How to Cook Perfectly Crisp Bacon in the Oven (Without All That Greasy Splatter)

Is bacon one of your favorite breakfast foods? Same. However, maybe you're not so keen on cleaning up the grease splatters that come with cooking bacon on the stovetop. (Also, same.) Luckily, we have a go-to method that will produce perfectly crisp bacon and keep your stovetop clean.

This splatter-free technique puts the "bake" back in bacon by cooking it in the oven. It's also perfect for feeding a crowd because you can cook multiple batches at the same time. Just remember that the timing will vary depending on whether you're using thick-cut bacon or regular sliced bacon, like our pick, Pure Farmland Uncured Bacon.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

You'll need baking sheets, parchment paper or aluminum foil, and a plate with paper towels to drain the cooked bacon.

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F degrees.
2. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
3. Lay the bacon strips flat on the baking sheets and make sure the pieces do not overlap.
4. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes or until crisp and browned, but keep an eye on the baking sheets to make sure the bacon does not overcook. Rotate the baking sheets halfway through the baking time.
5. Transfer the bacon strips to a plate covered with paper towels to drain.

Martha's Tips for Baking Bacon

One of Martha's favorite things is cooking bacon in the oven because it's a hands-off technique and doesn't require flipping the strips. Here are her three best tips for baked bacon:

• Use the wire rack for crispier bacon and drain the bacon fat from the baking sheet.
• Collect the bacon fat in a jar and store it in the fridge.
• Use the bacon fat to cook eggs or roast potatoes.

How to Use Bacon

While we'll always love a side of bacon with a stack of fluffy pancakes or scrambled eggs, there are plenty of unexpected ways to enjoy this cured meat at breakfast or brunch. One of our favorites? Add bacon to French toast or make a sandwich with the slices. It's the perfect way to start the day.

Although we agree that bacon is the ultimate breakfast side, we believe this salty bite shouldn't be relegated to mornings only. And now that you have our less messy, oven-baked bacon technique, you'll want to enjoy bacon in other meals, too. Try it as an appetizer with the crowd-pleasing Baked Camembert with Bacon, Rosemary, and Pine Nuts. You can't go wrong by sprinkling bacon over Macaroni and Cheese for dinner or making a big pot of Fresh Angel-Hair Pasta with Bacon and Peas. Also, try adding bacon to vegetable sides, like grilled corn.