Oven cooked bacon is one of the easiest ways to make perfectly crisp, flavorful bacon with very little effort. Once you learn how to cook bacon in the oven, you may not want to go back to frying it in a skillet. You only need one ingredient, the stovetop stays clean, and the cleanup is wonderfully simple.
Use this crispy oven baked bacon in breakfast egg muffins, sandwiches, salads, casseroles, or any recipe that could use a salty, smoky finishing touch.
Why you’ll love it
If you have never tried oven baked bacon before, this method is a game changer. It is cleaner, easier, and more hands-off than cooking bacon on the stovetop. Instead of standing over a hot skillet while grease splatters, you can arrange the bacon on a lined baking sheet, slide it into the oven, and let the heat do the work.
This method is also ideal when you need to cook a full package of bacon at once. A baking sheet can hold more strips than most frying pans, making oven cooked bacon a smart choice for family breakfasts, brunch gatherings, holidays, or meal prep. Whether you prefer your bacon chewy, lightly crisp, or deeply crispy, baking it gives you excellent control over the final texture.
You can use almost any variety of bacon for this recipe, including thick cut bacon, hickory smoked bacon, maple bacon, Applewood smoked bacon, or regular sliced bacon. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the strips and your preferred level of crispiness, but the technique stays the same.
Another reason this is the best way to cook bacon is that there is no need to flip the strips. The oven surrounds the bacon with steady heat, helping it cook evenly on both sides. When the bacon is done, simply transfer it to a paper towel lined plate, let it drain for a minute, and enjoy.
Pro tip
If you want a smaller batch, you can use the same basic approach and simply bake fewer strips. For the best results, keep the bacon in a single layer and avoid overlapping the pieces.
Do I need to use a wire rack?
- No, a wire rack is not required. Some oven bacon recipes place a rack over the baking sheet so the bacon sits above the rendered fat, but you can still get delicious results without one.
- If you want extra crispy bacon, a wire rack may help because air can circulate around the strips more easily. However, laying the bacon directly on a foil-lined baking sheet is simpler and leaves you with one fewer item to wash.
- For bacon with a little chew in the center and crisp edges, baking it directly on the lined pan works beautifully. Just make sure the strips are spread out in a single layer.
How to make bacon in the oven
This is a quick overview. Full ingredients and instructions are included in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 400F and move the oven rack to the middle position. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil to make cleanup easy.
- Arrange the bacon strips directly on the foil in a single layer. Do not overlap the strips, or they may cook unevenly and stick together.
- Bake until the bacon reaches your preferred texture. Thin bacon may be ready in about 10 minutes, while most regular bacon takes 15 to 20 minutes. Thick cut bacon can take up to 25 minutes if you like it very crispy.
- Start checking the bacon around the 10-minute mark, especially the first time you make it this way. Ovens can vary, and bacon can go from crisp to overdone quickly near the end.
- Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate so the excess grease can drain. Serve warm, crumble it into recipes, or store it for later.
Leftovers and storage
- Cooked bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days.
- It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Let the bacon cool completely before freezing, and keep the strips separated so you can remove individual portions as needed.
- To reheat cooked bacon, place it on a paper towel lined plate and cover it with another paper towel. Microwave in short intervals until warmed to your liking.
- You can also chop leftover oven bacon and keep it ready for salads, baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, soups, or quick breakfast wraps.
What to do with leftover bacon fat
- If there is a generous amount of rendered bacon fat on the foil, carefully pour it into a heat-safe glass container and store it in the refrigerator once it has cooled slightly.
- Bacon fat can be used in place of butter or oil in small amounts when you want to add a savory, smoky flavor. It works especially well with roasted vegetables, eggs, and toasted bread.
- Never pour hot bacon grease down the sink. It can harden as it cools and may clog your drain.
What to serve with oven bacon
- Serve crispy oven bacon with eggs, toast, pancakes, waffles, breakfast potatoes, or a simple breakfast casserole.
- Crumble it over deviled eggs for a salty, crunchy topping that pairs well with the creamy filling.
- Add chopped bacon to salads for extra flavor and texture. It is especially good with avocado, potatoes, eggs, tomatoes, and creamy dressings.
- Use it in sandwiches, burgers, wraps, baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or pasta dishes whenever you want a smoky bite.
- For a snack idea, crumble cooked bacon over popcorn with a little spice for a savory treat.
More bacon recipes to try
- Creamy bacon chicken
- Bacon cream cheese tortellini
- Creamy spinach bacon orzo
- Chicken bacon gnocchi
- Hot cheddar bacon dip
If you try this easy oven bacon recipe, feel free to leave a comment or question below. It is a simple method, but once you find your perfect timing, it quickly becomes the most reliable way to make bacon.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Ingredients
- 12 strips bacon see note
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400F and place the oven rack in the middle position. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier cleanup.
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Arrange the bacon strips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Do not overlap the pieces. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked to your preferred texture. Very thin bacon may be ready after 10 minutes, while thick cut bacon can take up to 25 minutes if you want it extra crispy.
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Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then serve warm or use it in your favorite recipes.
Notes
- Cooking time depends on the thickness of the bacon and the accuracy of your oven. Watch it closely the first few times you use this method so you can find your ideal timing.
- If you need to cook more than 12 strips, use a second baking sheet. Place one sheet closer to the top of the oven and the other closer to the bottom, and rotate them if needed for even cooking.
- Nutritional information is an estimate only and can vary depending on the specific bacon used.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.