Name: How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 strips bacon (see note)

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Oven cooked bacon is our favorite method for cooking tasty and crispy bacon, and you won't ever go back to using a skillet after trying it this way! There's one ingredient and basically no clean-up. Easy peasy.

Try using it in these Easy Egg Muffins for a tasty breakfast.

Why you'll love it

If you haven't tried oven baked bacon, you're missing out! It's way less messy and safer than frying it on the stovetop. It's also great if you want to cook a lot of bacon in one go, and you can also control the crispiness to your liking. You can use any variety you like: thick cut, Applewood smoked, hickory, maple, anything.

We love how hands-off this recipe is. You don't even need to flip the bacon since it'll cook evenly on both sides in the oven. Since you can fit a lot more on a baking tray than in a skillet, this method is perfect for feeding a large crowd for breakfast. We use this recipe on Christmas morning along with this Simple Breakfast Casserole!

How to make bacon in the oven

This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Preheat your oven to 400F, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread the bacon strips evenly directly on the foil without overlapping any of the pieces.
Place in the oven. Depending on the thickness and how crispy you like it, timing can vary. Keep the temperature the same, though. Most bacon will be done within 15 minutes (chewy) to 20 minutes (crispy). It's all personal preference. The important thing is to monitor it. Check how it's doing at the 10-minute mark.
Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Simple!

bacon strips on a plate next to a baking sheet with foil

Do I need to use a wire rack?

Nope! Some recipes for cooking bacon in the oven call for a wire rack by setting it on top of the baking sheet, and we've tested it that way, but I really don't see any major differences in the two methods.
If you want your bacon extra crispy, the wire rack can be helpful, but I like mine to have a little bit of chew to it. Also, laying the strips directly on the foil-lined baking sheet means one fewer thing to clean up.

Leftovers and storage

Cooked bacon will keep for about 5-7 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Just make sure to cool it completely first, and then keep the pieces separate so they don't freeze together and it's easier to get individual portions out.
To reheat, put paper towel on the bottom of a plate and on top of the bacon as well. Microwave in short intervals until it's warmed to your liking.

What to do with leftover fat

If there's enough excess grease on the foil, pour it into a glass container and keep it in the fridge.
It's wonderful on bread instead of butter or mayo, and you can add it to things like roasted veggies instead of olive oil or butter for a burst of savory flavor. It's basically lard.

crispy bacon cooked in the oven (on a baking sheet)

What to serve with it

Everyone has their favorite way to eat bacon, we think a fantastic twist is serving it crumbled on top of Deviled Eggs.
It's great in salads! Try my Avocado Bacon Salad or this Easy Potato Salad with Bacon for a couple of creative ideas.
For something really fun, try this Sriracha Bacon Popcorn.

More bacon recipes to try

If you made this recipe or have any questions, please leave me a comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations and hearing from you.