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- Why Oven Baked Bacon?
- The Trick To Cooking Bacon in the Oven
- How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
- How Long Do You Cook Bacon in the Oven?
- Does Bacon Splatter In The Oven?
- What To Do With Bacon Grease?
- Ways To Use Baked Bacon In Recipes
- Tools To Make Bacon In The Oven
- How To Cook Bacon in the Oven (Crispy & Easy Way!)
If you want to learn how to cook bacon in the oven, I’m excited to show you how easy it is to make perfect oven baked bacon that comes out crispy every time – and why you’ll never want to do it any other way again. In fact, I’ve been baking bacon this way for years!
The trick I use came to me when making bacon wrapped asparagus, and I’ve used it when wrapping other things too, like bacon wrapped brussels sprouts and green bean bundles. The same concept works for baking bacon all by itself, too – that’s what I’m showing you today. (Get more recipe ideas with bacon here!)
Read on to learn my method for cooking super crispy bacon in the oven, and why it’s the best way to cook bacon…
Why Oven Baked Bacon?
Why should you learn how to make bacon in the oven? Here are the main advantages of doing it this way as opposed to frying:
- It’s quick and easy. If you can arrange bacon on a rack and turn on your oven, well… you’ve just learned how to bake bacon in the oven! 😉
- You can make more at once. Baking bacon in the oven is pretty much
- It’s the best way to cook bacon evenly. No soggy pieces, yay! If you want crispy bacon, this is the way to get it.
- It’s hands off. Pop the pan into the oven and go do something else. Much better than standing at the stove waiting for it to cook!
- No splattering. It just won’t happen with oven baked bacon.
The Trick To Cooking Bacon in the Oven
If you want to know how to cook crispy bacon in oven, the main trick is to use an oven-safe rack.
What is a bacon rack for the oven, you ask? It’s simply an oven safe cooling rack, the same as what you’d use for cooling cookies.
The rack is the #1 key to baking bacon perfectly, because it lets the fat drip down. Even if you are on a keto diet where fat is a good thing, you want the fat away from the bacon in this case because that gets it CRISPY!
I like this rack or this rack, depending on the size you need.
How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
You have your pan with a rack. Now, how to bake bacon in the oven with it?
- Preheat your oven first. I like to cook oven baked bacon at 400 degrees.
- Arrange bacon. Place the rack over the pan, and arrange the bacon on the rack in a single layer:
Tip: For the crispiest oven baked bacon, make sure the bacon pieces are not overlapping! But, they will shrimp a little while cooking, so a tiny bit is okay.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake. It’s done when it’s crispy to your liking. Yep, the method for how to make crispy bacon in the oven really is that easy!
The only question left to answer is, how long to bake bacon in the oven?
How Long Do You Cook Bacon in the Oven?
How long to cook bacon in the oven depends on the oven temperature, and on the thickness of the bacon.
Thick bacon in the oven will take longer than thinner slices. And, a lower temperature will take longer than a higher one.
What temp to cook bacon in the oven?
What temperature do you cook bacon in the oven? The main choices are 350, 375, 400 or 425 degrees Fahrenheit (177, 190, 204, and 218 degrees Celcius).
I highly recommend cooking bacon in the oven is 400 degrees F! It’s a bit faster than lower temperatures, plus the bacon gets more crispy. Any higher and you tend to risk burning the edges.
When choosing the temperature for baking bacon, also consider how uniform the thickness of your bacon is. If the slices are all fairly similar, a high temperature works best and you get the advantage of maximum crispness. On the other hand, if some slices are thicker than others, stick with a lower temperature.
I’ll give you the time estimates for each temperature to make it easy! 🙂
How long to cook bacon in the oven at 350 F?
Bake bacon for 22 to 27 minutes at 350 F.
How long to cook bacon in the oven at 375 F?
Bake bacon for 20 to 25 minutes at 375 F.
How long to cook bacon in the oven at 400 F? (Recommended!)
Bake bacon for 18 to 23 minutes at 400 F.
(This is the temperature I recommend!)
How long to cook bacon in the oven at 425 F?
Bake bacon for 15 to 20 minutes 425 F.
Does Bacon Splatter In The Oven?
No, bacon does not splatter in the oven! The oven cooks much more evenly than a pan, which means sizzling bacon instead of a splattering mess. Yay!
What To Do With 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.
To save the bacon grease:
Simply tilt the pan over a container, so that the bacon grease collects at the corner and drips down into the container. Make sure to do this while the pan is still hot, so that the bacon grease doesn’t solidify. Just use an oven mit to hold the pan.
How to store the bacon grease:
You can store the bacon grease on the counter, but I prefer the fridge to be safe. It will solidify as it cools.
What to do with the grease:
You can use bacon grease in most savory applications in place of butter or oil. My favorite ways include frying eggs or stir fry vegetables! (Both also happen to be delicious with your crispy oven baked bacon added to them, too.)
Ways To Use Baked Bacon In Recipes
One of the advantages of making bacon in the oven is you can make a big batch, which means you can use it in lots of different ways! Here are some serving ideas, as well as classic recipes for bacon lovers that can take advantage of your big batch:
- Breakfast – Obviously, this is probably the most popular! Just serve it on the side with pancakes, a fried egg, or the perfect omelette. Recipes for quiche or fritattas also typically call for cooked bacon.
- Casseroles – Bacon makes almost any casserole better. Popular ones include chicken bacon ranch casserole or cheesy brussels sprout casserole.
- Soups – While you can saute the bacon before adding the liquid, adding it pre-cooked is even more convenient if you have some. My fave is bacon cheeseburger soup, but I’ve seen many readers add it to 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 – This perfect baked bacon recipe is excellent to use as part of an appetizer, like bacon caprese skewers or bacon deviled eggs.
- Stir Fry – Add bacon to crispy fried brussels sprouts, Southern fried cabbage, or even rice or cauliflower rice.
Tools To Make Bacon In The Oven
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Bacon rack for oven – This pan comes with an oven safe rack to put on top. They have large and small versions!
How To Cook Bacon in the Oven (The Best Way!):
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How To Cook Bacon in the Oven (Crispy & Easy Way!)
The BEST method for how to cook bacon in the oven! It's super quick (20 minutes) and EASY. Plus, this trick for oven baked bacon makes it SUPER CRISPY!
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Instructions
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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 cookie rack of the same size on top of 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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Bake for 18 to 22 minutes on the middle rack, until the bacon is done to your liking. The time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon.
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After baking bacon in the oven, pat any excess grease to help it get crisp. Allow it to cool for a few minutes to get more crispy.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 slice, cooked
Video Showing How To Make Bacon in the Oven:
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96 Comments
Tom Westheimer
Why bother with the foil or rack? I just cook mine at 425 in a stainless pan and it cleans up easily with hot water and dish soap. I just take the bacon out and put on paper towels to reduce the grease and then save the fat for cooling later!
Thanks
Kristyn
I love cooking bacon this way!! I rarely fry it on the stove top!
Natalie
Love all the benefits from cooking bacon in the oven! I would cook bacon more often, since it’s quicker & easier clean up! Turns out so crisp!
Jacqueline Debono
I agree with you oven baked bacon is the best, especially if you want it crispy! I love adding it to salads and soups!
Jeannette
What a fantastic way to evenly cook bacon! I love how you can have so many in the oven at once instead of just a few in the airfryer.
Dannii
I have never seen bacon get this crispy in the oven. I can’t wait to try it.
Beth
Yum! My daughter is going to love this recipe! So excited to show her!
Gail Montero
Looks crispy-licious! I should try this in my oven soon!
Mary Ann
I always use Thick cut bacon. What temperature and length of time would I bake this thickness of bacon?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Mary Ann, Thick cut bacon will require a longer cook time. Depending on the thickness, it may take up to 40 minutes in the oven. Be sure to keep an eye on your bacon the first time you do this so you’ll get a good idea of how long it will take for your preferred brand of bacon.
BB
Those is easy and easy clean up-a huge time saver! I cook a batch and save it to use all week. Just heat it up when cooking eggs or whatever. It’s one of my fav go to recipes!
