Can You Make Bacon Jam Without Onions? Everything You Need To Know

Bacon jam has become an extremely popular condiment in recent years. This sweet and savory spread is delicious slathered on burgers sandwiches, crackers and more. But what if you want to make bacon jam but don’t have onions on hand or just don’t like onions?

The good news is that you can absolutely make delicious bacon jam without onions! While many traditional recipes call for onions as a main ingredient, there are plenty of ways to leave them out and still end up with a tasty bacon jam.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make onion-free bacon jam, including:

• What is bacon jam?
• Why add onions to bacon jam?
• How to make bacon jam without onions
• Onion substitutes and alternatives
• Tips for customizing your bacon jam recipe
• Storage and freezing instructions

What Is Bacon Jam?

Bacon jam is a sweet and savory condiment made by cooking bacon until crispy then mixing it with sweeteners like brown sugar or maple syrup and aromatics like shallots, garlic vinegar and spices. The mixture is simmered until thickened and spreadable.

Unlike fruit jams which use pectin to gel, bacon jam thickens through reduction. The sugars caramelize and the mixture reduces down to a jammy texture.

Bacon jam emerged as a popular item on restaurant menus before making its way into home kitchens. It strikes the perfect balance between savory, sweet, spicy and smoky flavors.

Why Add Onions To Bacon Jam?

Onions are commonly used in bacon jam recipes because they provide a few important elements:

• Savory flavor – Onions contain compounds that give them their characteristic savory, aromatic flavor. This balances out the sweetness from ingredients like brown sugar or maple syrup.

• Texture – Diced onions add a pleasant texture variation, so you get nice pieces of onion in each bite rather than just a smooth spread.

• Moisture – Onions release moisture as they cook down, which helps prevent the bacon jam from drying out as it reduces.

So while onions aren’t mandatory, they do play an important role in many traditional bacon jam recipes. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to make great onion-free bacon jam too!

How To Make Bacon Jam Without Onions

Here are some tips for leaving the onions out of your bacon jam:

Choose an Onion-Free Recipe

Look for recipes that specifically call for no onions. For example:

• Bacon Jam Recipe Without Onions – uses shallots instead of onions

• Bourbon Bacon Jam – only calls for garlic as the allium

Starting with an onion-free bacon jam recipe means you won’t have to alter or substitute anything. The recipe is designed to taste great without onions right from the start.

Leave Them Out of a Recipe That Uses Onions

You can also take a traditional bacon jam recipe that calls for onions and simply omit them. Just cook the bacon and aromatics, then add the remaining ingredients like brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, etc.

Without onions, the texture may be a bit smoother. But the jam will still have plenty of bacon flavor.

Substitute Other Aromatics for Onions

In place of onions, use other aromatics to provide flavor complexity:

• Shallots – Very mild onion flavor. Use 2-3 minced shallots in place of 1/2 onion.

• Garlic – Sweeter and more mellow than onions. Use 2-4 cloves minced garlic.

• Onion powder – Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon onion powder to add a hint of onion flavor without the texture.

• Herbs and spices – Thyme, sage, paprika and black pepper can add savory dimensions.

Experiment with combinations of aromatics until you find a blend you love.

Add Acid and Umami

Extra acid and umami flavors can provide balance in the absence of onions:

• Vinegar – Balsamic, sherry, red wine or rice vinegar add acidity. Use 2-3 tablespoons.

• Worcestershire sauce – Adds savory umami flavor. Use 1-2 teaspoons.

• Tomato paste – Contains glutamates for umami. Use 1-2 teaspoons.

• Soy sauce or fish sauce – Savory boost. Use 1/2 to 1 tablespoon.

Maintain Moisture

Since onions release moisture as they cook, you may need to add a little extra liquid to prevent your onion-free bacon jam from drying out.

• Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth along with any juices released from the bacon.
• Fold in an extra tablespoon of olive oil or bacon grease.
• Use an extra 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of a sticky syrup like maple or honey.

Adding a little extra moisture balances the reduced amount caused by omitting onions.

Onion Substitutes and Alternatives For Bacon Jam

Here are a few more ideas for getting onion flavor without using onions:

• Scallions – Use the green and white parts minced. More mild than onions.

• Leeks – Sweeter and more subtle flavor than onions. Use just the white and light green parts.

• Asafoetida powder – Has an onion-garlic flavor. Use just a pinch.

• Onion salt – Provides concentrated onion taste. Use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon.

• Dehydrated onion flakes – Rehydrate in water first to mellow flavor.

• Caramelized onion jam – Stir in 2-3 tablespoons for rich onion taste.

With a combination of aromatics, acid, umami and moisture, you can make delicious onion-free bacon jam with a complex flavor profile.

Tips for Customizing Your Bacon Jam Recipe

One of the great things about bacon jam is how versatile it is. There are endless possibilities for customizing bacon jam to suit your personal tastes. Here are some ideas:

• Use different types of bacon – maple bacon, pepper bacon, turkey bacon.

• Add spices and herbs like smoked paprika, cayenne, sage, thyme.

• Sweeten with honey, molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup.

• Make it boozy with bourbon, beer, rum, whiskey.

• Give it heat with jalapeños, chipotle or cayenne pepper.

• Stir in nuts like pecans or walnuts for crunch.

• Swap out the vinegar – balsamic, red wine, champagne.

• Finish with a swirl of nut butter or cream cheese.

Mix and match flavors until you create the perfect bacon jam for you. The great thing about leaving out onions is it frees you up to get creative with other ingredients.

Proper Storage and Freezing

Bacon jam is highly perishable and needs proper storage for food safety. Here are some tips:

• Store bacon jam in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1-2 weeks.

• Let it come to room temperature before serving for best texture.

• For longer storage, spoon bacon jam into freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible.

• Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.

Freezing is ideal if you want to make a big batch. Thawed bacon jam may need a quick simmer or microwave zap to re-meld the flavors.

Is Bacon Jam Safe To Can?

Some people wonder if you can can or water bath bacon jam for long term shelf stable storage like regular fruit jam.

However, bacon jam is low-acid with a higher pH and cannot be safely canned using a water bath process. The USDA recommends pressure canning bacon jam by following an approved recipe.

For short term fridge storage, freezing is a safer choice. Or make smaller batches to enjoy fresh.

Enjoy Delicious Onion-Free Bacon Jam!

With a few simple ingredient swaps and technique adjustments, you can easily make tasty bacon jam without onions.

Use shallots, garlic, spices, vinegars and extra moisture to build complex flavor in the absence of onions. Finding an onion-free recipe or omitting them from a standard recipe are both options.

Take advantage of how customizable bacon jam is by experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to create your own signature version.

Follow proper storage in the refrigerator or freezer to safely enjoy your bacon jam for up to several weeks.

So go ahead and indulge in the sweet, smoky, savory yumminess of bacon jam, even if you want to leave out the onions. This versatile spread is too delicious not to try!