Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon is the best of both worlds - sweet and extra spicy! Made with ghost pepper chili flakes, sriracha sauce, brown sugar and pure maple syrup, this bacon is anything but bland. Beware... it's incredibly addictive and one of the best bites you will ever experience!
Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon Recipe
Okay, just... WOW. This recipe is no joke. It's seriously one of the tastiest bites I've had in a while, and DANG! I've had a lot of bites. Truly, there's something about candied bacon that, after a single bite simply overwhelms your other senses. It forces your brain to center solely on the pleasure of your taste buds, forgoing all other sensory input.
Go ahead and take a bite if you don't believe me. Feel your muscles go slack as the ultimate combination of sweet and spicy melts onto your tongue in the most mouthwatering melody ever! Am I being overly dramatic here? I think not, because every time I've served this spicy candied bacon to friends, it gets more compliments than I can handle.
Why Make Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon?
- It's perfect for spice lovers. Made with both crushed ghost pepper flakes and sriracha sauce, this easy candied bacon recipe is ideal for those who like some serious heat.
- Makes for a unique appetizer. I like to serve it in smaller parties as a starter. People walking in the door are greeted with hellos, drinks, and candied bacon. Wouldn't you love to enjoy a nice piece of candied bacon upon arrival? I sure would!
- Hello, brunch! Your homemade bloody mary just got so much better.
The addition of subtle sweetness to the bacon gives it a dessert-like quality, though it's not quite dessert. Surely you can serve it as a dessert, and I am adding this to our Spicy Desserts Recipes Category, but it's more of a snack, appetizer, or spicy bloody mary garnish.
It's also extremely portable, so bring it along for tailgating parties, concerts, walks in the park, pretty much anywhere you want to make friends quickly.
Ingredients for Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon
- Bacon
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Sriracha sauce
- Crushed ghost pepper flakes
This list of ingredients is just how we like it - short and sweet!
How to Make Spicy Candied Bacon - the Recipe Method
First, you'll mix together brown sugar, pure maple syrup, sriracha sauce and ghost pepper chili flakes in a bowl.
For the ghost pepper flakes, I crushed some ghost peppers that I had dehydrated from my garden. You can find dried ghost pepper flakes or powders online.
Spread the bacon out over a baking sheet and rub them down with your sweet and spicy mixture.
Get both sides. Rub them down good!
Bake them for 30 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through and JUST starting to crisp up.
That's it. Enjoy the heck out of them.
Recipe Tips
- Use foil. It helps to wrap the pan in aluminum foil first for easy clean up.
- Don't over-bake. The bacon strips will crisp up a bit more after you remove them from the oven and they cool.
- Use a wire cooling rack. Cooling the cooked bacon on a wire rack helps it stay nice and crispy as the extra fats drip down.
Storage Information
Once your ghost pepper bacon cools to room temperature, you can transfer it to an airtight container and keep it stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Try Some of My Other Ghost Pepper Recipes
I love cooking with ghost peppers and have a number of spicy ghost pepper recipes to share with you. Here's a list of a few of my favorite bold recipes:
- Sweet and Spicy Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon
- Sweet Ghost Pepper-Pineapple-Pear Hot Sauce
- Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce
- Ghost Pepper Chicken Curry
- Ghost Pepper Chicken Wings
- Fresh Ghost Pepper Salsa
- Pineapple-Mango Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce
- Homemade Ghost Pepper Chili Hot Sauce
- Ghost Pepper Remoulade
- Homemade Chili Powders
If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Sweet and Spicy Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick cut bacon
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon crushed ghost pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Spread the bacon out over a large baking sheet.
- Mix together the brown sugar, maple syrup, sriracha sauce and ghost pepper flakes in a large bowl.
- Rub each bacon slice down with your spice mixture. Get them good and coated!
- Bake the bacon for 30 minutes, or until is just getting crispy.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. It will crisp up more in that time.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
This recipe was updated on 1/8/19 to include new photos and video. It was originally published on 8/4/17.
