How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
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Making bacon in the oven is an effortless, mess-free way to make perfectly cooked bacon every time! Whether you like it extra crispy or slightly tender, here are two easy ways to cook bacon in the oven.

Why Cook Bacon in the Oven?

Aside from being able to cook larger batches at a time, these are even more reasons to love cooking bacon in the oven:

  • Quick: No matter if you are cooking multiple batches or just a few pieces, oven bacon is ready in 20 minutes!
  • Avoid burns: Since you don’t need to flip it over or move it around at all, none of the fat can splatter and burn you!
  • Easier clean up: All the bacon fat will fall onto the baking tray, reducing any need for clean-up.
  • Evenly crispy: The wire rack means the heat can wrap around the bacon evenly, giving you the same amount of crispiness all over.
  • Easy: It’s a hands-free alternative that lets you go do something else while the bacon cooks in the oven. Maybe make some pancakes or scrambled eggs to go with it!
Crispy, smokey oven bacon on a plate lined with parchment paper.

What Bacon Is Best for This Recipe?

Any thick-cut bacon is perfect for baking in the oven. Regular bacon will also work, but watch closely as it will take less time and is very easy to burn because of how thin it is.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven With A Rack

If you like perfect crispy bacon on all sides, this is the method I recommend for you! For full detailed instructions, visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Prep: Preheat the oven, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place a wire cooling rack on top. (They also sell baking sheets with wire racks that are made to fit together perfectly!)
  • Arrange: Lay your bacon on the rack in an even layer without overlapping the pieces.
  • Bake: Bake the bacon in the oven until it’s crispy to your liking.
  • Serve: Remove the bacon from the oven. Let cool a few minutes and serve! With this method, you may or may not need to blot the bacon with paper towels to soak up excess grease.

How To Make Bacon in the Oven Without A Rack

If you prefer tender bacon with crisp edges, try this method for cooking bacon in the oven without a wire rack. Visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full directions.

  • Prep: Preheat the oven, line a heavy duty baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Arrange: Lay your bacon on top of the parchment paper in a single layer without overlapping.
  • Bake: Bake the bacon in oven until it’s crispy to your liking, FLIPPING the bacon half way through for even cooking.
  • Blot: Remove the bacon from the oven. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain any excess fat. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Crispy cooked bacon in oven after draining on paper towels. Bacon is arranged on top of a parchment paper lined baking sheet with tongs.

Tips for Crispy Oven Bacon

If you’ve never made bacon in the oven before, these tips will help guide you:

  • Watch Closely: Since some bacon is thicker than others, check on your bacon after 10 minutes. Check for doneness and remove it from the oven if it’s already crispy.
  • Rotate: To avoid any hot spots in the oven, rotate the baking tray halfway through the cooking time.
  • Large Tray: Prevent splatters by using a rimmed baking sheet that’s larger than the wire rack.
  • Cold Bacon: Using cold bacon (not room temperature) allows the fat to render more slowly, making the oven baked bacon extra buttery and crisp.
  • Middle Rack: Don’t cook bacon on the lowest rack as the heat is more direct and it can burn easily. Instead use the middle or top rack.
  • Multiple Trays: If you are cooking multiple sheet pans of bacon, place one tray on the middle rack and one on the upper rack. Swap the racks half way through cooking. You may need to add an additional 1 to 2 minutes to the overall cook time as well.
  • Set a Timer: Use the alarm on your phone to remind you to remove the bacon. A couple of extra minutes can be the difference between perfectly cooked and burnt bacon.
  • Bacon Grease: Drain and save the bacon grease to use in place of oil in recipes. It will add a wonderful depth of flavor to dishes like sautéed green beans!
Up close image of strips of oven baked bacon.

What to Serve with Oven Baked Bacon

Oven baked bacon is the perfect side for just about any breakfast, but here are a few favorites:

Crispy cooked bacon in oven after draining on paper towels. Bacon is arranged on top of a parchment paper lined baking sheet with tongs.

How To Store Cooked Bacon

Bacon is always best the day it’s made, however it can be saved for another day.

  • Fridge: Transfer the bacon to an airtight container, and refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds until warm. Or for best results, reheat in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at 400°F.
  • Freeze: Arrange the cooked strips between layers of paper towels or parchment paper in a freezer safe ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer, there’s no need to thaw first!
crispy bacon cooked in the oven on parchment paper
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 16 pieces bacon, approximately

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Whether you like it extra crispy or slightly tender, here are two mess-free ways for how to cook bacon in the oven to perfection, every time!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb thick cut bacon

tools:

Instructions 

Cooking Bacon on a Wire Rack – Crispy All Around

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil, then set a cooling rack on top. Spray wire rack gently with non-stick spray.
  • Arrange the bacon on the wire rack. You can let the edges touch, 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.
  • When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain on the wire racks.
  • You likely won't need to with the rack, but if needed, you can blot it with paper towels to soak up any excess grease. Serve immediately.

Cooking Bacon on Parchment Paper – Tender Center With Crispy Edges

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Lay the parchment paper flat on a cookie sheet. Arrange the bacon on the parchment paper. You can let the edges touch, but do not overlap it.
  • Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the bacon over to allow the other side to cook as well. Check at the 15 minute mark and see if your bacon is crispy enough for your liking.
  • When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven.
  • Transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain the excess grease or blot with paper towels. Serve immediately.

Notes

Storage: Transfer the bacon to an airtight container, and refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Reheat it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds until warm. Or for best results, reheat in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at 400°F.
Freeze: Arrange the cooked strips between layers of paper towels or parchment paper in a freezer safe ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer, there’s no need to thaw first!
Watch Closely: Since some bacon is thicker than others, check on your bacon after 10 minutes. Check for doneness and remove it from the oven if it’s already crispy.
Rotate: To avoid any hot spots in the oven, rotate the baking tray halfway through the cooking time.
Large Tray: Prevent splatters by using a rimmed baking sheet that’s larger than the wire rack.
Cold Bacon: Using cold bacon (not room temperature) allows the fat to render more slowly, making the oven baked bacon extra buttery and crisp.
Middle Rack: Don’t cook bacon on the lowest rack as the heat is more direct and it can burn easily. Instead use the middle or top rack.
Multiple Trays: If you are cooking multiple sheet pans of bacon, place one tray on the middle rack and one on the upper rack. Swap the racks half way through cooking. You may need to add an additional 1 to 2 minutes to the overall cook time as well.
Set a Timer: Use the alarm on your phone to remind you to remove the bacon. A couple of extra minutes can be the difference between perfectly cooked and burnt bacon.
Bacon Grease: Drain and save the bacon grease to use in place of oil in recipes. It will add a wonderful depth of flavor to dishes like sautéed green beans!

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece, Calories: 118kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.4g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 188mg, Potassium: 56mg, Vitamin A: 10IU, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 0.1mg

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Jessica
I'm a trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive in the kitchen! I am also a wife, mama of 3.