Teriyaki bacon is sweet, savory, spicy glazed bacon that’s baked until perfectly caramelized. Enjoy this Whole30 compliant recipe with your favorite breakfast sides or as a mouthwatering snack.
Baked Teriyaki Bacon
Teriyaki Bacon is the “candy bacon” of your Whole30 dreams. Ok, it’s not really candy bacon but it is pretty delicious. A few Whole30 rounds ago, I was making breakfast and my children were asking for candy bacon.
Before Whole30 candy bacon or brown sugar bacon was a regular feature at our homestyle Sunday Brunches. In that moment I didn’t want to take away something they were so used to and have yet another thing removed from their normal because of Whole30.
So I created this teriyaki bacon using coconut aminos and they loved it. Their only initial complaint was that it was not as sweet. “Mom you didn’t add enough sugar!” they said. This was also a great signal to me that I really had been adding sugar to things that really didn’t need added sugar.
Why You’ll Love This Teriyaki Bacon Recipe
- Quick & Easy: Cook bacon hands-free by baking it. It takes just 20 minutes to prepare.
- Absolutely Delicious: You enjoy them for breakfast but they’re such a treat, you can snack on them too. My kids call this “candy bacon” for a reason!
- Versatile: This recipe comes with two ways to cook the teriyaki bacon.
Ingredients for Teriyaki Bacon
Make this recipe with just 3 ingredients!
- Whole30 compliant bacon: Many bacon brands contain sugar so if you’re on Whole30 opt for one that doesn’t.
- Coconut Aminos Teriyaki Sauce: This sauce imparts a deep umami flavor. It has thicker, sticky consistency that helps it stick to the bacon pieces.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Add this for garnish for a spicy finish.
Or make your own teriyaki sauce
- Coconut aminos
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Chinese 5 Spice
- Cooking spray for the sheet pan
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Teriyaki Bacon
Teriyaki Bacon does not require a lot of prep or cooking. Just add your compliant bacon strips to a bowl, add coconut aminos, garlic powder, onion powder and a pinch of Chinese Five spice or just use coconut aminos teriyaki sauce. Then spread it out on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or more depending on how well done you like your bacon. It comes together easily and cooks quickly with little or no additional attention. Stick it in the oven while you prep your other breakfast/brunch items.
TWO WAYS TO BAKE TERIYAKI BACON
There are two ways to cook the bacon for this recipe. Option 1 is on a sheet pan set up with a wire rack. This option makes a crunchier teriyaki bacon as all of the fat drips into the sheet pan.
Option 2 is to place the bacon directly onto the sheet pan without using the wire rack. This option is my favorite way of making it because the bacon fat combines with the teriyaki sauce to make the bacon sticky and delicious. Remember to spray your sheet pan with cooking spray before adding the bacon or the bacon will stick to the sheet pan and will be hard to remove after baking.
Garnish and Serve
Our kids eat these up as soon as they come out of the oven. I don’t add anything else to it for them, but for a little grown-up treat, I love to add some crushed red pepper flakes. It gives it a nice little bit of heat. You can even add some chopped chives or green onions for a bit of color.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the bacon in the microwave in 15-second increments until warmed through.
Tips for the Best Teriyaki Bacon
- Choose thick cut bacon. Thick-cut bacon tends to work well for baking as it holds its shape and can achieve a nice balance between crispy and chewy textures.
- Completely coat the bacon so that no piece isn’t covered. Glaze it evenly.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This makes cleanup easier and prevents the bacon from sticking to the pan.
- Keep a close eye on the bacon as it cooks. Cooking times can vary depending on the thickness of the bacon and the desired level of crispiness.
- Allow the baked bacon to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps it crisp up a bit more as it cools.
- Serve the bacon with other breakfasy dishes like Cassava Grits or Sweet Plantain Home Fries.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to add flavor to bacon, consider coating it with teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, maple syrup, or black pepper.
Store teriyaki glazed bacon in the refrigerator within 2 hours of baking it.
This Japanese sauce is made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger.
Teriyaki Bacon {Whole30}
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 1 packet of Whole30 compliant bacon about 12 oz
- 1/2 cup of Coconut Aminos Teriyaki Sauce
- A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for garnish
Or make your own teriyaki sauce
- 1/2 cup of coconut aminos
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
- pinch of Chinese 5 Spice
- *cooking spray for the sheet pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °F
- If making your own teriyaki sauce, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, then add the bacon strips to the bowl and mix together ensuring all the strips are fully coated with the sauce
- If using premade teriyaki sauce, add teriyaki sauce to a large bowl, then add the bacon strips and mix together well to ensure fully coated with the sauce
- Next on a sheet pan sprayed with cooking spray add the bacon strips spread in a single layer
- Bake for 20 minutes or more depending on how crunchy you like your bacon
- minutes of baking gives the bacon a nice firm texture, with a little bit of crunch and some chewiness
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
The information listed in the recipe card is an estimate provided by an online nutrition tool. The tool evaluates ingredient names and amounts then makes calculations based on the number of servings listed for the recipe. It is provided as a general guideline and not as a precise calculation. For precise nutrition information please feel free to add the ingredients to your preferred nutrition calculator or consult a doctor or licensed nutritionist.
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