Sweet-heat bacon snacks belong in every BBQ cook’s back pocket, and these caramelized bacon bites deliver on every front. They’re smoky, sticky, crisp on the edges, and loaded with enough spice to keep them completely addictive. These work as a party snack, a game-day treat, or a topper on burgers, salads, and baked potatoes.
What makes these so good is the balance between smoke, heat, and sugar. The bacon slowly renders in the oven, basting itself in a spiced caramel as it cooks. Once cooled, each piece firms up into a crunchy-chewy chip that you can’t stop grabbing.
You don’t need a smoker for these, but if you do have one, the extra kiss of wood flavor makes them next-level. Hickory or applewood both work beautifully. Make a big batch, because these disappear fast.
Serve them fresh, add them to charcuterie boards, crumble over mac and cheese, or stash a few in the fridge for later (if they actually last that long).
Ingredients
- 1 lb thick-cut bacon
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp red cayenne
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- PrepPreheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- CutSlice bacon into bite-sized squares or strips.
- MixStir brown sugar, paprika, pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder. Drizzle in maple syrup to form a sticky rub.
- CoatToss bacon pieces in the mixture until fully covered. Space them on the baking sheet.
- BakeCook 22–28 minutes, flipping once, until caramelized and crisp around the edges.
- CoolTransfer to a wire rack to firm up into chip-like pieces.