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Swell Fed FamilyGOOD FOOD FOR THE WHOLE CREW

Breakfast · From Adam's kitchen

Billion Dollar Bacon

Thick-cut bacon with a sweet, smoky, slightly spicy rub, baked on a rack so it crisps evenly. Once you bake bacon, you will not go back to the pan.

  • Gluten-free
  • Oven-baked
  • Hands-off
Serves
4
Skill
Easy
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min
Dark caramelized bacon strips resting on a wire rack over a baking sheet
Crisp bacon strips served beside eggs and sliced avocado on a white plate
Side view of caramelized bacon strips cooling on a wire rack

Method

  1. Prep the oven

    Heat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and set a cooling rack on top.

  2. Mix the rub (2 min)

    In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, ginger, salt, pepper, and cayenne.

  3. Season the bacon (5 min)

    Lay the bacon on the rack in a single layer. Lightly dust both sides with the rub.

    WhyThe rack lets the fat drip away, so the bacon crisps evenly instead of frying in its own grease.

  4. Add molasses, optional (1 min)

    Drizzle the molasses over the bacon right before it goes in the oven.

  5. Bake (15-20 min)

    Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. Safety: the sugar in the rub can burn quickly, so start checking at 12 minutes. Let the grease cool before you throw it away, and never pour it down the drain.

    Ready whenThe bacon is browned and the fat looks cooked and slightly crisp, not soft or white. It will crisp up more as it cools.

  6. Rest (2 min)

    Move the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate for 2 minutes.

Make it cheffy

Save the bacon fat

How

Let the drippings cool until warm, not hot. Pour them through a fine strainer into a jar and keep it in the fridge.

Why

A spoonful of bacon fat adds smoky flavor when you cook eggs, roast vegetables, or sauté greens.

Swaps

  • Brown sugar → maple syrup, brushed on instead of sprinkled.
  • Less spice → leave out the cayenne.

Make ahead & storage

Make ahead

Cook a batch and keep it ready.

Storage

Keep in the fridge or freezer. Reheat in a 375°F oven for 3-5 minutes, or in a skillet.

Macros per serving

Estimate

Bacon varies by brand and how crispy you cook it, so use the nutrition label on your package. The rub adds about 40 calories, 1 g protein, 8 g carbs, and 1 g fat per serving (based on 4 servings, including the molasses).

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