Instant Pot Bacon Jam
Instant Pot Bacon jam is a sweet/savory condiment made with bacon, onions, garlic, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and paprika spice. Delicious served with cheese or charcuterie boards.
Servings: 2.25 cups
Calories: 2tablespoons
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 oz package thick-cut bacon
- 2 medium-size sweet onions (3 cups)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (light will also work)
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic paste (found in produce section - or 2 pressed garlic cloves)
Instructions
- Easy method to cut chop bacon: Place the whole stack of bacon on a cutting board with the full-length side up. With a large knife, cut the stack in half, right down the center (lengthwise) to form 2 long stacks.
- Turn each stack, edges side up. Cut into ¼ inch-wide pieces. Done. You have chopped bacon.
- Turn a 6-quart Instant Pot to the Sautee mode on Medium setting, if it gives you a temperature option. Add the diced bacon and cook, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring often, or until the bacon is browned but still “flexible”.
- Meanwhile, peel and cut the onions in quarters, then thinly slice each quarter (about 3 cups). The slices will look like triangles before breaking the sections apart into slivers.
- Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the pot. Reserve those bacon drippings for other recipes!
- Add the slivered onions, brown sugar, vinegar, paprika and garlic paste (or cloves) to the cooked bacon.
- Cover with the lid and select the Pressure Cook button. Pressure cook for 10 minutes (it will take about 8 minutes to come up to pressure first).
- Natural Release for 10 minutes, then quick release the pressure valve to release any remaining steam.
- Carefully remove the lid. Turn the Instant Pot back to the Sautee mode. Increase the Sautee temperature setting to High, if there is a temperature option. Cook the bacon mixture an additional 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, to slightly thicken the bacon jam.
- Remove the insert pot from the heating element onto a trivet or hot pad and set aside to cool.
Notes
Serve warm or at room temperature on cream cheese and crackers, on baked brie cheese, slathered on a grilled burger like my Grilled Venison Burger or spread on my 2 Ingredient Biscuits.
Store in airtight containers or jars in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks or freezer up to 3 months.
Reheat in the microwave 30 seconds to 1 minute before serving from the fridge, depending on size of container.
Jars of bacon jam with a ribbon tied around them are perfect for gift giving.
Pro Tip: Uncooked bacon cuts easier if it is very cold.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have dark brown sugar, use granulated sugar and add 2 tablespoons molasses. You can also stir in 1 tablespoon molasses to light brown sugar.
Dark brown sugar adds a rich, intense flavor without adding brewed coffee which is a common ingredient in some bacon jam recipes.
Note: Keep bacon drippings in a small Mason jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Use in equal amounts in place of vegetable oil, olive oil, butter and shortening when cooking savory dishes.
