Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe (VIDEO)
Learn how to cook bacon in the oven for perfectly crispy bacon. Baked bacon is so easy since there’s no need to flip it and you don’t need a wire rack. Using a baking sheet allows you to make a big batch for a crowd and it’s hands-free so you can work on the rest of your breakfast menu while the bacon sizzles in the oven.
Bacon makes everything better from Cobb Salad to Omelettes and Burgers. If you are a bacon lover this Oven-baked bacon recipe is a must-try and it’s perfect for regular or thick-sliced bacon.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Why you’ll love Baked Bacon
Bacon is at the top of our family’s favorite foods list and half of the bacon is eaten before it ever gets to the table with all the ‘sampling’ going on. This is my favorite method for cooking bacon and here’s why:
- Stays flat – unlike stovetop methods, the bacon will stay relatively flat without curling in the oven.
- Clean – you won’t mess up your stove with oil splatter and if you cut your parchment paper to size, you probably can just toss your parchment paper and don’t have to wash your baking sheet either.
- Convenient -You don’t need to flip or babysit the bacon so you are free to multi-task
- Big Batch – perfect for cooking bacon for a crowd
Baked Bacon Video
Watch Natasha bake bacon in the oven and stay tuned till the end to see how you can use those pan drippings. You will be surprised at how easy this is. Now go forth and bake some bacon.
How to buy the best bacon
There are so many options and types of bacon, it can be overwhelming. You may not have something available that checks all these boxes, but you can pick better quality bacon. Here’s what to look for:
- Uncured (bacon without sodium nitrate added to it)
- Ingredients – bacon should have a small list of ingredients that you can easily understand.
- Center-cut – has 25-30% less fat at the ends
- Humanely raised or certified humane
- USDA Organic – ensures non-GMO feed
Pro Tip: When looking at the ingredient list, try to avoid bacon containing sodium phosphates (preservatives), sodium nitrite, nitrates, and processed sugar.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
- Arrange bacon slices so they are touching but not overlapping.
- Bake Regular cut bacon for 15-20 minutes and thick-cut bacon for 20-30 minutes, or to your desired crispiness
- Transfer bacon from the baking sheet to a paper-towel-lined plate and serve.
Pro Tip: Keep the rendered pork fat (especially if you have high-quality bacon). Use it for making Hash Browns or Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Let the bacon grease cool for 10 minutes then pour it into a container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Common Questions
A rack is not necessary and we prefer not to use a rack. Bacon can stick to a rack even if it’s non-stick and it doesn’t brown and crisp as well since it isn’t cooking in its own fat. You’ll have prettier bacon without a rack.
We prefer using parchment paper, but you can use foil if that is what you have on hand.
You can double the amount of bacon and bake 2 baking sheets at a time on 2 separate racks, just be sure to rotate the baking sheets halfway for even baking.
Absolutely! We have a tutorial for Air Fryer Bacon and it’s faster, but you will have to air fry in smaller batches.
A half sheet will fit 12 ounces of thin-sliced bacon or 16 ounces of thick-sliced bacon. Make sure you don’t overlap your bacon slices or they will stick together. They can be touching, but not overlapping.
Pro Tip: Use a heavy-duty baking sheet that won’t warp in the oven. These are extra-thick aluminum pans and the types used in a commercial kitchen.
To store Baked Bacon
- To Refrigerate: Let bacon drain on paper towels then cool completely to room temperature. Transfer to a zip-top bag, remove excess air and refrigerate for 4-5 days.
- To Reheat: You can re-crisp bacon on a skillet, in the oven, or in an air fryer. I don’t recommend reheating in the microwave because it gets chewy and rubbery.
Oven baked bacon is the most efficient way to cook up a bigger batch of bacon. We love this method for a lazy Saturday morning, paired with our fluffy Scrambled Eggs and sliced avocado for the perfect breakfast.
Recipes with Bacon
These are our favorite ways to serve crispy baked bacon. Let me know your favorite things to make with oven baked bacon in the comments.
Oven Baked Bacon Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz regular sliced bacon, or 16 oz thick-sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a half sheet rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange slices so they are touching but not overlapping.
- Bake regular cut bacon for 15-20 minutes or thick-cut bacon for 20-28 minutes. Timing varies depending on the fat content in the bacon and your desired crispiness. If baking 2 baking sheets at a time, rotate the baking sheets halfway.
- Use tongs to remove bacon from the baking sheet and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Uncured bacon still contains celery powder which is the exact same thing as sodium nitrate. And it is a myth that sodium nitrate is harmful other than when you burn it. Just like it’s a myth that bacon causes high cholesterol, etc. Bacon is basically a super food and very delicious!
Thank you for sharing that, Bryan!
Have seen on internet to dust back slices in flour first. Makes very crisp bacon. Tried it…great
Thank you for sharing, Judy! 🙂
Natasha, I love bacon, but suffer from high BP which sodium is an issue & also on blood thinners. Is there an alternative to bacon? Thanks, and love your recipes…..
Hi Amanda, I haven’t tried any substitutes to advise.