Diane
tytyty
Sherrie
You are a genius! My husband loves bacon and I can’t stand making it, cuz it splatters grease all over the top stove. Hence making a laborous cleaning of the stove grates and the stove itself, let alone where it pops grease out onto the floor and I can\t tell you how many little grease burns I’ve gotten on my hands from slotting bacon grease. So, I came across this recipe for baked bacon. I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant…. IE: bacon grease all over the oven…I tried it with your “almost-promise” LOL, that it won’t sput grease. ALAS! I tried it and no grease in the oven and the most MARVELOUS crispy bacon. And it certainly tied down my cooking dilemna, and freed more time for me to cook other things, while the bacon was baking. THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have made an impact in my chef endeavors!
I adore your recipes, by the way… So much great inspiring cooking. Thank you always, Sherrie
Thee3
The bacon and grease did splatter everywhere it touched metal; be it the pan or the wire rack! I tried this method years ago and got the same result! Stick with the skillet method!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Thee3, I’m sorry you didn’t care for this method. It is very helpful when preparing a large amount of bacon at once.
Lorenza
thank you for this interesting post!
Clare
OMG! This is the best way to cook bacon! Crispy, heavenly-tasting, much easier to keep from burning it than in the pan. The only problem is I want to eat it all!
Thank you for the recipe. It’s really helping me stick with Keto.
Here’s how my keto journey has gone so far:
Day 1: I miss fruit! And bread! And rice! I don’t know if I can do this.
Day 2: So tired and hungry. This sucks.
Day 3: Meh. I might live after all. Dinner was yummy.
Day 4: While eating your delicious bacon for breakfast: “Keto forever! I am never going back!”
Thank you. 🙂
Niecey
Thanks for the great directions!
I like to pour bacon grease into a rectangle dish that I line with aluminum foil and then baking paper. I put the whole contraption in the freezer. Once the bacon grease is solidified, I wrap it with the baking paper and aluminum foil. I keep the little bricks in the freezer for longest-lasting grease. I shave off a little to add to SOUPS, STEWS, and any baking done in a pan! It adds a NICE richness to all of my dishes!
Lynne
Can you use turkey bacon?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Lynne, Yes, but the cook time may vary. Be sure to keep an eye on it.
Lisa
This is one of our favorite ways to make bacon! Enjoyed reading the tips!
cjsbabygirl
I have never tried oven-baked bacon before, but I’m going to tonight (we’re having “breakfast for dinner”). Also, another great way to use bacon grease is to add it to your green beans when cooking (along with some garlic), and also to cook your pancakes in!
cjsbabygirl
Update: Just made these and PERFECTION! in MY oven I was able to bake thick-cut bacon at 400 degrees for exactly 25 minutes. I did spray my cooling rack with cooking spray first (the PAM grilling high-heat one) and line the pan with foil because it does make clean-up easier!
Laura
This recipe is delicious. I add some brown sugar on top and it comes out divine. I find that if I spray the racks with cooking spray before putting the bacon on, it doesn’t stick.
Annise’
Thank you so much for this awesome way to cook bacon!! I am so happy I happened upon your site! I’ve always cooked bacon the traditional way, the way my mom and grandmother showed me! I grew up in a farm and the only correct way to cook it was in a cast iron skillet! So happy times have changed and I’m ready and willing to change with them! Thank you again and you had me at “no splatter”! Take care!
Carolina Camargo
Hi… If we can’t find the bacon you recommend, which other brand option we can have?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Carolina, There are many brands of bacon that are very low sugar! Read the nutrition labels and try to find bacon that is either sugar-free or 1g or less.
Sherrie
We have a low sodium bacon at our grocery store…. and for some reason the low sodium bacon has 0 sugar in it. We always welcome lower salt and not too much sugar in our home. 🙂
Terry J
Thank you for such amazing tips! Always prefer cooking bacon in the oven using the oven racks. It is way much cleaner and bacon turns out crispy and perfectly cooked. I love bacon cooked this way and it turns out to be delicious!
Mike in France
Cooking bacon in the oven was very good. I wish the rack as easy to clean, that was hard, laborious work! after soaking over night I had to use a brush and steel wool. That is the only reason I won’t do it again. Find me a disposable one time use rack and I’m back.