Real talk: is there anything better than perfectly crispy, thick-cut bacon? On brunch plates, sandwiches, salads — you name it, it’s delicious with perfectly cooked bacon.
Bacon is a staple in our house and while I often opt for turkey bacon, I’m always down for that real deal goodness. I feel like there’s a longstanding debate about the best way to cook bacon, and I’m here to clear all of that up by telling you that cooking bacon in the oven makes the best, crispiest slices out there. I SAID IT.
In this edition of our Back to Basics series I’m going to teach you exactly how to cook bacon in the oven, what makes this method amazing, and of course, how to use perfectly cooked bacon besides shoveling it for breakfast. Buckle up, it’s baked bacon time.
Why you should cook bacon in the oven
Oven-baked bacon is truly the best way to get perfectly crispy, evenly cooked bacon every time!
- It’s hands-free and doesn’t require you to sit and watch the bacon while it cooks.
- It’s much cleaner and safer because you won’t get grease splatters like when you cook bacon on the stovetop.
- It cooks each slice of bacon evenly as each piece has adequate space to cook and gets the same amount of heat.
- It’s also easier to make MORE bacon all at the same time! No need to cook multiple batches in one greasy pan on the stove.
What type of bacon is best for cooking in the oven?
I prefer cooking thick-cut bacon in the oven because it crisps up nicely while not overcooking and shriveling up. We want to enjoy big bites of bacon! You can certainly cook thinner slices of bacon in the oven, you’ll just want to reduce the cooking time and be sure to check it so that it’s not getting too crisp.
Ingredients & tools you’ll need
You’ll just need a few things to cook the best bacon in the oven:
- Bacon: the star! Choose your favorite kind of bacon, thick-cut preferred.
- Large baking sheet: to cook the bacon on, of course.
- Parchment paper: to prevent the bacon fro burning and sticking.
- Paper towel: to help drain the grease a bit once the bacon is done cooking.
- Disposable can or cup: to get rid of the excess grease from the pan. If you’d like to use the bacon grease later for cooking, you’ll need a sealable glass jar.
How to cook bacon in the oven (4 simple steps!)
- Prep your pan & oven. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the bacon. Place each slice of bacon in a single layer on the tray without overlapping.
- Cook it up. Place the tray in your preheated oven and cook the bacon for 20-30 minutes, depending on the bacon’s thickness and how crispy you like it. Be sure to start checking the bacon around 20 minutes as everyone’s oven times are a bit different.
- Transfer the slices & serve. Once the bacon is done cooking, place each slice of bacon onto a plate lined with paper towels to help drain the grease. Then serve it up and enjoy!
Add a sweet or spicy kick to your oven-cooked bacon
We LOVE adding a little extra flavor to give our bacon slices flair. Before baking:
- For a sweet kick: brush the bacon with maple syrup or sprinkle with brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- For a spicy kick: sprinkle the bacon with a little cayenne pepper.
What should I do with the bacon grease?
If you’d like to use the bacon grease for cooking later, store it in a glass, airtight container in the refrigerator. Otherwise, pour the excess bacon grease into a disposable cup or can and toss it.
Storing & freezing your oven-cooked bacon
- To store: place any leftover bacon slices in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat the oven-cooked bacon quickly in the microwave or on the stovetop, or place it in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 or so minutes. The oven method is best if you’re reheating a lot of cooked bacon.
- To freeze: place leftover bacon in an airtight, freezer-friendly bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw the slices in the refrigerator overnight and heat with one of the methods above.
Our favorite ways to use oven-baked bacon
- Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad – Delicious chicken bacon ranch pasta salad packed with juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, zippy red onion and creamy avocado.
- Bacon Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Spaghetti – Incredible bacon parmesan brussels sprouts spaghetti packed with flavor and made with super simple ingredients
- Spinach Garlic Parmesan Orzo with Crispy Bacon – Easy, flavorful spinach garlic parmesan orzo pasta with crispy bacon and gorgeous veggies like red bell pepper, corn, carrots, and spinach.
- Butternut Squash Bacon Spinach Quiche – Crustless low carb butternut squash quiche made only a few ingredients like tender savory roasted butternut squash, crispy bacon, nutritious spinach, protein packed eggs and sharp cheddar cheese.
- Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad – Beautiful warm brussels sprouts salad tossed with crispy bacon, toasted hazelnuts, dried cranberries and a light lemon dressing.
Get all of our recipes using bacon here!
More kitchen tutorials you’ll love
- How to Cut, Slice & Dice an Onion
- Our Favorite Homemade Tomato Sauce (using fresh tomatoes!)
- How to Freeze Fresh Herbs
- How to Grill Perfect Salmon (plus recipes!)
- How to Make the Best Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Check out all of our amazing how-to guides here.
I hope you love this easy method for how to cook bacon in the oven! If you try it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Ingredients
- 1 8oz package bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place each slice of bacon in a single layer on the tray without overlapping.
- Cook the bacon for 20-30 minutes, depending on the bacon’s thickness and desired crispiness level. Everyone’s oven temperatures can vary slightly, so be sure to start checking the bacon around 20 minutes.
- Once bacon is cooked to your desired crispiness, remove the pan from the oven. Remove each slice of bacon and place it onto a plate lined with paper towel to help drain the grease.
- Drain the excess bacon grease into a disposable can or cup in order to dispose of it, or drain it into a sealable glass jar & place it in the fridge to use it for cooking later.
Recipe Notes
Tutorial by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by Eat Love Eats
At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, this approach to cooking bacon changed my life! One tip that works well for me is to pull pan out at the 10 minutes mark and flip each piece over. At the next 10 minute mark do the same. Then keep a VERY close eye on it as it can go from perfect to burnt somewhat fast. Flip again if needed or leave be. I use the Costco two pack and am able to cook one whole pack at once on an extra large sheet pan. Truly awesome!!
I’m so glad you love it! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Wow, this bacon looks so good. I’m about to run to the store and try this. lol.
Haha NICE! Hope you love it!
I have done this for years and do prefer cooking this way. The only problem is that it TRASHES the inside of your oven and so need to come up with a way to prevent the big grease splatters
Oh man I haven’t had that happen! What temperature do you usually cook yours at? I wonder if maybe you could lay another piece of parchment on top of the bacon… Haven’t tried it but just a suggestion!
What leftover bacon? The only leftover we ever have is the uncooked bacon!
HAHA I know, it’s hard to not eat it all!
This sounds delicious!!! I will for sure be making this!
I put the bacon on a rack in a baking sheet. Oil drips into baking sheet. No need to drain and easy to save the oil for later use. 400 degree oven for 19-20 minutes, depending on fat content. Convection oven 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Perfect!