How to Make Skillet Bacon Spread

Have bacon with any meal with bacon jam.

Bacon comes in multiple types including traditional, smoked and peppered. Bacon jam, as the name suggests, is a spread consisting primarily of bacon that you can add to nearly anything including pizza, sandwiches, eggs, potatoes and chicken or fish. The bacon does not have traditional jam added to it, but does work for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even for an afternoon snack. Bacon jam doesn't require excessive preparation or slaving away in the kitchen for hours.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb bacon (smoked or hickory)
• 1 onion
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup coffee (brewed)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• Slow cooker
• Food processor
• Optional variations:
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 chipotle peppers
• 2 teaspoons chili powder

Instructions

1. Cook the bacon over medium heat in a skillet for approximately 20 minutes or until browned. Place on paper towels to drain the excess fat. Save 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat. Cut the bacon into 1-inch pieces. If you want to eliminate some of the greasiness in the bacon, cook it in the oven. You can also try turkey bacon for a healthier option, but it may not taste as good.

2. Chop up the onion into small pieces and peel and mince the garlic. Add to the remaining fat in the pan and cook until the onions appear translucent, or about 8 minutes.

3. Add the onions, garlic and bacon to a pot. Combine with the vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup and coffee.

4. Add hot sauce, paprika and red wine vinegar for a spicy twist. Alternatively, add cinnamon, cocoa, allspice, chipotle peppers, chili pepper and ground pepper for a more ethnic taste.

5. Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker for 4 hours or until the liquid turns to a syrupy consistency.

6. Add the mixture to a food processor and pulse until it is coarsely chopped up. Refrigerate in air-tight containers for up to 4 weeks.