When you’re cooking bacon on your Stovetop, the hot grease goes everywhere, half the strips burn, and now you’ve got bacon you don’t feel like eating anymore!
So, what to do? Is cooking bacon in the oven a good idea?
Yes, it is! It’s easier, turns out very crispy, and there’s no grease all around the kitchen.
But how to cook bacon in the oven?
So, What do You Need to Cook Bacon in the Oven?
You just need bacon, a few basic kitchen tools, and about 20 minutes of your time.
- Bacon strips: 3 strips (per serving)
- Cooking spray or foil
- Tongs
- Paper Towel
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Oven?
Cooking bacon strips varies oven to oven and bacon to bacon.
The thickness of the bacon matters – thick strips take more time, it’s simple! And when it comes to people’s ovens, they’re different as well!
| Bacon Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Regular-cut bacon | 400°F (200°C) | 15-18 minutes |
| Thick-cut bacon | 400°F (200°C) | 20-25 minutes |
| Turkey bacon | 400°F (200°C) | 15-20 minutes |
| Extra crispy (any cut) | 400°F (200°C) | Add 3-5 extra minutes |
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Cook Bacon in the Oven?
Alright, let’s do this. Follow these steps, and you’ll have perfect bacon every single time.
Step 1: Don’t Preheat the Oven – Yes, Really!
Place your bacon in a cold oven, then set it to 400°F (200°C). Starting cold helps the fat render out slowly, which means crispier bacon.
Step 2: Line Your Baking Sheet
Cover your rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
If you have a wire rack, place it on top. This keeps the bacon lifted above the grease and lets hot air circulate around it.
Step 3: Lay the Bacon Strips Out
Place your bacon strips in a single layer. Don’t overlap them, as each strip needs its own space to cook and crisp properly.
Step 4: Slide it in and Set a Timer
Put the pan in the oven. These are some starting points, but you know your oven better. Every oven runs a little differently, so start checking around the 15-minute mark.
- Regular-cut bacon: 15 to 18 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon: 20 to 25 minutes
- Turkey bacon: 15 to 20 minutes
Step 5: Watch it
Don’t walk away; you need to keep an eye on it. Bacon can burn easily. When it looks almost done, pull it out just before it – and this is how it becomes crispy!
Step 6: Drain and Rest
Use tongs to move the strips onto a plate lined with paper towels.
Let them sit for 2 minutes. This blots the extra grease and lets the bacon firm up. That’s where the final crispiness comes from.
Don’t Have an Oven? Here’s What to do…
But if you don’t have an oven, you don’t have to worry at all because there are a few other options in which you can cook your bacon – that same crispy bacon!
How to Cook Bacon in a Microwave?
Yes, the microwave. It won’t be as crispy as oven bacon, but it’s fast, mess-free, and perfect for busy mornings.
Follow these simple steps:
- Lay your strips on a microwave-safe plate lined with paper towels.
- Add another paper towel on top to catch the splatter.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute per strip.
And if you have two strips, then microwave them for two minutes. Also, remember to check after each minute so it doesn’t overcook.
How to Cook Bacon in a Pan?
See, it’s a classic way to cook crispy bacon that people used to follow. It’s nothing complex, really.
- Heat your skillet over medium, not high.
- Lay the strips flat and let them cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Then lay them on paper towels to drain the grease.
Your crispy pan-cooked bacon is ready!
How to Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer?
It’s a similar process to oven cooking bacon.
- First, lay strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Set it to 350°F and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
- And check at the 7-minute mark.
The air fryer circulates heat all around the bacon, so you get that even crispiness. Also, the cleanup is easier than the pan.
Crispy Oven Cooked Bacon Recipes You Need to Try!
Plain bacon is tasty, but when it comes to crispy bacon? It’s DELICIOUS!
1. Classic BLT Sandwich
Crispy oven bacon is the only bacon that belongs in a BLT.
It doesn’t go soggy under the tomato and lettuce. Stack it thick, add a smear of mayo, and it’s a perfect lunch.
2. Bacon and Egg Breakfast Bowl
Cook your bacon in the oven while you scramble your eggs on the stove. Crumble the bacon on top, then add some cheese, avocado, and hot sauce.
3. Candied Bacon
Before popping your bacon in the oven, sprinkle each strip with brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne. The sugar caramelizes as it cooks, making it sweet, spicy, and crispy.
4. Bacon-Wrapped Anything
Wrap thick-cut oven bacon around chicken tenders, jalapeños, or even dates stuffed with cream cheese.
Bake at 400°F until the bacon is crispy and whatever’s inside is cooked through.
5. Crumbled Bacon Pasta
Cook your bacon, let it cool, then crumble it over a creamy pasta. The crispy flavor adds texture that soft bacon can’t.
How to Reheat Bacon?
Made crispy bacon, and got loads of leftovers, but how do we reheat it? But will reheating it lose the crispiness?
Oven: Lay strips on a baking sheet and heat at 350°F for 5 to 8 minutes. Comes out almost as good as fresh and with the same crispiness.
Air Fryer: Set it at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes, and it’s done.
Microwave: Wrap strips in a paper towel and heat for 20 to 30 seconds. Doesn’t come out as crispy, but still works.
Pan: Set it over medium heat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Adds a little extra grease back in, but gets crispy fast.
End Note
And voila! Your hot, crispy oven bacon is ready.
If you’re meal prepping, store cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Crumble leftovers over salads, pastas, or baked potatoes, and it tastes even better.
Just remember, don’t leave your bacon while it’s cooking, and the rest is easy peasy!
SO, did you try it already? How did you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to know.
People Also Ask
1. Is it Best to Cook Bacon in Butter or Oil?
Neither. Bacon has enough fat on its own. Adding butter or oil just makes it greasier. Skip both.
2. Do You Flip Your Bacon in the Oven?
Nope. That’s the whole point of oven bacon. The heat surrounds it from all sides. So no flipping needed.
3. What is Cowboy Bacon?
Thick-cut bacon cooked over an open fire or cast-iron skillet, in an old-school style. Smoky, hearty, and rugged.
