Quit standing by the stove getting splattered by bacon grease. Learn to bake bacon in the oven to make it easier — so you can eat more bacon, more often!
Bacon just may be a magical meat. First off, it tastes amazing. I’ve known many a person to give up their vegetarian ways in the name of bacon.
There’s just something incredibly delicious about that combination of salty, chewy, crispy, mouth-watering, little-bit fatty flavor of bacon. Swoon-worthy for sure.
So, all by itself, bacon wins a few medals. But, then add it to other dishes? Bacon elevates a simple turkey sandwich into a delectable club; a humble pasta dish into food for a king; a basic quiche into something amazing.
Bacon, in a word, ROCKS.
However, there are a few stumbling blocks between you and bacon.
- It can be expensive.
- It takes forever to cook on the stove — and it makes a bit mess with grease splatters. And trust me, you want to cook without messes!
Thankfully, both of these stumbling blocks can be solved quite simply.
Stock up on bacon when you see it on sale.
Since bacon is not typically a cheap food — I’ve seen it as high as $8 or 9/pound — it’s important to buy it on sale. I usually stock up on bacon anytime I see it for $4/pound or under. Typically this is uncured bacon, because that’s what I prefer and tell myself is a little healthier.
But, I’m not opposed to buying conventional bacon at about $3/pound which is my stock-up price. This weekend, Ralphs/Kroger is actually offering a digital coupon to help you score it at that price.
These price points should garner you bacon for 50 to 66 cents per serving.
As with other stocking up I do, I buy as much bacon as I can at a good price and then store it in the freezer. Our family of 8 can easily go through a pound or two in a meal, but if yours is a smaller household, you may want to break up your packets of bacon before stashing them in the freezer. When it was just the two of us, I did this often.
Letting bacon go to waste is a crime.
How do I cook bacon?
Now, you can cook bacon in a skillet on the stove. You don’t need any oil, grease, or fat; the bacon has plenty of its own. Just lay the strips in the pan and turn on the heat to medium. Cook, turning, until the bacon is your desired doneness.
That’s all fine, especially if you’re making a recipe that calls for just one or two slices of bacon. However, if you want to cook a pound or more of bacon, it’s best to bake it.
How to I bake bacon?
Baking bacon is my preferred method. It’s quick and easy, hands-free, and contains the mess in the oven, not my stovetop.
Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.
Separate the slices of bacon and lay them on the sheet. Try to avoid overlapping if you can.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the slices over about midway through cooking time. Use cooking tongs so you don’t burn yourself.
As oven temperatures and thickness of bacon can fluctuate, check often to prevent burning. Don’t burn the bacon!
Drain on paper toweling and serve.
What do you need to bake bacon?
Clearly the process is pretty easy. However, keep in mind that since we’re on a mission to avoid bacon grease all over the kitchen, it’s important to use a couple key tools:
- rimmed baking sheets – You have to have a rim, else the grease will drip and cause a fire in your oven.
- heavy duty aluminum foil – You need the thicker, wider foil in order to really contain the grease. You can use thin standard-size foil, but then you’ll still have to scrub grease off your pan. Trust me.
Quit standing by the stove getting splattered by bacon grease. Learn to bake bacon in the oven to make it easier -- so you can eat more bacon, more often!
- 1 pound bacon preferably uncured
- Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.
- Separate the slices of bacon and lay them on the sheet. Try to avoid overlapping if you can.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the slices over about midway through cooking time. Use cooking tongs so you don't burn yourself.
- As oven temperatures and thickness of bacon can fluctuate, check often to prevent burning. Don't burn the bacon!
- Drain on paper toweling and serve.
To freeze: You can freeze baked bacon to use in other recipes later. After draining the bacon well on paper toweling, package it in a ziptop freezer bag or wrap well in aluminum foil. Store in freezer for up to a month. To use, thaw and reheat.
Recipe cost: $0.50 to $0.66 per serving, based on purchase price of $3 to $4/pound
Bacon Recipes
Loaded Potato Salad with Greek Yogurt, Bacon & Cheddar
Enjoy this tangy and flavorful potato salad studded with bacon and cheddar at your next picnic or BBQ.
Chicken Bacon Subs for the Freezer
You'll be amazed at how simple but how incredibly delicious these Chicken Bacon Subs are. Make extra for the freezer!
Bacon and Spinach Quiche
Wake up to something delicious when you make a Bacon and Spinach Quiche the night before.
Bacon and Broccoli Egg Bake
Dinner for breakfast will be packed with flavor when you prepare this Bacon and Broccoli Egg Bake.
Bacon and Pepper Jack Salad
Bacon and Pepper Jack cheese add a punch of flavor to this simple, yet tasty lunch salad.
Bacon Quiche with Broccoli & Cheddar
Quiche is an elegant way to say Egg Pie, and it's so very yummy with bacon, broccoli, and cheddar cheese!
BBQ Bacon-Onion Cheeseburger Recipe
Forget fast food. You can make a BBQ Bacon-Onion Cheeseburger better at home!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad will help you make the most of your lunch break.
Samwiches: Brie and Bacon Panini with Mushrooms and Onions (A Meal Any Hobbit Would Love)
Samwiches are grilled sandwiches filled with Brie, bacon, and mushrooms - perfect for hobbits and other bacon-lovers.
BBQ Chicken Pizza with Bacon & Pineapple
Add a punch to your pizza with chicken, bacon, and pineapple. This recipe makes it easy.
Bacon and Spinach Frittata Bites
These simple bacon and spinach frittata bites are quick and easy to prepare and are super fun to serve at a party.
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots
Bacon makes everything better, but it makes brussels sprouts fantastic! Who knew?
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms with Bacon & Greens
You won't be able to stop at just one of these Stuffed Mushrooms, laden with bacon and greens. So good!
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Bacon
This Creamy Chicken Pasta is stuffed with bacon, tomatoes, and peas. It tastes fancy, but it's so easy to make!
Chunky Potato Soup with Bacon & Tarragon
Potatoes and bacon make a fantastic pair, especially when you top chunky potato soup with homemade bacon bits.
Easy Jalapeno Poppers with Rice and Bacon
Stretch your bacon purchase with these easy jalapeño peppers stuffed with rice and bacon.
Bacon Cheddar Egg Bake
This Bacon Cheddar Egg Bake is a great way to use up extra bread. Bacon makes it extra fun.
How to Cook Couscous the Easy Way
How to Freeze Berries and Make Good on Summer Sales
The Best Dijon Mustard Marinade for Chicken {Ever}
Rock Taco Night with this Salsa Verde Beef (Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Methods)
Makeover Your Meal Plans
I use this method to bake bacon by the pound. The kids can then heat a slice or two in the microwave anytime they want for breakfast or an after school snack. MUCH cheaper than the ready-to-eat bacon you can purchase.
Yes! And tastes so much better. Some of that ready-to-eat doesn’t taste so great.
Does the bacon splatter all over the oven?
It doesn’t seem to be a big problem, but you may have slight splattering.