Jason says
Mike,
I just don't this and yum. In my arsenal and being made soon.
I do have a question though. I accidentally found this looking for a recipe I found through Google but it looks like you've taken it down... I was looking for your maple-soy glazed bacon recipe. Any chance I could get that one too?
Love everything you do.
Thanks, Jason
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Jason. Yeah, I removed that other recipe for lack of visits/interest. Sorry about that. I don't believe I have it in my archives, but essentially you really just need to rub down the bacon with a mixture of maple syrup, soy sauce, and seasonings, similar to this recipe.
Chris Scanlon says
This recipe is without a doubt one of the best and easiest I've made. Can't think of a way to make it better except to make more. This is the first time I cooked with ghost peppers. Hottest before this was Habanero. It's a delightful heat. My entire family likes this and none of us are chili-heads. I'll be picking up Mike's book to learn more about cooking with super-hots, and thank him for sharing this awesome recipe with us.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks so much, Chris! Super happy you and the family enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy my books!
Big Al says
Made this this morning for the first (definitely not last ) time. I made a few butties out of it and shared them with a friend . We both loved it. Need to go out and get more bacon. Thank you for all the ideas Mike. Alex
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Big Al! Nice!!
Jeremie says
Extra crispy, sweet and spicy!! just amazing, Mike!
One drawback... it's too addictive!
I did it with Trinidad Scorpion Butch T powder!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice! I hear you on the addictive part!
Nannette says
Looks so good. I have used several of your recipes
All are outstanding!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Nannette. I appreciate it!
pranita deshpande says
Beautiful recipe .Looks like well roasted .
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thank you, Pranita!
Cathy says
WOW MIKE!!!! This recipe is a true winner! Out of the ballpark Mike! Holy cow what great combinations going on here! And I totally love your description, "after a single bite, overwhelms your other senses, forces your brain to center solely on the pleasure of your taste buds, forgoing all other sensory input." And btw, a Bloody Mary will never just be a Bloody Mary again!! 🙂 Fantastic!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Cathy. Perhaps a bit over-dramatic for me, but I love it that much!!
David Hamilton says
Michael Hultquist. I seen this some back and was looking for it until I found your recipe. Brother this like a blessing from God/God's. I make every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas time. I make the Ghost, Reaper. This year I'm kicking it up. I'm make them same two with a little extra in each batch plus dusting them in the end. I decided just now I'm make a special batch this year. It's going to be a combination with Ghost and Reaper together with extra of both plus dusting at the end. Thank you sir for sharing this recipe
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's AWESOME, David! I love the extra spicy dusting at the end. Perfect way to kick it up a notch! Nicely done. Thanks, man!
Jacque Hastert says
This sounds like my kind of snack! I would eat this all day every day. Pinning for later to make.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome! Beware, super addictive.
Vicky says
You had me at bacon and kept me with sweet and spicy. Also candied. Seriously, it is like all my favorite flavors combined. I love the idea of serving this during a super bowl party.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
This is perfect for the Super bowl!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
You had me at candied bacon! This looks incredible! I want to reach through my screen and eat the entire platter!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
One of the great ones for sure!
Damien C. says
This is the best candied bacon I've ever had. The spice level was perfect, with just the right amount of sweetness. Thank you.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Damien! Glad you enjoyed it.
Susan S says
I relied on squinting instead of my glasses and used a Tbsp. instead of a tsp. of ghost pepper flakes, but this bacon was a hit! My husband and my pepper-loving 9-year-old son even loved it. The ghost pepper flakes I used are smoked, so they are a tiny bit tempered by the way they are made, I think. Thanks for the great recipe!
REPLY: Outstanding! -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Diego Lopes says
Omg, this looks sooo delicious!!! I have to try it. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
You're welcome, Diego!
John says
Well, this just made my Saturday morning list! Along with my Reaper Bloody Mary.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's awesome, John!