Bacon in the Oven is simple and easy, no doubt about it. Great for breakfast, BLT sandwiches, and adding crumbled bacon to recipes.
There is no need to stand over a splattering pan of bacon with this handy method. What’s even better is that this effortless method makes perfect crispy bacon every time.
Oven Cooked Bacon
- Much like air fryer bacon, this is one of the best ways to cook bacon. Just lay out the strips of bacon on a baking pan, pop it in the oven, bake, and voila perfect bacon.
- This will free up the stovetop; baking bacon in the oven means no splattering mess like pan-fried in a skillet.
- There is no need to babysit or flip the bacon over. Simply bake.
- Bacon in the oven does not take long and if you like to reserve bacon grease, there will still be plenty in the pan to save.
- This crispy bacon is good for sandwiches, crumbling into Caesar salad, sprinkling on mashed potatoes, and adding to a breakfast casserole.
Use Any Kind of Bacon
American Bacon is the most common type of bacon. This popular cut comes from the belly of the pig and tends to be a fatty cut of meat. 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 – 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.
Preparing the Pan
You do not need a wire rack or cooling rack to cook bacon. I actually prefer to bake bacon slices directly on the baking pan. It will crisp nicely baked in the fat.
I do like to line the pan with foil and/or parchment for easy cleanup.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
You will need to bake bacon at 400°F for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F per the recipe below.
- Place bacon on the prepared rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake until bacon reaches desired level of crispiness (no need to flip it), about 20 minutes.
- Remove bacon from the pan & place on paper towels to drain 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
- For easy cleanup, line a rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before adding the strips of bacon.
- 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.
- Preheat the oven before adding the bacon to the pan.
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 pouring it into a jar.
- The bacon fat on the pan can be reserved and is great added to Homemade Creamed Corn, salad dressings, BLT Pasta Salad, or for frying up eggs!
- Use bacon grease to make bacon gravy with biscuits.
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.
What to Do With Cooked Bacon
- Creamy BLT Dip
- Bacon Pancakes
- Easy Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Dill Pickle Bacon Grilled Cheese – favorite recipe
- Warm Bacon Cheese Dip – the ultimate appetizer
- Chicken Corn Chowder with Bacon
Have you made this crispy oven bacon? Let us know your favorite tips for cooking bacon in the oven below!
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
Ingredients
- 1 package bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. If desired, line pan with foil and/or parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Arrange bacon in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes* or until bacon is crisp. Thick cut bacon will need extra time.
- Transfer to paper towel lined plate. If desired, allow bacon fat to cool 10 minutes and reserve in a jar for cooking.
Notes
- *Be sure to check the bacon early. Cooking time can vary based on the pan used as well as the brand of bacon.
- Store leftover bacon in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven, in the microwave, or in the air fryer.
- 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.
- If you'd like to save the bacon grease, allow it to cool on the pan for about 10-15 minutes before pouring it into a jar.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Breakfast, Pork
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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wow! this came out great! mine took 30 minutes. I don’t know if it is because I used a foil broiler pan, as I was going to make burgers afterwards. I will definitely cook my bacon like this again.
This is the easiest way to make bacon with very little muss and the bacon is nice and crisp. No messy clean up and it smells so good!
Made this today for my daughter’s birthday breakfast. Along side with some scrambled eggs, hash brown patties, & maple sausage. I used the bacon grease for the scrambled eggs. My oh my, was it ever delicious! The bacon was just perfect. Don’t think I’m going back to the pan method any time soon!
the caveat of “or until it’s crispy” should be the foremost guide to the time it takes. I used the time guidelines given, conservatively at 18 minutes, and it came out burned. My oven usually runs slightly cool, and I tend to have to give extra time to things. I’m pretty sure 350° would’ve been a great setting for 18 mins.
I cook bacon this way and usually use parchment paper. After cooling on paper towels, I put the bacon into a freezer zip lock bag to freeze. Any number of pieces can be retrieved later and microwaved for 1 min. My husband sometimes likes to recrisp in the air fryer. Both ways are good and convenient.
That’s a great idea Diane!
I am not one for burgers but this I definitely can eat. I did also add a little bit of garlic salt to mine as well.
AT NO POINT DO YOU STATE HOW LONG TO COOK IT!!!! You assume I know how long so you tell me when to check it. that is daft. This is not a recipe this is a food story.
Step 3 of the recipe has the time. You can use the “jump to recipe” button at the top of any page to view the full details or scroll past the tips and tricks to the bottom.
3. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Enjoy!
So much easier than frying. Works great every time. Nice and crispy. I li me to keep it in the freezer so it’s handy for BLTs especially when we’re camping.
Good method, but I would skip the “easy clean-up” lining of the pan. 1) grease still went everywhere/under the lining so it was a huge waste. 2) the bacon did not get as crispy with that method. It took way longer than 20 mins and the bottom side was way soft, so I had to flip them anyway. I’m assuming from sitting against parchment that essentially caused it to “steam.” It took 35 mins for 2lb of bacon on 2 half cookie sheets.
do you cover it so it doesn’t splatter in the oven?
We bake this uncovered.
okay!!
I have been doing this for a year or more. However, I do not cook bacon completely , then store it in a container between paper towels. When I want to serve it I drop it in a hot pan for about 30 seconds and it is warm a crisp. No mess to deal with when I am preparing to use or serve bacon. I do a pound at a time and it lasts in the refrigerator for two to three weeks.
Thanks for sharing, Ella! That sounds like a great idea.