Sweet and Spicy Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon
This candied bacon recipe is sweet and extra spicy, made with ghost pepper chili flakes, sriracha sauce, brown sugar and pure maple syrup. Beware. It is super addictive, one of the best bites you will ever experience.
OK, just…WOW.
This recipe is no joke. It is seriously one of the tastiest bites I’ve had in a while, and DANG! I’ve had a lot of bites. Truly, there is something about candied bacon that, 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.
Go ahead. Take a bite. Feel your muscles go slack as the ultimate combination of sweet and spicy melts onto your tongue.
Am I being overly dramatic here? I think not, because, hey, #CandiedBacon. Yes!
The first time I heard of “candied bacon” was years ago, after I had graduated college. It sounded weird to me.
What did that mean? Candied? With bacon? Why would anyone want to “candy” something that is meant to be savory? And isn’t it, I don’t know, sacrilegious to adulterate the perfection that is bacon?
I mean, bacon doesn’t need anything! It’s BACON!
I have discovered, as you may now discover…I was WRONG.
The addition of the sweetness to the bacon gives is 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 or even an 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!
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.
The process is simple enough.
How to Make Ghost Pepper 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. It helps to wrap the pan in aluminum foil first for easy clean up.
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. They will crisp up a bit more after you remove them from the oven and they cool.
Cooling them on a wire rack helps them stay nice and crispy as the extra fats drip down.
That’s it. Enjoy the heck out of them.
I made a large batch and gave some to my next door neighbor. His son stole the last piece and said, “Who made this? This is the most flavorful, delicious meat I have ever had. I would to sell it at my workplace.”
Well alright!
So there you go. Proof enough? I hope you will give it a try! Let me know how much you like it in the comments.
And see the Candied Bacon Recipe Video below.
Patty’s Perspective
Yeah, what HE said! Candied bacon is so outrageously GOOD, it’s almost likeyou can’t have it in the house. I’ll just eat it all! It really is THE ultimate garnish for Bloody Marys. Don’t make a Bloody Mary without it.
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 is a list of 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.
- 1 pound thick cut bacon
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon crushed ghost pepper flakes
- 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!
Recipe Video
Heat Factor: Medium. Despite using ghost pepper flakes, the sweet really balances it out. Use extra ghost pepper flakes or powder to up the heat factor.
This recipe was updated on 1/8/19 to include new photos and video. It was originally published on 8/4/17.
23 comments
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Extra crispy, sweet and spicy!! just amazing, Mike!
One drawback… it’s too addictive!
I did it with Trinidad Scorpion Butch T powder!
Nice! I hear you on the addictive part!
Looks so good. I have used several of your recipes
All are outstanding!
Thanks, Nannette. I appreciate it!
Beautiful recipe .Looks like well roasted .
Thank you, Pranita!
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!!
Thanks, Cathy. Perhaps a bit over-dramatic for me, but I love it that much!!
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
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!
This sounds like my kind of snack! I would eat this all day every day. Pinning for later to make.
Awesome! Beware, super addictive.
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.
This is perfect for the Super bowl!
You had me at candied bacon! This looks incredible! I want to reach through my screen and eat the entire platter!
One of the great ones for sure!
This is the best candied bacon I’ve ever had. The spice level was perfect, with just the right amount of sweetness. Thank you.
Thanks, Damien! Glad you enjoyed it.
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.
Omg, this looks sooo delicious!!! I have to try it. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us!
You’re welcome, Diego!
Well, this just made my Saturday morning list! Along with my Reaper Bloody Mary.
That’s awesome, John!