Making bacon doesn’t have to be complicated. If you need to feed a group in the morning, oven-baked bacon is an easy, cleaner method that produces consistent results.
If you want a low-mess way to prepare bacon for family breakfasts or gatherings, this guide shows how to cook bacon in the oven for reliably crisp, even strips.
I’m a bit of a bacon enthusiast and have tried many methods. For feeding friends in college or cooking for a crowd at home, the oven method has always been my go-to.
This is one of the best ways to cook bacon: simple, hands-off, and easy to scale up.
Why make oven-baked bacon
Baking bacon in the oven keeps your stovetop clean and produces evenly cooked, crispy bacon without the need to flip pieces. It also lets you prepare a large batch at once, which is perfect for family breakfasts or entertaining.
Follow the steps and tips below for consistently crisp bacon straight from the oven.
What you need to cook bacon in the oven
The essentials are a rimmed sheet pan (or two for larger batches), aluminum foil, and the bacon.
Most standard sheet pans fit around 8–12 strips without overlapping. If you’re cooking for a crowd, use two pans and rotate them halfway through the cook time for even browning.
Line the pans with foil to catch grease and speed up cleanup. Make sure the foil fully covers the pan so it can hold the rendered fat.
Do you need a cooling rack?
You can place bacon on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to let fat drip away and encourage extra crisping. That said, racks can be messy to clean and tend to trap stuck-on bits.
Many people skip the rack and simply lay the bacon directly on foil, then drain and blot cooked strips on paper towels. This yields crisp, tasty bacon without extra cleanup.
Works for regular and thick-cut bacon?
Yes. The oven method works for both regular and thick-cut bacon. The main difference is cook time: thicker slices need a bit longer to reach the desired crispness.
How long to cook bacon in the oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). This temperature cooks bacon quickly while helping prevent burning.
Bake for about 15–25 minutes, checking after 15 minutes. Regular-cut bacon usually crisps in 15–20 minutes; thick-cut often needs 20–25 minutes. Oven types and bacon thickness vary, so monitor closely near the end of cooking.
What to do with bacon grease
Bacon grease should not be poured down the drain. Let it cool and solidify, then discard it in the trash or store it for cooking.
Saved bacon fat adds rich flavor to many dishes. Store strained grease in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator and use it to sautée onions, roast vegetables like Brussels sprouts, or flavor beans and greens.
More gluten-free brunch ideas
- Hash Brown Breakfast Egg Cups
- Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin Bread
- Giant Strawberry Pop Tart (gluten free)
- Easy Cranberry Mimosa
- Gluten-Free Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Other bacon recipes to try
- Goat Cheese Bacon Guacamole
- Cabbage Bacon Fritters
- Bacon and Roasted Bell Pepper Guacamole
- Savory Bacon Mashed Potato Waffles
- Gingerbread Candied Bacon
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Oven-baked bacon is an easy, no-mess method that yields crispy, evenly cooked strips—ideal for feeding a crowd.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 18 pieces
Ingredients
- 1 lb sliced bacon
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
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Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
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Arrange bacon in a single layer without overlapping. Use a second sheet if needed.
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Bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes for regular-cut bacon or 20–25 minutes for thick-cut, until crispy. Check after 15 minutes to avoid burning.
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Drain excess fat and transfer bacon to paper towels to crisp and remove excess grease. Save strained bacon grease if desired.
Notes
Cooking times vary by oven and bacon thickness. Start checking at 15 minutes. Save leftover bacon grease in a jar and refrigerate for later use.
Nutrition
Serving: 18 pieces
| Calories: 60 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 1 g
| Protein: 5 g
| Saturated Fat: 3 g
| Cholesterol: 17 mg
| Sodium: 260 mg
| Calories: 60 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 1 g
| Protein: 5 g
| Saturated Fat: 3 g
| Cholesterol: 17 mg
| Sodium: 260 mg
