Crispy Oven Bacon

Tired of dealing with splattering grease and unevenly cooked bacon on the stovetop? Say hello to hassle-free bacon perfection with oven cooking! Simply lay out your bacon strips on a baking sheet, pop it in a preheated oven, and let the magic happen. Enjoy the smoky, delicious goodness of bacon in less than 25 minutes with very little clean up!

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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap "Jump to Recipe" at the top of the page.

Why You’ll Love this Bacon  

• Crispiness: Oven cooking allows the bacon to cook evenly, resulting in a perfectly crispy texture throughout. Increase baking time for extra crispy bacon.
• Ease of Preparation: This method is the most efficient way to cook bacon and requires minimal effort and cleanup compared to traditional stovetop cooking.
• Healthier Option: Bacon cooked in the oven tends to be less greasy as excess grease and bacon fat drips off onto the baking sheet.
• Less Mess: No more cleaning up grease splatters on your stove top from cooking bacon in a frying pan, simply discard the parchment paper or aluminum foil that lines your baking sheet.

What to Serve with Crispy Bacon

Because the bacon is in the oven, you don’t need to stand over it while it cooks, freeing up your time to do other things like Spinach and Ricotta Quiche, Oven Toast, Blueberry Lemon Pancakes, The Best Scrambled Eggs, Perfect French Toast, Sweet Cream Pancakes, or Crispy Waffles.

How to make Crispy Oven Bacon 

[Step 1] Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, line a baking sheet pan  with parchment paper and place the bacon slices on top.

[Step 2] Bake for 18-22 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon and how crisp you it.  I used thick-cut bacon and I like it crispy so 22 minutes was perfect for me.

[Step 3] Use tongs to place the strips of bacon in a single layer on paper towels over a wire rack to absorb the grease and you’re ready to serve. 

Tips for Making Bacon in an Oven

• Use a rimmed baking sheet with edges to contain any grease that may drip off.
• For extra flavor, try brushing your bacon strips with maple syrup or sprinkling them with brown sugar before baking.
• If using a convection oven, reduce the cooking time by 3-5 minutes as it cooks faster than a conventional oven.
• To avoid overcrowding and ensure even cooking, leave some space between each bacon strip on the baking sheet.
• If you prefer a chewier texture, you can decrease the cooking time by a few minutes.
• For thin bacon, be sure to lower the cooking time to 15-20 minutes.

How to Store Leftover Bacon

If you happen to have any leftover slices of bacon (which is rare!), let it cool and store it in an airtight container or resealable bag. You can refrigerate it for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, simply reheat in the microwave for a few seconds or place in a preheated oven for 5-10 minutes until heated through.

Additional Ideas

• Crumble the bacon and add it to your favorite salads or pasta dishes for a delicious crunch.
• Use crispy oven bacon as a topping for homemade pizzas or in place of deli meat in sandwiches.
• Serve alongside your favorite breakfast foods like eggs, pancakes, or waffles for a satisfying morning meal.
• Get creative and incorporate crispy oven bacon into your favorite recipes for a unique twist. The possibilities are endless!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I cook other types of bacon in the oven? Yes, you can use this method to cook any type of bacon, such as turkey bacon. The oven method for cooking bacon works well with thinner bacon, center cut bacon, or thick-sliced bacon.
• Do I need to flip the bacon while it's cooking? No, there is no need to flip the bacon while it's cooking in the oven. The hot air circulation ensures even cooking on both sides.
• Can I make a big batch of bacon using this method? Yes, you can easily cook a lot of bacon in the oven by using multiple baking sheets or baking in batches. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Bacon lovers rejoice, for there is now a simpler and cleaner way to achieve crispy, delicious evenly-cooked bacon without the hassle of stovetop cooking. Give cooking bacon in an oven a try and see for yourself why it's become a popular method for making the perfect bacon and may be the best way to cook bacon! And don't forget to save any leftover grease for adding flavor to your dishes later on!

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