Baking bacon in the oven is the easiest way to get perfectly cooked, hands-free bacon. It saves time and stovetop space, crisps the bacon evenly, and eliminates greasy splatter. Best of all, oven-baked bacon stays flatter and won’t curl and shrivel like pan-fried bacon, so you get consistent texture from edge to edge.
When you fry bacon in a skillet, pieces often curl and develop a mix of crunchy and chewy sections. Baking keeps the strips flat as they cook, so the heat distributes more evenly and you avoid rubbery middles or scorched edges.
Want more brunch ideas? Try almond Dutch baby, sweet potato breakfast hash, tater tot breakfast casserole, or a classic Bloody Mary for a full brunch spread.
Why This Recipe Works
- Great for feeding a crowd: you can cook an entire package of bacon at once without juggling pans on the stove.
- Reliable results: baking delivers slow, even cooking, giving you a longer window to reach your preferred crispness.
How to Bake Bacon in the Oven
Step 1.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, covering the entire surface for easier cleanup. Arrange the bacon strips flat on the sheet with minimal to no overlap for the best, most even results.
Step 2.
Bake the bacon 15–20 minutes for regular slices, or 20–25 minutes for thick-cut, until it reaches the level of crispness you like. There’s no need to flip the strips while they cook.
Step 3.
Transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate and let it drain for about 5 minutes before serving. Keep in mind the bacon will continue to brown and crisp slightly as it cools.
Different Baking Techniques
There are several ways to bake bacon depending on your priorities of crispness and cleanup:
- Directly on the baking sheet: places the bacon in direct contact with the hot pan for extra crispness and slightly faster cook time. Cleanup can be messier; lining the sheet with foil helps.
- Wire rack method: elevates the bacon so fat drains away and air circulates for even, 360-degree cooking. This can take a bit longer since the meat isn’t sitting in hot fat. Line the pan underneath with foil to catch drips.
- Parchment-lined baking sheet: my preferred method. Parchment absorbs some rendered fat while still letting the pan’s heat crisp the meat. It balances texture and cleanup and reduces the chance of burning.
Expert Tips
- Choose thick-cut bacon if you prefer meatier slices; thin bacon tends to shrivel more.
- Parchment paper will absorb excess grease and help prevent scorching; foil gives similar protection but may produce slightly crisper bottoms.
- Let bacon rest briefly after baking—carryover heat will continue to crisp and brown it.
- You can bake two trays at once; rotate their positions halfway through and add a few minutes if needed to ensure even cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
At 400°F, expect regular bacon to take about 15–18 minutes and thick-cut bacon about 20–25 minutes. Thickness and oven variability will affect timing, so check toward the end of cooking.
Bake bacon uncovered. Leaving it exposed helps it crisp more effectively and cooks it faster.
A baking sheet lined with parchment paper offers the best balance of crispness and easy cleanup.
More Brunch Recipes
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Breakfast Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Breakfast Skillet Recipe
Shakshuka Recipe
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How to Bake Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick or regular-cut bacon
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Lay bacon flat on the sheet with minimal to no overlap for even cooking.
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Bake 15–20 minutes for regular bacon or 20–25 minutes for thick-cut, until the desired crispness is reached. No flipping needed.
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Remove and let drain on a paper towel–lined plate for about 5 minutes before serving; the bacon will continue to crisp as it cools.
Notes
Thick-cut bacon holds up better and browns more evenly; thin bacon can over-shrink.
Cover the baking sheet with parchment or foil for easier cleanup and to reduce scorching.
Let the bacon rest briefly so excess fat drains and the strips finish crisping.
Nutrition
Calories: 206kcal
Carbohydrates: 0.5g
Protein: 14.1g
Fat: 15.9g
Saturated Fat: 5.2g
Cholesterol: 42mg
Sodium: 878mg
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline.
Additional Info
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