Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

Learn how to cook bacon in the oven for perfectly crispy bacon. Baked bacon is so easy since there’s no need to flip it and you don’t need a wire rack. Using a baking sheet allows you to make a big batch for a crowd and it’s hands-free so you can work on the rest of your breakfast menu while the bacon sizzles in the oven.

Bacon makes everything better from Cobb Salad to Omelettes and Burgers. If you are a bacon lover this Oven-baked bacon recipe is a must-try and it’s perfect for regular or thick-sliced bacon.

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (1)

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Why you’ll love Baked Bacon

Bacon is at the top of our family’s favorite foods list and half of the bacon is eaten before it ever gets to the table with all the ‘sampling’ going on. This is my favorite method for cooking bacon and here’s why:

  • Stays flat – unlike stovetop methods, the bacon will stay relatively flat without curling in the oven.
  • Clean – you won’t mess up your stove with oil splatter and if you cut your parchment paper to size, you probably can just toss your parchment paper and don’t have to wash your baking sheet either.
  • Convenient -You don’t need to flip or babysit the bacon so you are free to multi-task
  • Big Batch – perfect for cooking bacon for a crowd

Baked Bacon Video

Watch Natasha bake bacon in the oven and stay tuned till the end to see how you can use those pan drippings. You will be surprised at how easy this is. Now go forth and bake some bacon.

How to buy the best bacon

There are so many options and types of bacon, it can be overwhelming. You may not have something available that checks all these boxes, but you can pick better quality bacon. Here’s what to look for:

  • Uncured (bacon without sodium nitrate added to it)
  • Ingredients – bacon should have a small list of ingredients that you can easily understand.
  • Center-cut – has 25-30% less fat at the ends
  • Humanely raised or certified humane
  • USDA Organic – ensures non-GMO feed

Pro Tip: When looking at the ingredient list, try to avoid bacon containing sodium phosphates (preservatives), sodium nitrite, nitrates, and processed sugar.

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (2)

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Arrange bacon slices so they are touching but not overlapping.
  3. Bake Regular cut bacon for 15-20 minutes and thick-cut bacon for 20-30 minutes, or to your desired crispiness
  4. Transfer bacon from the baking sheet to a paper-towel-lined plate and serve.
Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (3)

Pro Tip: Keep the rendered pork fat (especially if you have high-quality bacon). Use it for making Hash Browns or Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Let the bacon grease cool for 10 minutes then pour it into a container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (4)

Common Questions

Can I use a rack?

A rack is not necessary and we prefer not to use a rack. Bacon can stick to a rack even if it’s non-stick and it doesn’t brown and crisp as well since it isn’t cooking in its own fat. You’ll have prettier bacon without a rack.

Can I line with foil?

We prefer using parchment paper, but you can use foil if that is what you have on hand.

Can I double the recipe?

You can double the amount of bacon and bake 2 baking sheets at a time on 2 separate racks, just be sure to rotate the baking sheets halfway for even baking.

Can I make this in the Air Fryer?

Absolutely! We have a tutorial for Air Fryer Bacon and it’s faster, but you will have to air fry in smaller batches.

How much bacon fits on a baking sheet?

A half sheet will fit 12 ounces of thin-sliced bacon or 16 ounces of thick-sliced bacon. Make sure you don’t overlap your bacon slices or they will stick together. They can be touching, but not overlapping.

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (5)

Pro Tip: Use a heavy-duty baking sheet that won’t warp in the oven. These are extra-thick aluminum pans and the types used in a commercial kitchen.

To store Baked Bacon

  • To Refrigerate: Let bacon drain on paper towels then cool completely to room temperature. Transfer to a zip-top bag, remove excess air and refrigerate for 4-5 days.
  • To Reheat: You can re-crisp bacon on a skillet, in the oven, or in an air fryer. I don’t recommend reheating in the microwave because it gets chewy and rubbery.
Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (6)

Oven baked bacon is the most efficient way to cook up a bigger batch of bacon. We love this method for a lazy Saturday morning, paired with our fluffy Scrambled Eggs and sliced avocado for the perfect breakfast.

Recipes with Bacon

These are our favorite ways to serve crispy baked bacon. Let me know your favorite things to make with oven baked bacon in the comments.

  • BLT Sandwich
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Deviled Eggs with Bacon
  • Cheese Ball with Bacon
  • Avocado Chicken Salad

Oven Baked Bacon Recipe

5 from 17 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (8)

Oven baked bacon is easy and convenient. You don’t need a wire rack and you don’t need to flip them. It’s our favorite method because it’s effortless, and mess-free. You can also bake a big batch of bacon for a crowd, even baking 2 baking sheets at a time.

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Ingredients

Servings: 6 people

  • 12 oz regular sliced bacon, or 16 oz thick-sliced bacon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a half sheet rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Arrange slices so they are touching but not overlapping.