Amada, salt + high blood pressure is a myth. What you want to do is eat more of this stuff and eat less of the food that is very low nutrient foods like bread, pasta, high carb foods. Remember, your doctor wants you to come back, he wants you on BP medication, that’s how he makes a good living. Salt is very important part of our diets, it’s an electrolyte. #EatMoreBacon
THANK YOU!! My husband said this is the only way we are going to make bacon from now on…all I need to say! : )
That’s wonderful! 🙂
which bacon brand do you use?
i am interested in making this but would like to know which brand you used. it looks really good.
Hi Cindy! I don’t use a specific brand, just uncured (bacon without sodium nitrate added to it).
I’m apologize, I forgot my five star rating for the oven bacon!
Have a wonderful day❤️
Hi Natasha!
This was so perfect!!! No mess, no grease and cooked to perfection. Can’t believe I’ve been using a skillet to cook bacon all my life.
I love every recipe you post❤️
Cheers
So glad to hear that, Jackie. Thank you for sharing.
I love your cooking. The flavour of the food is always top notch. Found it hilarious when watching your cooking bacon video and you drank what I thought was the bacon fat!!! Especially when you also swirled it in your mouth. Very funny
Thank you, Mari! So glad you enjoy my recipes. I’m happy that I could make you laugh 🙂
Wanted to comment on your cooking bacon in the oven!
I have found a better way to heat cooked bacon for breakfast!
I put cooked bacon in ss flat container and just turn my toaster oven on 400 degrees bake and just leave in till it sizzles and normally turn it one time and then turn toaster oven off! It makes it like freshly cooked bacon!
I had been reheating in microwave but microwave makes it tough! This method is so much better!
Thanks for sharing your tips, Kay!
i am so sorry for your country i know ukraine will win your brave solders are willing to die for your country.. i love your recipes
Thank you Joe!
Game changer! Baked bacon is a big break-through. Easy cleaning, no oil splashes to clean, crisp and straight like restaurant-quality!
Thanks for the awesome feedback!
Ohmygoodness! I love bacon but can’t stand the mess on the stovetop. This recipe is perfect!! I wish I knew about it sooner. I will never fry my bacon again! 🥓 🎉 💯
I’m glad you found this recipe!
Thanks for the recipes but could you add fahrenheit to celsius in them
Natasha I have been making my bacon in the over I love it ! No mess and I actually keep it in the refrigerator and keep it in there for at least 3 weeks for when I might need it I would never go back to the stove top
Isn’t that the best! I love that bacon lasts in the fridge! I’m glad to hear you’re also making it in the oven.
Please help. I tried this once and the entire inside of my oven was covered in bacon grease. The bacon splattered grease everywhere inside the oven. It was an awful mess. Where did I go wrong?
Hi Lourdes, I have not had this experience but some of my other readers are recommending using a parchment paper on top of the bacon to reduce the splatter in the future.
The only way to cook bacon!! I don’t pre-heat the oven I put the prepared bacon in a cold 400 degree oven. Works prefect!!
Thank you for sharing, Sandy. 🙂
Do you cover the top of the bacon with another sheet of parchment? I would love to try baking it but I don’t want my oven to be all greasy from the splatter…
Sounds so yummy! What do you do about the inevitable bacon splatter?
Hi Betty, I have not had this issue but some of my readers are recommending putting a parchment paper on top to reduce the splatter.
Oven Baked Bacon, great idea! It was easy, clean and bacon was perfect. Love your ideas. Thanks
You’re very welcome! Thank you, Susan!
This sounds really good.
However, Doesn’t the bacon throw grease all over the oven?
This hasn’t been an issue for me but some of my readers are recommending putting a piece of parchment paper on top of the bacon to reduce the splatter.
Or just throw them into the airfryer at 200 Celsius and adjust the time for degree of crispness.
My husband considers himself a masterchef everytime he makes bacon in the airfryer. 😂
That’s great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Genius! Love cooking bacon in the oven to free up the cooktop! We eat a lot of bacon in our house because we had to cut out onions & garlic due to a low FODMAP lifestyle. Bacon helps to bring flavor back into our foods! Love the tips & tricks here!
I’m happy to help! Thank you for sharing, Betsy!
The easiest way to make bacon! This turned out so good and is so much easier than on the stovetop!
Thanks for sharing, Eden!
I love the bacon cooked in the oven. Thanks Natasha. Love all your recipes. Yum
I’m so glad you love our recipes. Thank you for the wonderful feedback and I agree bacon in the oven is the best method. So easy and mess free.
This is the BEST way to make bacon! Comes out perfectly crispy every time.
Yes! I love my bacon crispy with most of the fat rendered and this uniformly crisps up every piece.
can put brown sugar on each slice to make candy bacon but have to watch it so it doesn’t burn also can put red pepper flakes
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Shirley! I hope you try this recipe soon!
Natasha, I have also put the bacon 🥓 on the grill, and they come out fantastic 👍
Yum! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Natasha I have been making my bacon in the over I love it ! No mess and I actually keep it in the refrigerator and keep it in there for at least 3 weeks for when I might need it I would never go back to the stove top
That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.