How to Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
on Jun 03, 2013, Updated Mar 04, 2024
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There’s no denying that bacon is a major breakfast staple, especially in big families like ours.
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But wrestling with a pan full of sizzling bacon slices on the stovetop can be messy and time-consuming. Enter the oven method: your new best friend for achieving perfect bacon in large batches and with minimal fuss. You’re going to love this easy kitchen hack!
Table of Contents
Why the Oven Wins for Big-Batch Bacon:
- Less mess, more breakfast: Ditch the splatter and grease splatter on your stovetop! Simply line your baking sheet (also called a cookie sheet or baking pan) with parchment paper or tin foil for a breeze-through cleanup.
- Big batch bliss: Cook as much bacon as your family needs in one go on a single sheet pan. No more waiting in line for seconds (or thirds!).
- Hands-off hero: Once you put the bacon in the oven, you can relax and focus on other breakfast prep tasks. No need to constantly babysit the pan.
Making baking in the oven is the best way to cook a lot of bacon: crispy, easy, and perfect for big families. Let’s keep in mind, though, this cripsy treat isn’t just for breakfast!
We use it all sort of yummy recipes like smoked beef tenderloin with bacon, cabbage and bacon, and of course our recipe for Polished stuffed cabbage.
Here’s What You’ll Need to Gather
- A large rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper (optional, but recommended for easy cleanup)
- Paper towels
- Cooking spray (optional)
- Your favorite type of bacon, whether it’s regular, thick-cut bacon, or even turkey bacon (available at most grocery stores!)
Common Questions
No, flipping is not necessary for oven-baked bacon.
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week and use it for adding flavor to other dishes.
Tips for Oven-Baked Bacon Perfection
(See the printable recipe card below for full directions.)
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This is the best temperature for even cooking and crispy bacon results.
- Embrace the cold oven trick: Placing the bacon in a cold oven allows the fat to render slowly, resulting in crispy bacon that’s not greasy.
- Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the baking sheet. Don’t crowd the pan, as this can prevent even crisping.
- For the crispiest bacon: Use a cooling rack placed on top of the baking sheet. This elevates the bacon strips allowing the rendered bacon fat to drip away, resulting in extra crispness.
- Cooking time: Depending on the thickness of the bacon and your desired level of crispiness, cook for 15-20 minutes. Thicker bacon may need a few extra minutes. Keep an eye on the bacon, especially towards the end, to ensure it doesn’t burn.
Once Your Bacon is Cooked to Your Liking
- Transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
- Let the bacon cool slightly before serving.
Bonus Tips
- Save the leftover bacon grease: Store it in an airtight container (like a glass jar) in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can use it for adding flavor to various dishes like roasted vegetables, popcorn, or even beans.
- Explore different types of bacon: Experiment with thick-cut bacon for a chewier texture, or turkey bacon for a lighter option. You can even find varieties like smoky bacon at most grocery stores to tantalize your taste buds.
- Cooking time for thin bacon: For thin bacon, reduce the cooking time to 10-15 minutes.
Oven-baked bacon is a true game-changer for busy mornings, especially in large families. It’s an easy, mess-free method that delivers perfectly cooked, delicious bacon every time. So ditch the stovetop and embrace the oven for your next batch of bacon!
Additional Notes
- While using a frying pan is a common way to cook bacon, the making bacon in the oven offers several advantages, especially when cooking a large quantity.
- Air fryer bacon is another option, but the oven method is generally considered to be easier and more reliable for large batches.
- When choosing bacon, consider your nutritional needs. Regular bacon is higher in fat than turkey bacon. Daily values are available on most packaging labels to help you make informed choices.
- It’s important to be mindful of your calorie intake and follow a healthy diet.
- You can find nutrient information for different types of bacon on the packaging or online.
- This guide is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have any concerns about your diet or have medically restrictive diets, consult with a healthcare professional.
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How to Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
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Ingredients
- 1 lb Bacon
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray the prepared baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- For crispier bacon, place a stainless steel cooling wrack on the baking sheet and apply a coating of non-stick spray to that.
- Place the bacon slices, in a single layer without touching, on the prepared baking surface.
- Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get overdone.
- Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven using extra cation not to burn yourself with the hot grease. Use the tongs and carefully take each piece of bacon off and let it drain on a plate lined with paper towels or a paper grocery bag. Allow the bacon to cool and then serve.
Notes
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C): This ensures even cooking and prevents the bacon from becoming greasy.
- Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the baking sheet: Don’t crowd the pan, as this allows for proper air circulation and even crisping.
- Use a cooling rack (optional): Placing the rack on top of the baking sheet elevates the bacon strips, allowing the rendered fat to drip away, resulting in extra crispness.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I too have made my bacon in the oven for quite some time now. However, I use a cookie sheet that has a rim and I place a rack like you would cool your cake layers on in the middle of the cookie sheet. I place my bacon strips close together & bake in an oven @ 400°F. from a recipe given to me by a friend for about 19 minutes.
I’ll have to try it at 425°F. like your recipe, mine comes out less greasy because of the rack but still lovely and crisp like yours. Love your site so much and your recipes!
BTW I forgot to add by putting my bacon on the rack, I’m still able to save my bacon grease. I guess I’m a “bad” girl because I still love to cook fresh green beans with just a dash of bacon grease!
BTW I forgot to add by putting my bacon on the rack, I’m still able to save my bacon grease. I guess I’m a “bad” girl because I still love to cook fresh green beans with just a dash of bacon grease! I can cook about 12 pieces of bacon on the rack which is more than enough for the two of us! Keep your fantastic recipes coming!
Thanks, Margo! And, mom always had a small dish of bacon fat on the stove!
yes! I love making bacon in the oven-so much easier!
Yes! I was actually going to do a post on this in a few weeks, for my “What I Learned in Culinary School” series. I think this is one of the most useful things I learned. I do it all the time now, and tell people about it! No more grease splatters all over, too!
I love cooking bacon in the oven! I like mine super crispy as well 🙂
Joy – Agreed! Thanks for the comment 🙂
I’ve never done bacon in the oven…don’t know why I never though of that before!!
Ashley – give it a try! Thanks for stopping by and for the comment. 🙂
Oh yeah. I’ve been baking my bacon in the oven as well. It save lots of time especially when making large amount. And my family can always use more bacon. 🙂 hehe…I thought my son is the only one who would “order” food around the house. hahaha…sometimes, I guess he thinks he lives in a restaurant or something. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your tips.
Amy,
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Anything to keep our kids’ baacon crispy eh? 🙂
I’ve seen someone’s post about oven fried bacon once and I was going to try but forgot about it till now. This method is perfect especially when I have to make for many people and one frying pan won’t fit all the bacon slices… I’ll definitely try this!
Nami, This truly is a great technique, for anyone making bacon. It takes a lot of the fuss and muss out of the whole equation! Thanks for stopping by the site!
I’ve been doing this for years whenever I have to cook for the whole gang. Perfect every time!
I do mine this way too, except use a broiler pan so the grease drips away from the bacon. I loathe cooking it in a pan because it inevitably splatters everywhere and makes a huge mess.
Great idea, Melissa, thanks for the tip!