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{Today I am partnering with Kettle Brand to bring you this addicting holiday snack!}
Happy Sunday! I have snacks, upon snacks, upon SNACKS to share!
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend, doing fun things, baking sweet things and maybe even slow cookin‘ dinner? Whatever your up to, I hope it’s the best! If you’re like me, you’re carving a little time out from your weekend for holiday planning… because I’m the world’s biggest holiday freak, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorites. It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, but it has me very excited! I’ve shared a few new Thanksgiving recipes like these sweet potatoes and these mashed potatoes, and I have more on the way, BUT this easy appetizer or snack is such a great one to serve up this season!
So let’s chat about this cheesy bacon holiday crack. It’s beyond addicting, hence the word “crack” in the title. Sweet, salty, a little cheesy, plus all kinds of crunchy! And simple! When it comes to holiday appetizers and snacks, I really like to keep things simple.
My oldest brother was asked to bring a dish to a Friendsgiving gathering this year and asked me what he should bring. Now, if you know my brother, than you know he is not the best in the kitchen. His skills lie somewhere between frying a steak on the stove (one time he actually cooked it in water, I practically ran out screaming) and heating up leftovers in the oven.
Bottom line: he’s not the most skilled when it comes to cooking. So I knew I needed to give him a recipe that one, included a little meat, and two, was as easy as baking some ingredients on a sheet pan and calling it a day.
Enter this sweet and savory holiday “crack”. Just add everything to a sheet pan (and when I say everything I mean all SIX ingredients), bake for ten or so minutes, and serve. EASY and DELICIOUS. The hardest part is cooking up the bacon in a skillet before hand, but I trust that most of us can handle that!
This recipe is perfect for everything from Friendsgiving, to actual Thanksgiving, to Christmas, to New Years…thus the word “holiday” in the title. 🙂
I am really excited because I’ve partnered with Kettle Brand to help raise awareness to No Kid Hungry. This Thanksgiving, Kettle Brand and No Kid Hungry have gotten together to help make your Friendsgiving not only delicious, but one that gives back too! By hosting a Friendsgiving you and your friends can help feed kids in need. If you are throwing a Friendsgiving gathering this year…or have just been inspired to do so, please consider signing up here to make your Friendsgiving an extra special get together to benefit No Kid Hungry. You will be doing some serious good this holiday season. <–totally all about eating good food, hanging with friends, and doing a little good at the same time!
One of my favorite things about this time of year is the opportunity for us to give back. The holidays always bring out the giving spirit in people, and if there’s one thing my mom taught me, ok well aside from a love for all things, chocolate, carbs and butter, it’s that giving back is one of the best things we can offer. No Kid Hungry is making giving so easy, and FREE, so please be sure to check out their site for all the info…then head to the grocery store, buy some Kettle Chips and make some holiday snacks!
OK, real quick here, let’s break this recipe down so you know everything that’s happening:
…start with some Kettle Brand Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper (or any another flavor you love!)
…then add a little brown sugar
…drizzle a little maple syrup
…add some cheddar
…some bacon
…a generous sprinkle (at least for me!) of cayenne pepper
…bake, break it up, serve.
…now eat…and eat, and EAT. Trust me, this stuff is addicting…hence the crazy title! 🙂
Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack.
Ingredients
- 10 slices thick cut bacon, chopped
- 1 bag Kettle Brand Black Pepper or Sea Salt Potato Chips
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- rosemary, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over high heat until the fat renders and the bacon is just beginning to crisp, about 5-6 minutes. Slide the bacon out onto a paper towel lined plate to drain.
- Arrange the potato chips on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the chips. Now drizzle the maple evenly over the chips. Add the cheese and bacon. Sprinkle on the cayenne pepper. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melted. Remove and break the chips into pieces. Serve warm or at room temperature. Keep any leftovers stored in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Happy Sunday Snacking!
PS. This recipe would be great for Sunday football too…just sayin’.
