The Easiest Way to Cook Bacon is actually in the oven! It cooks more evenly and has a lovely crisp texture. It’s less hassle and less mess- try it!
We are huge bacon fans in my house and I have cooked it every way possible, but once I tried oven baked bacon I knew I had found the best method. There is no hot stove, no grease splatter or cleaning the stove afterwards, just incredible perfect baked bacon every time.
Baked Bacon
This recipe is the holy grail of bacon cooking. It is an easy two step process that results in perfect bacon every time and I can’t rave enough about it. With a baking sheet and some bacon, you too can make a batch of this oven baked bacon in no time! Make a big batch of crispy bacon for future recipes or for Saturday morning breakfast and you will never be disappointed.
Everything you need to Bake Bacon
Bacon: Yes, we only need bacon to make our BACON recipe. So grab a package of your favorite bacon and get started!
Foil: I’ve tried silicon mats, parchment and foil and foil is the clear winner by far. You need large pieces to line your pan and create a few inches of barrier above the pan so that the bacon grease doesn’t splatter out and make a mess of your oven.
Baking sheet: For the last item needed it is a simple one, a baking sheet or as some call it, a cookie sheet.
Tips for Amazing Oven Cooked Bacon
You can read the full instructions for cooking bacon in the oven below, but here are some tips for making the best bacon:
- Use a large baking sheet and cover it completely with foil, letting several inches hang off over the sides. Once you lay the bacon in the pan, you’ll take the overhang and gently curve it up over the top of the bacon slightly. Don’t cover the bacon, just make a bit of a barrier so that the bacon grease doesn’t splatter all over your oven.
- Arrange the bacon in nice neat rows with very little overlap. I often do 2 sheets to cook all the bacon to feed our large family. Lay the strips out neatly. The strips can be touching, but try not to overlap them.
- Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes. Much of the bake time depends on your desires level of crispiness and how thick your bacon is. Bake it for 20 minutes, then check on it and add time as needed.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Ingredients
- 1 lbs sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Then, line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan (something with sides) with foil so that several inches overhang the sides.
- Arrange the bacon strips in a single layer on the lined pan. The bacon can be touching on the sides, but try not to overlap the pieces. Gently bend the overhang to curve around the top of the pan of bacon, to create a barrier so the bacon grease doesn't splatter all over your oven.
- Bake the bacon for 20-25 minutes, until the desired level of crispness has been reached. I typically set a timer for 20 minutes, then check the bacon and add time as needed.
- Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to help drain excess grease. Let the bacon cool for about 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Is this baking method a healthier bacon option?
Yes, it actually is much healthier to make bacon in the oven because more grease and fat can be cooked off. So not only do you get an easier cooking process, but you also get a healthier piece of meat too! Win-Win if you ask me!
Do you have to flip bacon in the oven?
No you do not, that is the beauty of this recipe. Just lay the bacon on the sheet and let it be. No need to flip anything. This is just another reason why you will love this super simple and easy bacon cooking process.
How long is cooked bacon good for?
Cooked bacon will typically last up to 4-5 days, if stored in an airtight container or ziplocked bag in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it up to 1 month if desired. Also, you can save bacon grease in the fridge for up to 6 months and in the freeze for 9 months.
How do I know if my bacon is bad?
Like many foods, you can give it the smell test to determine if it has gone bad. If the uncooked bacon has an ammonia odor or smells sours, chances are it is bad. The color of the uncooked bacon is a good indicator too, if it is still pink in color with the fat being white or yellow, that is a good sign. But if the bacon looks slightly brown or gray, that is an indication is has spoiled. Don’t risk getting sick from bad bacon, it might ruin this delightful treat for you and that would be a shame.
We love bacon! Check out our favorite recipes with bacon:
- Bacon goes well with lots of foods, but I love adding it as a savory element to bread. Try our PARMESAN BACON BREAD, BACON CHEDDAR CORNBREAD and CHEESY BACON CRESCENTS.
- CHICKEN BACON RANCH PIZZA is topped with crispy cooked bacon and is the perfect recipe for when you have cooked bacon beforehand and just need to add it to the top of the pizza.
- Our CREAMY BACON PASTA SALAD is perfect for a cookout and everyone loves the complimenting flavors!
The Easiest Way to Cook Bacon is in the oven! Follow our simple tips for evenly baked, perfectly crispy baked bacon.
Lisa O says
I love baking bacon! I use parchment paper instead of foil
Susan Leslie says
I like to deep fry my bacon in bacon grease. I save my grease from each time. If I want bacon bits I use kitchen scissors to cut the bacon into small pieces before I cook them and if I want slices I leave the slices whole. Deep frying ensures even cooking with no large pieces of uncooked fat. it also prevents splashing and flare-ups. I paper towel dry and refrigerate. Will keep for a couple of weeks to be used in all of your recipes. Strain grease each time, to keep clean. I change the grease completely once a month. I didn’t learn this from anyone….I figured it out myself and I wouldn’t cook bacon any other way.
Jessica says
Great idea!
Mary Jean noska Hanewich says
Does anyone know how to make the restaraunt O’Charley HotBacon sauce
laura Naab says
it made a mess of my oven, not worth it. had to really scrub it. any way around this
Jessica says
Tent a large piece of foil over the top of the bacon- that helps a ton! I usually just plan to run the oven cleaner after mine’s done.
Hilda says
Mine turned out really well…….no mess……crispiest bacon…. I use parchment paper…choose pan that fits your foil or parchment so there are no seams( paper should come up sides)…..Also works at 350 degrees. Too much grease while cooking??? Tilt pan, use clean paper towels to remove excess grease then back in oven to finish.
Donna says
I use the tinfoil method but in the propane barbecue. Roll up the sides of the foil a bit to contain the grease. Once the bacon has started to cook and released some grease it browns nicely. Remove cooked bacon to a plate with paper towel. Leave tinfoil on cold barbecue until grease becomes solid then you can just throw out grease and foil. Less grease down the kitchen drain too!
Betty says
No need to ever pour bacon grease down the kitchen drain. Let the grease get cold and solid. Then scoop it out, or wipe it out with a paper towel into the garbage can. Keep the drains clean.
Sandy says
I cook my bacon in the microwave. No mess at all. Lay the bacon on a paper towel and lay another piece over it. Then put that inside some newspaper. All the grease gets soaked up.
Sarah G says
If you put a cookie cooling rack on the foil/parchment lined jelly roll pan then put the bacon on that, the bacon cooks better and the grease all drips down into the jelly roll pan. No need to drain the bacon grease off on paper towels when it’s done!
Nellie says
Thanks for the tip – what a great idea!
Susan says
I always cook bacon in the oven. I set the oven to 375°F and cook thin sliced bacon 6-8 minutes, drain grease from pan, flip and cook 6 more minutes. Thicker sliced bacon takes 8-10 minutes per side and thick cut bacon 12–14 minutes per side. Bacon turns out dark and crispy but not burnt or over done. Thank you for the easy oven baked bacon method.
Nicole says
Sounds perfect *drool*