By Becky Hardin
Updated Mar 11, 2025
Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon is the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Inspired by the Millionaire’s Bacon, I absolutely love how cayenne pepper and brown sugar take the simple bacon to the next level. It is an irresistible treat for breakfast or snacking! If you’re looking for an easy and flavor-packed bacon, my Candied Bacon recipe is the one to try!
5-Star Review
“This is life changing! No more bacon grease burns from cooking on the stove top!” -Natasha
Sweet And Spicy Candied Bacon
Candied Bacon is thick-cut bacon coated in brown sugar spice mix and baked until it is crispy, golden and perfectly caramelized. After making my candied yams and candied pecans , I knew it was time to try this famous brown sugar bacon that tastes like a million bucks! My candy-like bacon is a fabulous addition to my gatherings!
Tips For Beginners
- Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil, so you can just crumble it up and throw it away after baking.
- Spray your cooling rack with baking spray so the grease slides off.
- Do not preheat the oven for this recipe. We’ll put the bacon in right as we turn on the heat.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 lb. bacon I prefer thin slices, but use your favorite.
- ▢ 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ▢ ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more if you want spicier
- ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
Video
Instructions
- In a medium glass bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Set aside. 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Do not preheat the oven.
- Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil and set the cooling rack on the cookie sheet. Spray a cooling rack with cooking spray. Now you are ready to place the bacon on the rack. NOTE : Cleaning up is much easer using aluminum foil for baking.
- Drape the bacon across the cooling rack with a little space between strips. If you need to cut some of the bacon in half to fill in the spaces, that is fine. 1 lb. bacon
- Place the bacon on your oven’s middle rack and turn the oven to 375°. Bake for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, take out the bacon, flip each slice over and sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture on each slice of bacon. Bake for another 15-20 minutes. Watch closely for the last 5 minutes – it can burn quickly.
- Once baking is over, let them cool a bit (bacon should cool down a bit to set sugar) and then serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to make spicy brown sugar bacon
Make the brown sugar-cayenne pepper mix : Combine 3 tablespoons of dark brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and ½ teaspoon of black pepper in a bowl to make the flavor mixture.
Bake bacon slices : Do not preheat the oven! Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil and set the cooling rack on the cookie sheet. Spray a cooling rack with cooking spray.
Drape the 1 lb. Bacon slices across the cooling rack with a little space between strips. If you need to cut some of the bacon in half to fill in the spaces, that is fine.
Place the bacon on your oven’s middle rack and turn the oven to 375°. Bake for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle brown sugar mix and bake : After 20 minutes, take out the bacon, flip each strip, sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture, then put them back in the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes. Watch closely for the last 5 minutes – it can burn quickly.
Cool and serve : Once baking is over, let them cool down a bit. Let the sugar set and then serve. The best crispy texture comes at room temperature. Enjoy!
How to Store
Transfer any leftover candied bacon to an airtight container and refrigerate for 5-7 days. Serve at room temperature or reheat in the microwave for a few seconds.
Serving Suggestions
This bacon goes perfectly with my Breakfast Hash or as part of my Make-Ahead Burritos . I also love it on the side of sunny side up eggs for a yummy meal. I know this bacon recipe will blow you away!
More tasty bacon recipes to try
Mini Bacon Cheeseburger Shish Kebab Recipe
Oven Baked Candied Whiskey Bacon
Bacon Pancakes
Strawberry Bacon Salad with Honey Lime Balsamic Vinaigrette
Bacon Corn Chowder Recipe
Bacon Cheese Fries with Ranch
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots Recipe (Sweet and Spicy!)
Sweet And Spicy Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bacon I prefer thin slices, but use your favorite.
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more if you want spicier
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium glass bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Set aside. 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Do not preheat the oven.
- Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil and set the cooling rack on the cookie sheet. Spray a cooling rack with cooking spray. Now you are ready to place the bacon on the rack. NOTE : Cleaning up is much easer using aluminum foil for baking.
- Drape the bacon across the cooling rack with a little space between strips. If you need to cut some of the bacon in half to fill in the spaces, that is fine. 1 lb. bacon
- Place the bacon on your oven’s middle rack and turn the oven to 375°. Bake for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, take out the bacon, flip each slice over and sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture on each slice of bacon. Bake for another 15-20 minutes. Watch closely for the last 5 minutes – it can burn quickly.
- Once baking is over, let them cool a bit (bacon should cool down a bit to set sugar) and then serve. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
