Oven Baked Bacon

The Grove Bend Kitchen
by The Grove Bend Kitchen
6 Serving
25 min

Why not make bacon in the oven?! Oven Baked Bacon is much less of a mess and here are two methods of oven baking bacon that result in a piece of crispy or chewy bacon. Try them both and decide which you like better.

Bacon is a versatile ingredient. There are so many ways to cook, bake, add it, or just eat it on its own. Oven baking bacon is the way most restaurants cook bacon and it produces consistent results every time. I’m going to share with you two methods of baking it that will produce different results. So depending on whether you want crispy or chewy bacon, use these methods.


For thick cuts of bacon, the baking sheet and wire rack method is always better because it lifts it out of it’s fat and becomes crisper. 


HOW TO MAKE CHEWY BACON



  • Line a baking sheet with 3 sheets of foil, two to cover the sides and one down the middle. (This prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet). Or 1 sheet of foil down the middle, folding the sides up.
  • Lay bacon strips crosswise on a baking sheet, being careful not to overlap. 
  • Bake 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until golden and crisp depending on thickness. 
  • Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.

HOW TO MAKE CRISPY OUTSIDE EDGES & CHEWY INSIDE BACON



  1. Line a baking sheet with 1-3 sheets of foil down the middle. (This prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet).
  2. Place an oven-safe wire rack inside the foil-lined baking sheet.
  3. Lay bacon strips crosswise on a wire rack, being careful not to overlap.
  4. Bake 400°F for 15-20 minutes or a few minutes longer, until golden and crisp depending on thickness.
  5. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.

TO STORE LEFTOVER OR MADE AHEAD BACON



  • Refrigerator: for up to 4-5 days. Store in a shallow airtight container, a Ziploc bag layered on parchment paper, or wrap tightly in foil. 
  • Freeze: for up to 3 months. Wrap bacon slices individually in cut parchment or foil heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. Take out of the freezer as needed.
  • Thaw frozen bacon in the refrigerator and it will last about 3-4 days. 


TO REHEAT BACON



  • It can be reheated in a skillet for a minute or two. 
  • Wrapped in a paper towel and microwaved for a few seconds.

Left to right results: Baked on foil for Chewy and baked on a wire rack for Crispy Outside Edges & Chewy Inside.


BACON VARIATIONS


It works better to always use a baking sheet and wire rack method when using variations. 



  • Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon- For about 1 pound of bacon, sprinkle ⅓ cup light brown sugar and 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until desired crisp and caramelized. 
  • Maple Bacon – Bake for 12-15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush maple syrup on the bacon slices and bake for 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy. Do not over-brown the maple syrup.
  • Maple Dijon Black Pepper– For 1 pound of bacon, whisk together ¼ cup pure maple syrup, 1 Tablespoon Dijon, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Bake for 12-15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush generously with maple glaze and bake for another 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy. Do not over-brown.
  • Honey-Sriracha Bacon – Mix together 2 Tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon Sriracha or more. Bake for 12-15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush with honey-sriracha and bake for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Be careful not to over-brown the honey. 
Recipe details
  • 6  Serving
  • Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 20 Minutes Total time: 25 min
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Ingredients

  • 16 ounces 12-14 slices raw bacon
  • 16 ounces 12-14 slices raw bacon
Instructions
Chewy Bacon
Line a baking sheet with 3 sheets of foil, two to cover the sides and one down the middle. (This prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet). Or 1 sheet of foil down the middle, folding the sides up.
Lay bacon strips crosswise on baking sheet, being careful not to overlap.
Bake 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until golden and crisp depending on the thickness of the bacon
Transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet to absorb the grease.
Crispy Outside Edges & Chewy Inside Bacon
Line a baking sheet with 1-3 sheets of foil down the middle. (This prevents the grease from leaking onto the baking sheet).
Place an oven-safe wire rack inside the foil-lined baking sheet.
Lay bacon strips crosswise on wire rack, being careful not to overlap.
Bake 400°F for 15-20 minutes or a few minutes longer, until golden and crisp depending on the thickness of the bacon.
Transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet to absorb the grease.
Tips
  • Baking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon. Thicker bacon will take longer to bake.
  • About 8-9 slices fit per pan, so you might need to bake two pans at once or one after the other.
  • For thick cuts of bacon the baking sheet and wire rack method is always better because it lifts it out of it’s fat and becomes more crisp.
  • To Refrigerator: for up to 4-5 days. Store in a shallow airtight container, a Ziploc bag layered on parchment paper, or wrap tightly in foil.
  • To Freeze: for up to 3 months. Wrap bacon slices individually in cut parchment or foil heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. Take out of freezer as needed.
  • To thaw frozen bacon in the refrigerator and it will last about 3-4 days.
  • It can be reheated in a skillet for a minute or two. Or wrapped in a paper towel and microwaved for a few seconds.
  • Bacon Variations: It works better to always use baking sheet and wire rack method when using variations.
  • Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon– For about 1 pound of bacon, sprinkle ⅓ cup light brown sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until desired crisp and caramelized.
  • Maple Bacon – Bake for 12-15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush maple syrup on the bacon slices and bake for 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy. Do not overbrown the maple syrup.
  • Maple Dijon Black Pepper– For 1 pound of bacon, whisk together ¼ cup pure maple syrup, 1 Tablespoon Dijon, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Bake for 12-15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush generously with maple glaze and bake for another 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy. Do not overbrown.
  • Honey-Sriracha Bacon – Mix together 2 Tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon Sriracha or more. Bake for 12-15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush with honey-sriracha and bake for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Be careful not to overbrown the honey.
The Grove Bend Kitchen
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Comments
  • Crumly Crumly on Jan 30, 2021

    My daughter does this all the time and she finally talked me into it. I thought oh this is gonna get grease popping in my oven and create a huge mess. I was so wrong! You line your baking pans with foil and when done roll up the foil and throw away! Your pan isn’t even dirty! Sweet! I turn mine half way through and that’s it. No standing there watching and flipping in the frypan. This is awesome! Thanks for posting so others catch on.

    • The Grove Bend Kitchen The Grove Bend Kitchen on Feb 03, 2021

      Restaurants make their bacon this way too. It’s so much easier. I love your comments!

      Best Wishes,

      Chef Louise

  • Rosemary Schell Rosemary Schell on Feb 02, 2021

    I have tried this method and love it. Not near as messy as frying bacon and it is a little bit more healthy for you.

    • The Grove Bend Kitchen The Grove Bend Kitchen on Feb 03, 2021

      Hi Rosemary,

      I totally agree with you! The bacon tastes better too. Thank you for your comments.

      Best Wishes,

      Chef Louise

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