Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon

from 4 votes

Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon #recipe

I made popcorn with bacon fat.

I was initially hesitant to divulge this information. But you all reacted favorably to it. In fact, very favorably. And so we find ourselves here, with a bowl full of bacon fat popcorn, a saucepan of caramel and a pile of crispy bacon pieces. There is only one logical next step: Mix it all together to make the most kick-butt, crunchy-chewy, salty-sweet Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon.

This is another one of those stick-in-your-teeth sweets, so I’d like to give a special shout-out to all the dentists for the small part I’m doing to keep the clientele a’flowing. And for all those who don’t share my candied bacon addiction, check out the pork fat-free recipe for Easy Homemade Caramel Corn.

Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon #recipe

Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon #recipe

Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon #recipe

Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon #recipe

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Dessert

Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon

Sit back and snack on a sweet and savory treat with this recipe for Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon.
Author: Kelly Senyei
5 from 4 votes
Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Bacon #recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup unpopped popcorn
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 250ºF.
  • In a large sauté pan set over medium-low heat, cook the bacon until a majority of the fat has rendered and the bacon is crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon pieces to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve the bacon drippings.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved drippings, plus the vegetable oil, to a large stock pot over medium heat.
  • Add the popcorn to the pot and cover it. Once you hear the first kernel pop, remove the pot from the heat for 1 minute. Return the covered pot to the heat, shaking it over the flame until all of the kernels have popped. (It may take up to 5 minutes for all of the popcorn to pop.) Transfer the popcorn to a large bowl, sprinkle in the cooked bacon pieces, tossing to combine, and set the bowl aside.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Then allow the mixture to boil, undisturbed, for 4 minutes. Remove the caramel from the heat and carefully stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract. (The caramel will bubbly vigorously once you add the vanilla.)
  • Immediately pour the caramel over the popcorn, stirring to coat the popcorn and bacon.
  • Transfer the coated popcorn into two 9x13-inch shallow baking pans.
  • Bake the caramel corn for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Remove the caramel corn from the oven and spread it onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to cool completely before breaking it into pieces and serving.
  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 21g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Sodium: 425mg, Potassium: 175mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 69g, Vitamin A: 720IU, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 1mg

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Sooo good!! We had a beer and bacon party tonight and I got first place! Recipe was so easy, I was short on time and used microwave popcorn and it turned out great!! I sent the recipe to all my friends because everyone raved about it. Good thing I made 2 batches!

  2. This turned out great. The only tough part was mixing it in but only because I thought I was smarter than you and tried to mix it on a sheet pan. I quickly switched to a bowl and it was much easier. Thank you for the recipe! I’m sure this won’t be the last time I make it.

  3. 5 stars
    Amazing recipe! Made bags of these to give away for Christmas, but only managed to bag 3/4 coz the kids (and husband) could not keep their hands off it. Have been instructed to make a batch “all for us, no sharing” tomorrow.

  4. Growing up in the 50’s- 60’s, our mom always popped corn that our Dad raised in bacon fat.. Reserved Bacon fat was a staple in the refrigerator..obviously we ate the bacon but never thought about mixing it with the popcorn …delicious..

  5. Not a healthy recipe – but you only live once! Might have to try this when my son has friends over!

  6. I would like to make this for a wedding popcorn table. Should I be concerned about the bacon not being refrigerated for a couple days? Thank you!

    1. Hi Tammy! You’ll want to make sure you store the caramel popcorn in airtight containers so it doesn’t get stale/soft, but it should keep (if packaged correctly), for up to 5 days. Enjoy!

    1. It’ll stay fresh for about 3 days, just as long as you keep it in an airtight container. Enjoy!

  7. You just won me over. Tomorrow the slow cooker pork w/hoisin, then caramel popcorn with bacon fat. OMG! Totally decadent!

  8. How much does this recipe make? I would like to make it for a party tomorrow and am wondering how many times I need to multiply the ingredients.

    1. Hi Mary! It’s hard to gauge the exact yield because some of the popcorn kernels don’t pop, but if I had to estimate, I’d say about 10 cups (10 to 12 servings). Hope that helps!

  9. What? I can’t even process all the amazingness going on in this recipe. Popcorn cooked in bacon fat?! My mind is blown.

  10. Seriously?!? My mouth is watering just looking at these pictures. This looks AH-mazing!

  11. I can’t even imagine how sticky your fingers get with this in the absolute BEST way possible.