Whether you’re a fan of tender, crisp, or extra crispy bacon, this simple method of cooking bacon in the oven is easy. There’s no stovetop mess, and it frees up your stove for cooking other breakfast items!
There’s something about the smell of bacon in the morning that just feels right! Cooking it in the oven is my go-to method because it’s easy, mess-free, and the results are consistently crisp and delicious. No flipping, no splatter—just a sheet pan, some foil, and your favorite bacon. It’s perfect for everything from BLTs and burgers to baked potatoes, breakfast casseroles, or a simple side with eggs.
Why Making Bacon in the Oven Is a Game-Changer
Whenever I have family or friends spending the night and I have a lot of bacon to cook, I always make bacon in the oven! It’s the best method when you need to cook for a crowd. I like to use center cut bacon because it has less fat and calories than regular bacon. If you’re using thick cut bacon, you will have to adjust the time. Here’s why I love this method:
- No stovetop splatter: Baking the bacon keeps the grease contained, so there’s no mess to wipe off your counters or stovetop.
- Hands-off cooking: No flipping, no babysitting. Just lay the strips on a sheet pan, pop it in the oven, set the timer and walk away.
- Even crispiness: The bacon cooks more evenly in the oven, so every piece comes out just the way you like it.
- Easy cleanup: Lining the sheet pan with foil or parchment makes cleanup quick and simple.
- Great for batch cooking: Easily cook a full pack (or two) at once, making it ideal for brunches or meal prep.
Whether you’re making bacon for BLTs, salads, breakfast, or crumbling into pasta, baking it in the oven is a total upgrade.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients:
- Bacon: Buy one package of center-cut bacon, which has less fat than regular bacon. If your bacon is thick, add more time.
Tools:
- A large baking sheet or sheet pan
- Aluminum foil or parchment paper
- Oven mitts
- Tongs
- Paper towels
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Everyone likes their bacon different. In my house, I like crisp bacon, my kids like it extra crispy, and my husband prefers it tender with crisp edges. So I tested this out three ways to help you achieve your preferred level of doneness. Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Prepare your sheet pan: Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment for easy cleanup. Arrange the bacon strips in a single layer on the foil. Ensure the strips of bacon don’t overlap so they cook evenly.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven.
How long do you cook bacon in the oven at 400F?
- For tender bacon with crisp edges: Bake it for approximately 20 minutes. This timing should render bacon that is fully cooked but still pliant, with just the right amount of crispy bite at the edges. Of course, all ovens cook differently, so you may want to keep an eye on it as it gets closer to 20 minutes.
- For crisp bacon: Extend the cooking time to 22 to 23 minutes. The extra couple of minutes in the oven will render out more fat and leave you with completely crispy bacon, yet not overly so.
- For extra crispy bacon: Bake for 25 to 26 minutes. During this time, the bacon will reach a crispiness ideal for those who love a hearty crunch with each bite.
- Drain and Serve: When the bacon has reached your desired level of doneness, carefully remove the pan from the oven using oven mitts. With tongs, transfer the bacon slices to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease.
Ways to Serve Bacon
Enjoy your oven-baked bacon as part of a complete breakfast or brunch spread, on a BLT sandwich, or as a flavor booster crumbled on a salad or wrapped around meat or veggies. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Breakfast: Serve a few slices of bacon on the side dish with pancakes, waffles, or french toast.
- Eggs: Serve with scrambled eggs, cottage cheese eggs or hard boiled eggs.
- Sandwiches: Use leftover bacon to make a Bacon Egg and Cheese Sandwich on my bagel recipe, or a Turkey Club, or this Bacon Egg Avocado Breakfast Sandwich
- Vegetables: Spaghetti Squash with Bacon and Parmesan
- Soup: Crumble it over soup as garnish like this Cheddar Corn Chowder or Navy Bean, Bacon and Spinach Soup
- Salads: Add to Chopped Wedge Salad, Chopped Salad with Shrimp, Brussels Sprout Salad with Bacon
Storage
Bacon is best eaten straight out of the oven, but if you have leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat bacon in the microwave, oven, or stove until warm and crispy.
FAQs
The best way to cook bacon is also the easiest. That’s why I love baking it in the oven. It’s hands-off, frees up your stove, and you don’t have to worry about bacon grease splattering everywhere.
