This tomato bacon jam is sweet, smoky, savory, and packed with rich bacon, onions, and tomato flavor. It’s an easy homemade condiment that instantly upgrades burgers, sandwiches, crostini, and cheese boards.
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Tomato bacon jam is one of those little extras that makes simple food feel wildly special. A spoonful on a burger, sandwich, crostini, breakfast board, or grilled cheese instantly makes everything taste richer, smokier, and more interesting.
The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make. Bacon, onions, and tomatoes slowly simmer together into a glossy savory jam that keeps beautifully and somehow gets even better after a day in the fridge.
Why This Tomato Bacon Jam Works
- Sweet, smoky, and savory: Bacon, onions, and tomatoes create rich balanced flavor.
- Simple ingredients: Easy pantry staples with big flavor payoff.
- Perfect for burgers and sandwiches: A small spoonful adds huge flavor.
- Easy to make ahead: The flavors get even better as the jam sits.
What You'll Need & Why
- Bacon: Adds rich, smoky flavor and gives the jam its signature savory backbone.
- Cherry tomatoes: Naturally sweet and juicy, they break down beautifully into a jammy texture.
- Red onion: Brings balance and depth with a mild sweetness as it cooks down.
- Balsamic vinegar: Adds tang and complexity to round out the sweetness and smoke.
- Avocado oil: Helps render the bacon evenly without overpowering the other flavors.
- Kosher salt & black pepper: Essential for seasoning and pulling all the flavors together.
- Chives (optional): A fresh, mild finish that works beautifully as a garnish.
Tips, Tricks, & Flavor Variations
This tomato bacon jam is flexible, easy, and simple to adjust based on what you have on hand.
- Control the sweetness: For a sweeter finish, add a little brown sugar or maple syrup to taste.
- Use a good-quality bacon: The rendered bacon fat helps build the rich savory flavor of the jam.
- Use any tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes work beautifully, but any tomato variety will work here.
- Choose a good balsamic vinegar: With a short ingredient list, the balsamic flavor really stands out.
- Swap the onions if needed: Red, yellow, or sweet onions all work well.
- Finish with fresh herbs: Chives, parsley, basil, or green onion tops add freshness at the end.
- Add a little heat: Red pepper flakes or jalapeño add a subtle spicy kick.
Tomato Bacon Jam Recipe
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
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Add the avocado oil and chopped bacon to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the bacon begins to render its fat. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside.
- Soften the vegetables: Add the tomatoes and onions to the skillet. Cook until the tomatoes begin to burst and break down and the onions soften.
- Simmer into a jam: Return the bacon to the skillet. Add the balsamic vinegar, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the mixture thickens and becomes jam-like.
- Season and finish: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with chopped chives, if using.
- Serve: Spoon onto burgers, spread onto toast, or add to a charcuterie board and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
How To Use Tomato Bacon Jam
Tomato bacon jam adds rich sweet-savory flavor to burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, and easy entertaining spreads.
- Pile it onto burgers and sliders: Perfect on smash burger tacos, turkey burgers, pulled pork sliders, or breakfast sandwiches.
- Upgrade sandwiches and grilled cheese: Spread onto grilled cheese, BLTs, melts, crostini, or toasted sandwiches.
- Add it to appetizer boards: Serve alongside cheeses, crackers, crostini, whipped ricotta dip, or goat cheese for an easy party spread.
- Pair with game day favorites: Tomato bacon jam works beautifully with cheeseburger sliders, dips, puff pastry pigs in a blanket, and charcuterie-style snack boards.
- Serve with eggs and brunch dishes: Spoon onto scrambled eggs, omelets, avocado toast, or breakfast sandwiches.
Storage & Shelf Life
Store tomato bacon jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7–10 days.
For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and stir before serving.
You Asked, I Answered
What does tomato bacon jam taste like?
Tomato bacon jam is sweet, smoky, savory, and slightly tangy with rich bacon flavor, softened onions, and a glossy jam-like texture.
Other Sauces & Condiments You'll Also Love
If you love bold, versatile condiments that instantly upgrade a meal, try these next:
- Peach Salsa: Sweet, fresh, and perfect for grilling, chips, and charcuterie boards.
- Roasted Salsa Verde: Smoky, tangy, and endlessly useful on tacos, eggs, and bowls.
- Quick-Pickled Red Onions: Bright, punchy, and the easiest way to add contrast to rich dishes.
- Pickled Jalapeños: Spicy, tangy, and perfect for burgers, sandwiches, and snacks.
- Pico de Gallo: Fresh, classic, and always worth keeping in the fridge.
Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
Collin H says
This goes extremely well with an over-easy egg on a big fat bacon cheeseburger! My sports buddies all love it, when I make this on gameday for burgers!