Making turkey bacon in the oven is the easiest, best way to cook it! Get crispy turkey bacon with no more splatters on your stovetop.
Believe it or not, I went through a long stretch of my life where I didn’t like bacon. I’m not really sure why, but I can definitely tell you that that phase is OVER. I love bacon now! In fact, maybe I love cooking bacon in the oven and bacon gravy a little too much.
As I approach a milestone birthday in terms of getting older, I know that I should be watching my health and probably not eating bacon as often as I would like to. But, I feel like there’s a compromise, and that compromise is turkey bacon.
Just like ground turkey or chicken make a decent swap for beef in Asian sloppy joes and Mediterranean meatballs, turkey bacon can be subbed in for regular bacon just about anyplace you want to use it, like Dr. Pepper baked beans and my leftover mashed potatoes recipe.
Today, I’m sharing with you my tried-and-true method for how to bake turkey bacon. While turkey bacon in the air fryer is my favorite when it’s really hot out and I don’t want to heat up my kitchen, the oven is the best way to cook it at all other times!
As a busy home cook, I’m always looking for quick and easy ways to prepare tasty breakfasts. Turkey bacon is a great lower-fat alternative to regular bacon that cooks up crisp and delicious. When wondering how long to cook turkey bacon in the oven at 375°F, I did some experimenting to find the perfect method for getting it just right every time.
Why Cook Turkey Bacon in the Oven?
There are a few key advantages to using the oven instead of the stovetop to cook turkey bacon
-
Even cooking The steady, enveloping heat of the oven cooks the turkey bacon evenly on all sides. No need to flip and risk uneven crispiness!
-
Less splattering: Baking avoids the popping grease you get from frying bacon in a pan. Less mess to clean up.
-
Hands-free: Simply pop it in the oven and go about your morning routine. No need to stand over the stove.
-
Consistent results: Takes the guesswork out of getting perfectly crispy turkey bacon every time.
How Long Should You Cook Turkey Bacon at 375°F?
I’ve found that 15-18 minutes is the ideal cooking time range for turkey bacon in a 375°F oven. Anything less than 15 minutes may result in floppy, undercooked bacon. Going longer than 18 minutes runs the risk of overcooking the bacon until it’s dried out and burned.
The exact time will vary slightly based on the thickness of the turkey bacon slices and your personal preference for crispiness. Thinner slices may take 15 minutes, while thick-cut bacon may need the full 18 minutes. I recommend checking on the bacon around the 15 minute mark and then cooking longer if needed.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here is an easy step-by-step guide to baking turkey bacon in the oven:
-
Preheat oven to 375°F. Give your oven plenty of time to fully preheat before cooking.
-
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. This makes cleanup a breeze.
-
Arrange turkey bacon slices in a single layer on the sheet. Make sure slices are not overlapping.
-
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Set a timer and check doneness around 15 minutes. Cook longer if needed.
-
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. This absorbs any excess grease for crisper bacon.
-
Enjoy right away or let cool completely before storing. Cooked bacon keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Oven Bacon Tips
-
Use a wire rack on the baking sheet for extra crispy bacon that cooks evenly on both sides.
-
Add a dash of pepper or maple syrup before baking for a flavor boost.
-
Cook bacon on the top rack position for best heat circulation.
-
Reheating leftover oven-baked bacon restores crispiness. Bake at 350°F for 5 minutes.
-
Watch carefully near end of cooking time to prevent burning.
Perfect Pairings for Turkey Bacon
Now that you know how long to cook turkey bacon in the oven, it’s time to enjoy it! Here are some of my favorite ways to use up a batch:
-
Crispy topping for salads and soups
-
Sandwich filler along with lettuce, tomato, avocado
-
Breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs and cheese
-
Pizza topping along with veggies and cheese
-
Egg cups with turkey bacon baked right in
-
Turkey club sandwich stacked high
-
Garlicky Brussels sprouts topped with crumbled bacon
-
Baked sweet potatoes or baked potatoes loaded with bacon
So next time you’re prepping a quick breakfast or meal, turn to your oven and this simple baking method for getting the perfect crispy turkey bacon every time. Enjoy!
Is turkey bacon already cooked?
This really depends on the brand, but most national brands of turkey bacon are smoked or cured, but NOT cooked, so you will need to cook the turkey bacon before you eat it.
Unless the package specifically says that the turkey bacon is fully cooked and ready to eat, you should cook it.
How long to cook turkey bacon in the oven MAY depend on the brand of turkey bacon you’re using.
I’ve found that 10 to 15 minutes at 400 degrees is just about right for most turkey bacon from the grocery store.
However, if you’re using something from a butcher shop that may be thinner or thicker, cooking time could vary a little bit.
Again, just keep an eye on it as it cooks.
If you think the turkey bacon you’re using is on the thinner side, set a timer for 10 minutes and check it at that point. If it’s really thick cut turkey bacon, you could be baking turkey bacon up to 22 to 25 minutes to get it crispy.
How To Cook Turkey Bacon In Oven
How do you cook turkey bacon in the oven?
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Lay bacon flat on the lined sheet pan side-by-side, careful to not overlap the bacon. Once the oven is preheated, place bacon in the oven on the middle rack and bake for about 10-12 minutes. Remove and serve. Is turkey bacon healthier than regular bacon?
How long does it take to cook turkey bacon?
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line turkey bacon slices on the wire rack making sure not to overlap. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, flip them and bake for another 5 minutes.
How do you cook turkey bacon in a crock pot?
Prepare the baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or aluminum foil) and place a wire rack on top of the prepared baking sheet. Position the turkey bacon: Line the raw turkey bacon on the wire rack in a single layer. Make sure no strips overlap one another. Bake: Place strips of turkey bacon in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
What temperature should turkey bacon be cooked at?
When the oven baked turkey bacon is fully cooked, use tongs to transfer it to a paper-towel lined plate to blot some of the extra grease before serving. I cook it at 400 degrees, but the temperature is flexible. Don’t stress out about oven temperature too much. You have some flexibility here.