An easy tutorial to help you learn how to cook bacon in the oven! You will never want to make bacon on the stovetop after following this easy foolproof method. You get perfectly crispy bacon, that’s evenly cooked, every single time!
I am so excited to bring you another post in our All the Healthy Things “Just the Basics” series. These posts are focused on helping you master basics in the kitchen and, hopefully, inspiring you with a few new ideas along the way.
If you are new to cooking, or just need a refresher on the basics, these posts are designed to help you feel more confident in the kitchen. Once you have a handle on a few basic concepts and techniques, you can easily build upon them to create new and exciting recipes dishes without a second thought.
If you have ever wondered how some people just seem to know how to cook without a recipe or can quickly throw together a meal in a moment’s notice, it’s likely because they have a good grasp of the basics. I want that for you! It’s my hope that every just the basics post helps you feel more comfortable so that you can enjoy your time spent in the kitchen even more!
If you haven’t already be sure to check out the other how-to guides in the series.
Here are a few of our most popular posts:
- How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- How to Bake Sweet Sweet Potatoes
- How to Make Brown Butter
- How to Make a Flaky Homemade All Butter Pie Crust
- How to Make Bone Broth
- How to Make Homemade Gravy
- How to Roast Butternut Squash
- How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- The Best Whole Roasted Chicken
Why Bake Your Bacon?
If you have never made bacon in the oven before you may be wondering why you would do it at all, but trust me. Once you cook your bacon in the oven you will never want to make it on the stovetop again.
- You get perfect, crisp, and evenly cooked bacon every single time because there are not hot spots.
- In addition to it being cooked well, baking bacon also means that there is less clean up, no oil splatter all over your stove, and you can more easily store any rendered bacon fat to use for later.
- Personally, one of my favorite reasons for baking bacon is that I can do other things while it’s cooking. If I’m making breakfast I can prep my eggs, slice some fresh fruit, and prepare other components of the meal. You can easily put your bacon in the oven, set a timer, and then get a few other things done while the bacon is cooking.
Watch How to Make This Recipe
Ingredients and Tools
- Bacon – use your favorite! I’m a thick cut kind of bacon gal myself but if you like your bacon on thinner side then go for it.
- Parchment Paper – this makes clean up an absolute breeze.
- Baking Sheet – the more bacon you plan on making the larger the sheet pan you will need.
- Tongs – I like to use tongs to remove the bacon from the sheet pan once it has finished cooking.
- Air Tight Storage Jar – if you plan on saving your bacon grease you will need an air tight storage jar to store it in. I love using Weck Jars or Mason Jars for this.
Five Steps for Easy Oven Baked Bacon
Step One: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Step Two: While the oven is preheating, line your sheet pan with parchment paper. Place the bacon on the sheet pan in a single layer being sure that the pieces do not overlap for the best results.
Step Three: Cook the bacon for 15-20 minutes or until it’s your desired crispness.
Step Four: Once the bacon has finished cooking, use a pair of tongs to transfer the bacon to a plate that has been lined with a paper towel to drain.
Step Five: To save the bacon grease for later, let the grease cool just slightly, be sure it’s still liquid, and then pour it through a fine mesh strainer and into a heat-safe container.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take?
This heavily depends on the thickness of your bacon. For thinner bacon it can take 10-15 minutes. For thicker cut bacon (my preference) it can take 15-20 minutes. It also depends on your preference. If you like bacon a bit crispier then you might let it cook for a bit longer.
Do I need a wire rack?
No! It’s just an extra hassle and doesn’t make your bacon any better, in my personal opinion.
Do you have to flip it?
It depends! For thinner bacon, no flipping is required. For thicker strips, you might need to flip it once to ensure that everything cooks evenly.
Do I need parchment paper?
No, not necessarily but it does make things easier. For me, the whole point of making bacon in the oven is to make clean up easier not harder. Using a sheet of parchment paper makes clean up a breeze so I always use it.
Tips for the Best Oven Bacon
- Don’t let the bacon overlap – if you want the bacon to cook evenly, don’t let it overlap on the sheet pan.
- Add a little black pepper – sprinkle a little fresh cracked black pepper over the bacon before it goes in the oven for extra flavor.
- Look for foamy bubbles – this is a trick I learned from my father-in-law. When there are lots of foamy grease bubbles on the bacon, it’s probably done.
- Cook to your preference – remember that oven temps vary widely which can impact cooking time. Be sure to check your bacon after 10 minutes and cook it to your liking.
What to Do With Leftover Bacon Grease
You can save your leftover bacon grease to use for cooking later if you like! Just pour any liquid fat, into a fine mesh strainer while it’s still warm, and store in an air-tight storage container for up to six months.
How to Use Cooked Bacon
Now that you’ve made your bacon it’s time to use it! Of course you can serve it as is with eggs, toast, etc. or you can use it in one of our reader favorite recipes, below!
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Muffins
- Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
- Chicken Bacon Avocado Chopped Salad
- Chipotle Potato Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Healthy Broccoli Salad
- Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
I hope you give this recipe for Oven Bacon a try! It’s a quick and easy way to prep bacon for breakfast or other recipes! If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know!
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PrintHow to Cook Bacon in the Oven
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
An easy tutorial to help you learn how to cook bacon in the oven! You will never want to make bacon on the stovetop after following this easy foolproof method. You get perfectly crispy bacon, that’s evenly cooked, every single time!
Ingredients
- 12 oz thick cut bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- While the oven is preheating, line your sheet pan with parchment paper. Place the bacon on the sheet pan in a single layer.
- Cook the bacon for 18-20 minutes or until it’s your desired crispness.
- Once the bacon has finished cooking, use a pair of tongs to transfer the bacon to a plate that has been lined with paper towel to drain.
- To save the bacon grease for later, let the grease cool just slightly and then pour it through a fine mesh strainer and into a heat-safe container.