Caramel Bacon Popcorn

Bacon Caramel Popcorn is a delightful blend of sweet caramel, savory bacon, and crunchy popcorn, it's perfect for sharing or enjoying solo. Dive into this homemade treat today!

Prep Time40

Cook Time45

Cooling Time30

Total Time1 45

Course: Snack

Keyword: Bacon Caramel Popcorn

Servings:

Calories: 82kcal

Ingredients

16 Bacon Strips cooked and crumbled, reserve 4 tablespoons bacon grease
4 cup Pecans toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
4 cups Brown Sugar
2 cups Butter unsalted
1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1 teaspoon Salt
3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
4 Tablespoons Bacon Grease
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
16 cups Plain Popcorn popped

Instructions

Pop your Popcorn: You can make this on the stovetop or in the microwave, however you prefer. Pop and set aside. (make sure to use plain)
Prepare the Bacon: Cook and crumble your bacon into small bite sized pieces and set aside. Make sure to reserve at least 4 tablespoons of bacon grease from cooking, we will add this to the caramel mixture.
Prepare the Pecans: Roast the pecans in the oven for about 5-7 minutes or until they are fragrant. Let them cool and then coarsely chop them. Set aside
Make the Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to boil. Let it boil for 4-5 minutes without stirring. Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully stir in the baking soda, salt, reserve bacon grease and vanilla extract. The mixture will bubble and thicken up.
Combine All Ingredients: Spray two very large mixing bowls lightly with cooking spray and divide the popped popcorn between the two bowls. Add half the chopped bacon and half of the toasted pecans to each bowl with popcorn. Pour the hot caramel sauce over the popcorn mixture. Stir gently to coat evenly. (I recommend using large tongs for this but don’t worry if you feel like you didn’t get every kernel coated, there will be extra time for this during the baking process!)
Bake the Popcorn: Preheat your oven to 250°F. Spread the popcorn mixture onto two large baking sheets in an even layer.
Stir the Popcorn: Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure it is evenly coated and cooked. (This part is important! Make sure that every 15 minutes you open the oven and use heavy duty tongs to mix the popcorn with the caramel sauce…the sauce with melt as it bakes and allow you to coat the popcorn mixture more evenly)
Cool and Serve: Remove the popcorn from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheet. It will get crunchier as it cools. Break apart any large clusters of popcorn, and it’s ready!
*Important Note: This recipe makes A LOT of servings, feel free to cut it in half if you are making it for only a couple of people!

Notes

Reheating and Storage Information

Store your Bacon Caramel Popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay fresh and crunchy for up to a week.

Can This Be Frozen?

If you want to try freezing the leftovers then more power to you. Personally, I think this recipe is best enjoyed fresh. It is definitely worth the extra time.

Can This Be Made Ahead of Time?

Absolutely. Prepping for a big event or just trying to surprise someone? You can make this a day or two in advance. Just ensure you store it in an airtight container to keep that delightful crunch intact.

Substitutions & Variations

Pecans: Not a fan? Feel free to swap them out with almonds or walnuts, or skip the nuts altogether.
Brown Sugar: Maple syrup can give a different sweet twist if you're out of brown sugar.
Butter: Dairy-free? Coconut oil is a great substitute that gives a slight tropical hint.

Helpful Cooking Notes

When making the caramel sauce, it's vital to keep stirring to prevent burning. It's a bit like babysitting – a sweet, delicious baby.
While baking, make sure to stir the popcorn every 15 minutes. This ensures the caramel evenly coats every piece. We wouldn't want any popcorn feeling left out!
As tempting as it may be to dive in immediately after taking it out of the oven, allowing it to cool will give it that desired crunchiness. Patience is the key!

Nutrition