How to Bake Thick Cut Bacon

If you love chewy, thick-cut bacon but have a hard time cooking it on the stove, bake it in the oven! To make classic thick-cut bacon, lay the strips on a foil-lined sheet and bake them until they're crisped. For a sweet and smoky flavor, use smoked bacon and brush it with maple syrup a few minutes before it's finished baking. You can make decadent thick-cut bacon by topping it with a brown sugar pecan mixture that will cook on top of the bacon as the strips become golden brown.

Ingredients

Oven-Baked Bacon

1 pound (453 g) of thick-cut bacon

Makes 1 pound (453 g)

Maple-Brushed Roasted Bacon

3/4 pound (340 g) of thick-cut smoked bacon
1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of maple syrup

Makes 3/4 pound (340 g)

Praline Bacon

8 slices of thick-cut bacon
1/2 cup (65 g) of pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup (100 g) of brown sugar
1/4 cup (60 ml) of maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of cayenne powder

Makes 8 slices

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cooking Oven-Baked Bacon

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Use a large, rimmed baking sheet to catch the grease. Lining the bottom and sides of the sheet with aluminum foil will make clean up easier.^{[1]XResearch source}
2
Lay the bacon in a single layer on the foil. Get out 1 pound (453 g) of thick-cut bacon and lay the strips in a single layer on the foil. The strips can touch each other, but avoid overlapping them or they won't cook evenly.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If you want crispier bacon, set a baking rack on the foil-lined sheet. Arrange the bacon on the rack, so air circulates under the bacon as it cooks.
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Put the sheet in the preheated oven and cook the bacon for 10 minutes before you check it. Depending on how thick the bacon is and how chewy you like your bacon, it could be finished after 10 minutes.^{[3]XResearch source}
If you want your bacon to crisp up more, continue to cook it for another 10 minutes before you check it again. You don't need to flip the bacon.^{[4]XResearch source}
Lay a few paper towels on a plate or platter and wear oven mitts to take the sheet of bacon out of the oven. Use tongs to transfer the bacon to the plate. The paper towels will absorb excess grease. Serve the bacon immediately.^{[5]XResearch source}
6
Store leftover bacon for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Place the bacon in an airtight container. You can use the bacon while it's cold, keeping in mind that the bacon will lose its crispiness as it's stored. To reheat the bacon, heat the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until the bacon is heated through.^{[6]XResearch source}
- You can also reheat the bacon in the microwave. Set the bacon on a microwave-safe plate and heat the bacon in 20-second increments until it's heated through.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Maple-Brushed Roasted Bacon

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Cover the sides and bottom of a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. If you don't have aluminum foil, you can use parchment paper. Set a baking rack on the sheet.^{[7]XResearch source}
Arrange 3/4 pound (340 g) of thick-cut smoked bacon on the rack so the slices aren't touching.^{[8]XResearch source}
Put the sheet in the preheated oven and cook the bacon until it starts to turn brown and crispy around the edges.^{[9]XResearch source}
4
Brush the bacon with maple syrup. Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of maple syrup into a small prep bowl. Put on oven mitts and use them to take the baking sheet out of the oven. Dip a pastry or barbecue brush in the maple syrup and spread it over each slice of bacon.^{[10]XResearch source}
- For the best result, use real maple syrup (not pancake syrup) for this recipe.
- Use caution when handling the sheet because there will be hot grease under the baking rack.
Put the sheet back in the oven and cook it until the bacon is completely browned and crispy.^{[11]XResearch source}
Remove the sheet from the oven and lay paper towels on a serving platter. Use tongs to transfer the bacon from the rack to the paper-towel lined platter and serve the slices immediately.^{[12]XResearch source}
7
Refrigerate leftover bacon for 4 to 5 days. Put the bacon in an airtight container. If you like, use the bacon while it's cold, keeping in mind that the bacon will lose its crispiness as it's stored. You can also reheat the bacon by heating it in a skillet over medium heat until the bacon is heated through.^{[13]XResearch source}
- You can also reheat the bacon in the microwave. Set the bacon on a microwave-safe plate and heat the bacon in 20-second increments until it's heated through.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cooking Praline Bacon

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If you don't have parchment paper, you could use aluminum foil. Ensure that the bottom and sides of the rimmed baking sheet are covered.^{[14]XResearch source}
Set a baking rack on the foil-lined sheet. Take 8 slices of thick-cut bacon and lay them on the baking rack so there's at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between them. The rack will allow air to circulate under the bacon, so it becomes crispy.^{[15]XResearch source}
Put the baking sheet with bacon in the preheated oven. Cook the bacon until it begins to crisp a little at the edges, but hasn't finished cooking in the center. This should take 15 minutes.^{[16]XResearch source}
Get out a small bowl and put 1/2 cup (65 g) of finely chopped pecans into it. Stir in 1/2 cup (100 g) of brown sugar, 1/4 cup (60 ml) of maple syrup, and 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of cayenne powder. The mixture should be sandy.^{[17]XResearch source}
Remove the sheet of bacon from the oven and divide the praline mixture evenly among the strips. Use a spoon to spread the mixture across each strip.^{[18]XResearch source}
Return the sheet to the oven and cook the bacon until it's completely baked and the topping becomes crispy. This should take 8 to 10 minutes.^{[19]XResearch source}
Transfer the maple praline bacon to a platter and serve it immediately. If you'd like the praline to harden, let it cool completely or refrigerate it before serving.^{[20]XResearch source}
Put the bacon in an airtight container. Use the bacon while it's still cold. You won't be able to reheat the bacon because the praline will liquefy and run off of the bacon.^{[21]XResearch source}

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How do you know when thick cut bacon is done?
How.com.vn Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
How.com.vn Staff Editor
Staff Answer
The best way to tell if bacon is done is to check that it’s at least a little crispy. Because of the curing process, your bacon may still look a bit red or pink even when it’s fully cooked.
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Is thick cut bacon better than thin cut bacon?
How.com.vn Staff Editor
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
How.com.vn Staff Editor
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It’s totally a matter of preference! Thick-cut bacon takes a little longer to cook than standard bacon, but you may find that it works better for adding to soups and salads since it’s a little more chunky and substantial. The healthiest bacon is center-cut, which is leaner than standard or thick-cut bacon.
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Is it bad to cook eggs in bacon grease?
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
How.com.vn Staff Editor
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Bacon grease makes a delicious and flavorful cooking fat for eggs. If you’re worried about your cholesterol, though, keep in mind that bacon grease is very high in saturated fat. It’s probably okay as an occasional treat, but it won’t be great for your health if you do it every day.
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