Million Dollar Bacon
If you’ve never made Million Dollar Bacon before, get ready — this is one of those brunch recipes that people try once and immediately beg you for the recipe. It’s sweet, salty, sticky, caramelized, and just the right amount of spicy. Every bite tastes like candied bacon meets gourmet breakfast.
This fancy-looking bacon takes just a few minutes to prep and always steals the show on breakfast boards, holiday mornings, and weekend brunch spreads. And the best part? It bakes in the oven so there’s no splattering, flipping, or babysitting.
Let’s make it!
⭐️ Why It’s Called “Million Dollar Bacon”
Because it tastes rich.
Thick-cut bacon gets coated in maple syrup, brown sugar, cracked pepper, and a little cayenne. As it bakes, everything caramelizes into a shiny, sweet-and-spicy crust that’s literally irresistible.
One bite and you’ll understand the name.
What You’ll Need
Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips!
On the recipe card below, click “print recipe” and from there you can print out the page or screenshot it to save to your phone’s photo album.
Pin this recipe to save to Pinterest so you can make it later! You can Pin It from the recipe card below. Just click the “Pin Recipe” button. If you’d like to follow me on Pinterest , my page is Steph Gigliotti.
- Rimmed Sheet Pan
- Foil to line the sheet pan (trust me on this)
- Rack- to place on the sheet pan for the bacon
- Thick-cut bacon
- Brown sugar
- Pure maple syrup
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Cayenne pepper, smoked paprika or crushed red pepper for spice
How To Make It
Prep the Pan
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Trust me, you want the foil for easy clean up!
Layer the Bacon
Lay the bacon strips on the wire rack.
Maple + Sugar
Brush the bacon with maple syrup.
Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top, followed by the cayenne, paprika or crushed red pepper and then add the fresh cracked black pepper on top. Gently pressing it into the slices so it sticks.
Bake
Bake 25–30 minutes until caramelized, glossy, and crisp at the edges. Watch the bacon on the edges of the sheet pan, as they will cook faster, so you may want to remove them sooner.
Cool
Let cool for 5–10 minutes — this helps the coating firm into a candied crust.
💵🥓 This Million Dollar Bacon will instantly become a brunch favorite — and yes, it’s absolutely worth every bite.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish! ⭐ Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. 📌Save this recipe to make later and share with a friend!
Tips
- Use thick-cut bacon so it doesn’t burn before caramelizing.
- Let it cool completely to get that signature candy texture.
- Drizzle with a little more warm maple syrup after baking for extra shine.
- Serve on a brunch board, with pancakes, or chop and sprinkle over salads or burgers!
More Brunch Favorites
- Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Lemon Loaf
- Blueberry French Toast Casserole
- Fruit Pie Biscuit Bombs
- Dutch Baby Pancake
- Andouille Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- Banana Bread Cookie Bars
Sign up for our free newsletter to get new recipes sent right to your inbox! Follow along with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube , Pinterest, and TikTok.
Contains affiliate links
Million Dollar Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Arrange bacon in a single layer on the rack.
- Brush each slice with maple syrup.
- Brush the bacon with maple syrup. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top, followed by the cayenne, paprika or crushed red pepper and then add the fresh cracked black pepper on top. Gently pressing it into the slices so it sticks.
- Bake 25–30 minutes until caramelized, glossy, and crisp at the edges. Watch the bacon on the edges of the sheet pan, as they will cook faster, so you may want to remove them sooner.
- Let cool 5–10 minutes before serving. The candy coating will firm as it cools.
Nutrition
Notes
- For extra shine, brush warm bacon with a little more maple syrup after baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days — reheat in oven to crisp.
- Watch the bacon on the edges of the sheet pan, as they will cook faster, so you may want to remove them sooner.
I’m so excited to try this! It looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it. I love your recipes!!♥️
This looks amazing! I’m so excited to try this, it will give the bacon a new taste. I absolutely love your recipes!♥️
Hope you love it!