How to make bacon that is both crunchy and chewy? The best and easiest way to cook bacon strips is in the oven! No need to even fry your bacon because baked bacon is just as crispy, but less messy. In 15 minutes, you can have perfectly cooked bacon that doesn’t drip! This is a great way to make this American classic for breakfast, dinner, or maybe even dessert.
As a bacon aficionado, I’m always experimenting to find the ideal oven baking time and temperature for achieving perfectly crispy bacon. Baking bacon in the oven is a mess-free way to cook up delicious bacon for breakfasts, burgers, salads and more. But to get the texture just right – crispy without overcooking – you need to hone in on the right baking duration at the ideal oven temp.
In my trials, I’ve landed on baking bacon for 15-20 minutes in a 375°F oven. This delivers crispy, mouthwatering bacon every time! Here’s why 375°F is the perfect bacon baking temp along with tips on timing, tray prep doneness cues, recipe ideas and more. Let’s dive into everything you need to know to become a bacon baking pro!
Why Bake Bacon at 375°F?
There are a few key reasons why 375°F is my go-to temperature for oven-baked bacon
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It prevents burning or overcooking. Lower oven temps like 300°F take too long. While 400+°F can burn the bacon or cause splattering grease.
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375°F renders out just the right amount of fat. Leaving you with crisp bacon without aggressive sizzling or pops of hot grease.
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It yields an evenly cooked end result The heat circulates to crisp up both the fatty and lean areas of the bacon strips
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It strikes the ideal balance between quick cooking and perfect texture. Too low and it takes forever. Too high and it cooks unevenly.
I’ve found 375°F to be that “just right” sweet spot for baking bacon in the oven. Now let’s look at exactly how long you should bake bacon at 375°F.
Baking Times for Bacon at 375°F
While 375°F is ideal for achieving crispy, evenly cooked bacon, the baking duration can vary a bit based on a few factors:
Bacon Thickness
- Thin-cut bacon – 12-15 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon – 15-18 minutes
Thinner bacon slices will cook faster than thick-cut varieties.
Amount of Bacon
- Small batch (2-4 strips) – Check often after 12 minutes
- Large batch (Full package) – Closer to 18 minutes
More bacon slices packed together will require a few extra minutes. Spread out strips in a single layer.
Oven Variances
- Convection setting – May cook slightly faster
- Newer vs. older ovens – Newer ovens tend to heat more evenly
Know your appliance and adjust time accordingly.
Personal Preference
- If you like it crispy – Cook at least 15 minutes
- If you like it chewy – Start checking at 12 minutes
Your desired texture can help dictate cooking time.
Bottom line – check frequently at the 15 minute mark and go up to 18-20 minutes for very thick bacon or large batches.
How to Bake Bacon Perfectly at 375°F
Follow these steps for foolproof oven-baked bacon every time:
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange oven rack in center position.
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Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper to catch grease.
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Lay out bacon strips in a single layer without overlapping.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking frequently after 15 minutes.
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Remove tray from oven and transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
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Pour bacon grease into a heatproof container for storage and discard foil.
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Enjoy your crisp, mess-free oven-baked bacon!
I like to bake a large batch of bacon at once for meal-prepping. Then use leftovers throughout the week for breakfast tacos, salads, sandwiches, burgers and more.
Tips for Oven-Baked Bacon Perfection
Follow these tips for the best results when baking bacon in the oven:
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Choose thick-cut bacon for optimum crispy texture. Regular sliced bacon works too.
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Arrange strips evenly spaced in a single layer on the baking tray.
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15-20 minutes is ideal, but start checking often at 12 minutes with thin or partial batches.
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For safety, use foil-lined baking trays to catch bacon grease.
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Bake on middle rack positions for even heat circulation.
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Transfer to paper towels after baking to soak up excess grease.
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Let baked bacon cool slightly before eating to avoid burning your mouth!
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Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 5-7 days.
