How to Bake Bacon

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The oven is the best way to cook bacon for a crowd! Learn how to bake bacon to enjoy for breakfast or use in your favorite recipes.

I don’t know about your house, but bacon always has a spot in the fridge at ours. Whether we’re making breakfast tacos, BLTs, or bacon onion dip, we have some ready to go.

One thing I don’t like about bacon is how messy it can be to make. Cooking it on the stovetop often means bacon grease splattering everywhere, so I have to spend the time after breakfast scrubbing down the stove instead of relaxing with my family.

A few years ago I started cooking bacon in the oven, and I’m a convert!

Why cook bacon in the oven?

Baking is the best way to cook bacon for a variety of reasons.

First, you can make a big batch of bacon at one time. I can only fit about four slices onto my frying pan, but I can easily do double or more in the oven. While we don’t always want a lot of bacon at once, I like having it already cooked so we can add it to other recipes!

Second, the bacon cooks evenly, so you don’t have one end that gets burned while the other end is floppy. It’s definitely the best way to get perfect crispy bacon!

Third, the bacon cooks up flat instead of curling, making it ideal for adding to sandwiches and burgers. Flat slices are also easier to chop for adding to salads or using as toppings for things like baked potato soup.

Tips for baking bacon

One thing to keep in mind about learning how to bake bacon in the oven is that the time and oven temperature needed will always depend on the bacon you’re using.

Thick-cut bacon will take longer to cook than thin cut bacon. I also like crispier bacon than my husband, so you might want to cook it for more or less time.

I recommend setting your timer for the lower end of the range and then checking to see if it is cooked to your liking.

Don’t crowd the pan when laying out the bacon. Keeping some space between slices will help it cook more evenly and allow the bacon to crisp.

Be sure to use a rimmed baking sheet, not a flat cookie sheet, in order to catch the accumulated bacon grease. Lining the pan with tin foil will help with cleanup. 

If you like, place a cooling rack on top of the lined baking sheet. This will help air circulate under the bacon, getting it crisped on both sides.

For flavor variations, before baking, spread the bacon slices with maple syrup, brown sugar, cracked pepper, chopped jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or a mixture of your favorites! I love making million dollar bacon in the oven.

How to bake bacon

Turn the oven temp to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with either foil or parchment paper. If using foil, you might need two separate pieces to cover the pan and sides, if your foil is not wider than the baking sheet.

Lay the bacon strips onto the baking sheet in a single layer, using as many strips as you like. Leave a small amount of space between slices.

Depending on the bacon used, you might need a second baking sheet if you want to cook the entire package.

Place bacon in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until cooked to desired crispness. Add more time as needed for your cut of bacon and taste preferences, keeping in mind that bacon firms up slightly more once removed from heat.

Keep an eye on the bacon while it is cooking, as it can go from perfectly crispy to burned quickly. 

Once cooked, remove sheet pan from the oven, and remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess grease.

Serve immediately or store leftover bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for another recipe.

Storage and reheating

Place any leftover cooked bacon in a ziptop bag and remove as much air as possible. Store bacon in the fridge for up to 5 days.

For longer storage, cooked bacon can be stored in the freezer. Wrap pieces in paper towels (portion into desired serving size) and tuck into a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks.

Place the desired number of slices onto a plate and cover with a paper towel. Microwave in 20 second bursts, checking after each interval for doneness.

Or, cook in a hot oven for about 5 minutes.

Uses for leftover baked bacon

Once you have perfectly baked bacon, it won’t be hard to find uses for it. 

I love adding bacon to things like Brussels sprouts to add just a bit of meat to a dish. Bacon is also an excellent addition for meatloaf, roasted potatoes, or in my loaded beer bread.

Chop it for salads, chicken bacon ranch pizza, avocado toast, soups, baked potatoes, or any of your favorite dishes.

Or, simply serve with your favorite breakfast foods, like a Denver omelet or the best popover recipe.

You’ll love how easy it is to make perfectly cooked bacon every time, simply by using the oven!