Learn how to cook bacon in the oven that results in perfectly crispy, delicious baked bacon! It’s so easy and there is no messy grease splatter from a skillet on the stovetop.
Baked bacon is a great side to so many breakfast recipes! I love to serve it with scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes and skillet breakfast potatoes.
Table of Contents
Oven Baked Bacon Recipe
Crispy oven baked bacon is a great addition any breakfast or brunch spread along with German pancakes, Belgian waffles, breakfast burritos and French toast
If you’ve never tried cooking bacon in the oven, it’s SO easy and way less messy! The bacon gets perfectly crispy and there’s no oil splattered everywhere. Then you can serve your bacon with just about anything even for dessert on top of these maple bacon donuts. Delicious!
Why I Love Cooking Bacon in the OVen
In my opinion, baking bacon is the way to go! Below are my top reasons why:
- Less mess! No splattering or oil getting everywhere. It will sizzle instead of splatter.
- Cooks all at once. Instead of cooking in batches, you can line it up on your pan and cook it all at once!
- It’s crispier. If you cook your bacon on a cooling rack, it won’t cook in it’s grease and will get super crispy and light.
- You can multitask! No need to wait in front of the stove to flip it. Pop it in the oven, go do something else and come back in 15 minutes!
How to Bake Bacon in the Oven
When baking bacon, there are 2 simple methods: 1.) straight on the baking pan or 2.) on top of a rack. The method that you use will depend on how crispy you like it.
- Cooking directly on baking sheet: When cooked directly on the baking sheet, it will come out a little more tender and chewy since it was able to cook directly in the fat.
- Cooking on the cooling rack: When cooked on top of the cooling rack, it results in a more lighter, crispier texture (which is what I prefer).
- For both methods, simply preheat oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with foil. Either place the slices of bacon directly on foil or place on wire rack on top of foil, then lay in a single layer and bake for 15-20 minutes (or until desired level of crispiness is reached).
- When baked bacon is done remove to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease.
Helpful Tips
- Line your pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up! Sometimes I even add a double layer so that grease doesn’t seep through.
- To make extra crispy bacon slices, cook on top of a cooling rack. It results in a lighter, crispier texture.
- Using tongs, transfer cooked bacon strips to a plate lined with paper towels. This helps absorb any extra grease.
- Store any leftover bacon in a zip top bag or airtight container and place in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Save your grease! It makes a great cooking fat and adds wonderful flavor. Simply pour it in a jar and store in fridge until ready to use.
Here are some recipes to use bacon in! Try bacon ranch deviled eggs, broccoli salad with bacon or BLT pizza!
More Bacon Recipes
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Bacon in the Oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick cut bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil. If you prefer crispy bacon, place a wire rack on top of the foil.
- Lay the strips of the bacon in a single layer. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until bacon has reached desired crispness.
- Line a plate with a paper towel. Then transfer the bacon with tongs to the plate to absorb any extra grease.
Notes
- Start with a cold skillet. Place 6-8 strips of bacon onto the pan.
- Cook on medium-low heat. Low and slow is the key.
- Turn bacon occasionally to evenly cook both sides.
- When bacon has reached desired crispiness transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
FAQs
Cooking bacon in the skillet is easy just more messy. Start with a cold skillet then place 6-8 strips onto the pan. Cook on medium-low heat. Low and slow is the key. Flip occasionally to evenly cook both sides. When it has reached desired crispiness, transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
Save it! If you have bacon grease on your baking pan carefully pour it into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator. You can use the rendered bacon grease for searing meat, sauteing vegetables and pretty much anywhere you would use butter or oil.
Center cut bacon or thick cut bacon are my usually choices but any type of bacon can be cooked in the oven.
This really depends on the size of your baking sheet and if you placing the bacon on a wire rack or directly on top of foil. You may be able to fit a whole 12 ounce or 16 ounce package without the rack. Just don’t overlap the bacon or it won’t crisp properly and will stick together.
Categorized as: Breakfast, Dairy-Free, Low Carb, Savory Breakfast
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I love Bacon, this is a very good recipe and this is a very easy app. Please true some of the recipes
You won’t regret it.
I’m so glad the recipe was helpful for you, Marlene! Thanks for your comment :)
Absolutely love all the recipes. 😋💗
It absolutely worked ! I was kind of skeptical but I tried it and my husband said it was perfect and I thought it had a nice crunch and light. Thanks again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
woweeeee and i thought i liked bacon BEFORE this recipe. life changing, really <3
This bacon is perfect! Thank you!!!
I would really like to try this. I know this is super easy to do, I hate cleaning up the mess of bacon when we fry it.
I love bacon but never like the grease splatter so can’t wait to try these new cooking tips!
Love these tips! Doesn’t look too dry, but looks perfectly crispy at the same time!
I cannot wait to try making it this way! I love bacon but HATE the mess so anything that lessens that part, I’m in!