Once you make turkey bacon in the oven, you will never make it any other way! Perfectly crispy and zero mess to clean up, this is our favorite way to cook bacon!
My family used to scoff at turkey bacon…that is, until I started making it in the oven. We are team crispy bacon here…and if you have ever had trouble getting your turkey bacon crispy, this is the recipe for you. This oven baked turkey bacon comes out perfectly crisp and produces delicious bacon without all the extra saturated fat from pork bacon. It’s great for breakfast recipes, used in wraps and sandwiches, and can go great with many dinner recipes.
Turkey bacon has become increasingly popular as a lower-fat, lower-calorie alternative to traditional pork bacon But cooking turkey bacon can be tricky – it tends to cook faster than pork bacon and can quickly go from perfect to burnt if you’re not careful. So how long should you cook turkey bacon to get it just right? Here’s a comprehensive guide to cooking times, temperatures, and techniques for perfect turkey bacon every time
How Is Turkey Bacon Different Than Pork Bacon?
Turkey bacon is made from ground or chopped turkey rather than pork belly. It is cured, smoked, and sliced to resemble traditional bacon, but there are some key differences:
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Lower Fat Content – Turkey bacon has around 50% less fat than pork bacon. A 1-ounce serving of turkey bacon has about 3 grams of fat vs 7 grams in pork bacon.
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Fewer Calories – Due to the lower fat content, turkey bacon is lower in calories. You’ll get around 40 calories in a slice of turkey bacon compared to 60 calories in pork bacon.
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Leaner Texture – Without all that fatty pork belly, turkey bacon has a much leaner, meatier texture that can dry out faster.
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Milder Flavor – Many people find the flavor of turkey bacon to be milder than pork bacon. It may lack some of that smoky, salty punch.
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Faster Cooking Time – The leaner cut means turkey bacon tends to cook faster than pork bacon, so it requires closer monitoring.
Oven Cooking Times for Turkey Bacon
Cooking turkey bacon in the oven is hands-down the easiest, least messy cooking method. Here are some approximate oven cooking times for turkey bacon based on temperature:
- 400°F – 10 to 12 minutes
- 375°F – 12 to 15 minutes
- 350°F – 15 to 18 minutes
At higher oven temperatures, turkey bacon will cook faster. At lower oven temps, it will need more time. Regardless of temperature, always keep an eye on it as it cooks and remove it as soon as it reaches your desired level of doneness.
How to Cook Turkey Bacon Perfectly in the Oven
Follow these simple steps for perfect oven-baked turkey bacon every time:
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Preheat oven to 350°F to 400°F. Higher heat will cook faster.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place a wire rack on top (if you have one).
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Arrange bacon strips in a single layer on the rack, making sure they don’t overlap.
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Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until crispy, flipping bacon halfway through. Watch closely to avoid burning.
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Remove from oven and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
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Blot grease with additional paper towels before serving.
Other Turkey Bacon Cooking Methods
While the oven is ideal, you can also cook turkey bacon on the stovetop or in the microwave:
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Stovetop: Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 4-6 minutes per side, adjusting heat as needed.
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Microwave: Place bacon between paper towels and microwave for 2-3 minutes on high, checking frequently.
Both stovetop and microwave cooking require closer monitoring than the oven to avoid overcooking.
How to Tell When Turkey Bacon is Done
It can be tricky to gauge doneness with such a lean cut. Here are some signs your turkey bacon is fully cooked:
- Golden brown color, not pale or pink
- Good crispiness, not rubbery or soft
- Fat is rendered, not flabby
- Internal temperature of at least 165°F
Err on the side of slightly underdone rather than overcooked, as turkey bacon can go from perfect to dry very quickly.
Tips for Perfect Turkey Bacon Every Time
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Choose quality turkey bacon that isn’t overly processed. Look for uncured if possible.
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Cook at higher oven temps for faster cooking with close monitoring.
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Use a baking rack for optimum crispness on both sides.
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Flip halfway through cooking for even browning.
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Blot grease after cooking or the bacon will be limp.
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Add spices or brown sugar for flavor if desired.
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Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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Adjust cook times up or down if your bacon is thicker or thinner cut.
The Takeaway
Cooking turkey bacon just right can be a balancing act. Leaner and quicker-cooking than pork bacon, it requires vigilance to avoid overcooking. For the foolproof oven method, cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Just be ready to pull it as soon as it looks done to prevent burning. With the right techniques, you can enjoy delicious and healthier turkey bacon that’s crispy, not limp or dry.
How long do you bake turkey bacon in the oven?
Curious as to how long to cook turkey bacon? Bacon is one of those foods that everyone seems to like at a different level of crispy, cooked, burned, chewy, etc. The texture that you can cook bacon to can vary widely depending on your personal preference. So, I suggest starting with these cooking times (8-10 minutes, flipping, and then another 8 minutes) and adjusting as necessary, add an additional minute at a time. For crispiest results, cook longer, if you like chewier results, cook for less time.
Quick Tip: Need your bacon done even faster? Using the oven isn’t the only way I enjoy making our bacon, try our Air Fryer Bacon recipe!
- Cooking your bacon in the oven is a great alternative cooking method, if it’s your first time doing so, watch it so you can take a note of how long it took your oven to reach that perfect bacon cooking sweet spot. Since the time needed to bake your bacon can vary from oven to oven, be sure to pay attention the first time so it makes subsequent times even easier.
- You can also line your baking sheet with aluminum foil instead of parchment paper. This also makes for easy cleanup, but I would spray it first, as the bacon could stick.
- If you’re only cooking one sheet pan of bacon, you should place the pan on the center of the oven baking rack so the oven cooks the turkey bacon evenly.
- Always place your slices of turkey bacon in a single layer and don’t overlap them so they cook evenly.
How to Store the Best Turkey Bacon
Bacon is delicious the day that you make it. But if you have more leftovers to save for later, you can place your leftover bacon in an airtight container once they’ve cooled down to room temperature, and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can place your oven baked turkey bacon in freezer-safe bags and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months if desired.
For best results, to reheat your bacon pop it back in the oven for a few minutes.
How To Cook Turkey Bacon In Oven
FAQ
How long is turkey bacon supposed to be cooked?
How long are you supposed to cook bacon?
Can you undercook turkey bacon?
Can you overcook turkey bacon?
How long do you cook turkey bacon in the oven?
Arrange the turkey bacon slices in a single layer on the rack. Place turkey bacon in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through, until done to your liking. Drain on paper towels to absorb any excess grease, or just pat dry with paper towels instead. Cool for a few minutes to get more crispy.
How long do you cook bacon in the oven?
For softer bacon, cook for about 8 minutes. For extra crispy cook for about 13-15 minutes. Once done to your liking, remove from the oven carefully using oven mitts. Next, use a set of kitchen tongs to remove the bacon from the sheet pans. Place cooked bacon strips on a plate that has been lined with paper towels.
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.
How do you cook turkey bacon on a wire rack?
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. After 10 minutes, flip the bacon strips over one by one, and bake them for another 5 minutes. What if I Don’t Own a Wire Rack?