How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

Making Bacon in the Oven is simple and splatter-free!

Skip the splattering pan of bacon on the stove top, and bake bacon in the oven for a hands off way to prepare perfect crispy bacon every time.

Serve it for breakfast, add to BLT sandwiches, and or add a boost of flavor to recipes with crumbled bacon.

A pan of crispy bacon cooked in the oven

Oven Cooked Bacon

Baking bacon in the oven means no splattering or mess like pan-fried in a skillet.
There is no need to babysit or flip bacon over – simply bake on a rimmed pan.
This is one of the best and easiest ways to cook bacon.
Baking bacon in the oven is quick, and you can still save the excess grease to use.

Use Any Kind of Bacon

American bacon is the most common type of bacon which are strips of pork belly. Flavored bacon (like maple or peppered) is great oven-baked too.

Thick-cut bacon works well in the oven. This bacon is cut about 1/8″ thick so it will need a bit more time. If you check it at 20 minutes and it needs more time flip it over and pop it back into the oven for a bit.

Turkey bacon, which is a bit leaner, does work. It will require less cooking time in the oven at the same temperature to ensure it doesn’t dry out.

bacon on a baking sheet with parchment to show How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

This crispy bacon is good for sandwiches, crumbling into Caesar salad, sprinkling on mashed potatoes, and adding to a breakfast casserole.

Preparing the Pan

There is no need for a wire rack or cooling rack to cook bacon. The bacon slices can be cooked directly on the baking pan. It will crisp nicely as it bakes in its own fat.

Preheat the oven to 400°F per the recipe below.
Place the slices of bacon on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil and/or parchment for easy clean up.
Bake until bacon reaches the desired level of crispiness (no need to flip it), about 12-18.
Remove bacon from the pan & place on paper towels to drain the grease.

For turkey bacon: Arrange on a sheet and cook for 11-13 minutes.

For thick-cut bacon: Cook at the same temperature but for the full 20 minutes. Because the bacon is so thick it may need to be flipped and cooked a few minutes extra.

Tips for Crispy Oven Bacon

Air fryer bacon is great for a few slices, oven bacon is perfect for more).

Line the baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Arrange bacon in a single layer without overlapping for even cooking.
For larger batches, use two baking sheets and rotate them halfway through and add a few minutes of cooking time.
Adjust cooking time slightly based on your desired level of crispiness.

Save The Bacon Grease

If you’d like to save the bacon grease, allow it to cool on the pan for about 10-15 minutes before transferring it into a jar.

cooked bacon on a plate to show How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

Storage

Leftover bacon can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Use bacon right from frozen; it thaws in just a couple of minutes.

Uses for Cooked Bacon

Use bacon fat in salad dressings or add it to creamed corn, pasta salads or in place of oil when frying eggs. And add the bacon to your favorite recipes.

Have you made this crispy oven bacon? Let us know your favorite tips for cooking bacon in the oven below!

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How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

Follow this easy recipe to cook perfectly golden-crispy bacon every time!

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 18 minutes

Preheat the oven to 400°F. If desired, line the pan with foil and/or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
Bake for 12 minutes. Check on the bacon and continue cooking for an additional 6 to 8 minutes* or as needed until the bacon is crisp. Thick-cut bacon will need extra time.
Transfer the bacon strips toa paper towel lined plate. If desired, allow bacon fat to cool 10 minutes and reserve in a jar for cooking.

*Be sure to check the bacon early. Cooking time can vary based on the pan used as well as the brand of bacon.
Store brand bacon is often cut very thin and can sometimes cook faster than national brands. Check it early!
For easy cleanup, line a rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before adding the strips of bacon. No baking rack is required.
Ensure the bacon slices are in a single layer, overlapping pieces won’t crisp as well.
If you’re making larger batches of bacon, use two pans and switch the placement of the pans after about 10 minutes. You may need to add a few minutes of cooking time.
Keep leftover bacon in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven, in the microwave, or the air fryer.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Breakfast, Pork

Cuisine American

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