How to Bake Bacon in Oven
There’s something about the smell of bacon in the morning that just feels right! Baked bacon in the oven is a game-changer for those who love this mouthwatering breakfast staple but want to avoid the mess of stovetop frying. It’s incredibly simple, hands-off, and yields perfect results every time. All you need is a sheet pan, some foil, your oven, and of course, your preferred cut of bacon. Use this to make BLTs, on a burger, for baked potatoes, to serve with eggs or your favorite breakfast casserole.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Everyone likes their bacon different. In my house, I like crisp bacon, not too crisp and my husband prefers it tender with crisp edges so I tested this out three ways to help you achieve your preferred level of doneness for:
Less Mess: No mess on the stove after, no standing over the skillet getting splattered Easy: Hands off, so you can prepare the eggs or whatever else you’re cooking alongside the bacon.
How long do you cook bacon in the oven at 400F?
For tender bacon with crisp edges, bake it for approximately 20 minutes. This timing should render bacon that is fully cooked but still pliant, with just the right amount of crispy bite at the edges. Of course, all ovens cook differently, so you may want to keep an eye on it as it gets closer to 20 minutes. For crisp bacon, extend the cooking time to 22 to 23 minutes. The extra couple of minutes in the oven will render out more fat and leave you with completely crispy bacon, yet not overly so. For extra crispy bacon, bake for 25 to 26 minutes. During this time, the bacon will reach a crispiness ideal for those who love a hearty crunch with each bite. Drain and Serve: When the bacon has reached your desired level of doneness, carefully remove the pan from the oven using oven mitts. With tongs, transfer the bacon slices to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease.
Ways to Serve Bacon
Enjoy your oven bacon as part of a complete breakfast or brunch spread, on a BLT sandwich, or as a flavor booster crumbled on a salad or wrapped around meat or veggies. With this simple recipe, you can have perfectly cooked bacon just the way you like it every time. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
Breakfast: Serve a few slices of bacon on the side dish with pancakes, waffles, or french toast. Eggs: Serve with scrambled eggs, cottage cheese eggs or hard boiled eggs. Sandwiches: Use leftover bacon to make a Bacon Egg and Cheese Sandwich on my bagel recipe, or a Turkey Club, or this Bacon Egg Avocado Breakfast Sandwich Vegetables: Spaghetti Squash with Bacon and Parmesan Soup: Crumble it over soup as garnish like this Cheddar Corn Chowder or Navy Bean, Bacon and Spinach Soup Salads: Add to Chopped Wedge Salad, Chopped Salad with Shrimp, Brussels Sprout Salad with Bacon
Storage
Bacon is best eaten straight out of the oven, but if you have leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat bacon in the microwave, oven, or stove until warm and crispy.
More Bacon Recipes You’ll Love
Roasted Butternut Squash with Onions, Bacon, and Parmesan Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Sweet ‘n Spicy BBQ Turkey Meatballs with Bacon Rosemary Chicken Salad with Avocado and Bacon Instant Pot Black Beans
