Learn how to bake bacon in the oven for an easy and mess free breakfast. This oven method is hassle-free and the clean up is a breeze! Get the most perfect crispy bacon with zero effort!
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
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blog post.
I mean, who doesn't love some crispy bacon for a delicious breakfast, I know I do! However, I'm not totally in love with cooking it on the stovetop with fat splashing everywhere!
I have been baking bacon in the oven for years now, and it is absolutely my go to method. The cooking time is totally hands off and cleaning up afterwards is a breeze as well.
Oven baked bacon is so full proof too, I get perfect results every single time and it's easy to cook to your exact liking. Seriously, once you do this you will never go back!
Be sure to try my Million Dollar Bacon and Crispy Air Fryer Bacon too!
How to Bake Bacon In The Oven
- You can make this recipe with thick cut bacon or regular.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Lay bacon flat on the lined sheet pan side-by-side, careful to not overlap the bacon. You can also choose to use a sheet pan with a rack.
- Once the oven is preheated, place bacon in the oven on the middle rack until the bacon is desired doneness. This will take anywhere from 10-25 minutes. (Regular/thinner cut bacon - 10-15 minutes. Thick cut bacon - 20-25 minutes).
- Once done, remove bacon from the oven and remove to a wire rack or plate. Remove excess grease by blotting the bacon with a paper towel. The bacon will be crispy after this step.
Is oven baking bacon healthier than frying?
Yes, it can be. If you choose to bake the bacon on a rack, excess grease will drain off the elevated bacon onto the baking sheet below. I choose to bake my bacon directly on a lined sheet pan and blot any excess grease. I also love that the clean-up is so straightforward, just line your sheet with parchment and foil to catch the fat, then throw it away. It couldn't be easier!
How long should bacon be cooked in the oven?
Depending on what thickness of bacon you use, it takes anywhere between 10 and 25 minutes to get perfectly cooked bacon. Make sure that the oven is fully preheated so that it crisps up nicely.
Can you cook bacon ahead of time?
Cooked bacon is great for breakfast meal prep! Once cooked and crispy, let it cool fully before transferring to an airtight container. It will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can east it straight out of the fridge or reheat in the oven at 360F for a few minutes to warm it back up.
Can you freeze cooked bacon?
Freezing is a great option if you can't get through all of the bacon! Freeze the cooked strips individually on a baking sheet till solid, then transfer to a bag or container. It will keep frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw it in the fridge before reheating or cook from frozen in the microwave for 15 seconds.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- The length of cooking time will depend on the cut of the bacon and the size. Make sure to start checking your bacon before the time allotted.
- Place the strips of bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet, it shouldn't be overlapping, if it is, it won't get crispy all over.
- Do line your baking sheet with parchment or foil. This will make the clean up really quick and easy.
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How to Bake Bacon In The Oven
Ingredients
- 8 strips of bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Lay bacon flat on the lined sheet pan side-by-side, careful to not overlap the bacon.
- Once the oven is preheated, place bacon in the oven on the middle rack until the bacon is desired doneness. This will take anywhere from 10-25 minutes. - Regular/thinner cut bacon - 10-15 minutes. - Thick cut bacon - 20-25 minutes
- Once done, remove bacon from the oven and remove to a wire rack or plate. Remove excess grease by blotting the bacon with a paper towel. The bacon will be crispy after this step.
Notes
- The length of cooking time will depend on the cut of the bacon and the size. Make sure to start checking your bacon before the time allotted.
- Place the strips of bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet, it shouldn't be overlapping, if it is, it won't get crispy all over.
- Do line your baking sheet with parchment or foil. This will make the clean up really quick and easy.
JimmyB says
This is the only way I have cooked bacon for years. I use a wire rack over a drip pan. I use a table top convection oven and put it in at the beginning without waiting for pre-heat. My oven does not start the timer until the pre-heat is done. I generally use around 380° for 10 minutes. You need to watch the first two pieces out of a package as the time will vary from brand to brand and sometimes even from the same brand. I use regular thickness, not thick cut. Mine does not spatter and it is so nice not to stand over the stove watching it like a hawk when using a frying pan.
Judy says
I've wanted to try this but afraid it would splatter all over the oven. Does it?
Tanya says
Hi Judy, great question. I haven't had a problem with splatter. I will say certain cuts produce more grease, but it doesn't splatter.