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As everyone else stated this was a huge hit for Christmas eve festivities. No kidding, my brother said it was like crack without him knowing the recipe name.
You wrote in the article “The hardest part is cooking up the bacon in a skillet before hand”. That was so true as it always is using bacon in a recipe, because the bacon gets eaten. Good thing I know me and bought extra bacon!
Thank you for the great recipe!
Haha good thing! I am really glad you enjoyed these! Thank you!
This combination is just weird enough to make me HAVE to try it!! Super glad I did….everyone loves it!
I am so glad you liked this Kathryn!! Thank you!
What size is the bag of chips? I may or may not have a Costco sized bag at home!
hi! I use a 13 ounce bag! 🙂
Ha, you know what I mean.
Sounds amazing. Is it better to serve them hot right away or are they better room temp? Just trying to figure out appy linguistics.
Wither way is great, but I prefer warm. Hope you love this! 🙂
Made for Christmas Eve. Even people I thought would avoid it wanted more. Wonderful
Wow that is so great! SO happy you guys liked them, thanks!
Yum!!!!! I will be making this delight. Thank you. 🙂
Hope you love it Claudia!! Thanks and merry christmas!
I doubled the recipe, used 1 bag of kettle jalapeno chips, one kettle sea salt n pepper chips, and added some Tajin seasoning in addition to the cayenne. Christmas Crack lived up to its name! SOOOO GOOD!!!! Merry Christmas to you too! 🙂
Ah you made a ton!! thats so awesome!! Thanks Jules!
How many servings and/or how many people should this serve? Thanks-sounds delish. I’m making it today!
Hey Jules! I would say this serves about 6-8 people. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this and Merry Christmas?
I love your blog! Thank you for such unique, easy and delicious recipes! This recipe – Cheesy Holiday Bacon Crack – was over the top outstanding! I made it for our monthly dinner party – an instant hit! Addicting is not a strong enough word – the combination of flavors! Folks -do not be afraid of the cayenne pepper – you really need it to cut the sweetness! Thanks again!
Hi!! Thanks so much Barb!! This is one of my favorites too!! So happy it was a hit!!
These look amazing. If I want to make them ahead and bring them into work for a pot luck, how would you recommend I store/serve them. Make them the night before, store in the fridge and then heat in the microwave? Or serve at room temperature?
Thanks!
Hey Chloe!! Yup, make the night before and then i’d day just serve at room temp. I think microwaving them might make them soggy. Let me know if you have questions. Hope this is a hit. Happy Holidays!
I commented above I heated up our leftovers the next day (in the oven – not covered) and they were as crisp as the 1st day. Don’t know about microwaving them, tho.
Wow!! Thats amazing!!
It has my four food groups. Bacon, cheese, chips and maple syrup (being the good Canadian girl that I am). It is currently in the over as I type for a baby shower. Hopefully it makes it there.
Haha that saying reminds me of the movie of Elf! lol! I hope it made it to the baby shower and everyone enjoyed it! Thanks so much Kayla!
May try this with a little squirt of sriracha instead of cayenne. Will let you know how it comes out. Thanks for the recipe!
Ooo yes please do! I hope you love these, thanks Joe!
Kettle sea salt chips are on the top of my list along with Tyrell’s Mature Cheddar and Chive. This recipe just kicked it up a notch. I don’t know how my Italian husband’s traditional palette will deal with the “sweet factor” – maple syrup and brown sugar- but I think if I just don’t say anything he will enjoy and have no idea…
I’m sure he wouldn’t notice!! Let me know how it goes!! Thanks!!
You are really bad, Lady! Made these to munch on while watching the Hawks beat New England Sunday – they are so easy, fun and so really bad for us!! Had some leftover to heat up Monday for another snack and they were as crisp & tasty as the first night. Thanks for another fun appie. P.S. We will try to make them just every few months – they are addictive.
I think thats the best bad there is? Haha! So happy you all enjoyed Jean! Thank you!!