A few years ago, I discovered making dessert bacon in the oven with brown sugar and spices but I never extended that trick to actually preparing my every-day bacon that way. Silly, silly me.
Do you like how I casually toss around the term, “every-day bacon?” Although I grew up with bacon as a special Sunday breakfast treat (but only twice a month because we alternated weeks with sausage links), as an adult with total control of the refrigerator contents, I try not to let too many days go by without bacon in something. Anything. And now that I know how easy it is to bake bacon in the oven, I have definitely figured out a way to incorporate more bacon into my life. Because, well, bacon.
If you are still making bacon on your stovetop and creating a colossal, greasy mess, please stop.
Baked bacon will change your life. I will give you a recipe, but it’s really another recipe-less recipe. Put some bacon on a foil-lined cookie pan. Put it in the oven. Turn the oven on – I set it to 200 degrees. When it smells done, take it out. Like it crispier? Keep it in longer. Like it a little bit chewy, pull it out earlier. Got it? So easy.
Baked bacon has made our favorite lunchtime sandwich so much easier. Baked bacon BLT sandwiches are the bomb. They might be better than stovetop-cooked bacon BLT sandwiches simply because I have practically nothing to clean up. At first, it feels like cheating… but you’ll get over it.
After your bacon comes out of the oven, use some tongs and carefully lay your bacon on paper towels to absorb some excess grease. Or, if you are like us, and never have paper towels in the house, just lay the bacon on a plate.
While your bacon is baking, prep your other BLT ingredients. Slice your tomatoes, wash and dry your lettuce or mixed greens, and get out the mayo. We like to lightly toast our bread and, if we have any in the house, slices of avocado puts a baked bacon BLT over the top.
In my oven, baking bacon takes about 15 to 20 minutes if I start from a cold oven – just the right amount of time to get your sandwiches lined up and ready to go! Who else needs to get on the baked bacon bandwagon? Come along … there’s no going back.
Baked Bacon BLT
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 large tomato
- 3 pieces Romaine lettuce or a handful of mixed greens
- 12 slices of bread , lightly toasted
- Mayonnaise , to taste
Instructions
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On a cookie pan lined with foil, evenly space out 6 slices of bacon (or more, if desired!).
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Put in the oven and turn the oven to 200 degrees. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Depending on your personal taste, your bacon might take more or less time to cook. Keep an eye on it.
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While the bacon is baking, slice your tomato, wash your lettuce or mixed greens, and toast your bread.
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Take your bacon out of the oven and put the bacon on paper towels to absorb the excess grease.
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Prepare your sandwiches! Spread mayo on both slices of bread, layer with Romaine lettuce or mixed greens, a slice of tomato, and bacon. Enjoy!
I have tried so many times to do bacon in the oven with no avail. But I love bacon with no mess so I may have to try again this way!!! Love BLTs! Would love it if you would come over and add this to my link party!
Thanks, Amber! I will do that! Have you tried cooking it on foil? And do you start from a cold oven? Since I get my bacon from a local farmer, I don’t always have uniform thickness so I really need to rely on smell! If it starts to smell like it’s burning, I grab it. If it looks “almost” done, I leave it on the pan for a few more minutes after I take it out of the oven to crisp a little bit more. I also don’t crowd the pan… I hope that you try to bake bacon again – one less mess to clean up has been worth the trial and error!
I honestly can’t remember! I’ll have to give it another go. Usually when I do it, it’s before coffee has had a change to set in. Thanks for the tips!!
Erin,
I am definitely a fan of crispier bacon than you are! I typically bake mine at 375 for half an hour or more, though I’ve never tried foil–perhaps that helps the lower temperature to work better. I love BLTs, and last year made it a point to have either a BLT or a simple tomato sandwich at least once a week during the tomato season. It was kind of a drag come October, but by November 1st I was realizing my sandwiches were about to end and eating with much enjoyment.
Thanks for a preview to summer!
I wonder if your bacon cuts are thicker than mine, Kirsten? I am with you on the once-a-week BLT during tomato season!
I started baking bacon a few months ago! It is so much easier and the kitchen stays so much cleaner. I will say I found thick cut works the best for me, the thinner stuff never ends up turning out for me.
The clean kitchen is such a win!
LOL at the mug!! That’s hilarious!
Bacon is LIFE!
I can smell the deliciousness from right here! Thanks for sharing!!!
You are welcome! LOVE the smell of crispy bacon cooking…