I made Snoop Dogg’s billionaire bacon and now I get why it’s so popular

These 3-ingredient swicy strips prove that Martha’s BFF knows his stuff when it comes to breakfast!

Key Takeaways

• Snoop Dogg is a skilled cook, co-hosting with Martha Stewart and authoring a bestselling cookbook.
• His Billionaire Bacon recipe combines brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and black pepper for a sweet-spicy glaze.
• The versatile bacon pairs well with breakfast dishes, BLTs, cocktails, and more, with tips to customize spice levels.

You might not know Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. by name, but you probably know at least one of his songs (The Next Episode, anyone?) or his signature drink (maybe you, too, enjoy sipping on gin and juice). That’s right, we’re talking about Snoop Dogg, a rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, beloved Olympics commentator, and Martha Stewart BFF.

He’s much more well-known as a West Coast hip-hop artist, but Broadus Jr./Snoop Dogg is actually a surprisingly solid cook. In fact, according to our pals at PEOPLE, he’s been making everything from mashed potatoes to brownies with Martha Stewart on her talk show since 2008. The delightful duo also co-hosted two seasons of Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. So it wasn’t too huge of a surprise in 2018, when instead of an album, Snoop Dogg dropped a new cookbook: From Crook to Cook.

Including creatively-named dishes like Stack’d Up Flapjacks and Go Shorty, It’s Your Birthday Cake, what looks like it might be a trophy-worthy white elephant gift is actually a surprisingly-solid culinary guide, fans say. In fact, with more than 39,000 Amazon reviews, this New York Times bestseller has an average 4.8 rating.

After falling even more in love with Snoop Dogg during the Paris Olympics coverage, we snagged a copy ourselves. It’s been picking up dust until earlier this month, when we decided it was high time to flip through the pages and select a recipe to try. How about some Billionaire Bacon?

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How to Make Snoop Dogg’s Billionaire Bacon Recipe

After testing and perfecting our recipe for Million Dollar Bacon coated in a swicy glaze, we figured that trying Billionaire Bacon first would be a pretty solid bet. Don’t just take our word for it that this dish is worth a try. One fan said, “Once you try this bacon recipe, you’ll never want to eat bacon any other way again! The combo of salty, sweet, and spicy is delicious. And the texture of the bacon is perfectly chewy.” 

Still, Snoop Dogg’s remix is valued at 1,000x, so could Snoop Dogg’s bacon be even better? We gave the 3-ingredient bacon recipe a try to find out. (We count black pepper as a “freebie,” since most homes have this in stock.) 

Here’s how it goes:

• Prepare the coating. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper.
• Sprinkle the bacon strips with seasoning. Top a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, then add a wire rack. Spritz the wire rack with nonstick cooking spray, then evenly space 1 pound of extra thick-cut bacon strips. Sprinkle the spice mixture on top of the bacon.
• Bake. Cook in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes (or approximately 8 Snoop Dogg songs), or until the bacon is caramelized and as crispy as you like it.

Related: Get Snoop Dogg’s Billionaire Bacon Recipe

Tips for Making Billionaire Bacon

We gave these strips a shot, then consulted with our Test Kitchen about the results. Here are a few additional considerations that might be helpful to keep in mind if you, too, decide to dine like a billionaire:

• Customize your heat level. As written, this candied bacon recipe includes 2 teaspoons of crushed red pepper flakes. If you crave foods with even more kick, use 1 tablespoon. Prefer light spice? Try 1 teaspoon instead.
• Season both sides. One thing we dig about this recipe is the way the spice rub adheres to the bacon so easily, which is courtesy of the maple syrup “glue.” Next time we make Snoop Dogg’s bacon, we’ll be dipping both sides in maple syrup before pressing the brown sugar-pepper mixture onto both sides—rather than just one. There’s more than enough brown sugar mixture anyway, and by adding it to both sides, each bite packs even more flavor. 
• Don’t rush the service. Hot sugar can burn skin (and taste buds). Allow the bacon to rest on the wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes before attempting to touch or eat it. This also lets the glaze harden, making it easier to handle with tongs.

The Verdict on Snoop Dogg’s Billionaire Bacon

As proven by our Coffee-Candied Bacon Sandwiches recipe, we’re huge fans of the candied bacon concept here at BHG. Not only does the coating complement the salty-savory bacon, but all of these recipes also employ our technique for the best way to cook bacon: on a sheet pan. (It’s far less messy than skillet-style, and big batches are a breeze!)

We love the sweet-spicy blend that Snoop Dogg calls for in his Billionaire Bacon. By opting for crushed red pepper flakes instead of our chili choice, cayenne pepper, it’s mild enough for all ages and preferences. In fact, we adore the flavor of Snoop Dogg’s strips so much that our only edit would be coating both sides so we can experience it with the volume turned up one more notch. 

Besides how irresistible this bacon recipe is, we adore its versatility. Billionaire Bacon is a delightful co-pilot for French toast, pancakes, and waffles. But why stop there? Add it to your next BLT, feature it as a garnish in future Bloody Mary cocktails, use it in Bacon-Corn-Tomato Salad, or Drop It Like It’s Hot on top of Cheesy Beer and Bacon Soup, Cowboy Casserole, Million Dollar Dip, or Million Dollar Mashed Potatoes. 

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens