Can I use other sweeteners?

Yes, but if you're using a liquid sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, or molasses I would use a little less than 1/4 cup of brown sugar from the recipe. The key is the thickness of the glaze, so try out different combinations and see what works for you. 1/4 cup of molasses is incredibly strong and sweet, where 1/4 cup honey is much milder.

Can I use a dehydrator?

Probably. I have not tested this out, but if I were going to I'd likely smoke the bacon for 2 hours, blot it, and then add it into a dehydrator. It would take much longer to dry out in a dehydrator, closer to 4-6 hours overall.

I don't like spicy, can I still make this?

Absolutely. Try a thin glaze of your favorite sweet BBQ sauce. Whatever you choose to use, make sure to pay attention to the added salt.

Smoked Bacon Jerky: Spicy, Sweet, and Dangerous

Name: Smoked Bacon Jerky
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h
Cuisine: Jerky
Ingredients: 10 slices thick cut bacon (10-12oz package); 2 tbsp Sriracha; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1/4 cup brown sugar

Description

This smoked bacon jerky is spicy, sweet, and absolutely impossible to stop eating. Buy a few packs of thick cut bacon and get ready.

Ingredients

Scale

10 slices thick cut bacon (10-12oz package)
2 tbsp Sriracha
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Preheat your smoker for low heat, 180-200°F.
Lay out the bacon on a wire rack, giving space between each slice.
Mix the glaze ingredients together with a whisk, making sure to get rid of any lumps of brown sugar. As the sugar dissolves it will be a much thinner liquid. Taste and adjust. Using a pastry brush, apply a thin layer of glaze on both sides of the bacon, flipping as needed.
Place the bacon on the smoker for 2 hours, undisturbed.
After 2 hours, blot the bacon gently with a paper towel. Flip each piece over carefully, and blot the other side. Leave the bacon to smoke for at least another 60-90 minutes.
Check the bacon jerky for preferred doneness. It should not be completely crispy and black. There should still be a slight bend before it breaks.

Notes

You can use an oven at 200°F as an alternative. Make sure you use a wire rack with a baking sheet underneath to catch the grease.

Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 4 hours
Category: Pork
Method: Smoking
Cuisine: Jerky

Keywords: Bacon, bacon jerky, jerky, pork, pork jerky, smoked pork, smoked jerky, candied bacon