How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Learn how to cook bacon in the oven so it’s perfectly crispy & mess-free! Plus, it frees up a burner to serve with the Best Scrambled Eggs or runny eggs with sweet potatoes for breakfast!

Making oven-cooked bacon is the easiest way to cook lots of bacon without much effort! I love the oven method because I can cook big batches of bacon without babysitting a frying pan, flipping the bacon, and worrying about excess grease splattering everywhere.

Plus, this easy method makes perfectly crisp bacon each time without having to do anything! And you get restaurant quality without ever leaving your home! What could be better?

So, fire up your oven because, in this post, I’ll show you exactly how to bake bacon in the oven so you can enjoy it any time you want!

Benefits of Cooking in the Oven

• Easy: Cooking bacon in the oven is a game-changer because it frees up your stovetop. While your bacon sizzles away in the oven, you can focus on whipping up Pancakes, cooking Pan-Fried Sweet Potatoes, or preparing delicious Scrambled Eggs.
• Less mess: Say goodbye to those bacon grease splatters that magically find their way onto your walls, countertops, and clothes. When you cook bacon in the oven, the grease stays contained within the confines of the baking sheet and not all over the kitchen.
• Fuss-free: Forget about the constant flipping and turning that stovetop bacon demands. Once you lay out your bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer, you can simply pop them in the oven and let them work their magic.
• Cooks evenly: The oven’s even heat distribution ensures that every slice cooks evenly, from end to end. No more biting into half-raw bacon or overcooked, brittle strips. With oven-cooking bacon, you’ll enjoy a consistent, uniform level of doneness in each delicious bite.
• Makes restaurant-quality bacon every time: The gentle, even heat allows the bacon to develop that perfect balance of crispy edges and tender, meaty goodness. You’ll achieve that irresistible texture and smoky aroma that you usually encounter at your favorite breakfast spot.
• Works with any kind of bacon: The best way to cook bacon in the oven is versatile! Cook up classic bacon or thick-cut bacon, or turkey bacon with no hassle. You don’t have to adjust the technique or compromise on flavor—simply adapt the cooking time based on the thickness of your preferred bacon.

Supplies for the Best Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe

• rimmed cookie sheet
• aluminum foil or parchment paper
• wire cooking rack
• bacon (yum)

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Here is your method for the perfect bacon recipe!

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2: Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire cooling rack on the cooking sheet. If you do not have a cooking rack to place on a baking sheet, use your broiler pan. Line the inside bottom of the broiler pan with foil before fitting the top on the pan. The bacon fat will drip inside.

Step 3: Lay out your bacon slices in a single layer, and arrange the bacon in a single row. Avoid overcrowding your bacon, as it might not cook evenly.

Step 4: Roast the bacon for 15-20 minutes. This is approximately based on how crispy you like your bacon, your oven, and how thick your bacon is cut. I like my bacon extra crispy, so I usually roast for 20 minutes. You can start checking the bacon at 15 minutes.

Step 5: Once cooked to your desired doneness, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to remove some of the greases.

Note: If you like your bacon less crispy or are doing this for the first time and don’t want to mess it up, set the timer for 10 mins and check the bacon. Add more time if necessary for perfect crispy bacon.

What Temperature to Cook Bacon in Oven?

In my experience, I’ve found that cooking bacon at 400 Degrees F is the best temperature for perfectly crispy bacon every single time. 350-375F would be too low and might not crisp up the bacon as much as you like, and 425-450F may burn the bacon past the level of crispness you prefer.

How Long to Bake Bacon?

Short answer: 15-20 minutes. Long answer: The time depends on the thickness of your bacon and how crispy you like it. If you’re new to baking bacon, set your cooking time to 10 minutes and check it. Extending the time until it’s cooked through.

How to Cook Bacon Tips:

• I always buy nitrate-free, uncured bacon for a “clean” product. Learn more about nitrates HERE.
• Freeze your cooked bacon so you can pull out a strip or two for garnishes or to make a quick BLT sandwich.
• To freeze, simply layer bacon in between wax paper and freeze in a freezer storage bag. The wax paper will keep the bacon strips from all freezing together, so you can pull out just what you need. Keep bacon frozen for up to 2 months.
• Always pour off your bacon grease while it is warm (so it will pour easily and not solidify just yet), and use a glass or metal container – plastic will melt!! I like to use 16oz pint mason jars since I already have them on hand. Remember that you can continuously add more grease to the pot too!

FAQs for Cooking Bacon in the Oven

WANT SOME RECIPE IDEAS FOR OVEN BAKED BACON?

Here are some super easy recipes that you can use bacon with. YUM!

Salads

• Warm Kale and Bacon Salad
• Cobb Pasta Salad
• Winter Wedge Salad
• Spring Vegetable Pasta Salad
• Bacon Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap
• Buffalo Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
• Master Pasta Salad
• Chicken Southwest Salad

Soup

• Zuppa Toscana Soup
• Homemade Cream of Celery Soup

Potatoes

• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
• Ridiculously Easy Potato Skins

And More!

• The Best Burger Recipe (make it a bacon burger)
• Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
• Savory Pasta with Greens, Onions, and Bacon
• Breakfast Sweet Potato Apple Bake