What perfectly crispy bacon without hardly any effort? Then you’re going to love this easy method for baking bacon in the oven! This is by far the BEST way to cook bacon.
Ever wondered how to get perfect crispy bacon every single time you make it? Well in case you didn’t know already, it’s by baking it in the oven! I love using my oven to cook bacon, especially since it frees me up to do other things like make a batch of scrambled eggs or the fluffiest pancakes ever.
There are a few different methods of how to cook bacon in the oven, and I will share the pluses of each one. Get ready to step up your morning breakfast routine with perfect bacon, every time!
Why Cook Bacon in the Oven?
I know some people are insistent on cooking bacon exactly as their moms or grandmas made it growing up – in a pan. Listen, I love pan fried bacon just as much as the next bacon loving girl.
However, you know what I love more? No bacon grease burns on my arms, chest and face.
I also love how consistent bacon cooked in the oven is. It’s perfect every single time. There is some trial and error to begin with since every oven is different. But one you figure out the perfect baking time for your oven I promise you’ll never make bacon on the stove top again.
But to be honest, the #1 reason I love cooking bacon in the oven is because I’m lazy and this is the easiest way to make bacon. You arrange the bacon on a cookie sheet and pop it into the oven. It’s really that simple.
Then you are free to make whatever else you’re having for breakfast while the bacon cooks in the oven. You do not have to baby sit it or stand over the stove. It’s pure bacon heaven.
What You’ll Need
You will only need one ingredient for this recipe and that’s thick cut bacon!
In addition, you’ll also need some simple tools: a cookie sheet, parchment paper, a cooling rack, non-stick spray and paper towels.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
There are two ways to bake bacon, but they both start with your oven preheated to 400F.
Method 1: On a Rack
One way to way of cooking bacon in the oven is on a cooling rack placed on top of a cookie sheet. This is the method for you if you like extra crispy bacon and want as little grease as possible. By using a cooling rack under the bacon, you raise the bacon so the grease has room to fall below. This also allows for heat to get to both sides of the bacon pretty evenly, giving you extra crispy bacon.
So for this method here’s what you’ll do:
- Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (this makes for easy clean up later)
- Place your cooling rack on top
- Lay your bacon on top of the rack. It can be touching but the slices should not overlap.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then check on the bacon to see if it needs more time. If you like your bacon to be softer it might be done now. If you prefer crispier bacon, you will probably need to bake it for 5 minutes longer.
- When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain or blot with paper towels to suck up any leftover grease.
Method 2: Cook Your Bacon on Parchment Paper
The other solid common option is to cook bacon on parchment paper in the oven. You can also use foil, although parchment paper is the healthier choice after some recent studies on how aluminum leeches into our foods from foil.
This is my own personal favorite way to cook bacon in the oven! Using parchment paper gives you crispy bacon, while also staying just the slightest bit tender. This method allows the bacon to lay in the bacon grease while cooking, similar to when you pan fry it.
Here’s how to cook bacon with this oven method:
- Lay the parchment paper flat on a cookie sheet and then arrange the bacon right on top.
- Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the bacon over to allow the other side to cook as well. (This is not necessary, but provides a more evenly cooked piece of bacon.)
- Check at the 15 minute mark and see if your bacon is crispy enough.
- When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain or blot with paper towels to suck up any leftover grease.
Serving Suggestions
I am not always a good multi-tasker, especially when it comes to mornings and making bacon before I have had coffee. Cooking bacon in the oven is a real game changer. It’s easier to make than pan fried, but it also gives you a more consistent final result.
AND, while my bacon is doing it’s thing, I can make something else to serve with it. Here are some of my favorite things to serve with bacon:
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Chocolate Pancakes
- Fluffy Pancakes
- Grinch Pancakes <- Perfect for Christmas!
- Low Carb Keto Pancakes
- Popovers
So if you love crispy bacon that doesn’t require a lot of work, then you better start preheating your oven. ;-)
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
If you want perfect crispy bacon every time, you must learn how to cook bacon in the oven! Sharing all my tips on how to always make the best oven baked bacon!
Ingredients
- 1 lb thick cut bacon
tools:
- cookie sheet
- parchment paper (or foil)
- cooling rack
- non stick spray
- paper towels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, foil or with a cooling rack. If using a cooling rack, spray gently with non stick spray.
- Arrange the bacon on the parchment paper or cooling rack. You can let it be touching, but do not overlap it.
- Bake for 15 minutes and check on it. It’s done when you say it’s done. If you like it limp, you may be happy now. If you like it crispy, it will probably need 5 minutes more.
- If using parchment paper (or foil), consider flipping bacon at the 12-15 minute mark to allow the other side to crisp up as well. This is not necessary, but provides a more evenly cooked piece of bacon.
- When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain or blot with paper towels to suck up any leftover grease.
- Serve! (Or store in an airtight bag for recipes for the week or to reheat for an easy breakfast.)