You can save excess bacon grease for cooking. Once it’s cooled, store it in a jar in the refrigerator. You would use it just like olive oil or butter to grease your pan and cook vegetables, eggs, and much more. If you don’t want to save it, let it cool and then throw it in the trash. You should never pour bacon grease down the drain.
More Bacon Recipes You’ll Love
How To Make Bacon in the Oven
Equipment
- A large baking sheet or sheet pan
- Aluminum foil
- Oven mitts
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- 12- ounce package center-cut bacon, or bacon of your choice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F.
- Prepare your sheet pan: Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. This will make your clean-up process a breeze. Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the foil. Be sure the pieces do not overlap, so they cook evenly.
- For tender bacon with crisp edges, bake for approximately 20 minutes. This timing should render bacon that is fully cooked but still pliant, with just the right amount of crispy bite at the edges. Of course, all ovens cook different so you may want to keep an eye on it as the time gets close.
- For crisp bacon, extend the cooking time to 22-23 minutes. The extra couple of minutes in the oven will render out more fat and leave you with bacon that is completely crispy, yet not overly so.
- For extra crispy bacon, bake for 25-26 minutes. During this time, the bacon will reach a level of crispiness that's ideal for those who love a hearty crunch with each bite.
- Drain and serve: When the bacon has reached your desired level of doneness, carefully remove the pan from the oven using oven mitts. With tongs, transfer the bacon slices to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess grease.
Honestly I think that you are a genius!
Thank you for this. I made two batches. One with just crispy edges and one with overall crispy. Method was spot on. Have family coming so this will be used across the holiday for “whatever”. Enjoy your holiday. May it be blessed with fellowship, family and fun.
Thank you for this. Gina. Just tried it and the bacon was delicious, and so easy!
Easiest way to cook bacon. No curling and perfect crispy bacon. I don’t fry bacon on the stove.
This is so helpful. Thank you for this, and all of your wonderful recipes. You have helped me tremendously over the years with my WW journey and staying on track with healthy meals and prep options… I am so, so grateful. Oh, and the links to the WW app… brilliant!
Thanks for letting me be part of your journey!
Love bacon cooked in oven!!
I cook my bacon at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. I place foil on a jelly roll pan and place a rack on the pan then put the bacon on the rack. This way the bacon is not cooking in the grease. Less greasy this way. And yes, I store my bacon grease for future use.
I love cooking bacon in the oven for the same reasons you’ve mentioned.
Would the timings change for turkey bacon?
I’ve done this for years — a couple of slices in the toaster oven for breakfast or lunch!! I use the broiler rack so the fat drains off while cooking.
How much of a mess does this make in the oven? I’d much rather do it this way, but it’s far easier to clean the stovetop than the oven!
My oven is self clean so I am not sure?
Can I use parchment paper instead of aluminum foil?
Yes
This is the only way to cook bacon in my opinion. I make 2 alterations: I put a piece of parchment paper on top of bacon in addition to lining the sheet with parchment. This keeps oven clean from splatters. 2) I put them in cold oven then set to 400 (usually convection). This virtually eliminates curling.
I do the same. Cold oven
First of all let me say I totally agree this is the best way known to man to make perfect bacon, no matter your preference. And I am a bacon lover so very very very excited to try the method. However, and this is BIG, cooking it this way totally trashes your oven. You have grease everywhere so must wash walls, racks, elements, ceiling – but not for an hour because the oven has to cool first. So proceed with caution and grab the paper towels and 409, or just drag your skillet back out.
At 400’F, is there not a lot of fat bursting in the oven?
Not really.
Love making bacon this way! I use a deeper pan with a cooling rack (or an air fryer rack would work too) on it and set the bacon on the rack. Then the grease drips down under the bacon and the bacon comes out not greasy and no need to pat it with paper towels to get off the grease.
My favorite way to make bacon! I set a rack inside a deeper pan and put the bacon on the rack. That way all the grease drips down and the bacon isn’t nearly as greasy coming out of the oven.
Do you have a favorite brand of bacon that you recommend (nitrate/nitrite free)? I have used this method for a long time, but I par-cook and store in freezer until I’m ready to use, then I can reheat to the doneness we like. I haven’t seen this as a ‘recipe’ before, with exact timing. Thank you for this! Also, I cut mine in half lengthwise, and it doesn’t curl up. Next time I get bacon, I will try it this way!
I don’t but a quick google search I see lots of options. Thanks for the tip!
I eat turkey bacon. would the time change for the crisp bacon?
Thanks for your time