Rum Glazed Slab Bacon Bites with Pineapple: The perfect sweet and savory party appetizer! Everyone loves the classic combination of pineapple and bacon. We are upping our game with perfect bite-sized chunks of delicious slab bacon, and the spiced rum lends a tropical twist to a deliciously sticky glaze made with a brown sugar soy sauce. So easy to cook, you simply cube the slab bacon, sear it in a skillet, and then add the rum sauce. It’s the perfect finger food for any party!
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I got the idea for these amazing little Slab Bacon Bites from a 1968 cookbook titled Whiskey in the Kitchen. The recipe was for “Sausage De-lights” using cocktail sausages (which are so quintessentially retro), but I chose to substitute the little sausages for slab bacon. Why? Because slab bacon is heaven on earth, and I wanted to share a slice of it with you.
I included the original brown sugar rum sauce recipe, but my rum of choice is Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. When paired with fresh pineapple, the spiced rum glaze gives these Bacon Bites a tropical feel which makes them perfect for Hawaiian-themed parties or luaus. Do people still have luaus these days? I don’t think I’ve actually ever been to a luau per-say, but they sure look like a lot of fun in the movies. Who wouldn’t have fun at a rock-a-hula luau lounging in the pool with a piña colada in one hand and bowl full of Rum Glazed Slab Bacon Bites in the other?
A Little Slab Bacon Q and A
What is slab bacon?
- Slab bacon is simply bacon that has not yet been sliced.
Where can you buy slab bacon?
- Call around to your local supermarkets or butchers. Chances are, if they slice their own bacon in-store, they will be able to cut off a pound from their slab for you.
- I get mine from Lucky’s Market. They sell fresh-sliced bacon in their meat department and are more than happy to sell it unsliced upon request.
What is the difference between pork belly and bacon?
- Some stores may carry pork belly but not slab bacon. Pork belly is an uncured, unsmoked slab of meat from the pig’s abdominal area. Bacon is typically sliced from pork belly after it has been cured and smoked.
- To sum it up, slab bacon is cured, smoked pork belly. Slice it up and fry it, and you’ve got yourself America’s favorite breakfast side item! Cube it up, and you have your new favorite party appetizer—Rum Glazed Slab Bacon Bites!
What if I can’t find slab bacon?
- Option 1 (for the adventurous): Cure your own pork belly using one of the bacon curing kits they sell online such as this one or this one. After you have prepared your delicious homemade slab bacon, stop back by to make these yummy Slab Bacon Bites!
- Option 2 (for the classic version): The original recipe calls for cocktail sausages, so those are an excellent second choice if you cannot get your hands on slab bacon. The method is the same; simply brown the sausages before adding the glaze ingredients.
- Option 3 (for good old-fashioned bacon): If you cannot find slab bacon that you can cut into bite-sized pieces, you might try frying up some regular sliced bacon (briefly drain on paper towels). Meanwhile, reduce the glaze in a skillet over medium-low heat until it is very thick and syrupy. Then toss your bacon in it and wrap it around pineapple chunks; secure with a toothpick.
How do you cook Slab Bacon?
- I’m glad you asked! Follow along and I’ll show you a quick and easy way to cook Slab Bacon Bites smothered in a sweet and savory rum glaze (aka, Best Appetizer Ever).
PRODUCTS YOU MAY NEED
An 11 inch cast iron skillet is the size I use for this Slab Bacon Bites recipe. However, a slightly smaller skillet would work too; these bacon bites shrink up a little while cooking. A braiser works really well for dishes like this where you will be braising meat in sauce. Both the skillet and the braiser have heavy bottoms and distribute heat evenly. This ensures even cooking and helps prevent scorching. If you’re planning a tropical-themed party, here are a few products you may like:
How to Cook Slab Bacon Bites with a Brown Sugar Rum Glaze
RECIPE VIDEO: WATCH ME MAKE THIS EASY SLAB BACON BITES RECIPE
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STEPS FOR MAKING RUM GLAZED SLAB BACON BITES WITH PINEAPPLE
First, pour 1/4 cup spiced rum in a small bowl. Sailor Jerry is great for this recipe, and it smells so amazing as it simmers in the skillet!
To the same bowl, add the remaining glaze ingredients: soy sauce, brown sugar, and ketchup. Whisk it up and set aside.
Heat a large skillet to medium heat and then add your slab bacon pieces. The cubes should be about 1 inch in size. Allow these to brown for 5 to 10 minutes, turning the bacon often. Once your bacon is a golden brown on all sides, turn the heat down to medium-low and spoon out most of the excess bacon grease.
Next, pour your Rum Glaze over the browned bacon. Simmer over medium-low heat uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it reduces, so be sure to stir frequently and turn the bacon several times to get it coated nicely. The longer you simmer the glaze, the thicker it will get.
Serve your Slab Bacon Bites retro-style with fresh pineapple chunks on toothpicks. Garnish with sliced green onion for extra color and amazing flavor.
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
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HERE’S THE COMPLETE, PRINTABLE RECIPE
Rum Glazed Slab Bacon Bites with Pineapple
Ingredients
- 1 lb slab bacon cut into 1-inch cubes (yields about 30-40 pieces)
Brown Sugar Rum Sauce:
- ¼ cup spiced rum
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
Garnish:
- Pineapple fresh, chunks
- Green onions sliced
Instructions
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In a small bowl, whisk togther the rum, soy sauce, brown sugar, and ketchup. Set aside.
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Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed slab bacon. Cook for 5-10 minutes, turning frequently with tongs, until the bacon is golden brown on all sides.
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Turn the heat down to medium-low, and spoon off most of the bacon grease. Pour the sauce over the bacon and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring and turning bacon occasionally. Keep a steady simmer until the bacon has browned to a deep golden color and the sauce has reduced to a thick syrup consistency. The sauce will cling to and coat the bacon bites near the end once it thickens, so keep stirring the bacon bites to get them fully coated.
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Serve warm bacon bites with fresh pineapple chunks on toothpicks and a sprinkle of sliced green onions.
This recipe is linked up with other zesty bloggers at Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck!
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These bacon bites were off the chain!
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They are a hit for sure! There’s something about the combination of salty bacon with that touch of sweet in the sauce.