How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Gone are the days of standing over a hot frying pan, full of bacon with grease splattering everywhere! Now, we’ve moved onto simpler (and burn-free) times by cooking bacon in the oven.

This recipe is perfect for all bacon aficionados. Personally, I enjoy crispy bacon, while the boys enjoy a more chewy texture. Regardless of preference, these two methods are tried and true and the only way we cook bacon. After you try it, I’m convinced it will be the same for you!

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Cooking bacon in the oven is simple and mess-free. There are two ways to cooking bacon in the oven: directly on a sheet pan or on a rack, both deliver different textures. This is a great way to meal prep for the week or cook for a crowd.

It’s our favorite way to make bacon to go with our pancakes.

How To Cook Bacon In the Oven

First things first: Choose your bacon! Keep in mind that thicker bacon will take longer to cook and might not yield crispy results as with thinner bacon.

The best advice for cooking bacon in the oven: keep a close watch on the oven! We usually cook our bacon for about 20 minutes, but the timing differs on the kind of bacon we select. Our favorite is Wright Naturally Hickory Smoked.

• Baking Sheet Pan: When cooking bacon directly on the pan, you tend to end up with chewier, limp bacon slices. If that is what you enjoy, then you do you!
• Cooling Rack: On a cooling rack, the oven circulates the air all around the bacon which yields a crispier, perfect-for-BLT product. Make sure that your cooling rack is oven safe!

We have Nordic Ware baking sheets that come with a rack. We love this brand and have found it to be super sturdy and durable. The cooling rack can be used during baking or just for cooling. It’s super handy!

How To Cook Bacon on a Baking Sheet Pan

1. Line your pan with aluminum foil – including the sides of the pan. This will really aid in the clean-up process! You might still have to wash your pan, but no more scrubbing burned bits.
2. Evenly space bacon out on the foil-lined pan. Avoid overlapping for an even cooking process.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, depending on desired crispiness and doneness. If you want a slightly crispier product, place under the broiler for a minute or two, but watch carefully!
4. Immediately transfer cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.
5. Wait until the grease cools, then toss the aluminum foil with the grease. No mess! No draining!

How To Cook Bacon on a Cooling Rack

1. Line the pan with aluminum foil to catch the grease just as the first method.
2. Evenly space bacon on the cooling rack. Don’t overlap!
3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until you reach desired crispiness.
4. Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.

How Long Do You Cook Bacon in the Oven?

It depends on how crispy you like your bacon. We always aim for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

For less crisp, chewy texture, cook for less time but still make sure it is cooked to the safe internal temperature.

Does Bacon Splatter in the Oven?

One of the many perks of this recipe is that there is zero splatter, inside or outside of the oven.

Once the grease has cooled, carefully ball up the foil and toss it in the trash. No draining or funneling into old cans and jars. Clean up is a breeze!

Now, that you have a fresh batch of bacon made, you can inhale every crumb immediately or store it in an airtight container or baggie. When you’re ready, nuke a few slices on a paper towel for about 15-20 seconds, or chop it cold to top a salad!