Exploring the Many Uses of Bacon Jam

Bacon… jam???

If you aren’t already familiar with the concept, bacon jam sounds like a pretty far-out idea. After all, when most of us think of jam, we think of fruits like raspberries and blackberries. How do you make jam out of bacon? And what do you even do with it?

Exploring the Many Uses of Bacon Jam

The answer to your first question involves slowly simmering bacon, onions, brown sugar, and other ingredients in a pan until it an ooey, gooey, savory-sweet glob of goodness. The answer to your second question? That you’ll find below:

It’s a Spread

The most obvious use for bacon jam is the main thing most of us use jam for already. In other words, spreading it on sandwiches.

Bacon jam is a natural fit as a condiment on cheeseburgers or as an alternative take on the classic BLT. But how about giving your standard grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sammie a magic li’l oomph? Is avocado toast too faddish for you; add a layer of bacon jam beneath and start creating trends instead of following them.

You can enjoy it even on its own if you want to. You’d be surprised how delicious a bacon jam sandwich is all by itself. It’s not just a condiment; it’s a whole main course.

It’s a Dip

The robust meatiness of bacon jam gives it something most “normal” kinds of jam lack: versatility. It’s good for more than just breakfast or dessert; it’s great for parties, snack time, and even “classy” events. 

The next time you throw yourself a one-person fiesta, try dipping your tortilla chips in bacon jam along with the usual salsa and queso. Want to impress your guests? Slather it on crackers with smoked cheddar or crostinis with feta and brie. Stuff it into jalapenos to create hors d'oeuvres with spice and attitude.

You can serve it with a charcuterie board or just eat it right out of the jar. Don’t worry; I won’t tell.

It’s a Secret

One of the coolest things about bacon jam is how easy it is to mix in with all kinds of dishes, including ones most people would never guess.

Stir it into mashed potatoes to give your taters a smoky something extra. Drop a couple of dollops into ground beef to create homemade burgers, tacos, or meatloaf with a whole new dimension of flavor. You can even mix it into pasta sauce for a meaty, salty richness that pairs perfectly with pasta and a liberal application of grated parmesan cheese.

Everyone will be wondering what your secret ingredient is; whether you share the wealth is entirely up to you.