PIGS IN A BLANKET
• BACON WRAPPED BRATWURST BITES
• SEASONED CRACKERS

Pig Candy (Candied Bacon)

This Pig Candy (or brown sugar bacon) is an irresistible and easy snack or breakfast side dish. It's a sweet and salty combination that is guaranteed to please!

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Candied Bacon, Pig Candy, Pig Candy Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 343kcal

Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Ingredients

• ▢ 1/2 pound thick cut bacon
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon tabasco or your favorite hot sauce
• ▢ 1/2 Tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
• ▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

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Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Cut the bacon in half.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and then place a cooling rack on top. Spray rack with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place bacon strips on top of the rack. Take a basting brush and brush hot sauce over the bacon.
• No basting brush? Just shake a few drops on each piece and spread it out with a butter knife or the back of a spoon.
• Sprinkle bacon with brown sugar and freshly cracked black pepper.
• Bake for 10-20 minutes (how long you cook will depend on how crispy you want your bacon.)

Notes

• You must only use thick cut bacon.
• Use your favorite hot sauce. I used tabasco for this recipe but I think Sriracha would be a great alternative.
• I cut the bacon strips in half but you can leave them whole. I think cutting them up helps them fit better on the wire rack.
• This should be baked on a wire rack over a lined baking sheet otherwise it might get stuck when the brown sugar caramelizes. If you don’t have a wire rack, you can use nonstick aluminum foil. It’ll be a little messier but it will work in a pinch.
• I haven’t tried this in an air fryer but I’m sure it would work great. 
• If you don’t like that kick of spiciness, you can absolutely leave out the pepper and hot sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 469mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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