Forget the stovetop mess; we’re talking oven-baked bacon that’s crispy, delicious, and hassle-free. This is the best bacon hack you didn’t know you needed. It’s great for breakfast or making your BLT more delicious.
I have been using this recipe for years. There were a lot of changes, but I think I’ve found the best way to bake bacon now. Why would you want to make bacon in the oven? Oh, so many reasons. But my favorite reason is that it gives me time to work on other things, like eggs or toast.
Like I mentioned above, I have been working on this method for cooking bacon for years. Here are the steps I take to make sure my bacon is always perfect, and you can do the same!
If you love bacon that’s crispy and evenly cooked, baking it in the oven is a foolproof method When using an oven temperature of 450°F, you can achieve bacon perfection in around 15-20 minutes
Read on to learn everything you need to know about cooking bacon at 450°F for irresistible, crispy results every time.
Benefits of Baking vs Frying Bacon
While frying bacon in a pan is the traditional method, switching to baking it in the oven offers many advantages:
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More consistent results – Oven heat surrounds the bacon evenly so it cooks and crisps uniformly.
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Less messy – Contains splatter and grease in the oven instead of all over your stovetop
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Allows batch cooking – You can bake a pound of bacon all at once
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Requires less monitoring – Set it and forget it once it’s in the oven.
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Still gets crispy – The hot dry air results in crispy texture without the need to flip.
Baking eliminates many of the frustrations that come with frying bacon on the stovetop. Now let’s look closer at using 450°F for perfect results.
Why Bake Bacon at 450°F
Cooking bacon at a high temperature like 450°F speeds up cook time. The hotter oven temperature helps:
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Cook the bacon faster – Around 15-20 minutes total time.
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Crisp up the fat – Rendering it into crunchy, tasty goodness.
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Brown the meat – Giving it that characteristic bacon flavor.
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Kill bacteria – High heat eliminates risks of undercooked pork.
You still need to watch closely at the end to prevent burning. But in less than 20 minutes, you can have a batch of piping hot, crispy bacon straight from the oven.
Choosing the Right Bakeware
To bake bacon in the oven, you have two good options for bakeware:
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Rimmed Baking Sheet – Use one lined with foil for easy cleanup.
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Wire Rack – Sit this over a foil-lined pan to allow grease to drip through.
The rack option helps bacon cook evenly on all sides and allows maximum crispiness. But a basic baking sheet still gets the job done if you don’t have a rack.
Step-By-Step Guide for Baked Bacon
Follow these simple steps for crispy baked bacon every time:
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Preheat oven to 450°F. Line baking sheet or rack with foil.
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Arrange raw bacon strips in a single layer on prepared pan.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking frequently after 15 minutes.
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Remove from oven when bacon looks crispy and browned to your liking.
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Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain grease.
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Enjoy your perfectly baked bacon!
With frequent checks at the end, it’s easy to pull the bacon once it reaches your ideal crispiness.
Flavoring and Seasoning Ideas
One benefit of baking bacon is that you can easily add extra flavors. Consider rubbing slices with:
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Brown sugar – For sweet, candied bacon.
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Maple syrup – Adds sweetness and sheen.
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Spices – Chili powder, cayenne, smoked paprika.
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Herbs – Rosemary, thyme, sage.
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Pepper – Fresh cracked black pepper.
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Sauces – BBQ sauce or Asian glazes.
Get creative to bake up gourmet, artisan-style bacon right at home.
Helpful Tips for Perfect Results
Follow these tips for getting the best baked bacon every time:
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Use thick-cut bacon for maximum crispness.
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Make sure baking sheets are oven safe to 450°F or higher.
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Rotate pans and check bacon frequently toward end of cooking.
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Pour off excess grease carefully to prevent splatters.
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Blot bacon with paper towels before serving to remove excess oil.
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Allow oven to fully preheat before adding bacon for even cooking.
With a few simple tricks, you can enjoy restaurant-quality bacon baked right in your own oven.
Common Baking Bacon Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Should you flip bacon while baking?
Flipping is unnecessary since the hot air surrounds all sides. Bacon cooks evenly without flipping when baked.
Can you use parchment instead of foil?
Yes, parchment paper stands up to high heat. Just ensure no holes are present.
