Crispy, Mess-Free Bacon That’s Perfect Every Time

Cooking bacon in the oven is the easiest, mess-free way to make a full pound of perfectly crisp, golden slices. No splatter, no flipping, just hands-off, evenly cooked bacon every time.

Flavor: Oven cooking melts fat slowly for rich, savory flavor and a perfect crispy bite. Skill Level: Foolproof! Even beginners can master this. Prep Note: I line the pan with parchment paper or heavy-duty foil for easy clean-up. Recommended Tools: There is no need to babysit or flip bacon over; simply bake in a rimmed pan. Serving Suggestions: Serve it for breakfast, add it to a BLT sandwich or burger, or crumble it over a salad. Choose the Best Bacon! American Bacon is the most common type of bacon, which is strips of pork belly. Flavored bacon (like maple or peppered) is great oven-baked, too. Thick-Cut Bacon works well in the oven. This bacon is cut about ⅛” thick, so it will need a bit more time. Turkey Bacon is a bit leaner and requires less cooking time in the oven to ensure it doesn’t dry out. American Bacon: Cook for 12-18 minutes, check it early as thinner slices cook faster. Thick-Cut Bacon: Cook for 20 minutes or as needed. Extra-thick bacon may need to be flipped and cooked for a few extra minutes. Turkey Bacon: Cook for 11-13 minutes. Holly’s Pro Tips While you can use a wire rack or cooling rack on the sheet pan, I prefer to bake the bacon slices directly on the baking pan. It will crisp nicely as it bakes in its own fat. Arrange the bacon in a single layer, without overlapping, for even cooking. For a big batch, use two baking sheets, rotate them halfway through, and add a few minutes to the cooking time. Adjust cooking time slightly based on your desired level of crispiness.

Bacon grease can be used as a substitute for butter or oil in recipes to add a boost of flavor, and is great for fried or scrambled eggs.

If you’d like to save the bacon grease, allow it to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before transferring it into a jar.

Storage

Leftover bacon can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. You can use bacon right from frozen; it thaws in minutes.

Easy Breakfast Favorites

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How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Follow this easy recipe to cook perfectly golden-crispy bacon every time!

Cook Time 18 minutes minutes

Total Time 18 minutes minutes

Preheat the oven to 400°F. If desired, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared pan.

Bake for 12 minutes. Check on the bacon and continue cooking for an additional 6 to 8 minutes* or as needed until crisp. Thick-cut bacon will need extra time.

Use tongs to transfer the bacon strips to a paper towel-lined plate.

 If desired, allow the bacon fat to cool for 10 minutes and reserve in a jar for cooking.

*Be sure to check the bacon early. Cooking time can vary based on the pan used as well as the brand of bacon. Store brand bacon is often cut very thin and can sometimes cook faster than national brands. Check it early! For easy cleanup, line a rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before adding the strips of bacon. No baking rack is required. Ensure the bacon slices are in a single layer, overlapping pieces won’t crisp as well. If you’re making larger batches of bacon, use two pans and switch the placement of the pans after about 10 minutes. You may need to add a few minutes of cooking time. Keep leftover bacon in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven, in the microwave, or the air fryer.

Calories: 230 | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 109mg | Vitamin A: 20IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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