Notes
How to reheat bacon: if you store your leftover bacon in the fridge, reheat it for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave oven before eating. It will fresh right back up by being reheated!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16 piecesServing Size:
1 pieceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 133Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 477mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 10g
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freaking genius!!!!!!!!!!!! — i hate making bacon on the stove top because of the popping grease! it flipping HURTS! Next time I make bacon this is so happening!
If you put it in the cold oven, the fat renders a little better.
And when you are done, if you let it cool and then put the foil on the floor outside, the dogs will LOVE YOU FOREVER!
My favorite way is to cook it like you did but toss it in some brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne first. Candied bacon is addictive.
This is how I do my bacon too! And always the entire package at a time, the rest goes into the freezer for using later (a quick microwave to reheat if I want it hot).
We started making bacon this way when we had a big crowd and now make it this way every time. Even though the two of us try, repeat try, to limit ourselves to two pieces each I cook the whole package of bacon at one time and then put the rest of the bacon in the fridge. Then we crumble it on salads, soups and reheat it through the week for breakfast or sandwiches.
Another benefit (besides being easier and neater) is that it’s much easier to cook bacon for a crowd this way. I learned to do this while vacationing with two other families. I couldn’t believe that someone was actually willing to cook bacon for 12 people until I saw how she did it.
For whatever reason, I was always taught to make bacon in a pan on the stovetop and like you, the spattering grease freaks me out! I’m not sure how I missed the brilliant memo to cook it in the oven, but I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the tips :)
I have been cooking bacon on the george foreman ( no popping grease as both sides are covered) next time I will attempt the oven. It doesnt splatter the sides of the oven?
If I were to ever start cooking bacon again…this is SO how I would do it!
Thank goodness! I don’t like cooking bacon on the stovetop either. Bacon grease is so painful and really deters me from making it more often. Although, it is good on chocolate ice cream…
Seriously?! Did you really have to tell me this?
I had never thought of putting bacon on chocolate ice cream…but now I must try it immediately!!
I definitely fear bacon grease too. This is a great alternative. As long as it’s crispy, I don’t care how it gets there!
Totally crispy! I promise!
Cooking it that way makes it SUPER simple to make candied bacon or any other kind of flavored bacon as well!
Agreed! I brushed mine with pure maple syrup the other day……sooo freakin’ good.
I remember when I was little my Mom used to have this mesh frying pan cover to specifically use to prevent bacon grease splattering on you when you cooked it. Then when I got on my own I couldn’t find that nifty little contraption. That is when I discovered ‘baking’ my bacon and I haven’t looked back since!
I just made my bacon in the oven for the first time the other day and I’m never making it any other way again :)
LOVE doing bacon this way! Try it with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a crack of black pepper before you pop it in the oven…heav-en!
Why must you do this too me?!
::off to buy more bacon::
I bake my bacon, too! I think its 10 times better; however, I’ve never used a baking rack to cook it on. I let it sit on the grease and then blot it! lol. Great tip!
Honestly, I’ve always fried my bacon (using a splatter screen as it really cuts down on the hot grease burn hazard and spray) but now I’m curious about baking it and will try it the next time bacon is on the menu. Thanks for this :)
Why didn’t I ever think of a splatter screen?! Instead I let me bacon attack me until I learned I could make it in the oven! LOL
I use to cook bacon this way and got back into frying it but the results are all over the map. I’m gonna have to get back into baking my bacon again. Foolproof really.
Try old bay on the bacon first
When bacon grease pops and burns me it infuriates me! Nothing else does.
This came at the perfect time- I’m making breakfast for dinner and I’ll definitely make my bacon this way!
Let me know how it goes!!
Yes!! This is the only way I’ll make bacon – plus I find that it keeps the house a little less stanky this way :)
Totally. This is the stank free bacon way. :-D
I am always told my bacon is the best ever. Aaaaaandd…I cook it in the oven!! Best kitchen trick EVAH!! Everyone needs to do their bacon this way. Who needs burns and curled up, unevenly cooked bacon? Not I.
YES!!!
Unevenly cooked bacon is my biggest pet peeve! (Well biggest pet peeve where bacon is concerned LOL)
wow this is bacon perfection!
I won’t mention that you can roll it in brown sugar and candy it while its in there. Won’t mention it at all.
Why are you so evil?!
That’s the prettiest dang bacon I ever did done see.
that is totally my fave way to cook bacon as well. plus dumping the bacon grease is so much easier when it solidifies on the foil and you don’t have to deal with washing off bacon grease from your frying pan/griddle!
Oh agreed! Just wrap it up in the foil….soooo much easier!
I always make my boyfriend cook bacon because I hate how messy it gets! It’s really useful to be able to make it the oven too, often I’ve run out of space if I’m trying to cook bacon and eggs etc etc.
Oh, I agree! Bacon was made to be in the oven! Not only that, it’s always nice and flat!
Not only does it hurt but it makes a mess of your stove splattering all over everything! I sometimes don’t make it for that reason alone. Oven…duh.