Oven-Baked Crispy Bacon, 20-25 Minutes
Hands-off method for cooking bacon in the oven with minimal splatter and mess. Line a sheet pan with foil and parchment, arrange bacon slices, and bake at 350°F until crispy. Optional seasonings include cayenne pepper for heat or brown sugar for sweetness, added during the final minutes of cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sliced baconunsmoked bacon1:1pork
removes smoky flavor
- freshly ground black pepper(optional)
- cayenne pepper(optional)
- brown sugar(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- 2
Cover a large baking sheet with foil and line it with parchment paper.
- 3
Arrange bacon slices on the prepared baking sheet, overlapping slightly as needed.
- 4
Bake until browned and crispy to your liking.
- 5
Remove from oven and let cool on the pan for 5 minutes.
- 6
Transfer bacon to paper towels using tongs or a spatula and drain.
- 7
Optional for spicy bacon: during the last 10 minutes of baking, sprinkle bacon with freshly ground black pepper and/or cayenne pepper, turn strips over with tongs, sprinkle the other side, and continue baking.
- 8
Optional for sweet bacon: during the last 15 minutes of baking, sprinkle brown sugar on top of the bacon strips.
Tips
Overlapping bacon slices slightly is acceptable and helps maximize pan space.
Parchment paper under foil prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
Let bacon cool on the baking sheet before transferring to paper towels to continue crisping.
Bacon continues to crisp slightly as it cools.
Good to Know
Refrigerate cooked bacon in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Cook bacon completely, cool, and store refrigerated. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes or on a skillet over low heat.
Serve immediately while hot and crispy, or at room temperature.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the 5-minute cooling period on the pan to allow bacon to crisp further.
Do not omit foil and parchment paper to prevent grease splatter and sticking.
Do not overlap bacon too heavily or thicker pieces may not cook evenly.
Substitutions
removes smoky flavor