How to cook twisted bacon (or candied bacon) in the oven for an easy, hands-free bacon breakfast! Great for holidays or a crowd, because let's face it - everyone loves bacon.
Photo by Lyons Store
How-To: Making Sheet Pan Bacon
Making sheet pan bacon is as easy as 1-2-3. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to get you started:
Preheat Your Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is heating up, line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. I was out, so I didn’t line my pan, and it was just fine;)
Arrange the Bacon: Take out a slice of bacon and twist it tight. - Or if you don't want it twisted, just lay them flat. Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan. Make sure the slices are not overlapping to ensure even cooking.
Bake to Perfection: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and let the bacon bake for 15-30 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Keep an eye on it towards the end to prevent burning.
And that's it! You'll have perfectly cooked sheet-pan bacon ready to enjoy in just a few simple steps.
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Sheet Pan Bacon Made in the Oven:
If you're a bacon lover like me, then this post is for you. In this blog post, we'll explore everything from the basics of sheet pan bacon to some twisted variations that will allow you to cook even more bacon, quickly! Whether you're cooking for a large group or just want to indulge in some mess-free bacon goodness, we've got you covered. So, let's dive right in!
You'll also love my Cottage Cheese High Protein Bagels, and this Egg Strata Recipe!
How to Cook Bacon in Toaster Oven
🔥 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Line the tray:
Line your toaster oven tray with foil or parchment paper to catch grease. If you have a small wire rack, place it on top of the tray. - Arrange the bacon:
Lay bacon strips flat, without overlapping. Slight overlap is fine since bacon shrinks as it cooks. - Set your toaster oven:
- Temperature: 400°F
- Mode: Bake or Convection Bake (if available)
- Cook:
- Regular bacon: 10–12 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon: 14–16 minutes
Watch closely near the end — toaster ovens vary!
- Drain & serve:
Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to drain excess grease.
💡 Pro Tips
- Less mess: Use foil with raised edges to contain grease.
- Crispier texture: Cook on a rack so fat drips away.
- Chewy bacon lovers: Drop the temp to 375°F and cook a few minutes less.
Why the Twist?
Thats easy! Its because you can fit an entire pound of bacon on one sheet pan!!! I know right??
Why I Love This Recipe!
Easy To Make! Simply twist and bake! No fuss no muss!
Easy Cleanup! Since the bacon isn’t cooked in the frying pan you get to skip the grease splatter and messy cleanup! Simply roll up the parchment paper or foil after it’s cooled and toss away the mess!
Hands Off! When you think of making bacon, you probably think of putting it on in batches, watching and flipping it, moving it, taking it off, and putting more on to cook. With this recipe, the only hands-on part is twisting it before you put it in the oven and then flipping it halfway through!
Twisted! Twisting the bacon lets you put more bacon on a single sheet pan!
Photo by Lyons Store
How to Cook Turkey Bacon in Oven
Here’s the difference when baking turkey bacon in the oven vs. regular pork bacon:
✅ Key Differences:
- Time: Turkey bacon cooks faster. It usually takes 10–15 minutes at 400°F, while regular bacon often takes 15–20 minutes.
- Texture: Turkey bacon won’t get as crispy or render fat the same way, so keep an eye on it—overcooking makes it dry and leathery.
- Grease: You’ll see less grease, so lining your pan with parchment or foil is still helpful, but not as crucial.
✅ Quick Tips:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Use a wire rack on a sheet pan for even crisping (optional).
- Flip halfway if you want both sides evenly crisped.
- Start checking at the 10-minute mark.
Want it extra crispy? Broil for the last 1–2 minutes—but watch it closely!
How do I make Candied Bacon?
Before you twist it, arrange the bacon on the sheet pan, sprinkle with the black pepper (optional), and lightly pat the brown sugar on the bacon to create a thin layer.
FAQ: Twisted Sheet Pan Bacon
Yes, you can! Sheet-pan bacon is perfect for meal prep. Cook up a batch ahead of time, let it cool, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. When ready to enjoy it, reheat it in the oven or air fryer.
Once your sheet pan bacon is cooked to crispy perfection, you'll want to store any leftovers properly to ensure they stay fresh. Here's how:
Cool Completely: Allow the cooked bacon to cool completely to room temperature before storing.
Use cold bacon – Straight from the fridge makes it easier to handle and twist tightly.
Hold one end firmly, then twist the other end around like you’re wringing out a towel.
Keep twisting until it coils tightly—it should look like a spiral rope.
Press both ends down onto the sheet pan so it holds the twist.
Optionally, use a toothpick at each end to keep the twist in place (remove before serving).
Bake at 400°F for 30–35 minutes, flipping halfway if needed.
Bonus Tip:
Thicker bacon holds the twist better and gets that crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside texture everyone loves.
Once your sheet pan bacon is cooked to crispy perfection, you'll want to store any leftovers properly to ensure they stay fresh. Here's how:
Cool Completely: Allow the cooked bacon to cool completely to room temperature before storing.
Store in an Airtight Container: Transfer the cooled bacon slices to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.
Refrigerate or Freeze: Refrigerate the bacon for short-term storage (up to a week) or freeze it for longer-term storage (up to a few months).
Reheat When Ready to Eat: When you're ready to enjoy your bacon, simply reheat it in the oven, microwave, or skillet until warmed through and crispy.
I hope you give this bacon recipe a try and let me know what you think!
Twisted Oven Baked Sheet Pan Baco
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon Or turkey bacon (see notes)
- brown sugar optional
- cracked pepper optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. You can lay a cooling rack on the sheet pan if you'd like.
- Twist each piece of bacon in a single layer onto a baking sheet or cooling rack, making sure not to overlap. Twist the bacon tightly. Place them closely on the baking sheet so they don’t unravel.
- Bake until your desired crispness, 15 to 25 minutes. (Thin slices will cook more quickly!)
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and serve.
Notes
- Use cold bacon – Straight from the fridge makes it easier to handle and twist tightly.
- Hold one end firmly, then twist the other end around like you’re wringing out a towel.
- Keep twisting until it coils tightly—it should look like a spiral rope.
- Press both ends down onto the sheet pan so it holds the twist.
- Optionally, use a toothpick at each end to keep the twist in place (remove before serving).
- Bake at 400°F for 30–35 minutes, flipping halfway if needed.
Bonus Tip: - Thicker bacon holds the twist better and gets that crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside texture everyone loves.
- Time: Turkey bacon cooks faster. It usually takes 10–15 minutes at 400°F, while regular bacon often takes 15–20 minutes.
- Texture: Turkey bacon won’t get as crispy or render fat the same way, so keep an eye on it—overcooking makes it dry and leathery.
- Grease: You’ll see less grease, so lining your pan with parchment or foil is still helpful, but not as crucial.
✅ Quick Tips:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Use a wire rack on a sheet pan for even crisping (optional).
- Flip halfway if you want both sides evenly crisped.
- Start checking at the 10-minute mark.
Lauren Lane says
Perfect for a hands-free brunch or breakfast side dish. The candy version is to die for. Let me know if you tried it!