Ever wonder how restaurants always seem to serve bacon that’s somehow cooked to perfection? Meanwhile, at home yours is crispy around the edges, but still chewy in the middle? Or let’s be honest, burnt to a dang crisp. (We’ve all been there…probably more than once.) Well, I’ve found that cooking bacon in the oven not only reduces the amount of smoke and cooking time; but it yields the most delicious and evenly cooked bacon EVERY TIME. I’m talking melt-in-your-mouth bacon. It’s like magic, but so much less complicated. Follow my quick and easy recipe below to learn how to cook bacon in the oven and never look back!
This post contains affiliate links which means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase through my links. There is no extra cost to you!
Equipment needed to cook bacon in the oven
- A baking sheet
- A cooling rack – this keeps the bacon hovered above it’s grease drippings while cooking
If you want to buy a set that includes a large baking sheet and a cooling rack, check out this set from Wal-Mart!
Ingredients
- Bacon – any kind will do but I prefer to use thin sliced Maple Bacon
Instructions for cooking bacon in the oven
1. The first step of cooking bacon in the oven is setting your oven to 400 degrees F. You want to let your oven get up to temperature BEFORE putting the bacon in.
2. Next, you want to place the baking/cooling rack on the baking sheet. It’s best if it fits well inside of the baking sheet.
3. Then, you’re going to line the bacon side by side in a single layer on the rack. Don’t worry if slices of bacon are touching. That’s not a problem. But overlapping them will result in less consistent cooking of the slices of bacon. So, just keep that in mind!
4. Once your oven is preheated, go ahead and put the baking sheet in the oven as close to the center of the oven as possible. You may need to lower your oven rack for this. But ideally, you want the pan to be about the same distance away from the top cooking coil and the bottom cooking coil.
5. Now, let the bacon cook for 10 minutes. After those first 10 minutes, you’re going to flip the bacon over and cook for an additional 5 minutes or so on the other side.
6. When the bacon is finished cooking, pull it out of the oven and let it cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring it to a paper towel covered plate. Or straight into your mouth….I’m not judging!
The result here is bacon that’s melt in your mouth tender. Seriously. And for this reason, it’s my favorite way to cook bacon! But, it’s also the perfect texture to add onto a breakfast sandwich. Check out my Sourdough Discard Bagel recipe and make yourself a from scratch bagel breakfast sandwich that’s better than any food chain. I guarantee it.
Common Questions
Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400?
I personally think it’s better to cook bacon at 400 degrees F because it cooks rather quickly and results in a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Cooking the bacon at 350 degrees F will take a little bit longer and could potentially dry the bacon slices out a bit.
How long should bacon be in the oven at 400?
Well, every oven is different and depending on your elevation, cooking times could be slightly different. So for this reason, I recommend that you always use a timer. It is the single most helpful tool in my kitchen! So, If you feel like 10 minutes might be too long then set a timer for 7, check to see how the bacon looks and adjust the time accordingly.
Do you have to flip bacon in the oven?
No, some people prefer to rotate the pan in the oven instead. But I have found that flipping the bacon slices when they’re a little over halfway done, helps to finish cooking them quickly and more evenly in my opinion. So this is the method that I always recommend.
Tried and liked this recipe? Give it a rating and leave a comment below! Then snap a photo and tag us over on IG @ _jchandelle
Shop this post
- Baking Sheet (16 x 12 inch)
- Cooling/Roasting Rack (15.4 x 14.4 inch)
- Baking Sheet Pan & Baking Rack Set (15 x 21 inch)
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links I may earn a small commission.
Cooking Bacon in the Oven: A Simple How To Guide
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 baking/cooling rack
Ingredients
- 1 pound thin sliced bacon any flavor
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400℉
- While your oven is preheating, place your baking/cooling rack on a baking sheet. Then, lay the slices of bacon in a single layer on the baking/cooling rack.1 pound thin sliced bacon
- Once your oven is preheated, place the baking sheet with the bacon on it into your oven. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
- After the bacon has cooked for 10 minutes, flip the slices over and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- When the bacon is finished cooking, remove it from your oven. Let it rest for 2 minutes before transferring it or consuming it.Enjoy!
The only way I’m making bacon now! So simple to do and produces delicious results every time.