How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
718 Comments
Updated Jan 16, 2025
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Cooking bacon in the oven creates perfectly crispy, delicious bacon. It’s also super easy, creates less mess than cooking it on the stovetop and allows you to multitask in the kitchen. If you’ve never baked bacon, give it a try!
So what do you serve your bacon with? Well, everything! Including my poached eggs, soft and hard boiled eggs and fried eggs. And you can’t forget my paleo pancakes (and dipping bacon in that maple syrup—yum!).
Cooking Bacon in the Oven
When it comes to the most perfectly crispy, evenly cooked bacon you really can’t beat cooking bacon in the oven. But it’s amazing how many people have never tried it. It seems the stovetop reigns supreme.
Today I’ll share with you why you should change your habits and cook bacon in the oven. And trust me, once you cook bacon in the oven, you’ll never cook it on the stovetop again!
Cooking bacon on the stove creates splatters all over your stove top and produces hot spots on the pan. This means certain pieces of bacon may cook faster than others. And it’s why you might have some bacon slices that accidentally charcoal a bit too much while other slices are still undercooked.
Cooking bacon in the oven cooks all of your bacon slices evenly as the heat surrounds them. They slowly sizzle, don’t splatter and end up evenly cooked. It’s a beautiful thing.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
It’s incredibly easy! Though it always helps to watch a quick video tutorial. Watch the video below!
Oven Baked Bacon – In 5 Steps
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the bacon slices on the baking sheet.
- Cook the bacon for 10 to 20 minutes or until it’s as crispy as you’d like.
- Remove the bacon from the oven and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Benefits of Cooking Bacon in the Oven
- First, you can cook for a crowd (and sometimes that crowd is just your immediate family). This is key for the holidays or when lots of people descend on your house. It’s also HUGE for helping you keep your sanity in the kitchen with the masses.
- Second, cooking bacon in the oven is way cleaner than cooking bacon on the stove. I’m notorious for getting splatters all over the stovetop because I probably cook my bacon a bit too hot. But when you cook bacon in the oven you don’t get any splatters because the bacon just sizzles until it’s perfectly crispy (or done to your liking).
- Lastly, cooking bacon in the oven allows you to multitask in the kitchen. Because once you toss that sheet pan of glorious bacon in the oven, you’re free for about 15 minutes to whip up some eggs or make a batch of pancakes or waffles.
A Few More Tips
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper (or don’t line it at all – but that’s messy). With parchment paper it’s as simple as tearing off a piece, placing the bacon on top and cooking.
- Should you place the bacon on a cooling rack to cook? I don’t think so. I tried it and the difference is negligible. But then I had to clean a cooling rack (and those buggers are hard to clean).
- 400°F works well for both regular and thick cut bacon. Heat your oven and cook the bacon for 10 to 20 minutes or until it’s reached your desired level of crispiness. I do rotate the pan halfway through, just to ensure even cooking, but that’s it. And remember that your bacon will continue to crisp up once it dries.
What to do with Bacon Grease? Save it!
If you purchase organic bacon, as I do, definitely consider rendering and saving the bacon grease. Not only does bacon grease impart a richness of flavor into braised meats and other dishes, it has a high smoke point which means it’s far more stable to cook with.
Here’s how to render bacon grease:
- Once you’ve cooked your bacon, remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Line a fine mesh sieve with another paper towel (you could also use a nut milk bag or cheesecloth) and pour the hot bacon grease over the sieve and into a glass jar.
- Note: it’s important to use glass and not plastic, as you’ll melt plastic with hot bacon grease.
You can see in the photo above that I had some previous bacon fat already in my glass jar that’s opaque and lighter in color. When I have a new batch of bacon, I just pour this straight on top then cover the jar and refrigerate it.
So what do I use my rendered bacon grease for? Oh, just about everything. It’s what I fry my eggs in and how I sear pretty much any meat. It’s also great for sautéed or roasted vegetables to add depth and flavor.
