Millionaire’s Bacon (otherwise known as Million Dollar Bacon) is something you eat when you want to give your breakfast a kick. It’s a sweet and spicy candied bacon you bake in the oven which means less mess and no grease spray all over your stovetop (yes please).
I first found out about Millionaire’s Bacon in Danielle Walker’s Eat What You Love cookbook. Her version uses alternatives (i.e. maple sugar and coconut sugar) which is a great option if you want to not use brown sugar. I don’t always have maple and coconut sugar around the house, so I chose to use brown sugar and it tasted delicious. Then, I saw First Watch uses this on their menu and knew this would be a staple breakfast food at my house.
Who started Millionaire’s Bacon?
A restaurant owner in San Francisco, Hoyul Steven Choi, is credited with creating Millionaire’s Bacon back in 2012. He served it on his brunch menu at his restaurant, Sweet Maple and it was an instant hit. Since then the dish has swept the nation and is now one of First Watch’s go-to menu items. This sweet and spicy candied bacon won the hearts of millennials in particular as it pairs great with avocado toast. And honestly, who doesn’t love a great brunch?
Why is this candied bacon called Millionaire’s Bacon (or Million Dollar Bacon)?
I wasn’t able to find an “official” reason for the name, but from what I can deduce, Millionaire’s Bacon gets its name from 1) its high price tag (selling for up to $11 a slice at some places..🤯) and 2) that it is a decadent breakfast treat. Many reviewers say that due to the thickness of the bacon, it reminds them of a steak—which feels like something a millionaire would eat for breakfast if you ask me. 🙂
What does candied bacon taste like? How is candied bacon different from Millionaire’s bacon?
Traditionally, candied bacon takes the saltiness of the bacon and adds sweetness to it in the form of either brown sugar, maple syrup, etc. to create a caramelized or candied effect. Millionaire’s Bacon takes it one step further by adding a kick to it with the addition of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, so you get sweet, salty, and spicy flavors in one bite.
Why You’ll Love Millionaire’s Bacon
- No need to spend $11 per slice to get this decadent treat. Save money and make it at home.
- It hits all your cravings because it’s sweet, spicy, and savory.
- You can tweak the spice level to whatever your preference.
- A great treat to bring to brunch that will make you look super fancy, but in reality, it’s easy to make.
- This only takes 5 minutes to prepare and the rest of the time is baking time.
- As mentioned earlier, you don’t have to mess up your kitchen with flying bacon grease.
Tips for Success
Prep your pan. Clean up is the hardest part of making Millionaire’s Bacon. Be sure to line your baking pan with foil and grease the wire rack where you’ll place the bacon. Trust me, it will save you time in the end.
Try not to overlap the bacon slices too much. You want to be able to get as much of the topping on each slice as possible so try to only overlap the ends if you can.
Bake until crispy (or not it’s up to you). This may be sacrilegious to true bacon lovers, but I like my bacon on the less crispy side. (I know, I’m weird). I baked mine until the edges are crispy but the middle was still flexible and chewy (about 25 minutes at 350F). Don’t worry, for the recipe below, I’ve increased the oven temperature so that if you want crispier bacon, this will get you there.
Can you freeze Million Dollar Bacon?
Yes! Once prepared, let each slice cool completely and wrap them individually with foil. Then place them in a freezer bag or air-tight container. It will last for a month in the freezer.
How do you store Millionaire’s Bacon (or candied bacon)?
After the bacon is completely cooled, store it in an air-tight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the oven or the microwave.
Looking for something to go with your Millionaire’s bacon? Check out my Homemade Everything Bagels, Buttermilk Coffee Cake, or Blackberry and Apple Crumble for the perfect breakfast pair.
Happy brunching!
Millionaire’s Bacon (Million Dollar Bacon)
Ingredients
- 1 lb thick cut bacon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a cookie sheet (18×26 pan) with foil. Place a wire rack inside the pan and spray everything with non-stick cooking spray.
- Lay the bacon side by side on the wire rack so that the edges are only slightly overlapping.
- Combine brown sugar, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt.
- Spread the mixture on top of the bacon. Cover as much of the bacon as you can.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the bacon has reached the crispy level that you want.
Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Kari Bakes
