Oven Baked Bacon – the best way to cook bacon for a crowd!
I use this method all the time since having discovered it years ago when I trying to figure out how to cook bacon for a crowd. It’s so easy and foolproof! And I love that there is no standing by a stove or cleaning up greasy, messy splatter afterwards. If I’m just making a few slices of bacon for my family, I might occasionally still do it in a cast iron pan. But whenever I need to cook up a whole package or two of bacon, this method is my go-to approach. You can cook thick cut or original cut bacon in the oven this way. The fully-cooked bacon you buy at the store just cannot compare to fresh, crispy bacon right out of the oven! We think bacon goes with everything, but if you are planning a large breakfast, it goes especially well with my Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls or my always popular Crepes recipe!
How to make Bacon in Oven
Making Bacon in the Oven: how long to bake bacon at 400
Bacon will take anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes to bake in the oven at 400 degrees F, depending on a number of factors. I know that’s a pretty large window, but this is the part where you have to make a judgment call. The amount of time it takes to cook perfect bacon in the oven depends on both the cut and your own personal preference for the degree of doneness you like in your bacon. The degree of doneness for bacon can be hugely controversial! Some people like it still chewy, while others like it so crispy (almost burnt) that it practically shatters and melts-in-your-mouth. I’m a middle of the road kind of person who likes chewy-crisp bacon, but I recommend erring on the side of chewy since you can always pop the bacon back into the oven and cook it a little longer if it isn’t done enough for your tastes.
Classic or Regular-Cut Bacon: 15 to 25 minutes is a pretty good gauge for how long it will take to cook. Thick-Cut Bacon: Anywhere from 22 to 35 minutes usually covers the broad spectrum of bacon “doneness” except for “burnt”, which can be achieved by going even longer. I feel like that goes without saying, but you never know. Thin-Cut Bacon: If your bacon is super, super thin, you might want to check it starting around 10-12 minutes, just in case, but it will always be done by 20 minutes.
Usually I just set a timer for the shortest amount of time and then start checking it every five minutes until it is done to my family’s preference.
Do you flip bacon in the oven?
If you want the bacon to be evenly crisp on both sides, you will need to flip it partway through baking. But I find that the lazy approach of just letting it bake without fussing about flipping halfway through works pretty much just as well. When the bacon is done to your liking, remove the pan from the oven and transfer the hot bacon using tongs to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease. I always pour off the bacon fat into a container to save for other uses.
Baking Bacon in the Oven on the Rack
You can place a wire rack on the foil-lined baking sheet and lay the bacon out on it that so that the bacon gets extra crispy and the fat can drip off below it. But it’s not my favorite method from a standpoint of flavor and extra cleanup (those cooling racks are no fun to clean!). I prefer letting the bacon sizzle and fry right on the pan in it’s own fat, just like if I was making it on the stovetop.
Why you should try this Oven Baked Bacon Recipe
Meal-prepping! I sometimes use this method in the morning to make more bacon than I know we will need for breakfast just so I have extra bacon on hand for topping baked potatoes, adding to a pasta dish or salad, making BLT’s, or topping hamburgers later in the day. Clean-up is a breeze! Not only is it easier to dispose of the bacon grease with oven baked bacon, but you also don’t have to clean off your stovetop and counters afterwards. The bacon doesn’t even splatter in the oven and I have never felt any need to clean my oven more after making bacon in it than anything else I make in it.
How to store Oven Baked Bacon
We have all been there where we made a little too much bacon and now need to store it. I typically just throw it all in an airtight bag and stick it in the fridge for up to four days. It’s great to have on hand for sandwiches, burgers, soups, baked potatoes, and other recipes.
More recipes for people who love bacon
Red, White, and Blueberry Bacon Burger with Basil Aioli Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich with Kneaders Sauce Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Apples Jalapeno Popper Dip with Bacon Green Beans with Bacon & Pine Nuts Bacon Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
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