Spicy Candied Bacon is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. A little crispy and a little sticky. Trust me, you’re going to love it!
This candied bacon is perfect on a breakfast buffet or as an appetizer. You can chop it up and use it as a topping for salad, baked potatoes or roasted vegetables.
You can cook these in the air fryer or the oven. Either way, you’ll be making them again and again.
What you need
Bacon
Brown sugar
Cayenne pepper
Onion powder
Chili powder
How to make Spicy Candied Bacon
A note about heat. Some love it, some don’t. If you’re making these for a crowd, you can cut back on the cayenne pepper by half so that there is just a slight amount of heat. If you’re making them for yourself and you love heat like I do, use the full amount of cayenne. I have made these with all the cayenne and a little bit more. Some people in my family find them hard to eat when they’re so spicy, but I love them hot! Make two batches to keep everyone happy!
Slice 4 strips of bacon in half. Mix together the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, onion powder and chili powder. Put the spice mixture into a shallow bowl like you would for dredging.
Place a strip of bacon on the mixture and press to make sure the mixture sticks. Turn the bacon over and press the mixture onto the other side. Continue until all 8 pieces are coated with spice mixture.
I use the air fryer for these as it is quick and easy. They can also be made in the oven.
Air Fryer Method:
Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees.
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bacon strips in the air fryer. Fry at 320 degrees for 8 minutes. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes. They are too hot to handle when they are finished cooking. Also, the bubbling sugar mixture needs to set. After 5 minutes transfer them to a serving dish. They will need to be worked loose just a little bit.
Oven Method:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with foil and add a baking rack. Spray the baking rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bacon strips on the rack. Bake them at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes. They are too hot to handle when they are finished cooking. Also, the bubbling sugar mixture needs to set. After 5 minutes transfer them to a serving dish.
Sweet, spicy, delicious!
Spicy Candied Bacon
Spicy Candied Bacon is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. A little crispy and a little sticky. Trust me, you're going to love it!
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Directions
- Step 1 A note about heat. Some love it, some don’t. If you’re making these for a crowd, you can cut back on the cayenne pepper by half so that there is just a slight amount of heat. If you’re making them for yourself and you love heat like I do, use the full amount of cayenne. I have made these with all the cayenne and a little bit more. Some people in my family find them hard to eat when they’re so spicy, but I love them hot! Make two batches to keep everyone happy!
- Step 2 Slice 4 strips of bacon in half. Mix together the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, onion powder and chili powder. Put the spice mixture into a shallow bowl like you would for dredging.
- Step 3 Place a strip of bacon on the mixture and press to make sure the mixture sticks. Turn the bacon over and press the mixture onto the other side. Continue until all 8 pieces are coated with spice mixture.
- Step 4 Air Fryer Method: Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees.
- Step 5 Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bacon strips in the air fryer. Fry at 320 degrees for 8 minutes. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes. They are too hot to handle when they are finished cooking. Also, the bubbling sugar mixture needs to set. After 5 minutes transfer them to a serving dish. They will need to be worked loose just a little bit.
- Step 6 Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Step 7 Line a baking sheet with foil and add a baking rack. Spray the baking rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bacon strips on the rack. Bake them at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes. They are too hot to handle when they are finished cooking. Also, the bubbling sugar mixture needs to set. After 5 minutes transfer them to a serving dish.