Tasty Recipes with Crispy Bacon
- Bacon Deviled Eggs
- Cobb Salad
- Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro, Lime and Bacon Slaw
- Broccoli Salad
- BLT Salad with Avocado and Sprouts
- Baked Eggs in Avocado
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven (Easy & Crispy)
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 8 bacon slices
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper, then place the bacon side-by-side on the tray.
- Cook the bacon for 10 to 20 minutes or until it's reached your desired level of crispiness. Make sure to check on it after about 10 minutes, as some ovens cook faster. Remove the tray from the oven and transfer the bacon with tongs to a paper towel-lined plate.
- If you're rendering the bacon fat, line a fine mesh sieve with a paper towel. Then place the sieve over a glass storage container and pour the bacon fat from the sheet tray into the sieve. Cover the glass storage container and place it in the refrigerator for future cooking needs.
Lisa’s Tips
- If you don’t have a heavy-duty baking sheet I recommend purchasing some. They never warp or bend in the oven!
- Please note that all ovens cook slightly differently. It’s best to keep an eye on the bacon past the 10-minute mark so you can ensure it’s cooked to your personal preference. If you scroll through the comments you’ll see some people have raw bacon at 15 minutes and some have burnt bacon at 15 minutes. After years of comments on this recipe, I’ve widened the cooking time to 10 to 20 minutes, as all ovens do bake differently.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published December 2016, but updated with new photos and information.
Wow! Perfectly cooked bacon with no messy stovetop to clean! I baked 5 slices at 400 for 15 minutes and they were perfectly crispy (which is how we like them).
Can’t beat this oven-baked method when you’ve got multiple pieces of bacon to cook. Enjoy, AnnMarie!
Oh my gosh!!!!! I have never cooked bacon in the oven before and now, thanks to you, I love it! It was so perfect, so much so that it’s the only way I will ever make it. Thank you again!
Glad you’ve found a new way to cook bacon, Franny!
Ty Lisa. I like your site. Was so easy to make bacon on the oven 👍😃
Thank you, Patricia!
The bacon cut matters, too! Thick cut vs. thin, center. The time will change. I always put mine on sprayed small grill grates, over parchment paper, to keep the renderings, fot cornbread or veggies like southern greens or green beans. The grates keep the drippings away from the bacon, letting both sides crisp, faster. I use thick cut and flip 10 minutes in. I will pick out a few slices that are just right and leave the rest to crispen up. Ovens vary, position in oven and on tray, can affect the time for each piece. How many times you open the oven, losing heat affects it, too. No recipe is foolproof. Some is trial and error. First rule of REAL cooking is never plan to serve a recipe that you have not already perfected, based on your needs. Practice makes better.
Yes, you’re right that the cut matters and I’ll also add that every oven is different. Sometimes a little trial and error helps to perfect recipes in your own kitchen. :)
Love how easy clean up was! The bacon tasted delish too! Def doing this method again. Thanks!!
Can’t beat oven-baked bacon! Glad this worked out great for you, Stephanie.
I have always wondered how to correctly cook bacon in the oven. I especially was afraid it would make a mess, but was oh so wrong. You give such clear instructions. This is the BEST way to cook bacon!!!
Hi Cindy – Thrilled to hear you’ve found the perfect method for cooking bacon perfectly with this recipe!
I’ve been using your oven technique for over 2 years and felt inspired to rate it.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ❤️ IT!!!! MAKES IT SUPER EASY TO COOK EASY TO NOT BURN. PLUS IT GOES ON SANDWICHÈS HAMBURGERS even easier storing them all week for different uses.
Hi Cindy – Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! Happy to hear you’re loving this method for cooking bacon and have used it for so many different kinds of meals.
Absolutely LOVE cooking bacon this way! No mess, no hot grease “pop”, and bacon doesn’t shrink up! I will forever be cooking bacon like this! Thank you!
I agree, it’s the best. Enjoy your bacon, Karen!