  • Bake regular cut bacon for 15-20 minutes or thick-cut bacon for 20-28 minutes. Timing varies depending on the fat content in the bacon and your desired crispiness. If baking 2 baking sheets at a time, rotate the baking sheets halfway.

  • Use tongs to remove bacon from the baking sheet and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

236kcal Calories1g Carbs7g Protein23g Fat8g Saturated Fat4g Polyunsaturated Fat10g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat37mg Cholesterol375mg Sodium112mg Potassium21IU Vitamin A3mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Oven Baked Bacon Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

236

% Daily Value*

Fat

23

g

35

%

Saturated Fat

8

g

50

%

Trans Fat

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

4

g

Monounsaturated Fat

10

g

Cholesterol

37

mg

12

%

Sodium

375

mg

16

%

Potassium

112

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

1

g

%

Protein

7

g

14

%

Vitamin A

21

IU

%

Calcium

3

mg

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked bacon, how to cook bacon in the oven

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 236

Natasha Kravchuk

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (9)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400? ›

Bacon should be cooked at 400°F.

Medium-thick bacon slices will need 18 to 20 minutes to reach the perfect level of crispiness. But check the bacon at 10 minutes, and adjust your cooking time to your preferred degree of doneness.

How long should bacon be in the oven at 400 degrees? ›

Regular, thin-cut bacon will typically bake in 12 minutes at 400 degrees F. If you want it extra crispy, you can let it bake a little longer, but keep a close eye on it. For Thick-Cut Bacon. Thicker bacon will take 14 to 20 minutes, depending upon your thickness and how crisp you would like it to be.

How long do you cook bacon in the oven? ›

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on 2 aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheets, or, for extracrispy bacon, arrange on 2 wire racks set over 2 foil-lined rimmed baking sheets. Bake until the bacon is browned and starts to ripple, or to desired doneness, 10 to 20 minutes.

Do you need to flip bacon in the oven? ›

Nope! You don't have to flip it while cooking. You just lay the bacon on a baking sheet, stick it in the oven, and set a timer. The strips of bacon bubble away in the oven (no splattering!) and gradually become the crispy, golden-hued, irresistible bacon we know and love.

Is it better to bake bacon on parchment paper or foil? ›

The directly-on-the-pan method is very simple and works well, but there is a lot of cleanup. You have to soak the pan before you can wash it. I really didn't think this would be the case, but I liked the parchment method the best. It had the least cleanup, and the bacon cooked really nicely.

What temperature does Rachael Ray cook bacon in the oven? ›

It's so incredibly simple! Just preheat oven to 375°F, and arrange your bacon on a slotted pan (like Rach's!) and bake to crisp for 15 to 18 minutes. (Again, if you don't have a slotted pan, Rach says you can make your own by putting a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet with a rim.)

Why do chefs cook bacon in the oven? ›

You can cook a few slices in a skillet or the microwave, but when cooking a big batch, the oven is the surefire way to go. This method is almost entirely hands-off and results in perfectly crispy, chewy, evenly-cooked bacon.

Is it messy to cook bacon in the oven? ›

This No Mess, Perfectly Baked Bacon is the easiest way to make bacon without the mess! Simply place it on a foil-lined baking sheet and cook for 12-15 minutes. Then throw away the foil for easy cleanup, and you're done!

How do you know when baked bacon is done? ›

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven to flip bacon slices with kitchen tongs and then return to the oven. Bake until crispy, 15 to 20 minutes more. Thinner slices will need less time, about 20 minutes total.

How does Martha Stewart cook bacon in the oven? ›

Bake the bacon in a 400°F oven until well-browned and crisp, this should take between 15 and 18 minutes depending on the thickness of your bacon. To follow Martha's method to a T, you'll need to rotate the sheet pan halfway through.

Is it better to bake or fry bacon in the oven? ›

Oven bacon gets just as crispy, if not crispier, and there's very little mess to clean up after. Making a batch of bacon in the oven also means you can do other things while it's cooking.

Why does my bacon burn in the oven? ›

Using Heat That's Too High

Bacon cooks best low and slow. Whether on the stove or in the oven, don't cook it at a temperature that's too high or you risk uneven cooking, or worse, burned bacon.

Is it better to cook bacon low and slow or high and fast? ›

Bacon cooks best low and slow. Whether on the stove or in the oven, don't cook it at a temperature that's too high or you risk uneven cooking, or worse, burned bacon. It's not worth rushing, so plan accordingly.

What is the best temp to cook bacon in pan? ›

Tried and true, this is the way I learned to cook bacon: Lay the strips in a cold skillet, place over medium-low to medium heat, flip and fry until you reach your desired doneness and then transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

Does baking bacon in the oven make a mess? ›

Oven bacon gets just as crispy, if not crispier, and there's very little mess to clean up after.

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