Cooking Bacon On Parchment Paper

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What perfectly crispy bacon without hardly any effort? Then you're going to love this easy method for baking bacon in the oven! This is by far the BEST way to cook bacon.

crispy bacon cooked in the oven on parchment paper

Ever wondered how to get perfect crispy bacon every single time you make it? Well in case you didn't know already, it's by baking it in the oven! I love using my oven to cook bacon, especially since it frees me up to do other things like make a batch of scrambled eggs or the fluffiest pancakes ever.

There are a few different methods of how to cook bacon in the oven, and I will share the pluses of each one. Get ready to step up your morning breakfast routine with perfect bacon, every time!

Why Cook Bacon in the Oven?

I know some people are insistent on cooking bacon exactly as their moms or grandmas made it growing up – in a pan. Listen, I love pan fried bacon just as much as the next bacon loving girl.

However, you know what I love more? No bacon grease burns on my arms, chest and face.

I also love how consistent bacon cooked in the oven is. It's perfect every single time. There is some trial and error to begin with since every oven is different. But one you figure out the perfect baking time for your oven I promise you'll never make bacon on the stove top again.

But to be honest, the #1 reason I love cooking bacon in the oven is because I'm lazy and this is the easiest way to make bacon. You arrange the bacon on a cookie sheet and pop it into the oven. It's really that simple.

Then you are free to make whatever else you're having for breakfast while the bacon cooks in the oven. You do not have to baby sit it or stand over the stove. It's pure bacon heaven.

raw bacon on parchment paper on a wood cutting board.

What You'll Need

You will only need one ingredient for this recipe and that's thick cut bacon!

In addition, you'll also need some simple tools: a cookie sheet, parchment paper, a cooling rack, non-stick spray and paper towels.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

There are two ways to bake bacon, but they both start with your oven preheated to 400F.

Method 1: On a Rack

One way to way of cooking bacon in the oven is on a cooling rack placed on top of a cookie sheet. This is the method for you if you like extra crispy bacon and want as little grease as possible. By using a cooling rack under the bacon, you raise the bacon so the grease has room to fall below. This also allows for heat to get to both sides of the bacon pretty evenly, giving you extra crispy bacon.

So for this method here's what you'll do:

Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (this makes for easy clean up later)
Place your cooling rack on top
Lay your bacon on top of the rack. It can be touching but the slices should not overlap.
Bake for 15 minutes, then check on the bacon to see if it needs more time. If you like your bacon to be softer it might be done now. If you prefer crispier bacon, you will probably need to bake it for 5 minutes longer.
When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain or blot with paper towels to suck up any leftover grease.

Method 2: Cook Your Bacon on Parchment Paper

The other solid common option is to cook bacon on parchment paper in the oven. You can also use foil, although parchment paper is the healthier choice after some recent studies on how aluminum leeches into our foods from foil.

This is my own personal favorite way to cook bacon in the oven! Using parchment paper gives you crispy bacon, while also staying just the slightest bit tender. This method allows the bacon to lay in the bacon grease while cooking, similar to when you pan fry it.

Here's how to cook bacon with this oven method:

Lay the parchment paper flat on a cookie sheet and then arrange the bacon right on top.
Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the bacon over to allow the other side to cook as well. (This is not necessary, but provides a more evenly cooked piece of bacon.)
Check at the 15 minute mark and see if your bacon is crispy enough.
When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain or blot with paper towels to suck up any leftover grease.

Serving Suggestions

I am not always a good multi-tasker, especially when it comes to mornings and making bacon before I have had coffee. Cooking bacon in the oven is a real game changer. It's easier to make than pan fried, but it also gives you a more consistent final result.

AND, while my bacon is doing it's thing, I can make something else to serve with it. Here are some of my favorite things to serve with bacon:

Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Chocolate Pancakes
Fluffy Pancakes
Grinch Pancakes <- Perfect for Christmas!
Low Carb Keto Pancakes
Popovers

So if you love crispy bacon that doesn't require a lot of work, then you better start preheating your oven. 😉

Yield: 16 pieces bacon, approximately

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Cooked bacon stacked on top of each other on brown parchment paper

If you want perfect crispy bacon every time, you must learn how to cook bacon in the oven! Sharing all my tips on how to always make the best oven baked bacon!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb thick cut bacon

tools:

cookie sheet
parchment paper (or foil)
cooling rack
non stick spray
paper towels

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, foil or with a cooling rack. If using a cooling rack, spray gently with non stick spray.
Arrange the bacon on the parchment paper or cooling rack. You can let it be touching, but do not overlap it.
Bake for 15 minutes and check on it. It's done when you say it's done. If you like it limp, you may be happy now. If you like it crispy, it will probably need 5 minutes more.
If using parchment paper (or foil), consider flipping bacon at the 12-15 minute mark to allow the other side to crisp up as well. This is not necessary, but provides a more evenly cooked piece of bacon.
When bacon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove from oven and let drain or blot with paper towels to suck up any leftover grease.
Serve! (Or store in an airtight bag for recipes for the week or to reheat for an easy breakfast.)

Notes

How to reheat bacon: if you store your leftover bacon in the fridge, reheat it for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave oven before eating. It will fresh right back up by being reheated!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16 pieces

Serving Size:

1 piece
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 133 Total Fat: 10g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 28mg Sodium: 477mg Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 0g Protein: 10g

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