If you’re wondering how to make Billionaire Bacon, you’re in for a treat. These spicy strips are sweet and savory — with a hint of rapper cred — thanks to the association with Snoop Dogg and his cookbook “From Crook to Cook” where the O.G. recipe appears.
Whenever I serve this amazing glazed bacon, everyone asks for the recipe (so be prepared)! Billionaire Bacon joins our growing collection of tasty candied bacon recipes, which are some of our most popular because they’re SO tasty for breakfast, brunch, tailgating and parties.
Be sure to check out our recipes for Maple Candied Bacon, Jalapeno Bacon, Cracked Bacon, Honey Bacon, and Million Dollar Bacon.
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Why You’ll Go Hog Wild for This Recipe
The peppery, spicy, sweet and savory flavors of are amazing, and you can adjust the seasonings you add to the bacon to suit your tastebuds.
This tasty bacon (sometimes called “pig candy”) is perfect for a brunch buffet, party, breakfast charcuterie board, game day appetizer, or just plain snacking.
You can make Billionaire’s Bacon up to 24 hours in advance and reheat it just before serving (directions below).
Recipe Inspiration
After testing this recipe in Snoop Dogg’s cookbook, “From Crook to Cook,” we made a few minor adjustments:
- Lowered the cooking temperature from 400 degrees F to 350 F. We prefer to bake bacon at a slightly lower temperature, which eliminates smoking and gives more control over the degree of doneness.
- Increased the quantity from 8 strips of bacon to 10, because there was plenty of the brown sugar coating.
- Doubled the amount of crushed red pepper.
- Used a different technique to cover the bacon with the spicy glaze coating, and applied it on both sides of the bacon instead of just the top.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Shown from the top, here’s what you’ll need to prepare this billion dollar bacon recipe:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar – Either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar works well for this recipe; the choice is up to you.
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes – Why do our red pepper flakes look seedless, you ask? See note below.
10 strips of thick-sliced bacon
A Note About Red Pepper Flakes
While I love the flavor of crushed red pepper flakes, I’m not crazy about the combination of seeds on bacon. So I removed them.
That’s right, I pulled the seeds out so that the mixture was left with just little dried pepper pieces. For me, the seeds distract from the texture of the bacon.
(If you’re curious, I spread the red pepper flakes on a white plate and removed the seeds while watching a webinar.)
Not in a seed-sorting mood? I hear you! You can also buy double-cut crushed red pepper that is nearly seedless, or simply use crushed red pepper with seeds as called for in the original recipe.
Equipment Needed
You’ll need a baking sheet with a baking rack that fits inside to make this recipe.
(Don’t be tempted, as I once was, to use a cookie cooling rack as a baking rack. A cooling rack is not made to withstand high oven temperatures, a fact I learned when mine partially melted in the oven.)
You’ll also need:
Aluminum foil to line the pan, for easy clean-up.
A small bowl and fork for combining the glaze ingredients.
A cooling rack.
Paper towels for blotting excess grease.
A serving plate. Unless you want to eat the bacon right away. Directly from the pan, standing in the kitchen. No judgment from your friends at BENSA, ever!
Step by Step Instructions
How do you make Snoop Dogg’s billionaire bacon? The process is so simple!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and top it with a baking rack. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, red pepper flakes and ground black pepper.
Use a dinner plate or cutting board to sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over both sides of each thick cut bacon strip, pressing to adhere.
Arrange the coated bacon slices on the wire rack over the prepared baking pan.
Cook until the bacon is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, and blot any excess bacon grease with paper towels. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
This bacon is fairly spicy. For a milder version, you can omit the red pepper flakes.
For more spicy flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper to the brown sugar mixture.
For a hint of smoky flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika to the brown sugar mixture.
Pro Recipe Tips
Check the bacon about halfway through cooking. If some strips (like the outer pieces) are cooking faster than others, use a fork to rearrange them.
The bacon firms up as it cools, and the glaze hardens. Leave it undisturbed on the pan to cool for about 10 minutes.
After cooling the bacon on the rack, blot lightly with paper towels to remove any excess grease. (Most of the grease will drip to the pan below.)
How to Store Leftovers
While it’s extremely rare to have leftover Billionaire Bacon, it could happen. Store leftover bacon on a plate with an airtight covering of plastic wrap or Press N Seal, for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold, or reheat it on a foil-lined baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven for about 7 minutes.
More Fun Ways to Enjoy Bacon
If you enjoy this billion dollar bacon, check out these other tasty recipes:
Bacon Butter – a creamy, flavorful spread you’ll put on everything!
Bacon Jerky – the ultimate low-carb snack!
Bacon Salt – add bacon flavor to popcorn, steaks, baked potatoes and more!
Here’s the full, printable recipe:
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Billionaire Bacon
Equipment
- 1 small bowl
- 1 fork
- aluminum foil
- paper towels
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 10 strips thick-sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and top it with a baking rack. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, red pepper flakes and ground black pepper.
- Use a dinner plate or cutting board to sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over both sides of each bacon strip, pressing to adhere.
- Arrange the coated bacon slices on the prepared baking pan.
- Cook until the bacon is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Start checking after 20 minutes to make sure bacon doesn't overcook.
- Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, and blot excess bacon grease with paper towels. Serve and enjoy! Makes 10 slices.
Notes
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
Whenever you come back to this recipe, you’ll be able to see your notes!
Nutrition
Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help. You might also enjoy the Billionaire Bacon web story.
If you post your creations on social media, tag #BENSABaconLovers so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.
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LOVE IT! Sweet and spicy! Go Snoop!
Love this sweet and spicy combo! Yum!
Never knew snoop dog had a cookbook. This billionaire bacon was sooo addicting and easy to make.
Oh my! Sweet and savory bacon is right up my alley!
Making this for family over the holidays – it is the perfect combo of sweet, spicy and savory!
Yes please! Sweet and spicy! It’s impossible to just have one piece.
So delicious! The spicy sweet savory combo is out of this world!
Oh my goodness. This was SO GOOD!
This is the BEST breakfast treat ever. It’s so addicting!
I know for a fact that this an excellent recipe. I’ve been making my bacon like this for years. I prefer to fry mine on the stove, drain the grease then Gary up some eggs in the bacon flavored pan.
Ps
Always cook extra because who can stand there with nice warm bacon tempting you?
Not me
Enjoy
We make this recipe all the time, and I came across the recipe and realized I hadn’t commented, thank you for a great recipe!
This recipe lives up to its name!! It’s worth a billion, in my opinion! Delish!
It really takes 2 hours to prepare, counting the de-seeding of the peppers. I find it difficult to get the brown sugar to stick to the bacon. Having said that my family LOVES it!!! I’m working on melting the sugar. I think that will do the trick!
Patricia, thank you for your 5-star rating and for sharing your experience. I find that letting the bacon sit out for 15 minutes or so will take the chill off the slices and make it easier to pat the brown sugar mixture on. You definitely don’t have to remove the seeds from the red peppers (sorry it takes so long) but it’s a nice touch. I’m so glad your family loves Billionaire Bacon! Thanks again, Eliza