Enjoy this crispy bacon with Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, and Orange Juice Smoothies.
Oven Baked Bacon
Can we all agree that bacon is the best?! It’s one of our favorite breakfast sides. When I first learned how to make bacon in the oven, my mind almost exploded. OF COURSE! It is so obvious! Why would you do it any other way?? It’s the easiest, quickest, and cleanest way to cook bacon. Cooking bacon on the stove is SO messy. The bacon grease gets everywhere – on the counters, on the floor, and on you! Skip this all together by baking the bacon in the oven.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Cooking this oven bacon recipe also frees up space on the stove. This is great when you’re cooking a big breakfast and need room to make Pancakes, eggs, and Sausage. Just put it in the oven, set the timer, and forget about it until it’s done cooking. PREP. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil (optional, but allows for easy cleanup), and lay out the desired number of bacon slices. BAKE. Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until it’s cooked to your level of crispiness. It will cook perfectly on both sides, no need to flip it! Alternative oven temperatures:
375°F for 20 minutes 425°F for 15 minutes 450°F for 12 minutes
Air fryer bacon
Air fryer bacon is another way to keep a splatter-free kitchen, though these will not be big batches. Set the air fryer to 350°F. For regular-cut bacon, fry for 7-9 minutes. For thick-cut bacon, fry for 9-12 minutes.
Bacon Cooking Tips
Oven bacon is quick, simple, and so crispy! I also love the easy cleanup. Thick or thin. Depending on the cut, the cooking time may need to be adjusted. Keep an eye on it every few minutes toward the end. Easy cleanup. Using a foil-lined baking sheet marked for easy cleanup. Let the bacon oil cool, and toss the foil. Then wash the pan with soap and water to get rid of any lingering oils. Splattering oil. Sometimes a thicker cut will produce more grease and splatter. Place the pan in the lower third of the oven, and put a sheet of foil under the bacon. If it is still splattering, lay a sheet of foil on top, but remove it for the last 5 minutes of cooking so the bacon can get perfectly crispy. Draining. Place cooked bacon on wire racks or a paper towel-lined plate or sheet pan and allow the extra grease to drip off. Large batches. Overlapping the strips of bacon can cause the bacon not to crisp up as well, a single layer works best.
To cook a large batch of bacon, overlap the strips just a little. Use tongs to separate and flip the strips during the baking time to ensure all sides are cooked and crispy.
Flavor. This recipe is tailored to pork bacon and may not work when using other types. We love to use hickory smoked or applewood pork bacon.
Add extra flavor to the bacon by seasoning the slices before they go into the oven. Some good bacon flavors are black pepper, sriracha, honey, maple syrup, garlic, chili powder, and brown sugar.
Serving suggestions. Try pairing bacon in the oven with scrambled eggs, hash browns, and a smoothie or your favorite breakfast options!
Storing Info
STORE uncooked bacon. An unopened package of uncooked bacon can last in the fridge for 2 weeks or in the freezer for 8 months. If the package has been opened the storage time shortens to 5-7 days in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer. STORE cooked oven bacon. Leftover baked bacon recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or in the freezer for 4-6 months. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep them crispy. The cooked bacon can be used to add flavor to almost any dish!
For Recipes That Use Cooked Bacon, Try:
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bacon Pancakes Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls Bacon Potato Corn Chowder Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
