Tomato Bacon Jam. Who says a fantastic sauce needs a lot of ingredients or complicated prep? I say nope. My tomato bacon jam packs a flavorful punch using the most basic ingredients. Minimal prep work means more time doing what you love and spending time with who you love. And, let's not forget, this is the best sauce you'll ever need that is truly great on absolutely everything!
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This wonderfully tangy topping is one of our most loved burger toppings. I've been making it for years and I don't remember not throwing it together while the burgers were on the grill. It's simple to make, takes very little time, and has such amazing flavor that
First off, you cannot mess up this tomato bacon jam recipe. I love my bacon chopped roughly. I don't worry about making my onions perfectly cut into tiny pieces. Sometimes I have cherry tomatoes and sometimes I cut up garden tomatoes that I need to use up. All the ingredients will simmer together at the end and create a perfectly, rustic sauce. Every single time.
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
- Use a good quality bacon that has a good amount of fat. You'll need it so the bacons renders well and gives you enough to cook the onions and bacon in.
- Use any kind of tomato you like. I love a smaller cherry tomato, but use what you have. If using a larger tomato variety, cut it into smaller pieces so that it can cook easier.
- If you don't have chives, the green tops of green onions would be fantastic.
- Add fresh herbs at the end. Depending on what is in the garden and what I have available, I've added fresh basil, parsley, and even cilantro to amp up the flavor.
- Use a good quality balsamic vinegar. Because this is a simple recipe with few ingredients, make sure you utilizing the best you can get.
- I use red onion for this recipe because of the color. You can use any variety you like.
Ingredients
- Bacon - Naturally. Use a good quality one with plenty of fat.
- Tomatoes - I prefer cherry tomatoes, but any kind will do.
- Onions - I like red onions here because it amps up that red color.
- Balsamic Vinegar - Use a good, aged balsamic.
- Kosher Salt - A must-have for all basic seasoning.
- Fresh Ground Pepper - Grind your own. It makes a difference.
- Chives, optional for topping
Instructions
Not only is this Tomato Bacon Jam going to be you new favorite condiment, but it's also so easy to make.
To begin, add the avocado oil and chopped bacon pieces into a skillet on medium-high heat. Sauté until bacon begins to render its fat. This will take about 5-6 minutes. Remove bacon from skillet.
Next, add the tomatoes and onions to the skillet and keep cooking until the tomatoes begin to break down and burst.
Return the bacon to the skillet. Add balsamic vinegar, reduce heat, and simmer until mixture become thick and jam like.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with optional chopped chives.
Enjoy! Smear on a burger, use for a charcuterie board, or on toast with a perfectly fried egg. The options are endless!
frequently asked questions
How do I use Tomato Bacon Jam?
Tomato bacon jam in my family means burgers. It makes the most phenomenal burger sauce you'll ever have. The slightly sweet, perfect tanginess combined with the bacon and caramelized onion will knock your socks off. In fact, you could dip your sock in this stuff and it would taste amazing.
Also, tomato bacon jam would be a perfect accompaniment for a charcuterie board. Crostini smeared with this gorgeous concoction and topped with goat cheese is something dreams are made of.
Is this recipe gluten-free? Dairy-free?
This recipe is both gluten and dairy-free!
Can I freeze this recipe?
Absolutely! This would be a great recipe to freeze. When you're ready to use it, simply allow the bacon jam to thaw in the fridge overnight.
storage and reheating instructions
- Tomato Bacon Jam will stay good in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, simply cover with a damp paper towel and heat in the microwave in small increments until warmed through.
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through.
Recipe
Tomato Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon, chopped
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 3-4 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large red onion, chopped
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- chives, chopped optional for topping
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add avocado oil and chopped bacon pieces into a skillet on medium-high heat. Saute until bacon begins to render fat. About 5-6 minutes. Remove bacon from skillet.
- Add tomatoes and onions, cooking until the tomatoes begin to break down and burst.
- Return bacon to the skillet, add the balsamic vinegar, reduce heat, and simmer until mixture become thick and jam like.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with optional chopped chives.
- Enjoy! Smear on a burger, use for a charcuterie board, or on toast with a perfectly fried egg. The options are endless!
Nutrition
If you guys make this Tomato Bacon Jam, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments! And, be kind. I'm only human.
If you're looking for another recipe perfect for summer, look no further than my grilled caesar salad. It's a family favorite and a super simple to throw together!
And if you're looking for more of a sauce situation, my peach salsa is chef's kiss!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Tomato Bacon Jam recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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