What about glass baking dishes?
You can use glass or ceramic bakeware as long as it’s oven-safe at 450°F or above.
How should you store leftover baked bacon?
Cooled baked bacon keeps in the fridge for 5-7 days stored in an airtight container.
Is it possible to freeze baked bacon?
Yes, just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or bags, removing excess air. Thaw in fridge before using.
Enjoy Perfectly Baked Bacon at 450°F
Now there’s no need to struggle with greasy, uneven bacon in a frying pan. By baking your bacon at 450°F for 15-20 minutes, you can achieve crispy perfection every time.
Test for doneness frequently in the last few minutes of cooking. Then transfer the cooked bacon to paper towels to soak up excess grease before serving.
Add flavors like brown sugar, maple, or cracked pepper before baking for gourmet bacon creations.
Once you discover how easy and delicious oven-baked bacon turns out, you may never go back to frying it again!
The Best Way To Cook Bacon
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. For easy cleanup, line a baking sheet with foil and spray it with cooking spray.
- Place the raw bacon in a single layer on the tray that has been prepared.
- For 12 to 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.
- Optional, flip the bacon halfway through.
Note: I like to check on mine around 13 minutes and adjust my cooking time from there.
Tips for this recipe:
- Use foil or parchment paper to line your baking tray. The foil catches the grease. Let it cool down so the grease hardens, then wrap it up and throw it away. This helps cut down on clean up.
- You can flip the bacon over halfway through if you want to, or you can put an oven-safe rack in the tray.
- When you’re done cooking the bacon, put it on a paper towel to soak up some of the grease.
- This bacon is good for soooo many different things. One of our faves? Burgers.
The sweet spot for oven-baking bacon is usually around 400°F (200°C). This temperature ensures your bacon gets crispy without burning, and it cooks relatively quickly—usually in about 15-20 minutes. Want your bacon to be crispy quickly? Raise the heat to 450 degrees, and it will be done in about 10 minutes.
Nah, starting with a cold oven is more of a myth than a must-do. For bacon that is crispy and cooked all the way through, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). A cold oven might result in unevenly cooked bacon, and let’s be real, nobody’s got time for that.
Foil: Great for crispy bacon and easier clean-up. Just be careful; it can stick if you don’t use a non-stick spray. Parchment Paper: Less stick, but might not give you that ultra-crispy texture. So, if you’re Team Crispy, foil might be your MVP. But if you’re all about that easy-peasy clean-up and avoiding stickage, parchment paper is your go-to.
Oh, you betcha! Freezing bacon is like a life hack for your breakfast game. Just wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, toss ’em in a zip-top bag, and freeze. When the bacon craving strikes—and let’s be real, it always does—just thaw what you need. It’s good for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Absolutely, you can freeze thick-sliced bacon just like its thinner counterpart. The only catch? Thicker slices might take a tad longer to thaw and cook. But hey, good things come to those who wait, right?.
How long should bacon be cooked in the oven?
FAQ
How long to cook bacon at 450 without foil?
Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400?
Do you need to flip bacon in the oven?
How long do you bake Bacon in the oven?
Plan to bake bacon for approximately 20 minutes to give the oven enough time to preheat with the pan of bacon already inside. We recommend baking bacon at 400 degrees F. For most recipes, you’d wait for the oven to preheat before you start baking.
How long do you cook bacon at 425 F?
425˚F- Cook bacon for ~20 minutes to done, ~26 minutes to crispy or for thick cut bacon. These are meant to be guidelines to give you an idea of what to expect. You will definitely want to watch the bacon closely while it is in the oven to see when it reaches your desired level of crispiness.
Can you cook bacon in the oven?
Cooking bacon in the oven gives you perfectly crispy slices without any flipping or fussing, and the cleanup is superspeedy. It’s also the best way to make bacon for a crowd. You can cook the bacon directly on aluminum foil-lined baking sheets or on a wire rack set on top of the baking sheets.
How long do you cook thin cut bacon?
For thin-cut bacon, preheat the oven to 400°F, and cook the bacon for 15-20 minutes. Every oven is different. The cooking time will vary depending on the oven and how crispy you like your bacon. So, start checking on your bacon after the 10-minute mark.