Learn How to Cook Bacon in the Oven and say goodbye to splattered stovetops. A simple, hands-off method for perfectly crispy bacon every time!

Baked bacon on white plate on top of blue linen.

I like cooking bacon in the oven mostly for an easy breakfast and to add to other recipes like egg white bites or salads.

I never cook bacon on the stove anymore because it’s messy and time consuming. I either use the air fryer or bake it in the oven, it’s incredibly easy and you must give it a shot!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Hands off method: While bacon bakes in the oven, you’re free to cook other things, like a stack of almond flour pancakes. You don’t have to babysit it!
  • No mess: No splatters all over the stove and cleanup becomes a breeze! Simply line baking tray with parchment paper to trap bacon grease, then toss.
  • Convenient when cooking for a crowd: Make a large batch of oven cooked bacon without any babysitting or flipping.
  • Perfect results: The bacon is evenly cooked and crispy every time. Once you know how to bake bacon in the oven, you’ll never cook it on the stove again.

Types of Bacon You Can Bake

All bacons vary and there are some tips for cooking each type. Even regular bacon comes in different sizes and thickness, and it might look a little bit different for every one of us.

Here are some pointers for baking bacon of various types.

  • Regular bacon: Probably the most favored kind of bacon that has a thin texture and can be infused with various flavors such as maple or pepper.
  • Thick cut bacon: Cut about 1/8″ thick, thick cut bacon produces more excess grease and takes more than 20 minutes to bake. I recommend lining your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier clean up.
  • Turkey bacon: This leaner alternative can be baked at the same temperature as regular bacon but will require less cooking time.

How to Make Bacon in the Oven

Here’s a quick summary of how to cook bacon in the oven. Just pop it in the oven and watch as your kitchen fills with the irresistible aroma.

There is a full recipe card below.

Step by step process how to cook bacon in the oven.
  • Prep: Preheat your oven to 400 F. For easy clean up, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top.
  • Arrange bacon: Place bacon strips in a single layer on top the wire rack, the edges can touch but should not overlap.
  • Bake: Set baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of crispness. Remember all ovens vary, so keep an eye on it!
  • Serve: Carefully remove from oven and enjoy! Once bacon grease has solidified you can discard the parchment paper.

Tips for Best Results

Here are some essential tips for perfectly baked bacon every time.

  • Don’t overlap bacon slices: Pieces that overlap will not crisp as well.
  • To cook without the rack: If you don’t want to clean the cooling rack, you can place bacon directly on parchment paper but then you will have to drain it in a dish lined with double paper towel.
  • Using aluminum foil: You can line the baking sheet with aluminum foil covering the edges for easier clean up. At the end you can just roll and toss it into garbage. I try to avoid foil because it leaches chemicals into food once heated.
  • If you are discarding bacon grease: Let it solidify, it will be easier to roll parchment or foil into a ball without spilling hot bacon grease all over the baking sheet and burning yourself.
  • To save bacon grease: Allow bacon grease to cool slightly, then strain through paper towel into a glass jar. See FAQs section below for how to use bacon grease in cooking.
  • In any case with bacon grease: Most importantly, do not drain it into your sink, it solidifies and clogs the pipes.
Baked bacon slices on a wire rack on top of parchment paper.

What to Do with Crispy Baked Bacon?

Now that you know how to bake bacon, the serving options are almost endless. Here are some of my favorite dishes elevated by the addition of crispy bacon.

How to Store

Store: Keep leftover bacon in an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-5 days. It’s quick and easy to reheat in a microwave or air fryer.

Freeze: Place cooled bacon in a resealable Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Use from frozen, it thaws within a few minutes.

FAQs

Do you flip bacon when cooking in the oven?

No, there’s no need to flip bacon when baking it in the oven.

How can I use bacon grease in cooking?

Strain hot bacon grease through paper towel into glass jar. Don’t use plastic because it will melt. Then use as you would use oil for roasting vegetables, frying eggs or burgers, greasing your pan for sheet pan meals, homemade vinaigrette, or gravy. My grandma always did that!

How to cook bacon in the oven without a rack?

If you don’t have or don’t want to clean the rack, I recommend to line your rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and bake bacon on it. You will have to transfer it to a paper towel lined plate to drain and it might need longer cook time.

I do not like to bake bacon on aluminum foil because it leaches harmful chemicals into food once heated.

What is the best temperature to cook bacon?

I like to cook bacon at 400 F or 425 F. That’s when it gets nice and crispy. The only difference between the two temperatures is the cook time and your oven. Your bacon will cook faster at higher temperature. Also note that all ovens heat up differently and for your oven one temperature might work better than the other.

How do I avoid messy oven splattered with bacon grease?

If you end up with a dirty oven after baking bacon, it simply means your oven runs hotter. Next time reduce temperature to 375 F or even 350 F and cook bacon until nice and crispy.

You can also sprinkle a tiny bit of flour using a sifter all over bacon before baking.

More Recipes with Bacon

Person holding crispy baked bacon slice.
Baked bacon on white plate on top of blue linen.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Learn How to Cook Bacon in the Oven and say goodbye to splattered stovetops. A simple, hands-off method for crispy bacon every time!
5 from 2 votes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 183
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, line large baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top.
  • Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on top, touching but not overlapping.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until desired crispness. All ovens vary, so keep an eye on your bacon!
  • Remove from the oven and enjoy! Let bacon grease solidify and discard parchment paper for easy clean up.

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate cooked bacon in airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in a microwave or air fryer.
  • Freeze: Freeze in a resealable Ziploc bag. Use from frozen, it thaws within a few minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 slices | Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 291mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: North American
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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