Billionaire Bacon Extra-Thick Slices (Printable Version)

Thick bacon slices caramelized with brown sugar and spices for a sweet and crispy finish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bacon

01 - 8 slices extra-thick cut bacon

→ Brown Sugar Coating

02 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
04 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet.
02 - Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack, ensuring space between each slice.
03 - In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cracked black pepper, cayenne pepper if using, and smoked paprika if using.
04 - Sprinkle the brown sugar coating generously over both sides of each bacon slice, pressing lightly to help it adhere.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until bacon is deeply caramelized and crisp.
06 - Remove from oven and let cool on the wire rack for 5 minutes to allow bacon to crisp further.
07 - Serve warm or at room temperature as a snack or accompaniment.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spiced sugar coating shatters between your teeth, then melts into something almost candy-like—crispy and decadent without feeling heavy.
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but you're really just doing ten minutes of prep while the oven does the real work.
  • These strips taste incredible warm, cold, crumbled over eggs, or sneaked straight off the cooling rack when no one's looking.
02 -
  • Don't skip the wire rack—I learned this the hard way when bacon sat directly on foil and the bottom got chewy instead of crispy, ruining the whole texture.
  • Rotate the pan halfway through baking or you'll end up with some strips golden and others still pale, which is never satisfying.
  • The bacon keeps crisping as it cools, so pulling it out when it looks just barely done is actually perfect—take it out a minute too late and it becomes brittle.
03 -
  • Use a rimmed baking sheet rather than a flat one—drippings stay contained and your oven stays clean.
  • If your bacon seems to be cooking unevenly, rotate the pan sooner than halfway; every oven has hot spots and yours might need adjusting.
  • The word "billionaire" is really just permission to be unapologetic about how good you've made this, so lean into it and don't apologize for the extravagance.
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