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Get It NowSimple tutorials are one of my favorite things here at Wholesome Yum, and today I want to show you one I use at least once a week: how to cook bacon in the oven! I’ve been cooking bacon this way for years, and while it’s super simple, I have a few tips and tricks to share, so that you get perfect oven baked bacon that comes out crispy every time.
Why You’ll Love My Method
- Crispy bacon every time – It’s wavy, it’s gorgeous, it’s perfect! It’s easy to cook my bacon how I like it using this method.
- Quick and easy – Pop the pan into the oven and go do something else. Much better than standing at the stove waiting for it to cook — and no flipping needed!
- Can make a lot at once – Baking bacon is a great way to make large batches, and much faster than a few slices at a time in a skillet. If you want a smaller batch, microwave bacon and air fryer bacon both work surprisingly well, or make turkey bacon in the oven for a lighter twist.
- Minimal splattering – The oven cooks more evenly than a pan on the stovetop, which means sizzling bacon instead of a splattering mess. I never have any issues with it. If you do get a few splatters, most ovens have a self-cleaning cycle that makes them easy to wipe away.
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Preheat your oven. This ensures even cooking. (See temp info below!)
- Arrange the bacon. Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet, and arrange the strips of bacon on the rack in a single layer. You can line the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper underneath the rack, for easier clean-up.
- Bake bacon in the oven. Pop the pan into the preheated oven and let it do all the work! Your bacon is done when the level of crispiness is to your liking, so just check on it towards the end of the cook time.
My Tips For Crispy Results
- Use a rack. This is my top tip for crispy bacon in the oven! Instead of placing the bacon directly on the sheet pan, use an oven-safe cooling rack fitted over a rimmed baking sheet. This means it doesn’t sit in the grease as it cooks (so the fat drips down) and there is more air flow, which gets you that perfect crispness. I discovered this method when making bacon wrapped asparagus, but the same concept works for baking bacon all by itself, too.
- Make sure the pieces are not overlapping. However, they will shrink a little while cooking, so a tiny bit of overlap is okay.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and pat dry. Use tongs to transfer to a paper towel-lined plate after cooking, then blot the extra grease away on top. This will help your bacon strips get extra crisp as they cool from hot to warm.
How Long To Cook Bacon in the Oven?
For average bacon, bake for 18 to 23 minutes at 400 degrees F. Cook for 15-19 minutes for thin bacon or 22-26 minutes for thick cut bacon.
Saving The Bacon Grease
A bonus advantage of cooking bacon in the oven on a rack is that the bacon grease drips down and is super easy to reserve for other uses.
- Save it: Tilt the pan over a container or jar, so that the bacon fat collects at the corner and drips down into the vessel. Do this while the pan is still hot, before the bacon grease has the chance to solidify. I just use an oven mitt to hold the pan.
- Store it: You can keep it on the counter, but I prefer the fridge to be safe. It will solidify as it cools, but will melt if you heat it later. Make sure to use an airtight container.
- What to do with it: Bacon grease works great to add flavor in savory dishes instead of butter or oil, as long as the heat isn’t too high. My favorite ways include frying eggs or adding to stir fry vegetables (or simply sauteed veggies) toward the end. These also happen to be delicious with your crispy oven bacon added to them, too!
Ways To Use Baked Bacon In Recipes
Bacon in the oven means is a quick way to make a big batch and stores well in the fridge, so you can use it in lots of different ways throughout the week! Here are some serving ideas, as well as classic recipes for bacon lovers that can take advantage of your leftover bacon:
- Breakfast – Serve it on the side with almond flour pancakes (or banana oat pancakes — my kids’ favorite!), easy oven baked eggs, or the perfect omelette. I also love throwing oven cooked bacon into my fritattas.
- Casseroles – My most popular ones are chicken bacon ranch casserole and cheesy loaded cauliflower casserole.
- Soups – While you can saute the bacon before adding the liquid, adding it pre-cooked is even more convenient if you have some on hand. My fave is bacon cheeseburger soup, but I’ve heard many readers add it to my broccoli cheese soup as well.
- Salads – Cooking bacon in the oven is particularly convenient for salads, since you’re not usually cooking other parts of the dish, and can do it ahead. It’s a classic on a cobb salad or wedge salad.
- Appetizers – My bacon deviled eggs, jalapeno poppers, and cheese ball are always crowd pleasers when I set them out at a gathering.
- Side Dishes – Amp up crispy pan fried brussels sprouts, fried cabbage, or even rice or cauliflower rice by adding crumbled bacon to the pan.
- Sandwiches – Grab your favorite bread and make a BLT!
My Favorite Pan & Rack Sets
I recommend this large rack or this medium rack, depending on the size you need, and both come with the sheet pan included. They are sturdy, oven safe, don’t stick easily, and made in the USA!
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
Learn the best method for how to cook bacon in the oven! Baking makes it easy, fast, and perfectly crispy every time, without the mess.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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Line an extra-large baking sheet (at least 14 x 20) with foil for easy cleanup. Place an oven-safe rack that fits inside over the baking sheet. (Get the perfect pan + rack here!)
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Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the rack.
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Place bacon in the oven on the middle rack, and bake for 18 to 23 minutes for average bacon, 15-19 minutes for thin bacon, or 22-26 minutes for thick cut bacon, until done to your liking.
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Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain and pat the top with more paper towels to help it get crisp. Allow it to cool for a few minutes to get more crispy.
Did You Like It?
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 slice, cooked
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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130 Comments
Healing Tomato
1This is the most useful bacon cooking post I have seen. It’s great for beginners and those who have been cooking bacon for a while. Bookmarking this post.
Sharina
1This is the best method I have ever tried in cooking bacon. They turned out so crispy and delicious! Highly recommended!
Sonya
0Game-changer! I will never make bacon another way. So easy.
Kristyn
0This is our favorite way to make bacon!! We do this all the time! Easy clean up & perfectly, crisp bacon!