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    Home » Keto Breakfast Recipes » Oven Bacon Recipe

    Oven Bacon Recipe

    Last updated: Jul 23, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    This oven bacon recipe is so easy, and it's quickly become my favorite method for cooking bacon, especially when cooking for a crowd.

    For perfectly crispy results, set the oven temperature to 400°F and bake the bacon for 20 minutes in the middle of the oven.

    Strips of oven bacon piled on a white plate.

    I haven't pan-fried bacon in years! Perhaps it makes sense to pan-fry it if you only need a few slices. But for anything more than that, the oven is the best - and indeed the easiest - method.

    And when prepared this way, the bacon cooks evenly and comes out perfect - not too chewy or crispy.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Oven Bacon Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Crispy vs. Chewy Bacon
    • How to Use Bacon Grease
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Bacon Alternatives
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Bacon Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    You'll simply need 8 ounces of bacon to make this recipe. That's typically one package:

    An 8-ounce package of bacon.

    I like to use medium-thickness slices. Not too thick and not too thin. If you use any other thickness, you'll need to slightly adjust the cooking time.

    Note that some bacon packages contain 12 ounces. If you use one of these packages, you'll need to use two sheet pans.

    Variations

    You can sprinkle the bacon slices with spices before baking them. But that's completely optional.

    Tasty options include freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. You can also use a pinch of cayenne if you like spicy food.

    Oven Bacon Instructions

    Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

    Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil (for easy cleanup) and fit it with a wire rack.

    Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack.

    Raw bacon strips arranged on a wire rack.

    Place the pan in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

    Putting a pan of bacon inside the oven.

    Pull the pan out of the oven. Use tongs to transfer the bacon slices to a plate, then serve.

    If you use wire racks, there's no need to place the bacon on paper towels to drain it. If you don't use racks, place the bacon on paper towels for a couple of minutes.

    Baked slices of bacon on a rack inside a baking sheet.

    Expert Tips

    A wire rack is helpful

    I like my bacon crispy, so I arrange it on stainless steel wire racks. The wire racks can be washed in the dishwasher, so cleanup is easy. But they're not mandatory. You can simply line your pan with foil or parchment paper and arrange the bacon slices directly on them.

    Use a rimmed baking sheet

    When cooking bacon in the oven, you should always use a rimmed baking sheet to prevent grease from dripping onto the oven floor and potentially causing a grease fire.

    Prevent grease splatters

    In my experience, the bacon shouldn't splatter too badly. But if preventing splatters is important to you, a simple method is to loosely cover it while it cooks with a sheet of parchment paper.

    Crispy vs. Chewy Bacon

    If you like your bacon chewy, I suggest you start checking it after 15 minutes in the oven. For somewhat crispy bacon, start checking after 20 minutes. And for very crispy bacon, start checking after 25 minutes.

    Remember that oven temperatures vary, so the time it takes to achieve your desired results in your oven might differ from these guidelines.

    Here's a visual guide to different levels of bacon doneness:

    Chewy bacon that was baked for 15 minutes.
    Crispy bacon that was baked for 20 minutes.
    Extra-crispy bacon that was baked for 25 minutes.

    How to Use Bacon Grease

    When you're done cooking, there will be lots of grease in the bottom of your pan. Please don't pour it down the drain; it will clog your sink!

    What you do with the grease left in the pan is up to you. You can simply mop it with paper towels and throw them in the trash.

    If you'd like to use the grease (it's delicious), strain it through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass jar. Then seal it and keep it in the fridge for later use. It can stay in the fridge for up to three months.

    You can use it in any savory recipe that requires fat for cooking. It's especially good when cooking eggs, so I often use it when making soft-scrambled eggs or an egg white omelet.

    Other recipes where you can successfully use bacon fat instead of oil or butter include fried hard-boiled eggs and spinach and eggs scramble.

    Recipe FAQs

    Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400?

    It's best to set the oven temperature to 400°F. At this temperature, the bacon should be crispy after about 20 minutes. A lower oven temperature (such as 350°F) will take longer; with a higher one (such as 450°F), you risk burning the bacon.

    How long should you cook bacon in the oven?

    For crispy bacon, I find that 20 minutes at 400°F is ideal. If your bacon slices are thick, they'll need 25 or even 30 minutes.

