Candied Bacon BLT Sliders pair sweet-spicy oven bacon with crisp iceberg, thick Roma tomato, mayonnaise, and garlic-butter-toasted buns. The bacon cooks above its rendered fat on a wire rack, then becomes crisper as it cools before being cut into three pieces for every slider.
The recipe makes 9 sliders in 45 minutes, including 20 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. Assemble only when ready to serve so the bacon stays crisp and the buns remain toasted.
Candied Bacon BLT Slider Ingredients
Gather 9 sweet slider buns such as King's Hawaiian or brioche, 1 pound thick-cut center-cut bacon, ¼ head iceberg lettuce cut into slider portions, 2 to 3 thickly sliced Roma tomatoes, about 1 tablespoon mayonnaise per slider, and salt and pepper.
The bacon coating needs ¾ cup dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper, and ½ teaspoon cayenne or red pepper flakes. The spread uses 5 tablespoons butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like Beef Meximelt.
How to Make Candied Bacon BLT Sliders
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon of the cracked pepper.
- Set a wire rack over a foil-lined sheet. Coat both sides of the bacon with the mixture. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, flipping during the final 10 minutes, then cool off the rack.
- Combine butter, 3 garlic cloves, and parsley; microwave about 20 seconds until partly melted.
- Split 9 buns, spread the inside faces with garlic butter, and toast butter-side down over low, then toast the other side about 1 minute.
- Cut each bacon strip into thirds. Prepare lettuce and thick tomato slices.
- Layer mayonnaise, lettuce, seasoned tomato, and three bacon pieces on each bottom bun. Add mayonnaise to top buns and close.
Mix the Sweet and Spicy Bacon Coating
Elevate the Bacon on a Wire Rack
Coat Both Sides and Bake
Make Garlic Butter in Twenty Seconds
Split and Toast Nine Slider Buns
Portion Lettuce, Tomato, and Bacon
Build Every BLT in the Same Order
Serve All Nine Sliders Immediately
Advance Preparation and Storage
Conclusion
At 400°F, coat 1 pound bacon with ¾ cup brown sugar, smoked paprika, cayenne, and cracked pepper. Bake on a rack for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping in the final 10, then cool. Make garlic butter with 5 tablespoons butter, 3 garlic cloves, and parsley; toast 9 split buns over low. Add mayonnaise, iceberg, seasoned Roma tomato, and three candied-bacon pieces to each slider and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why is the bacon baked on a wire rack?
The rack keeps it above rendered grease and helps both sides caramelize and crisp.
- → Is soft candied bacon undercooked?
Not necessarily. If the edges are dark and caramelized, it will become crisper as it cools.
- → How much bacon goes on each slider?
Cut the strips into thirds and place three pieces on each of the 9 sliders.
- → When should the sliders be assembled?
Assemble immediately before serving so the warm bacon remains crisp and the buns do not become soggy.