Maple and Brown Sugar Bacon

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/31/22
Browned crisp bacon slices stacked on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Emily Baker

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
299 Calories
20g Fat
10g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 299
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 56mg 19%
Sodium 957mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 301mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Serve these baked maple and brown sugar glazed bacon strips as part of a hearty breakfast with pancakes or French toast. Alternatively, cut the bacon strips into pieces before baking and use the glazed pieces on appetizers or in burger mixtures. The bacon would make an excellent topping for chicken or turkey burgers. Crumble the bacon and add it to a pan of cornbread or make a crispy, savory-sweet topping for muffins.

This bacon is so easy to make—be sure to line the baking pan with foil so you won't have a baked-on mess that's difficult to clean. If you want to spice the bacon strips up a bit, sprinkle them lightly with some cinnamon sugar just before baking.

This is a great snack or breakfast bacon recipe, glazed and baked to perfection. Or cook the bacon until it's flexible but not crispy and use it to wrap around a meatloaf or pork tenderloins. Save the collected maple and bacon-flavored drippings to replace other fats for flavorful sautéed meat or vegetables. Or add the drippings to homemade cornbread or cornbread muffins.

Ingredients

  • 12 to 16 ounces thick-sliced bacon

  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

    Ingredients for maple and brown sugar bacon recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Emily Baker

  2. Line a rimmed jelly roll pan, half sheet pan, or roasting pan with foil. The pan should be large enough to hold a large cake cooling rack. Place a large cooling rack in the pan and brush a little vegetable oil over the rack. Or spray the rack with vegetable oil cooking spray. 

    Metal wire rack on top of rimmed baking pan lined with aluminum foil

    The Spruce Eats / Emily Baker

  3. Lay the bacon strips over the rack, overlapping slightly if necessary.

    Raw bacon strips placed on the wire rack slightly overlapping

    The Spruce Eats / Emily Baker

  4. Combine the brown sugar and maple syrup in a bowl or small saucepan. Heat just until warm (stovetop or microwave). Brush the warmed sugar mixture over the bacon strips.

    Bacon slices being brushed with maple syrup and brown sugar mixture

    The Spruce Eats / Emily Baker

  5. Bake the bacon in the preheated oven for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until nicely browned and slightly crisp.

    Browned and crisp bacon slices on the wire rack

    The Spruce Eats / Emily Baker

Tips

  • For quick and easy cleanup, line the sheet pan with aluminum foil.
  • A friendly reminder: Don't pour bacon grease down the drain. As it cools, it will solidify and clog up your plumbing. Rather, let it cool and then save the drippings or throw them in the trash.

Recipe Variation

  • For added flavor, consider sprinkling the bacon strips lightly with cayenne pepper and freshly ground black pepper for an unexpected burst of heat. Or add some Sriracha sauce or sambal to the maple mixture.

What Is the Best Way to Cook a Lot of Bacon?

Bacon can be cooked in a skillet on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven. If you're making a large amount of bacon at once, the best method is baking it in the oven. A large sheet pan can fit plenty of strips of bacon, and they will get nice and crisp without any flipping or messy cleanup.