    If you prefer chewy bacon, start with just 15 minutes, then check to see if it needs more time.

    Oven temperatures and personal preferences vary, so you'll need to experiment until you know what works best for you using your own oven.

    Should I flip the bacon midway through cooking?

    There's no need to do that. The bacon will cook beautifully and evenly, especially if you use a wire rack.

    How much bacon can I cook using this method?

    One rimmed baking sheet fits an 8-ounce package, which is about eight slices.

    If you need to cook more than one package, simply use two or three baking sheets. The bottom or upper pan will cook faster than the middle one. Simply monitor all pans and remove the ones that are ready from the oven.

    Bacon Alternatives

    • If you can find pork belly slices at the store, those are also wonderful when baked. They make a great alternative to bacon. They take longer since they are quite thick, and you need to season them well. But they are absolutely delicious!
    • Pork jowl is another tasty alternative. I bake it in a slow oven, then broil it briefly to crisp up the fat.
    • Another good option, if you can find it (or order online), is duck bacon. I bake it too, and while it's not as fatty or crispy as pork bacon, it's meaty and flavorful.
    • And finally, beef bacon is so good. It comes from the belly of the cow, also used to make pastrami. This cut is well-marbled and has a great beefy flavor that the smoking process highlights.

    Serving Suggestions

    Most of us serve bacon for breakfast with eggs. It goes particularly well with fluffy scrambled eggs, and you can cook the bacon first, then use the rendered fat to cook the eggs.

    Oven bacon can also be used in lunch and dinner recipes, such as:

    • Lettuce sandwich
    • Cobb salad
    • Avocado chicken salad
    • Broccoli salad
    • Bacon deviled eggs

    Storing Leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for about 4 days. Reheat them, covered in a paper towel, in the microwave at 50% power.

    You can also eat the leftovers cold. Seriously, cold leftover bacon is delicious. Kind of like eating cold deli meat, but even better because it's bacon.

    Slices of crispy oven bacon arranged on a white plate.

    More Bacon Recipes

    • Microwave bacon served on paper towels.
      Microwave Bacon
    • Jalapeno poppers piled on a white plate.
      Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
    • Bacon egg cups served on a white plate.
      Bacon Egg Cups
    • Bacon-wrapped scallops served on a white plate.
      Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Oven bacon served on a white plate.
    4.96 from 102 votes
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    Oven Bacon Recipe

    This oven bacon recipe is so easy, and it's quickly become my favorite method for cooking bacon, especially when cooking for a crowd.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 88kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces bacon (about 8 strips)
    • Spices to taste (optional; you can use freshly ground black pepper, smoked paprika, and/or garlic powder)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and fit it with a wire rack.
    • Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the wire rack. You can also arrange them directly on parchment paper instead of using a rack. 
    • You can sprinkle the bacon with spices if you wish, but this is purely optional. I typically don't.
    • Bake until the bacon is as crispy as you want it. I bake it for 20 minutes.
    • Serve immediately. If you didn't use a rack, place the cooked bacon briefly on paper towels to drain, then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • Whether you use a wire rack or not, you should definitely use a rimmed baking sheet to prevent grease from dripping onto the oven floor and potentially causing a grease fire.
    • The bacon shouldn't splatter too badly, in my experience. But if preventing splatters is important to you, a simple method is to loosely cover the bacon while it cooks with a sheet of parchment paper.
    • Make sure to wear long oven mitts when removing the pan from the oven. 
    • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for about 4 days. Reheat them, covered in a paper towel, in the microwave at 50% power.

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 2strips | Calories: 88kcal | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 355mg
    SubscribeI aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Julie M.

      September 19, 2023 at 10:13 am

      4 stars
      I subtracted one star because mine took 30 minutes instead of 20. It did turn out crispy and tasted great.

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        September 19, 2023 at 1:43 pm

        Thanks for the feedback, Julie!

        Reply
    2. Amy

      July 06, 2023 at 8:19 pm

      5 stars
      I've used this recipe so many times. It's perfect! I bake mine for 25 minutes. It works every single time. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        July 07, 2023 at 8:19 pm

        I'm so glad you're enjoying this recipe, Amy!

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

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