Signs Your Bacon is Done Baking
Watch for these cues that your bacon is ready to come out of the 375° oven:
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Golden brown color on both lean and fatty areas
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Amplified bacon smell as it cooks
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Visible bubbling and crisping fat sections
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Bacon appears stiff and crispy
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Fat rendered out around strips
Use tongs to lift a test piece and check for crispy texture without overcooked spots.
Fun Ways to Use Oven-Baked Bacon
My oven-baked bacon is incredibly versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to use up leftovers:
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Breakfast sandwiches or wraps
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Bacon, lettuce and tomato (BLT) sandwiches
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Bacon cheeseburgers or bacon mushroom Swiss burgers
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Cobb or wedge salads topped with crumbled bacon
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Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes with bacon pieces
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Bacon onion or bacon jalapeño corn muffins
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Bacon fried rice or bacon carbonara pasta
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Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin or bacon-wrapped chicken breasts
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Bacon mac and cheese with crumbled bacon topping
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Bacon green beans or Brussels sprouts
The possibilities are endless! I love having a supply of ready-to-go oven-baked bacon on hand.
Get Perfectly Cooked Bacon Every Time
Now that you know how long to bake bacon at 375°F and proper tray setup, you can achieve flawless baking results every time. Crisp bacon with no splatter awaits! Adjust cooking times as needed based on thickness, amount, and personal texture preferences. And enjoy your oven-baked bacon in creative recipes, on salads, sandwiches, burgers and more. Bacon makes everything better!
How long do you cook bacon?
I bake it for 15 minutes at 375°, until the bacon is crispy. Some cooks bake it at 400 F and I’ve done that too. On the other hand, you should check on your bacon every 10 minutes at 400 F so that it doesn’t burn in its own fat! When cooking bacon at temperatures above 375 F, it is also more likely to splatter.
Yes, you can cook it at a lower temperature. I baked the bacon at 350F, and it was still crispy, but it took 20 to 25 minutes longer to cook at 350F.
Why cook bacon in the oven?
- The main reason to cook bacon in the oven is to keep the kitchen clean. Another popular way to cook bacon is in a cast iron pan. However, it is much easier to get rid of the bacon fat if you bake the bacon first and then pour it into the trash or a container.
- When you need to cook for a lot of people, the oven is the best way to go. You can use two baking sheets at the same time.
- Bacon cooked in the oven equals NO bacon grease splatter. In any place! It’s great that you don’t have to clean the stove top.
HOW TO COOK BACON IN THE OVEN | easy, crispy and no mess!
How long do you cook bacon in the oven at 375?
Cooking bacon in the oven at 375 F is the easiest and best way to make bacon. You’ll never go back to frying bacon once you learn this easy method. Lay parchment paper on a jelly roll style baking sheet and evenly space your bacon slices so they don’t overlap. Cook the bacon for 10 minutes and check for your preferred degree of doneness.
How long do you cook bacon on a baking sheet?
Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet. You should be able to fit about 12 slices (try to keep them from overlapping). Bake 14 to 18 minutes for regular bacon and 18 to 20 minutes for thick-cut bacon, carefully rotating the baking sheet from front to back about halfway through cooking.
How do you cook bacon in the oven?
Baking bacon in the oven is one of the easiest mess-free ways to prepare it. With our special method it comes out perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious every single time. Lay the bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the bacon in a cold oven. Set the oven to 400˚F.
What temperature should Bacon be preheated before baking?
We recommend baking bacon at 400 degrees F. For most recipes, you’d wait for the oven to preheat before you start baking. When baking bacon, however, we suggest sliding the sheet pan into the cold oven so the bacon sits inside as the oven comes to temperature.
How do you cook bacon on a rimmed baking sheet?
For easy clean-up, line a 13 x 18-inch rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty wide aluminum foil and so that there is some overhang on all sides (this prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet), then cover with a sheet of parchment paper. Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet.
How long do you cook bacon on a cooling rack?
Place the cooling rack in the baking sheet. Lay the bacon on the cooling rack careful not to overlap. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until desired crispness. Remove and set on a paper towel lined plate. It’s super easy but here are some tips to ensure it is truly the best.