Bacon for a Crowd

Perfectly crispy thick-cut bacon elevated with your choice of chile-brown sugar rub or maple-mustard glaze. This crowd-pleasing recipe yields sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy bacon that's ideal for brunches or special breakfasts.

8 servings
1 hr 11 min

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds thick-cut bacon
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons chipotle chile powder
  • 4 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 400°F.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    If making Chile-Brown Sugar Rub: Whisk brown sugar, chile powder, paprika, and 1 tsp. kosher salt in a small bowl.

    3 min

  3. 3.

    If making Maple-Mustard Glaze: Whisk maple syrup, mustard, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 tsp. kosher salt in another small bowl.

    3 min

  4. 4.

    Divide bacon between two wire racks set inside large foil-lined rimmed baking sheets. Bake, rotating baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through, until brown and crisp, 35-50 minutes (depending on the thickness of the bacon). Transfer to paper towels to drain.

    50 min

  5. 5.

    Follow directions above, but generously sprinkle bacon with rub or brush with glaze about 5 minutes before it is done cooking. Rub should be melted and bubbling and glaze should look thick and caramelized.

    5 min