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
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.
I use a sheet pan with foil and a rack. In my oven, it sometimes requires an extra few minutes for crispy bacon. Since there’s just two of us, I cut a pound of bacon in half crosswise, cook half, and freeze the other half. It’s getting harder and harder to find a pound of bacon. Most companies have cut back to 12 oz.
While the bacon cooks, I slice tomatoes and wash the lettuce for BLTs. Perfect!
I have used your method for many years. I adjusted the temperature to 375. First pan for 19-21 minutes. Second pan about 16 minutes. Perfect bacon every time!
Happy to hear this method has worked for so many years now Karen!
18 minutes is way too long at 400° preheated oven. Had burned bacon. Half a package in the trash.
Hi Michael – as mentioned on the post, all ovens cook differently, which is why you need to keep an eye on it. In fact, the comment before yours says the exact opposite. ;)
After 20 minutes I had a tray of rubber. No crisp at all. Put it in a skillet to salvage. Never agsin…
Hi Barb – as mentioned on the post, all ovens cook differently. Just scroll through the comments to see how many people say the exact opposite when it comes to cook time. ;)
This recipe for cooking bacon in the oven is delicious!!! Thanx for sharing!!!
Glad you enjoyed this method Linda!
Hey,
I’m impressed by your ultimate guide. Absolutely amazing work.
Thanks so much! Glad this post was helpful :)
Very easy and turned out perfect. Didn’t have parchment paper so just cooked on pan and rested on paper towels.
I saw on one of the responses that it made a mess of the oven. Does it splatter in the oven should I put a piece of parchment paper over it or protect it with foil Tented?
It shouldn’t splatter at all, just sizzle.
Just tried your way of cooking bacon. I have never used the oven before because I thought it would make a mess. I finished one package, (two cookie sheets with parchment paper), it did not make a mess and the bacon turned out better than when I use my cast iron. Will continue to use this method. Thank you for the “recipe”. :)
This really is the best way to make bacon :)
I turned at the 10 minute mark and by 15 minutes the bacon was literally black and inedible. 18-20 minutes at 400 was WAY too long and ruined our meal!
Unfortunately, all ovens cook differently, and yours may cook hotter than normal. That’s also why I mentioned in the recipe notes to keep an eye on it after the 10 minute mark. For the future, I’d recommend buying an oven thermometer and double-checking the internal temperature of your oven.
Bacon that’s cured with sugar needs to be watched carefully at 400 degrees…Id recommend 325 – 350 degrees for 30 minutes, again watch carefully .
I don’t really see the need to blame someone else for this. I cooked it the same way and it wasn’t over cooked and burned. Your oven probably runs a lot hotter than it says it does. Besides, you didn’t smell the bacon burning or check it occasionally?
This is the ONLY way I’ll make bacon from now on!
My first time ever baking bacon!!!! Thank you Thank you!!!!! Perfect bacon in 20 mins. Minimal clean up too!!!
Glad this method worked out perfectly for you Cindy!
This is exactly how I cook my bacon & it comes out perfect! I used to cook it in a skillet, the way my mother did. I’ve worked in many restaurants and I learned from the chefs to cook it in the oven! Don’t forget to line your pan with parchment paper, it makes cleanup much easier!
I couldn’t agree more!
It doesn’t tell the temperature that you set your oven to
Hi Robert, it says in the first step to preheat your oven to 400F :)
Other than I think I might need to clean my oven now, the bacon was a great success. I’m in Colorado, oven set to 400, and I did check at 10min, 15min, and took it out at 20min. I had two trays–top and middle racks of oven….. Most of the bacon was perfect, a few pieces I might have left in a pan a little bit longer had I been frying them.
All in all, I’m SO glad I finally tried this method.
easiest way to make 2 lbs for my son and grandsons
Glad this method comes in handy!
Instead of parchment paper can you use a silicone baking sheet or does the parchment paper absorb the grease because I know the silicone sheet won’t absorb it.
Yes, you can use a silicone baking sheet!
Awesome thank you!!!
