This cracker bacon appetizer is incredibly simple to prepare, perfect for freezing ahead of time, and absolutely delicious! The combination of salty, sweet, and a hint of spice makes these bacon crackers an ideal choice for your next gathering or holiday celebration.
Close-up of cracker bacon appetizer with caramelized brown sugar on top.
I am completely obsessed with these bacon cracker appetizers! They are consistently a hit with everyone. Inspired by The Pioneer Woman’s Holiday Bacon Appetizers, this recipe takes a classic and makes it even more irresistible. What I especially love is how convenient it is to make a large batch in advance, freeze them, and then just bake them until crispy right before your party.
Why You’ll Love These Bacon Crackers
These aren’t just any appetizer; they’re destined to become your go-to party snack. Here’s why:
- Effortless to Make: With just three core ingredients and minimal prep, this recipe is perfect for busy hosts.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Freeze them unbaked and have a party-ready appetizer at a moment’s notice.
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: The salty bacon, sweet brown sugar, and optional spice create an addictive flavor profile that everyone loves.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: From holiday parties to casual get-togethers, these bacon crackers fit right in.
- Inspired by Pioneer Woman: You know it’s going to be good when it’s inspired by Ree Drummond!
Ingredients for cracker bacon appetizers, bacon on a white plate, brown sugar in a bowl, crackers in a sleeve.
The ingredient list is wonderfully simple: bacon, crackers, and brown sugar. Honestly, starting with bacon is always a win in my book.
Simple Ingredients for Amazing Bacon Crackers
Here’s all you need to whip up these delightful appetizers:
- Bacon: 1 pound of thinly sliced bacon is perfect for wrapping around the crackers.
- Crackers: One sleeve of club-style crackers provides the ideal base – their buttery flavor complements the bacon beautifully.
- Brown Sugar: ½ cup of brown sugar adds that crucial sweetness and caramelizes to crispy perfection in the oven.
- Chili Powder (Optional): 2 teaspoons of chili powder for a touch of spice to balance the sweetness and saltiness. For extra heat, you can substitute cayenne pepper.
Stretching a piece of bacon before wrapping it around a cracker.
To make preparation easier, I recommend cutting the entire pound of bacon in half while it’s still in the package. Before wrapping each cracker, gently stretch out the bacon slice. This helps it wrap around the cracker more completely and stay secure.
How to Make Pioneer Woman Inspired Bacon Crackers
Let’s get cooking! Follow these easy steps to create these addictive bacon appetizers:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and place a wire cooling rack on top. This rack is key to crispy crackers as it allows fat to drip away.
- Prepare Bacon: Cut bacon strips in half and lightly stretch each piece.
- Wrap Crackers: Wrap each cracker with a piece of bacon, ensuring it overlaps slightly to stay put.
- Arrange on Rack: Place bacon-wrapped crackers on the wire rack.
Cracker bacon appetizers on a sheet tray, close-up.
Don’t they look fantastic already? Baking them on a rack is essential because as the bacon renders, the fat drips away, ensuring the crackers stay wonderfully crispy. Trust me, no soggy appetizers here!
- Add Brown Sugar: Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of brown sugar on top of each bacon-wrapped cracker. The brown sugar caramelizes as it bakes, adding a delightful sweetness and crisp texture.
Sprinkling brown sugar on top of cracker bacon appetizers.
- Spice it Up (Optional): If you like a little heat, lightly sprinkle chili powder over the brown sugar. For those who love serious spice, a pinch of cayenne pepper will kick things up a notch.
Sprinkling chili powder on cracker bacon appetizers.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours, or until the bacon is fully cooked and crispy.
- Broil for Caramelization: Increase oven heat to broil (high) and broil for 3-5 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Broil until the brown sugar is beautifully caramelized and crispy.
Close-up cracker bacon appetizer with chili powder ready to go in the oven.
Spicy. Sweet. Salty.
Pure appetizer perfection.
Tips for the Best Bacon Crackers
- Spice Level: Adjust the chili powder or cayenne pepper to your preference. Start with less and add more to taste.
- Cracker Choice: While club crackers are classic, feel free to experiment with other sturdy crackers like Ritz or even gluten-free options.
- Freezing Instructions: To freeze, assemble the crackers but do not bake. Place them in a freezer-safe container in a single layer. When ready to bake, there’s no need to thaw—bake directly from frozen, adding a little extra baking time if needed.
Pile of bacon appetizer
Ready to make these for your next party? They are guaranteed to disappear fast!
Get the Recipe: Pioneer Woman Bacon Crackers
Print Recipe
Yield: 6 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound thinly sliced bacon
- 1 sleeve club-style crackers
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chili powder (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Cut bacon strips in half.
- Stretch bacon slightly and wrap around each cracker.
- Place on the wire rack.
- Top each cracker with about 1 teaspoon brown sugar.
- Sprinkle with chili powder, if desired.
- Bake for 2 hours, until bacon is cooked.
- Broil for 3-5 minutes until brown sugar is caramelized, watch carefully.
Notes:
- For extra spice, use cayenne pepper instead of chili powder.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 387kcal
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Protein: 9g
- Fat: 30g
Enjoy making and sharing these irresistible Pioneer Woman inspired bacon crackers!
