If you love crispy, delicious bacon but hate the greasy mess on your stovetop, baking it in the oven is the perfect solution. Oven-baked bacon comes out evenly cooked, perfectly crispy, and much easier to clean up afterward. Whether you’re making breakfast for your family, prepping toppings for salads, or just craving a bacon snack, learning how to cook bacon in the oven will save you time and hassle.
Why Cook Bacon in the Oven?
While frying bacon in a skillet is the traditional method, baking it offers several advantages:
- Even Cooking: No more flipping or burnt edges – oven-baked bacon cooks evenly from all sides.
- Less Mess: No splattering grease all over your stove.
- Cook More at Once: You can make a whole batch of bacon in one go, perfect for feeding a crowd.
- Hands-Free: Just place the bacon in the oven and let it cook while you prep the rest of your meal.
If you’ve ever wondered the best way to make crispy bacon without the hassle, this guide on how to cook bacon in the oven is all you need.
Ingredients Required to Cook Bacon
Cooking bacon in the oven is simple and requires only one main ingredient:
- Bacon strips (any type – thick-cut, regular, or flavored)
Optional add-ons for flavor:
- Black pepper
- Maple syrup or honey glaze
- Brown sugar for candied bacon
Step-by-Step: How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This is the ideal temperature to get bacon crispy without burning it.
Step 2: Prepare the Baking Sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This makes cleanup easy since the grease will collect on the liner. You can also place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet if you want extra-crispy bacon, as the fat will drip below.
Step 3: Arrange the Bacon
Lay the bacon strips in a single layer on the sheet. Don’t overlap them – this ensures even cooking.
Step 4: Bake the Bacon
Place the sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 15–20 minutes, depending on the thickness of your bacon and how crispy you like it.
- Regular bacon: 15–17 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon: 18–20 minutes
Step 5: Drain the Bacon
Use tongs to transfer the cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. This will help absorb excess grease and keep the bacon crispy.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Enjoy your oven-baked bacon with eggs, pancakes, or use it as a topping for sandwiches, burgers, or salads.
Tips for Perfect Oven-Baked Bacon
- Watch Closely Near the End: Bacon goes from perfect to overcooked quickly, so check during the last few minutes.
- Use Parchment Paper: Makes cleanup fast and easy.
- Cooking for a Crowd: Use two baking sheets if needed, but rotate them halfway for even cooking.
- Save the Bacon Grease: Pour cooled bacon fat into a jar and use it for cooking eggs, roasting vegetables, or flavoring dishes.
Flavor Variations
Once you know how to cook bacon in the oven, you can experiment with flavors:
- Candied Bacon – Sprinkle brown sugar over the strips before baking.
- Pepper Bacon – Add freshly cracked black pepper for a spicy kick.
- Maple Glazed Bacon – Brush with maple syrup halfway through cooking for a sweet twist.
- Garlic and Herb Bacon – Add a sprinkle of garlic powder and dried herbs before baking.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to cook bacon in the oven, you’ll never want to go back to frying on the stovetop. Oven-baked bacon is easy, mess-free, and consistently delicious. With just a baking sheet and a few simple steps, you can enjoy perfectly crispy bacon every time.
Whether you like it plain, peppered, candied, or glazed with maple syrup, baking bacon is the simplest and most reliable method. Try it once, and it will become your go-to way of cooking bacon at home.
FAQ’s
1. Do I need to flip the bacon in the oven?
No, flipping isn’t necessary. The bacon cooks evenly without turning.
2. Can I cook bacon directly on the oven rack?
Yes, but it’s best to place a baking sheet lined with foil underneath to catch the drippings and prevent a mess.
3. What temperature is best for baking bacon?
400°F is ideal. It gives bacon the perfect balance of crispiness and tenderness.
4. How do I store leftover bacon?
Store cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best results.
5. Can I freeze cooked bacon?
Yes! Freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a bag once solid. Reheat directly from frozen in a skillet or oven.