Great idea! Do you know how long we can keep bacon grease in the frig? There are people that keep bacon grease in the cupboard or on the counter. TY
It should keep for several months in the fridge!
This worked really well, no big mess to cook a pound of bacon.
Happy to hear you enjoyed this cooking method Linda!
Been doing this for years, easier, less messy, and I can go read or watch tv while the work is done! I love the consistency of bacon doneness compared to pan fried where it may vary from crisp to soft pliable strips of bacon. I always turn half way thru, move outer pieces in and inner to outer edge. I use non-stick foil, I think it crisps better and quicker (maybe cuz it’s reflective). I put it on baking sheet and up over all edges. When done, if careful, you can just roll up foil, the baking sheet is still clean. I wash them of course but it’s a much quicker wash compared to unlined or parchment lined.
This recipe burned all of my bacon after 20 mins but I’m wondering if it’s my oven or the altitude where I live in Utah? Oh well! I’ll try again next time but be aware of this and check your bacon after 10 mins because the temperature is hot!
Hi Anna – Yes, as I mention in the recipe notes, all ovens cook differently and it’s best to keep an eye on it after the 10 minute mark. At least now you know for next time! :)
Worked great
How long can you store the bacon grease in the refrigerator?
It should keep for about 6 months or so!
Fantastic! I will never cook bacon another way! I was concerned that this would splatter and create a giant mess in my oven, but it did not. The bacon is crisp and not greasy at all. Five stars! Thank you for sharing.
Glad this method was a hit Anne!
Mix a little brown sugar and cayenne together and sprinkle on top of the bacon before putting it in the oven. So good!
Yum! Thank you for sharing. That sounds delicious I’ll have to try!
Thanks Lisa!
Of course! Glad this was helpful.
Thanks awesome tip
Love this idea and I have been using the oven instead of the stovetop for about a year since discovering this method.
Living a Keto lifestyle I eat plenty of bacon! I’ve learned that if I make 1 or 2 pounds at a time I’m able to put it in a Gladware container and freeze it. That way when I want a couple of slices for a salad or with some eggs I just grab them and pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds and they’re fabulous! Super quick and always handy!
First time I tried this and was super simple. Bacon cooked evenly. This is the only way I’m cooking bacon from now on.
Happy to hear your bacon turned out perfectly Chris!
Great tips.
For the first time I cooked bacon in the oven and I absolutely love it. Thanks for sharing
Glad this method was a success Debbie!
I have been cooking bacon in the oven for years, maybe 45 years (?). Truly, I would not have it any other way.
A couple of things worth noting. I use a regular teaspoon and shave off 2 – 3 shavings of the bacon fat after it solidifies. Then to give my dog a treat I put it in her dry food and microwave it for about 30 seconds. Enough to soften it to coat the food. She lives for that.
Another pointer is this. I go to any Dollar Store and pick up a few Turkey roasting pans. Spray a light coating of Pam or whatever I may have. Then cook the bacon in that in the oven. The best tip I gave myself in a long time. The high sides save me a ton of work cleaning after. Simply toss the pan in recycling and move on.
Great tips! Thanks so much for sharing Jim :)
Does it work for thick-cut bacon?
Yes :)
What excellent ideas!!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much for posting the instructions on cooking bacon in the oven Lisa, cooking bacon in it’s own grease on top of the stove is such a pain. I’ll be trying this later today with a 1/2lb. of bacon we need to use up – Dave
This oven method is honestly the best and frees up room on the stove for cooking other things simultaneously :)
It’s never been easier to cook a lot of bacon quickly and without the mess.
Can’t beat this oven method for cooking bacon!
Love bacon cooked in the oven! Little cleanup afterwards! Thanks so much!
Glad this was bacon success!
Thank you Lisa, you saved Mother’s Day breakfast for our household.
Simply instruction…really clean website
Happy to hear this recipe came in handy for Mother’s Day brunch!
Waah! That is very mouth watering bacon. T_T I am tempted to eat bacon again. Thanks for sharing this tuts.
