Learn how to bake bacon in the oven in this easy tutorial. Make delicious, perfectly crispy bacon each and every time with this simple kitchen hack.
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This method for how to cook bacon is perfect for cooking for a crowd, or when you just want to prep a lot of cooked bacon for quick meals. And because cooked bacon is so easy to reheat, anyone in your family can make their own breakfast.
And that makes you a genius.
How to Bake Bacon in the Oven:
*You’ll find a printable recipe card with all these details at the bottom of the post.
You’re going to need a rimmed baking sheet and some foil.
- You’ll completely cover the baking sheet with foil and then place bacon slices on the baking sheet. Try not to overlap slices..
- I cook mine at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes and then cook in 5-minute increments until it is almost exactly how I want it. It will continue to crisp up a bit after you take it out of the oven. Every oven is different, so use your eyes and your nose as your best judgment during the baking process.
- Remove the bacon from the baking sheet and place it on a plate lined with paper towels or newspaper.
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven
I prefer to cook ours at 400 degrees F, and it takes about 20-30(ish) minutes. Our oven has many hot spots, so I do start checking on it at 15 minutes and I also rotate the pan.
Please note, each brand of bacon will be different and cooking time will vary depending on the cut. Thick-cut bacon can take up to 30 minutes, while thinner cuts may only take 15.
We absolutely love the bacon from Butcher Box.
If you need to cook just a few slices at a time, try Air Fryer Bacon or Air Fryer Turkey Bacon for another fast and mess-free method.
How to Make Your Bacon Extra Crispy
Extra crispy bacon is the best! To make your bacon extra crispy, cook it for 2-3 minutes after it looks completely baked. If the ends of the bacon are cooking faster than the middle, you can reduce the temperature to 375F.
You’ll also have the best results with bacon that is marked as thin-cut or thin-sliced.
To take bacon from crispy to crispy, you can actually dredge it in all-purpose flour before it is cooked in the oven. Dredge the bacon slices individually through the flour and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. You’ll need to refrigerate the bacon uncovered, overnight before baking.
FAQ/Pro Tips:
This is not really an issue unless you buy super fatty bacon. If you’re worried about it, you can always place a piece of foil or parchment over the baking sheet when you cook the bacon in the oven.
You must use a baking sheet with rimmed edges so that the grease does not spill over.
No, but you can if you’d like to. I have done it both ways and find it doesn’t make a huge difference. But I do encourage you to rotate the pan halfway through baking.
It’s not necessary (and one more thing to clean) but if you place a wire rack inside the baking sheet, it keeps any grease off the bacon, eliminating most popping.
Yes. This method also works great with turkey bacon, but I reduce that initial cook time to ~10 minutes.
Store cooked bacon in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Allow the bacon to cool completely and then transfer it to storage. We use these reusable silicone bags for the freezer, or glass storage containers for the fridge.
Reheat the bacon in the microwave for 30 seconds for a fast breakfast or for making the perfect BLT in a flash.
You can also reheat it in the air fryer at 340F for 1 minute.
Need to get rid of the smell from baking bacon in your house? Simmer a saucepan of water on the stove with ground cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and a splash of almond extract if you have it.
Other Great Make-Ahead Breakfast Staples:
How to Bake Bacon
Learn how to bake bacon in the oven in this easy tutorial. Make delicious, perfectly crispy bacon each and every time with this easy kitchen hack.
Instructions
-
Completely cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Bacon
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Place bacon slices on the baking sheet. Try not to overlap slices.
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Cook at 400F degrees for 15-20 minutes, and (if necessary) continue to cook in 5-minute increments until it is almost exactly how you want it.
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Using tongs, remove the crispy bacon from the pan and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. Layer bacon and paper towels on the plate until all the bacon is covered.
Notes
- Please note, each brand of bacon will be different and cooking time will vary depending on the cut. Thick-cut bacon can take up to 30 minutes, while thinner cuts may only take 15.
- Cooked bacon will continue to crisp up a bit on the tray after you take it out of the oven.
- This method also works great with turkey bacon, but I reduce that initial cook time to 10 minutes before checking on it.
- Store cooked bacon in the freezer for up to 3 months or 1 week in the fridge.
- Reheat baked bacon in the microwave for 30 seconds for a fast breakfast
Nutrition Facts
How to Bake Bacon
Amount Per Serving (2 bacon slice)
Calories 110
Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 460mg20%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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