How to Cook Bacon in the Oven (Easy & Delicious)

When it comes to perfectly cooked bacon, you can’t go wrong with cooking bacon in the oven. With just 5 steps this recipe is incredibly easy and practically mess free. Once you try cooking bacon in the oven you’ll never go back to bacon splatter on the stove top again. Create perfectly crispy and delicious bacon in the oven every time! 

If you've never had bacon from our pasture raised, grass fed and finished pork you'll be amazed at the rich flavor, perfect texture and melt-in-your-mouth fatty goodness. Much lighter than conventional bacon and higher in healthy fats.

Shop Pasture-Raised, Grass Fed & Finished Thick Cut Bacon (sugar free)

Tips & Tricks to Cook the Most Perfect Bacon

Mess free cooking: Use a rimmed baking sheet and place parchment paper so it hangs over the sides of the tray. You don’t have to use parchment paper but then it makes for a greasy and messy clean up.  
Don’t crowd: It may seem tempting to overlap bacon on the tray but it cooks more evenly in a single layer side by side. If some slices are overlapped, that bacon may be undercooked while the bacon on top is ready to be taken out.  
Bake at 400 degrees: Whether you’re cooking thick or thin bacon this oven temperature works well for both. However, the time will change depending on the thickness and ultimately your oven. We like to give a 15 to 25 minute range to cook bacon or until it’s at your desired chewiness or crispiness. Remember to check the oven around 10 minutes.  
Tilt bacon tray to drain fat: After removing bacon from the oven, tilt the sheet tray so the bacon fat pools to one side of the tray. We like to put an oven mitt under the sheet tray so it’s at an angle to help the bacon fat drain down to the bottom. If any bacon slices are getting submerged in the bacon fat we usually push the bacon up. It’s very common to remove the bacon from the sheet tray and place on paper towels to soak up any fat before serving. However, we don’t like wasting paper towels so we love just tilting the tray to drain the fat. 

What to Do with Bacon Grease? Save It and Use It!

Bacon fat or grease has a rich smoky flavor and it can be used for baking, roasting vegetables, or even a dressing base. Basically, it's similar in texture to butter that's produced by slow cooking bacon in the oven or on the stove! It becomes semi solid at room temperature but it's best to store in the fridge. 

5 Ways To Use Bacon Grease

1. Sauté everything from vegetables to proteins.
2. Amp up the flavor in homemade vinaigrette dressings or gravy.
3. Add a few tablespoons to your baked goods like breads, pie crust or cookies.
4. Swap out butter for bacon grease in mashed potatoes or even grilled cheese.
5. Fry or scramble eggs in bacon grease.

How To Perfectly Cook Bacon in the Oven - 5 Steps

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15-25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Serving: 10-12 pieces thick cut or 14-16 thin cut*

Ingredients 
1 lb bacon (10-12 thick slices or 14-16 thin slices)

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
3. Lay the bacon slices side by side in a single layer on the baking tray. Do not overlap bacon. 
4. Cook the bacon for 15 to 25 minutes or until it’s at your desired chewiness or crispiness. Time will depend on the bacon thickness and your oven. About halfway through cooking, make sure to check on the bacon as every oven cooks differently. Bacon can go from chewy to burnt in a matter of minutes.  
5. After removing bacon from the oven, tilt the sheet tray so the bacon fat pools to one side of the tray. We like to put an oven mitt under the sheet tray so it’s at an angle to help the bacon fat drain down to the bottom. If any bacon slices are getting submerged in the bacon fat we usually push the bacon up. It’s very common to remove the bacon from the sheet tray and place on paper towels to soak up any fat before serving. However, we don’t like wasting paper towels so we love just tilting the tray to drain the fat. Let the bacon sit on the sheet tray for a few minutes and then enjoy!
Store leftover bacon in an airtight container. 

Optional: Save Bacon Fat/Grease: If you’re planning on saving the bacon grease, store in a glass container for future use in the fridge. To get clean grease, line a fine mesh sieve with a cloth or paper towel and place over a glass container. Slowly pour or spoon the bacon grease into the sieve. Cover the container and place in the fridge. Personally, we never strain our grease, as we don’t mind having bits of bacon mixed in but it’s up to you! Plus, with no straining we have less things to clean. 

*Please note: If using thin cut bacon it will not all fit on one sheet tray. Must make in multiple batches.