How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Learning How to Cook Bacon in the Oven is an easy, mess-free skill for making a full pound of perfectly crisp, golden bacon. No splatter, no flipping, just hands-off, evenly cooked bacon every time.

Add a side of crispy bacon and fruit salad alongside any breakfast main from quiche to waffles for the perfect start to your day.

crispy bacon on a sheet pan to show How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Bacon in the Oven

Why Make It: There is no need to babysit or flip bacon over; simply bake in a rimmed pan.

Flavor: Oven cooking melts fat slowly for rich, savory flavor and a perfect crispy bite.

Skill Level: Foolproof! Even beginners can master this.

Prep Note: I line the pan with parchment paper or heavy-duty foil for easy clean-up.

Serving Suggestions: Serve it for breakfast, add it to a BLT sandwich or burger, or crumble it over a cobb salad.

Cook Time: 18 minutes Servings: 8 Cook Method: Oven

bacon on a baking sheet with parchment to show How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

Choose the Best Bacon!

American Bacon is the most common type of bacon, which is strips of pork belly. Flavored bacon (like maple or peppered) is great oven-baked, too.
Thick-Cut Bacon works well in the oven. This bacon is cut about ¼” thick, so it will need a bit more time.
Turkey Bacon is a bit leaner and requires less cooking time in the oven to ensure it doesn’t dry out.

American Bacon: Cook for 12-18 minutes, check it early as thinner slices cook faster.
Thick-Cut Bacon: Cook for 20 minutes or as needed. Extra-thick bacon may need to be flipped and cooked for a few extra minutes.
Turkey Bacon: Cook for 11-13 minutes.

Holly’s Pro Tips

While you can use a wire rack or cooling rack on the sheet pan, I prefer to bake the bacon slices directly on the baking pan. It will crisp nicely as it bakes in its own fat.
Arrange the bacon in a single layer, without overlapping, for even cooking.
If you have a few extra minutes, start the bacon is a cold oven and preheat the bacon with the oven for maximum fat rendering and crispiness.
For a big batch, use two baking sheets, rotate them halfway through, and add a few minutes to the cooking time.
Adjust cooking time slightly based on your desired level of crispiness.

Do I need to flip the bacon in the oven?

No, you do not need to flip the bacon.

Should I use a wire rack?

You can, but it isn’t necessary. This crisps the bacon perfectly as it bakes in it’s own fat.

How do I dispose of bacon grease safely?

Never pour bacon grease down the drain, as it will solidify and cause severe plumbing clogs. Let the grease cool and solidify in the pan, then scrape it directly into the trash with a spatula. Alternatively, you can pour the warm (not hot) grease into a disposable container like an empty tin can, let it harden, and throw the can away.

How long to bake bacon

Depending on the brand it can take anywhere from 10 to 17 minutes.

cooked bacon on a plate to show How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

Storage

Leftover bacon can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. You can use bacon right from frozen; it thaws in minutes.

Bacon grease can be used as a substitute for butter or oil in recipes to add a boost of flavor, and is great for fried or scrambled eggs.

If you’d like to save the bacon grease, allow it to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before transferring it into a jar.

Breakfast Favorites That Love Bacon

Have you made this crispy oven bacon? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 18 minutes

Preheat the oven to 400°F. If desired, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared pan.
Bake for 12 minutes. Check on the bacon and continue cooking for an additional 6 to 8 minutes* or as needed until crisp. Thick-cut bacon will need extra time.
Use tongs to transfer the bacon strips to a paper towel-lined plate.
If desired, allow the bacon fat to cool for 10 minutes and reserve in a jar for cooking.

*Be sure to check the bacon early. Cooking time can vary based on the pan used as well as the brand of bacon.
Store brand bacon is often cut very thin and can sometimes cook faster than national brands. Check it early!
For easy cleanup, line a rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before adding the strips of bacon. No baking rack is required.
Ensure the bacon slices are in a single layer, overlapping pieces won’t crisp as well.
If you’re making larger batches of bacon, use two pans and switch the placement of the pans after about 10 minutes. You may need to add a few minutes of cooking time.
Keep leftover bacon in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven, in the microwave, or the air fryer.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Breakfast, Pork

Cuisine American

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