How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Making bacon doesn't have to be difficult. If you're looking to feed a bunch of people in the morning, you'll want to know how to cook bacon in the oven. It's an easier and cleaner way to make bacon!
Making bacon doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re looking to feed a bunch of people in the morning, you’ll want to know how to cook bacon in the oven. It’s an easier and cleaner way to make bacon!
A plate covered with a paper towel and bacon straight fro the oven.
Are you looking for an easier way to make bacon in the morning for your family without all the mess? I’m going to show you how to cook bacon in the oven!

I’m a bit of a self-proclaimed bacon enthusiast.
In college, we’d buy packs of bacon for our late night after bar snacking. Whenever my friends would find a sale on bacon at the local grocery store we’d all stock up!
So trust me when I say… this is the BEST way to cook bacon!

Why you should make oven baked bacon

It’s so much cleaner than cooking bacon on the stovetop and results in the perfect bacon every time! No more messy stovetops or unevenly cooked bacon. Plus, you can make a big batch at a time to feed a crowd!
Follow these tips to making perfectly crispy bacon in the oven every time. Trust me, you won’t want to make bacon any other way!
A baking sheet covered with aluminum foil and topped with bacon ready to be baked in the oven.

What do you need to cook bacon in the oven

All you need to make your bacon in the oven is a sheet pan (or two), aluminum foil, and your bacon.
I can normally fit about 10 pieces of bacon on my sheet pan, so if you’re feeding a crowd you’ll want two baking sheets. Just rotate the pans half way through to ensure even baking.
Cover the baking sheets with aluminum foil for easy clean-up. I like to make sure that the entire pan is covered in foil so that it can hold all of the bacon grease.

Don’t I need a cooling rack to bake bacon in the oven?

Well, you certainly could use a cooling rack to make your bacon. The idea there is that the rack lifts the bacon off the pan and results in crispy bacon.
Which is true. However, I find a big issue with this. I DO NOT want to clean that cooling rack after it’s used. It’s greasy, messy, and has stuck on bacon bits. No thanks.
So, I don’t use a cooling rack. Not to worry though, my bacon turns out crispy as can be after cooling on a paper towel for a few minutes!

Does this baking method work for both regular and thick cut bacon?

Yes, it does! You’ll just need to adjust your cook time depending on the thickness of your bacon.
Thick cut bacon will take longer to cook that regular bacon.
A baking sheet with cooked bacon straight fro the oven.

How long to cook bacon in the oven

The amount of time that you cook the bacon in the oven for depends on the thickness of your bacon. I like to set my oven to 400F, which helps cook the bacon quickly without burning it.
Bake the bacon for about 15-25 minutes at 400F, checking often after the 15-minute mark to make sure your bacon does not burn. All ovens are different which may vary the cooking time.
Regular bacon typically takes 15-20 minutes, whereas thick cut bacon tends to take 20-25 minutes.

What to do with bacon grease

Bacon grease is one of those magical things that is hard to dispose of.
Bacon grease is not something you want to pour down your kitchen sink drain. You definitely don’t want your drains to get clogged with fats!
If you want to dispose of hot bacon grease, first let it cool and solidify. Then, you can throw it in the garbage.
However, don’t let that bacon grease go to waste! You can use it for cooking, giving your food a delicious flavor. My favorite foods to cook in leftover bacon fat are onions, brussels sprouts, and green beans.
You can keep the bacon fat in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
Baked bacon straight from the oven on a plate.

Looking for more gluten free brunch ideas for a crowd? Try these recipes!

Love bacon? Then these gluten free bacon recipes are for you!

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Making bacon doesn't have to be difficult. If you're looking to feed a bunch of people in the morning, you'll want to know how to cook bacon in the oven. It's an easier and cleaner way to make bacon!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 18 pieces
Calories: 60kcal
Author: Megan

Ingredients

  • 1 lb sliced bacon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • Place the bacon strips in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. Use two baking sheets if need be.
  • Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes for regular-cut bacon and 20-25 minutes for thick-cut bacon, or until bacon is crispy.
  • Drain off the excess fat and save for later use.

Notes

1. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven and the thickness of your bacon. Start checking the bacon at the 15-minute mark to make sure your bacon does not burn.
2. Save the leftover bacon grease in a jar to use for later cooking!

Nutrition

Serving: 18pieces | Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 260mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ADashofMegnut or tag #adashofmegnut!

A baking sheet with cooked bacon from the oven.

about megan

I’m Megan

A gluten-free food blogger from Chicago and lover of all things food, showing you gluten-free can be easy and delicious, too. Let’s make gluten-free stress free together! Read more…

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