The best, and least messy way to cook bacon :)
I put parchment on top the bacon as well. It seals all the grease in and doesn’t splatter in the oven or when I take it out. I’ve always cooked it in the oven, it’s what my mom did :))
Cook the bacon for 20 min and it wasn’t even close to being done. It took another 1/2 hour.
Hi Dan – If it’s taking you 50 minutes to cook the bacon you might want to check your oven temperature calibration. It definitely shouldn’t take that long.
Bacon thickness has a lot to do with it too. If it’s really thick cut make sure you space them out a tiny bit more on the tray and add time accordingly.
I used to tell my husband, jokingly, that uncooked bacon couldn’t be bought in our town. I hated to fry bacon in a skillet ! Too much mess and I would get splattered regardless of how careful I was. Since discovering oven baked bacon, low and behold, the stores in our town actually do carry uncooked bacon. HaHa. We have precooked oven baked bacon in our fridge all the time now. My husband is so pleased. AND I introduced my mother-in-law to oven baked bacon. She is hooked too ! Sixty-five years of marriage and cooking bacon in a skillet and she’s changed her way of fixing it. Who says a great-grandma can’t learn new tricks ?
Happy to hear this method worked out perfectly Joni! As I always say, there’s always room for learning no matter what age you are :)
Thank you for showing us this way to cook bacon. You deserve ten stars at least! I don’t like the mess stove top and the microwave methods make. It is really a MUST to preheat the oven to 400*, AS YOU STATED, for the best results. My church group will love my bacon tray!
Wonderful! Glad this method worked out perfectly :)
Followed your tutorial this morning with great success. With the stovetop freed up, everything was done at the same time. My family was impressed. Thank you!
Wonderful! Glad this method worked out for you Jess :)
Great!!! Thank you!!!
Thanks for the ideas on storing bacon grease. It makes total sense to use it for flavoring other foods, I just never really thought about it before. Great tip! And the oven cooked bacon was excellent, not to mention, barely any clean up!👍🏼
Glad this turned out perfectly Danielle!
Not sure if I did anything wrong, but bacon was not even partly cooked after 18 minutes at 400 degrees.
Hi Pamela – every oven heats differently, so it may be that your oven cooks at a bit lower temperature. I would bump up the heat just a smidge to maybe 425 and check it at 10 minutes to see how much it has cooked.
Turn up your oven/cook it longer then and give yourself two stars for having no common sense but the time to comment on how this didn’t work out for you lol
The bacon turns out perfect every time!
Glad your bacon turned out perfectly with this recipe!
Best way ever to cook bacon especially as I tended to over fry it in the pan and worse still in the microwave. Don’t miss the clean up one little bit.
One thing I love to do with the bacon fat is to pour into frying pan and once the oil is hot add sliced white bread and fry on both sides…..OMG. Takes me back to my younger days in Scotland when this was a staple on a Sunday.
Wow, that sounds indulgent! Glad this recipe turned out perfectly for you Maggie :)
Wow! The Universe works in mysterious ways! I’m helping my daughter cook for our traditional huge family Easter brunch. When I say huge, I mean HUGE. It fell to me to supply the bacon and I thought, “Great. Hours over a hot stove tending spattering skillets of bacon. I wonder if I could cook it in the oven? Hmmmm”. That’s as far as the thought went. Then, I look at my phone and there’s a message from Downshiftology (which, btw, I just subscribed to yesterday!)….lo and behold: ‘How to fry bacon in the oven’. I thought for a second that I was dreaming but, no, there’s your instructions and at the perfect time!!!! Huzzah and THANK YOU!
Glad this recipe came in handy for your Easter brunch Liz!
I use a broiler pan when my Pampered Chef stoneware broke
I like that it catches the grease, and pretty much eliminates need for any paper towels which is a product I personally don’t care for.
I do like the use of parchment paper on a sturdy cookie sheet
Temp etc same either way
The bacon was great! Thank you so much! How do I store the drippings?
Glad this was a success! I normally just store them in a small jar in the fridge.