How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Learn how to cook bacon in the oven with these simple tips and tricks! You’ll love this no fuss cooking method with easy clean up. Perfectly crispy, chewy and delicious bacon every time!

Crispy Oven Baked Bacon

I’m a huge breakfast fan and look forward to it every weekend. And of course crispy bacon is always on the menu. You just can’t beat it! Some of our favorite breakfast recipes to serve with it include German pancakes, waffles, breakfast burritos, french toast and skillet breakfast potatoes.

Bacon is one of those foods that makes everyone happy. Give me a slice of crispy bacon with a big stack of pancakes and I’m in heaven. In America, we’ve been known to use it in almost every meal from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even desserts like these maple bacon donuts. Delicious!

If you’ve never tried cooking it in the oven, it’s SO easy and way less messy! The bacon gets perfectly crispy and there’s no oil splattered everywhere. It also helps contain the smell a little bit. That’s a win in my book!

I still cook it on the stove from time to time, so I included the stove top instructions below as well. You’ll end up with a crispy and delicious result either way you cook it, so it really just comes down to preference.

Why Should I Cook it in the Oven?

In my opinion, baking bacon is the way to go! Below are my top reasons why:

• Less mess! No splattering or oil getting everywhere. It will sizzle instead of splatter.
• Cooks all at once. Instead of cooking in batches, you can line it up on your pan and cook it all at once!
• It’s crispier. If you cook your bacon on a cooling rack, it won’t cook in it’s grease and will get super crispy and light.
• You can multitask! No need to wait in front of the stove to flip it. Pop it in the oven, go do something else and come back in 15 minutes!

Cooking Bacon in the Oven

When baking bacon, there are 2 simple methods: 1.) straight on the baking pan or 2.) on top of a rack. The method that you use will depend on how crispy you like it.

• Cooking directly on baking sheet: When cooked directly on the baking sheet, it will come out a little more tender and chewy since it was able to cook directly in the fat.
• Cooking on the cooling rack: When cooked on top of the cooling rack, it results in a more lighter, crispier texture (which is what I prefer).

For both methods, simply preheat oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with foil. Either place the strips directly on foil or place on wire rack on top of foil, then lay in a single layer and bake for 15-20 minutes (or until desired level of crispiness is reached).

How to Cook Bacon on the Stove

Cooking bacon in the skillet is really simple, just a little more messy. :)

1. Start with a cold skillet. Place 6-8 strips onto the pan.
2. Cook on medium-low heat. Low and slow is the key.
3. Turn occasionally to evenly cook both sides.
4. When it has reached desired crispiness, transfer to a paper towel lined plate.

Helpful Tips

• Line your pan with foil for easy cleanup! Sometimes I even add a double layer so that grease doesn’t seep through.
• To make extra crispy, cook on top of a cooling rack. It results in a lighter, crispier texture.
• Using tongs, transfer cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. This helps absorb any extra grease.
• Store any leftovers in a zip top bag and place in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Save your grease! It makes a great cooking fat and adds wonderful flavor. Simply pour it in a jar and store in fridge until ready to use.

More Bacon Recipes

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!