AGREED 💯 💯 I COOK all my bacon up this way making large amounts to add weekly.or whatever to our meals….
This was my first time cooking bacon in the oven and I’ll never cook it another way again – it was so easy, absolutely no mess minus the clean up of the cookie sheet, and the bacon is so perfectly crispy!!! Thank you so much ❤️
It really is the best method! :)
Eas, simple way to make a lot of bacon at once!
Can’t beat oven-baked bacon for an easy, no mess method! Enjoy, Diana.
My new way of cooking bacon. Thanks😁
Enjoy!
Hi Lisa! What bacon brands do you like?
Hi Kayla – I usually purchase Applegate organic bacon.
I love this way of making bacon, it is so easy for a large crowd or brunch. But truly I use this method every time I make bacon, so much cleaner and can make the bacon crispier.
Hi Sonja – I couldn’t agree with you more! It really is one of the best ways to cook bacon, especially for a larger crowd.
OMG, set off my smoke alarm!!! Will Never do this again
You had to have done some
Thing wrong…. No way in the world it would a cause an alert unless you left it in the oven for way way too long. Read directions again … 400° not 4000°:… Perfect way to cook bacon …..only way that makes good sense
No need to be a jerk.
I have cooked bacon in the oven many times. A few times it has set my smoke detector off.
I think it could be due to the brand, and thickness, of the bacon being cooked.
Was your oven dirty?? Same thing happened to me once and I needed to clean my oven. I also the way my oven is cook it only 18 minutes. This is the most asking recipe for cooʻking bacon
what a great idea to avoid splatter in the kitchen
This method is the best for cooking lots of bacon at once!
Recipe is fine. This article/recipe is about 50 times longer than it needs to be.
At the top she always has a “skip to the recipe” so you can avoid the articles (in the future).
I avoided bacon for years because I assumed it was too tricky for me to cook (so silly, I know). It was SO EASY in the oven! Mine usually seem to need more time, but I like mine extra crispy. Thank you for helping me enjoy bacon again…maybe too much! Haha
I’m glad you finally found the best way to cook bacon for that crispy goodness!
I avoided bacon for years because I assumed it was too tricky for me to cook (so silly, I know). It was SO EASY in the oven! Mine usually seem to need more time, but I like mine extra crispy.
Thank you for helping me enjoy bacon again…maybe too much! Haha
I’m glad you found my recipe helpful, Cassie! It really is quite easy. :)
My first time frying bacon in the oven and it is the only way I will cook bacon from now on. Omg. Thank you so much!!
Wonderful! Glad to hear your found a new favorite way to make bacon crispy, Lynn.
This is genius!! This is the only way I cook bacon now. Perfect every time with no mess to clean up, just throw away the parchment paper. No curling of the bacon, stays nice and straight. Cook it the way you want it, just add more time or less.
I couldn’t agree more, Joe! So happy you love this way of cooking bacon as much as I do. :)
I start with a cold oven and add a few minutes to the cooking time. It allows the fat to render more slowly to reduce the chances of splatter. The final result is the same. Crispy, tasty bacon with even fewer bits to strain out.
Thanks for sharing your approach, Patrick.
Bacon was perfectly cooked at 18 minutes. Best bacon I ever made.
Wonderful! Glad your bacon turned out perfectly, Pat.
Be sure to disable your fire alarm, I don’t make bacon often, I have a clean oven and it still set the alarm off.
When I make it I put the bacon on a rack on the sheet pan so that the hot air circulates and it crisps nicely. The bacon is great but having the alarm go off terrifies the cats!
Time to buy a new house!
I have a new home less then 6 months old and i have the same problem setting off my fire / carbon manoxide (sp) alarms every time i cook bacon in the oven ( never happens on the stove top ) but it is so much better in the oven and less messy
Amazing. Crisp and straightforward.
Hi Angelo – Happy to hear your bacon turned out perfectly!
Do you cover the bacon with another sheet of parchment? If not, doesn’t it splatter upwards in the oven?
