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Perfect flat crispy oven-baked bacon strips drained on brown parchment paper

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven (Crispy, Flat & Completely Mess-Free)

Cooking bacon on the stovetop means painful grease splatters and curled strips. Once you learn how to cook bacon in the oven, you will never fry it in a skillet again! Every strip bakes perfectly flat, evenly crisp, and feeds a crowd with zero stove cleanup.
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings (approx. 3-4 strips each)
Course: Breakfast, Keto, Quick Prep, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Breakfast Classic
Calories: 130
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Ingredients & Equipment
  • 1 lb (16 oz) bacon (standard or thick-cut) high quality hickory or applewood smoked
  • 1 sheet parchment paper or heavy-duty aluminum foil for easy mess-free cleanup
  • 1 large rimmed baking sheet (18x13 inch) rimmed edges catch the rendered grease

Method
 

Oven Roasting Steps
  1. Prep the baking sheet: Position an oven rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or heavy-duty foil, ensuring the edges curl up slightly to catch the rendered bacon fat.
  2. Arrange bacon in a single layer: Lay the bacon strips flat on the lined baking sheet, placing them closely side-by-side. It is fine if they touch slightly as they will shrink while cooking, but avoid overlapping.
  3. Bake to desired crispness: Slide the sheet pan into the hot oven. Bake undisturbed: 14 to 16 minutes for standard-cut bacon, or 18 to 22 minutes for thick-cut bacon, depending on how chewy or crunchy you prefer.
  4. Drain and serve: Immediately transfer the crispy bacon strips with tongs to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain off excess surface fat. Save the warm rendered liquid gold bacon grease in a glass jar for cooking eggs or roasted veggies!