Bacon and sausage are breakfast staples in many households. While frying them on the stovetop is common, did you know that baking them in the oven is an easy, splatter-free alternative?
Oven-baking allows you to cook bacon and sausage to crispy perfection without the mess of grease popping on your stovetop It also frees up space on your cooktop to make other parts of your meal
In this guide, I’ll share my tried and tested method for how to cook bacon and sausage in the oven with ease.
Benefits of Baking vs Frying Bacon and Sausage
Here are some of the biggest advantages of using your oven:
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Less splattering and mess: Contained in the oven, grease and fat won’t pop and splatter all over.
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Even cooking: The hot air circulates all around, cooking the food evenly on all sides.
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Cooks more at once: You can fit a lot more bacon and sausage in the oven at once.
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Hands-free: Simply put it in the oven and set a timer. No need to constantly watch and flip.
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Frees up stovetop: You can use those burners for cooking eggs, pancakes, etc.
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Easier cleanup: Just toss away the foil. No need to scrub a greasy frying pan.
The oven really is the perfect way to achieve crispy, evenly cooked bacon and sausage with hardly any messy cleanup required.
Tips for Choosing Bacon and Sausage
While you can bake most any bacon or sausage, here are some tips for picking the best options:
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Bacon: Opt for thick-cut for crispier results. Go for uncured, naturally smoked bacon when possible.
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Sausage: Choose sausages without a lot of added sugars, which can burn. Smoked chicken sausage is delicious.
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Packaging: Bacon and sausage packed flat in uniform shapes bake more evenly than crumpled irregular packages.
Now let’s get into the step-by-step method for baking.
How to Bake Bacon in the Oven
Follow these simple steps for perfectly crispy oven-baked bacon every time.
1. Preheat Oven to 400oF
Preheating is key for crisping up the bacon nicely.
2. Line a Rimmed Baking Sheet with Foil
Covering the pan with foil makes cleanup a breeze. Crimp up the edges to catch grease.
3. Arrange Raw Bacon Slices in a Single Layer
Make sure the slices aren’t overlapping too much. This allows them to cook evenly.
4. Bake for 15-20 Minutes
Cooking time will vary based on thickness. Check at 15 minutes and adjust time as needed.
5. Flip Bacon Over Halfway Through
Flipping the bacon ensures both sides get evenly crisped.
6. Transfer to a Paper Towel-Lined Plate to Drain
Letting the bacon drain keeps it from getting soggy.
And that’s it! With these simple oven bacon baking tips, you’ll have perfect crispy bacon without the hassle.
How to Bake Sausage in the Oven
Baking sausage in the oven results in evenly browned, delicious links with zero stovetop mess.
1. Preheat Oven to 375°F
This slightly lower temp prevents over-browning the sausages.
2. Line a Baking Sheet with Foil or Parchment Paper
Covering the pan makes cleaning a breeze.
3. Arrange Sausages on the Sheet
Leave about 1-inch between sausages so they brown evenly.
4. Bake for 20-25 Minutes
Cooking time can vary based on size. Check around 20 minutes.
5. Flip Over Halfway Through
Flipping ensures the sausages brown evenly on both sides.
6. Let Cool 5 Minutes Before Serving
A brief cooling keeps the casings from splitting and juices spilling out.
And you’ve got perfectly cooked oven-baked sausage ready to enjoy!
Cooking Bacon and Sausage Together
Want to cook bacon and sausage at the same time? Here are some tips:
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Use two pans or divide one pan into two sections, one for bacon and one for sausage.
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Since they take different times, put sausage in first, then add bacon 10 minutes later.
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Or, cook bacon first for 10 minutes solo until partially done, then add sausage to the pan and continue cooking 10-15 more minutes.
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Aim for 375°F to cook both items thoroughly without over-browning.
With a few simple adjustments, you can easily bake bacon and sausage together to perfection.
Recommended Cook Times
To ensure your bacon and sausage turn out picture perfect, reference these approximate cook times:
Bacon
- Regular sliced bacon: 15-18 minutes
- Thick cut bacon: 18-22 minutes
- Extra thick cut: Up to 25 minutes
Sausage
- Breakfast sausage patties: 15-18 minutes
- Smoked sausage links: 20-25 minutes
- Uncooked bratwurst: 22-28 minutes
Remember that cook times can vary based on your oven and personal taste preferences.
Pro Tips for Baked Bacon and Sausage
Here are some additional professional tips:
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Use a thermometer until you learn perfect doneness. Bacon: 145°F, sausage: 160°F.
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Add flavors by sprinkling brown sugar, maple syrup, herbs, pepper or spices onto the meat before baking.
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Let it cool 1-2 minutes before eating to avoid burning your mouth.
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Make baked breakfast sandwiches by topping baked sausage patties with cheese and an egg.
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Freeze any extra cooked bacon or sausage to reheat later in the microwave.
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Save that bacon grease in a jar! It adds delicious flavor when cooking other foods.
With these handy oven bacon and sausage cooking tricks, you’ll be enjoying mess-free breakfast meats in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about baking bacon and sausage? Here are some common FAQs:
What oven temperature is best?
400°F for bacon and 375°F for sausage generally produces the best results.
Should I flip the meat while cooking?
Flipping halfway through ensures even cooking on both sides.
Do I need to preheat the oven first?
Yes, preheating is important to achieve crispy bacon and properly browned sausage.
Should I use a baking sheet or wire rack?
A rimmed baking sheet lined with foil is ideal. The edges catch grease.
Can I reuse foil or should I use fresh each time?
It’s best to use new foil for each batch for cleanest results.
How do I know when it’s done cooking?
Use visual cues like color and an instant read thermometer to test doneness.
Should I let the meat rest before eating?
Letting it rest 1-2 minutes helps prevent dryness and ensures it won’t burn your mouth.
Enjoy the Convenience of Oven-Baked Bacon and Sausage
Cooking crispy bacon and juicy sausage in the oven couldn’t be easier. With this handy guide, you’ll be able to achieve breakfast meat perfection with no splattering grease messes to clean up.
Give this method a try and say goodbye to hovering over a frying pan on the stove! The oven does all the work for you.