Hi Diane – no, it doesn’t splatter. It just sizzles in the sheet pan. Enjoy!
I under bake a little because I bake a full tray, keep it in the fridge. Then I put in the microwave to warm up as needed, so it doesn’t over cook the second cooking. It’s fast and cooked to perfection.
Love this! This is the way…
Can’t beat oven-baked bacon! Enjoy, Loretta!
Thank you for making it look so easy to cook bacon in the over and clean up easy afterwards.
You’re more than welcome, Dee. Enjoy!
I use a baking rack so the fat drips down and lay the bacon so it is touching but not overlapping and it comes out great.
Wow came out perfect and super easy clean up. Cooked 10 min, turned pan than 8 min more. Parchment paper extra wide covered whole cookie sheet, no fat on pan. no burnt bacon …. My husband was delighted it wasn’t burnt … lol ….
Yay, congrats on your oven baked bacon, Mari! And yes, the no mess and easy cleanup is the cherry on top. ;)
Can I do more than one sheet (in the oven) at a time?
Hi Jennifer – yes, you can. But you may need to increase the cook time by about 20%. So I’d just keep a closer eye on them in the oven.
I will NEVER cook bacon any other way. I followed your instructions, to the letter. 400F, a check @ 10 mins, my oven had left it a tad bit raw so, I added another 7 and PERFECTION!!
I ate the same bacon yesterday pan fried and the oven baked is so much better!
Hi Lisa – I couldn’t agree more! Cooking bacon in the oven is such a game changer.
You’re so right! I struggled with oven bacon for years, it was burnt at 15 min. We moved recently and with the new oven 15 min was perfect but I started checking at 10 min with your advice. I also may have cooled the oven checking on it, and that may be a consideration as well. Thanks!
Yeah, it’s amazing how different all ovens are. But glad you now love this approach!
Thank you… This is the ONLY recipe I’ve found that recommended using parchment paper to line the pan
I first tried it with aluminum foil, but the foil stuck in so many places. A mess to clean up.
I just pour the fat into an aluminum can and save it in the fridge like my mother did. Im 80 and a WW II baby.
So happy you found my recipe helpful, Suzanne! Parchment paper definitely helps prevent the bacon from sticking to the pan. Enjoy!
Bake for 15-18 minutes for crispier.
In the oven right now ! This is my favorite way to cook crispy… not burned.. bacon. Delish! Thank you 💌
I’m happy you love this method as well, Margie. :)
Bacon grease makes the Best popcorn!
I should have been doing this for years. So much better!
Baking bacon in the oven is a thousand times better, isn’t it?!
Makes absolutely perfect bacon every time!!!
Amazing! Glad this bacon method works out perfectly every time.
Doesn’t this make a mess in the oven?
It shouldn’t :)
If its easy and doesn’t create a mess, you’ve got me!
Made perfect bacon. Thanks, Lisa!
Amazing! Glad your bacon turned out perfectly, Jennie.
Great recommendation and worked well for me 17 mins. Note as you say, it continues to crisp up after.
How long can you refrigerate bacon grease?
Happy to hear you got perfectly crispy bacon, Nick! As for the storage of the grease, you can store it for several months in the fridge.
my daughter in law always uses this method when she had all of us for breakfast,
2 Fer!!!!
Beautiful bacon and bacon grease for later!! I use bacon fat for cooking meats and veggies. I use a “cookie sheet” on my cookie pan and pour off the fat.
I usually cook the entire package of bacon! So easy!!
Glad this method worked out great!
Excellent.
Thank you for the recipe. I was tired and didn’t want to go through the whole process of grease splatter, cooking and cleaning the usual way. This was simple and convenient. And I was able to mainly focus on making the eggs to accompany the bacon.
Hi J – I’m glad this method for cooking bacon worked out perfectly!
for some reason with my gas stove, my bacon does not tend to cook well enough on the underside near the parchment. I wonder why