- Prep 5 minutes, cooking 20 minutes
- Choppinga little (skip it with the swaps)
- Freezer friendlyyes
Keto bacon jam is bacon and onion cooked down with a splash of coffee until it goes thick, sticky and a bit smoky-sweet. One pan, a little chopping and some stirring, and you have a jar that makes eggs, burgers and cheese boards taste like you made an effort.
The chopping is the fiddly bit. Frozen chopped onion and bacon pieces from the packet take the knife out of it, and the swaps are below.
Can I manage this today?
- Spoon level: Low Spoons
- Hands-on time: 5 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking
- Main effort: stirring at the stove while the jam reduces
- Chopping: the bacon and one onion. Skip both with the swaps below
- Standing and attention: about 15 minutes at the stove, stirring now and then
- Thinking and sensory load: three stages (prep, cook, store).
- Washing up: one frying pan, one board and one knife, plus the jar
Quick spoon check
There’s one tested way to make this. The swaps below take out the chopping.
Kerry’s notes
Bacon jam sounds fancier than it is. It’s bacon, onion and a few pantry bits, stirred in one pan until it goes sticky.
I make it on a day with a few spare spoons, then freeze it in small portions for future-you. One batch covers a lot of eggs, burgers and cheese boards.
The golden monkfruit and keto maple syrup do the job of brown sugar and maple syrup, which is how it stays keto.
Whether bacon counts as processed is Leigh’s territory. Her guide to healthy versus highly processed food is the calm version, and I’ll put the kettle on while you read it.
What’s that ingredient?
Golden monkfruit sweetener. A brown sugar replacement made from monk fruit extract and erythritol. Here it stands in for brown sugar, so you get the sweetness and the caramel colour. Coles and Woolworths stock it, and so do online stores. Keep it sealed in the pantry. Easiest swap: another keto brown sugar replacement (check the packet for how it swaps for sugar), or regular brown sugar if you’re not keeping this keto.
Keto maple syrup. A sugar-free, maple-flavoured syrup. We use Lakanto. It gives the jam its maple flavour. Lakanto is stocked at a lot of the major supermarkets now. Store it as the bottle says. Easiest swap: real maple syrup, which means it’s no longer keto.
No Spoon Swaps
- Frozen chopped onion instead of dicing a brown onion: no knife work and no board. It’s a bit softer than fresh, which suits a jam. Use 50 g.
- Bacon pieces instead of rashers: no cutting raw bacon. Pieces vary in size and fat, so the jam can be a little less even. Use about 300 g of diced bacon.
- Kitchen scissors instead of a knife: snip the rashers straight into the pan, so the board stays in the cupboard. The pieces come out a bit uneven, which doesn’t matter in a jam.
- Instant coffee instead of an espresso shot: stir 1 tsp of instant coffee into 30 ml hot water. You may notice a little less depth than fresh espresso.
More on why shortcuts count in Convenience ingredients are accessibility tools.
Dietary swaps
- Brown sugar and real maple syrup instead of the sweeteners: works, but the jam is no longer keto or low carb.
- Decaf espresso or decaf instant coffee if you’re avoiding caffeine: same method.
Allergen notes
- Contains pork.
- Check the labels on the bacon, red wine vinegar and sweeteners if you avoid gluten, soy or dairy. Brands vary, so we haven’t claimed any allergen-free label.
Equipment and easier alternatives
- If standing at the stove for 15 minutes is a lot, pull up a stool and stir from there. The pan doesn’t mind.
Storage, freezing and reheating
- Fridge: Cool, then refrigerate within 2 hours. Keep at 5°C or below and eat within 1 week.
- Freezer: Up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, use within 24 hours and don’t refreeze.
- Reheating: Heat until steaming hot all the way through, once only.
Serving ideas
- On Keto Bread in 90 Seconds with a fried egg.
- Over scrambled eggs or half an avocado.
- On a burger, or the Bacon Cheeseburger Waffle.
- On a cheese board with cheddar or brie.
- On a steak. Ninja Approved: Marty would’ve had the jar open before the steak was rested.
- Spooned over a wedge of Bacon and Brie Frittata.
Frequently asked questions
Is this keto bacon jam sugar free?
There’s no added sugar in the recipe. It uses golden monkfruit sweetener and keto maple syrup. The bacon and onion still carry a little carbohydrate, so check the net carbs on the card. Not sure what keto or low carb means for you? Start with Keto vs Low Carb: What’s the Difference?.
How long does bacon jam keep?
A week in the fridge, kept at 5°C or below. For longer, freeze it.
Can I freeze bacon jam?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge, use it within 24 hours and don’t refreeze it.
Keto Bacon Jam (Sticky, Salty, Sorted)
Equipment
- Large non-stick frying pan
- Chopping board
- Sharp knife or kitchen scissors
- Clean airtight jar (250 ml)
Ingredients
- 6 rashers bacon
- 50 g brown onion
- ¼ cup golden monkfruit sweetener brown sugar replacement
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp keto maple syrup we use Lakanto
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 30 ml espresso shot
Instructions
Prepare
- Cut the bacon into roughly 1 cm pieces.
- Dice the onion into roughly 5 mm pieces.
Cook
- Put the bacon and onion in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
- Cook for 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the bacon fat has run and the onion is soft.
- Add the golden monkfruit sweetener, thyme, keto maple syrup, red wine vinegar and espresso.
- Stir until everything is combined.
- Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the jam is thick and sticky. When you drag your spoon through it, it should leave a clear trail on the base of the pan.
Store
- Spoon the jam into a clean airtight jar.
- Leave it to cool, then put it in the fridge within 2 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
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A final spoon-saving note
Make a batch on a day with a few spare spoons and pop a portion in the freezer for future-you. Then eggs on toast starts to look like you planned it. Give it a go.
