How to Cook Bacon in the Oven for Crispy, Even Results

Learn how to cook bacon in the oven so it turns out perfectly crispy—with none of the grease splatter that comes from frying on the stovetop. Oven-baked bacon is simple, consistent, and requires very little cleanup. Bake it directly on foil for extra crispiness or use a wire rack if you prefer less greasy slices.

Ingredients
Instructions
Tips and tricks
How to save bacon grease
Storing and freezing cooked bacon
Recipes with bacon

Why cooking bacon in the oven is great

Cooking bacon in the oven is one of the easiest, most reliable ways to get consistently crispy results. A single baking sheet can hold an entire pound of bacon, so you can make large batches at once without crowding a skillet. The oven provides even heat, which crisps the bacon uniformly and reduces hot spots that can burn or leave some sections undercooked. And because you bake the bacon on a foil-lined rimmed sheet, cleanup is simple and grease splatter across the stovetop is avoided.

Ingredients

Bacon – Choose your favorite style and flavor. Standard cut bacon works with the times below; if using thick-cut bacon, increase the cook time as noted.

Common varieties include applewood, hickory, cherrywood, and other smoked options. This recipe is written for regular (standard) sliced bacon—about 1 pound, which is roughly 14–16 slices depending on the brand.

Instructions

Oven times produce different textures depending on how crispy you like your bacon. For reference, bacon baked at 400°F for 15 minutes will be chewier, while 20 minutes produces a firmer crisp. The guideline below is a reliable starting point—adjust a minute or two to match your preferred doneness.

Preheat the oven.
- Set the oven to 400°F (204°C).
Prepare the baking sheet.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup and to make pouring or straining grease simpler later.
- Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the foil without overlapping. For less greasy bacon, place a wire rack on the foil-lined sheet and lay the slices on the rack.
Bake the bacon.
- Place the sheet in the preheated oven.
- Bake directly on the foil for about 18 minutes for standard-cut bacon, checking around 15 minutes to avoid overcooking. Adjust time as needed for your preferred crispness.
- If using a wire rack, bake for about 25 minutes; a rack allows fat to drip away but results in slightly less crisp texture.
- For thick-cut bacon, increase to about 23 minutes on foil or 30 minutes on a rack, depending on thickness and oven variation.
Drain and cool.
- Use tongs to transfer cooked bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate or a cooling rack to drain excess grease.
- Let the bacon rest a minute or two; it will crisp a bit more as it cools.

Tips and tricks

Always use a rimmed baking sheet. The rim prevents grease from spilling into the oven.
Line the pan with foil to catch grease and simplify cleanup. Fold the foil edges slightly up to help contain the fat.
Parchment paper is an option for lining the pan but it won’t contain liquid grease as reliably as foil.
No need to flip the bacon while baking. The oven’s even heat cooks both sides without turning.
Foil yields the crispiest bacon. A wire rack drains fat for less greasy slices but can reduce crispness and may be harder to clean.
Remove bacon a little before it looks fully done if you prefer a slightly chewy texture; it will firm up as it cools.

How to save bacon grease

Save strained bacon fat to use in place of oil or butter when cooking eggs, sautéing vegetables, or making potatoes. It adds flavor to many savory dishes.

While the fat is still hot and liquid, carefully pour it through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof glass jar.
Once cooled, seal the jar and store it in the refrigerator. Kept cold and covered, bacon grease will keep for several weeks.

Storing and freezing cooked bacon

Cooked bacon stores well and is convenient for meal prep. Use it to top salads, add to sandwiches, fold into casseroles, or reheat with breakfast.

Let bacon cool completely before storing.
Seal in an airtight container or a resealable bag.
Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To store longer, freeze cooked bacon in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen or thaw overnight.

Fresh green beans in bowl topped with bacon crumbles, chopped pecans and blue cheese

Recipes with bacon

Oven-baked bacon pairs well with countless dishes. Here are ideas and favorite recipes that use bacon:

Bacon maple muffins with brown sugar crumble
Sweet potato skins with sage pesto and bacon
Green beans with bacon, pecans, and blue cheese
Chipotle bacon guacamole
Bacon, tomato, and avocado pasta salad
Nutella bacon chocolate chip cookies (sweet and salty treat)
Bacon and avocado grilled cheese
Chopped wedge salad with blue cheese
Loaded mashed potatoes topped with bacon
Cheesy bacon crescent rolls
Breakfast burger or BBQ bacon burger variations

Try candied bacon for a sweet-salty snack: coat strips lightly with brown sugar or maple syrup before baking for a caramelized finish.