How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
on Nov 25, 2022, Updated Aug 23, 2025
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If you’ve ever wondered How to Cook Bacon in the Oven, then you’re in for a game changer. No more standing over the stove or dodging grease splatters 🏃♀️ – the oven does all the work here! The result? You get crispy, perfectly cooked bacon 🥓 every. single. time. This hack is perfect for making a big batch for a brunch, BLTs, or meal prep. And you can save the bacon drippings for future recipes. (I’m looking at you Carbonara 👀!) Once your bacon is cooked to perfection, simply remove the foil, toss, and cleanup is a breeze 🧽!
Why You’ll Love Oven Cooked Bacon
Rich, smoky flavor. Golden crispy edges. And that irresistible aroma 🤤. It’s no wonder bacon practically has a cult following. Cooking bacon in the oven draws out all the salty, savory goodness you know and love. Each strip 🥓 comes out perfectly crispy with a tender, chewy bite. Oven cooked bacon stores beautifully – it lasts in the fridge for 5-7 days – making it ideal for prepping ahead. Enjoy it in your favorite wraps 🌯, on top of a crisp salad, or with Cottage Cheese Egg Salad for a drool-worthy breakfast that hits all your macros 💪.
Ingredients
🥓 Bacon: A large heavy duty baking sheet will fit one pack of bacon. I like a standard cut, but this method also works with thick cut, thin sliced, and turkey bacon – just make sure you adjust the cooking time accordingly.
For Oven Cooked Bacon, you will also need…
⬜ Aluminum foil: I like to double line my baking sheet with aluminum foil. You will seriously have zero cleanup!
📜 Parchment paper: Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of your foil for a non-stick layer. I use this unbleached parchment paper that’s also compostable.
Nonna’s Tip 🥓
The trick to Oven Cooked Bacon is to double-line a baking sheet with foil and then parchment paper on top. This will ensure absolutely no mess or fuss at all.
Oven Cooked Bacon Tips for Success
- Line your pan – Use foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup and less sticking.
- Space it out – Lay strips in a single layer without overlapping to get perfectly even crispiness.
- Keep an eye on it – Oven temps can vary, so check for doneness a few minutes early to avoid burning. (This will be key if you have thick cut or thin cut bacon.)
- Save the drippings – Bacon fat is liquid gold for cooking eggs, roasting veggies, or adding flavor to other dishes.
- Cool before storing – Let bacon cool slightly before putting it in the fridge to keep it from getting soggy.
How to Store Bacon Grease
Bacon grease is the liquid gold ✨ of fats, infusing big flavor into any dish lucky enough to be graced with its presence. It has a high smoke point which makes it perfect for frying eggs or sautéing veggies, and adds richness and depth of flavor to braised meats that simply cannot be matched. Now that you know How to Cook Bacon in the Oven, save those drippings! Here’s how to store bacon grease:
- First, remove your bacon 🥓 from the pan to a paper towel lined plate. This will absorb any extra grease and leave your bacon extra crispy.
- Next, line a fine mesh strainer with a paper towel. (Cheesecloth or a nut milk bag will also work.)
- Pour the bacon grease through the strainer into a glass jar. Note: You MUST use glass 💯. Because, hot bacon grease will melt plastic.
- Finally, secure your jar with an air tight lid and store in the fridge. Next time you make bacon, add the new drippings on top of the existing layer.
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Best Served With
- This Oven Cooked Bacon is great for 🍳 brunch, served with French Toast Casserole, Poached Eggs, and a bowl of fruit.
- Use this bacon to top your 🥗 Cobb Salad, garnish your pasta Carbonara, or on these delicious Bacon Brussels Sprouts.
- Make a batch for Homemade Egg McMuffins and enjoy grab-and-go breakfast all week long.
Common Questions
Yes, this method works well with all types of bacon, whether it’s thick-cut, thin-cut, or flavored varieties. Of course, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness.
Absolutely! I like lining the baking sheet with foil and parchment paper just to make cleanup much easier. However, you can cook bacon directly on the baking sheet. Of course, you will have more grease to clean up at the end.
The Oven Cooked Bacon is done when it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Keep an eye on it after 15 minutes, and remember that it will continue to crisp up slightly as it cools.
The cook time for baking bacon is usually 20-25 minutes. However, you may need to adjust the time depending on whether your bacon is thick-cut or thin-cut.
No, it is not necessary to flip bacon when cooking it in the oven.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pack bacon
Instructions
- The trick is to double line a baking sheet with foil and then parchment paper on top. This will ensure absolutely no mess or fuss at all.
- Place the bacon on the lined baking sheet and make sure the oven is preheated to 400F (200C) or 425F (220C). Both temperatures work but cooking it at 400F (200C) takes a few minutes longer.
- My bacon usually takes 20-25 minutes but be mindful that timing will depend on the oven or how cooked you like your bacon so keep an eye on it. Enjoy!
Notes
- Space it out – Lay strips in a single layer without overlapping to get perfectly even crispiness.
- Keep an eye on it – Oven temps can vary, so check for doneness a few minutes early to avoid burning. (This will be key if you have thick cut or thin cut bacon.)
- Save the drippings – Bacon fat is liquid gold for cooking eggs, roasting veggies, or adding flavor to other dishes.
- Cool before storing – Let bacon cool slightly before putting it in the fridge to keep it from getting soggy.
- Don’t flip – Turning your bacon is not necessary, so you can sit back and enjoy 25 minutes of hands-free cooking time.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks for this hack! Now I don’t have to wipe down the whole kitchen every time I want bacon!🙌😂
This trick is a LIFESAVER! I have always pan fried my bacon, but it is far simpler to double line a pan and spread the bacon! Such a useful hack! Thank you!