Learning how to bake bacon in the oven is a game changer. This easy method gives you perfectly crispy strips every time, without grease splatter or standing over the stove.

Close-up of crispy baked bacon showing golden edges and rendered fat after baking bacon in the oven.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Perfectly Cooked Bacon in Oven

Crispy oven-baked bacon is an easy addition to any breakfast or brunch spread, perfect with classics like Belgian waffles and French toast

If you’ve never tried cooking bacon in the oven, it turns perfectly crispy, and keeps grease splatter to a minimum, so you can focus on the rest of your meal. Serve it with savory favorites like scrambled eggs or skillet breakfast potatoes, and even use it as a sweet topping for maple bacon donuts.

Why I Love Cooking Bacon in the Oven

Baking bacon is my go-to method for a few simple reasons:

  • Less mess: The bacon sizzles without grease splattering all over the stovetop.
  • Cooks all at once: Lay the strips on a pan and bake everything in one batch.
  • Extra crispy: Using a cooling rack lets the bacon cook evenly without sitting in grease.
  • Hands-off: No flipping or babysitting. Just bake and move on with the rest of breakfast.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

There are two easy ways to bake bacon in the oven, and the method you choose depends on how crispy you like it.

Raw bacon strips arranged in a single layer on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet before baking in the oven.
  • Bake directly on the pan: Laying the bacon straight on a foil-lined baking sheet creates slightly more tender, chewy bacon since it cooks in its own fat.
  • Bake on a rack: Placing the bacon on a wire rack set over the baking sheet allows the fat to drip away, resulting in lighter, crispier bacon. This is my preferred method.
  • For either method, preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange the bacon in a single layer, either directly on the foil or on a wire rack placed on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness.
  • Once baked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to absorb any excess grease.

How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Most bacon takes 15 to 20 minutes to cook in a 400°F oven, depending on thickness and how crispy you like it.

  • Thin-cut bacon: 12–15 minutes
  • Regular-cut bacon: 15–18 minutes
  • Thick-cut bacon: 18–22 minutes

Start checking a few minutes early, especially with thick-cut bacon or if using a rack. Bacon will continue to crisp slightly as it cools.

Recipe Tips

  • Line your pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up! Sometimes I even add a double layer so that grease doesn’t seep through.
  • To make extra crispy bacon slices, cook on top of a cooling rack. It results in a lighter, crispier texture.
  • Using tongs, transfer cooked bacon strips to a plate lined with paper towels. This helps absorb any extra grease.
  • Store any leftover bacon in a zip top bag or airtight container and place in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Crispy oven-baked bacon draining on a paper towel after cooking bacon in the oven.

Here are some recipes to use bacon in! Try bacon ranch deviled eggs, broccoli salad with bacon or BLT pizza!

More Recipes that Use Bacon

Crispy oven-baked bacon draining on a paper towel after cooking bacon in the oven.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

5 from 8 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10
Learning how to bake bacon in the oven is a game changer. This easy method gives you perfectly crispy strips every time, without grease splatter or standing over the stove.
Print Pin This! Rate

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound thick cut bacon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil. If you prefer crispy bacon, place a wire rack on top of the foil. 
  • Lay the strips of the bacon in a single layer. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until bacon has reached desired crispness. 
  • Line a plate with a paper towel. Then transfer the bacon with tongs to the plate to absorb any extra grease. 

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

To cook bacon on the stove: Cook bacon low and slow in a cold skillet, turning occasionally until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel–lined plate.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal, Protein: 5g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 300mg, Potassium: 89mg, Vitamin A: 15IU, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

FAQs

Can I save leftover bacon grease?

Yes! Carefully pour the warm bacon grease from the pan into a heat-safe glass jar and store it in the refrigerator. Rendered bacon grease is great for searing meat, sautéing vegetables, or anywhere you’d normally use butter or oil.

What type of bacon works best in the oven?

Center-cut and thick-cut bacon are my go-to choices, but any type of bacon can be cooked in the oven. Just keep in mind that thicker bacon may need a few extra minutes to crisp.

How much bacon can I cook at once?

This depends on the size of your baking sheet and whether you’re using a wire rack. Most standard pans can hold a full 12-ounce package, and sometimes up to 16 ounces if you’re baking directly on foil. Just be sure the bacon is laid in a single layer without overlapping so it cooks evenly and crisps properly.