If you love crispy, flavorful turkey bacon, then baking it in the oven is the way to go! Baked turkey bacon in oven ensures even cooking, less fat, fewer calories, and an easier cleanup compared to cooking it in a skillet. No more standing over a hot stove—just lay the strips on a baking sheet, pop them in the oven, and let them crisp up to perfection!
The best way to cook turkey bacon is in the oven! Not only does it cook evenly and crisp up beautifully, but it also means less grease, fewer calories, and an easy cleanup. Unlike cooking it on the stove top, which can lead to uneven cooking and a greasy mess, baking it allows the bacon to cook perfectly on a sheet pan with no need for flipping.
Turkey bacon is a great alternative to pork, making it perfect for those who can’t or choose not to eat pork. It’s leaner, yet still deliciously crispy and flavorful. If you love making easy, hands-off meals, don’t forget to try Instant Pot soup, easy chili mac, or learn how to cook beef stew in an Instant Pot for more convenient, hassle-free cooking. With this simple turkey bacon in the oven method, you’ll have a healthier, mess-free way to enjoy crispy bacon every time!
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Why We Love This Turkey Bacon In Oven
- Hands-off cooking!
Unlike pan-frying, which requires constant attention to prevent burning, this baked turkey bacon in the oven method is mostly hands-off. Just place the bacon on a sheet pan, pop it in the oven, and let it crisp up while you prep the rest of breakfast. You’ll have time to cook eggs, toast bread, or make coffee while it bakes to perfection! - Less mess and easier clean up!
The best way to cook turkey bacon is in the oven because it eliminates the grease splatters you get from cooking on the stovetop. No more wiping down counters and stovetops after frying! Plus, if you line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, cleanup is almost effortless—no scrubbing required! - Perfectly even, crispy strips!
Oven-baked turkey bacon cooks evenly from edge to edge, ensuring crispy yet tender strips every time. No more curling, overcooked edges, or undercooked centers—just consistent, golden-brown, lighter, leaner, and delicious!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Turkey bacon: This recipe uses turkey bacon, which is a leaner, lower-fat alternative to pork. If it isn’t available, you can substitute with traditional pork or plant-based bacon alternatives, adjusting cooking time slightly if needed.
- Ground black pepper (optional): Adding freshly ground black pepper before baking provides a delicious, savory kick. You can also experiment by adding garlic powder, smoked paprika, or chili flakes for more flavor variations. If you prefer it plain, simply leave the seasoning off.
Recipe Variations
- Maple-glazed: Brush the slices with pure maple syrup before baking for a touch of sweetness that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
- Smoky & spicy twist: Add a dash of smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or chili powder for a smoky, spicy flavor.
- Dairy-free & gluten-free option: This turkey bacon in the oven recipe is naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a great choice for those with dietary restrictions. Just be sure to check the ingredient label on your turkey bacon slices to avoid any hidden additives.
- Honey mustard: In a small bowl, mix honey and Dijon mustard, then lightly brush it over the bacon before baking for a tangy-sweet flavor.
- Garlic herb: Sprinkle the bacon with a mix of garlic powder, black pepper, and Italian seasoning for a savory, herb-infused twis
Get more breakfast recipes!
With these tasty recipes, you’ll have a complete breakfast on the table fast. Everyone loves these Bisquick lemon blueberry muffins or cinnamon coffee cake muffins, paired with a scrambled egg sandwich for a leisurely weekend breakfast or brunch.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Baking rack – metal cooling rack
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment paper (optional)
Best Way To Cook Turkey Bacon
- Preheat the oven according to its type.
If you’ll be using a conventional oven, set the temperature to 425º F. Baking in a convection oven or air fryer requires lower heat. If needed, preheat convection ovens to 400º F.
- Line your baking sheet.
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to lessen the cleanup. Then, set the baking rack on top of the lined baking sheet.
- Leave space between the strips.
Arrange the strips in a single layer on the rack, and don’t overlap them. Leave 1/4″ space between the strips. This lets the air circulate between them.
- Avoid overcooking.
Since turkey is leaner than pork bacon, overcooking it can make it dry, tough, and overly chewy kind of like beef jerky. Check the oven around the 12-minute mark to prevent overcooking. - Drain excess grease.
After cooking, use tongs to move the baked strips from the pan. Place them between sheets of paper towel (or blot) to remove any excess grease and fat.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
PRO TIP – Don’t throw away excess bacon grease!!
If there’s enough grease on the baking sheet, you can tilt the pan so it accumulates into one corner. Then, pour the grease into a heat-proof glass or canning jar. Cover and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Use the bacon grease instead of oil or butter for extra flavor when making southern recipes like this cornbread recipe using self rising flour or turkey biscuits and gravy.
Serving Suggestions
Looking for more serving suggestions? Well, serve this up with this tater tot breakfast, toast, Bisquick pancakes, or crispy breakfast potatoes. Turkey bacon can also pair well with a BLT using this whole wheat sandwich bread, or chopped up in this green goddess cob salad (a Panera copycat recipe).
No matter how you choose to enjoy your bacon, we know you will enjoy this recipe!
Recipe FAQs
It is not precooked, but it is smoked or cured. Be sure to cook your meat completely through, if in doubt ensure it is cooked to 165ºF.
You can bake it on an oven-safe wire rack without parchment paper or foil underneath. However, using it makes cleanup much easier!
Yes, it is possible to undercook meat. Whether it’s cured, smoked, or nitrate-free, poultry bacon is unsafe to eat without cooking it to an internal temperature of 165°F.
At an oven temperature of 425° Fahrenheit, it takes approximately 16 minutes to cook slices of crispy turkey bacon.
To keep your turkey bacon strips fresh and crispy, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, place the cooked bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes before transferring it to a freezer-safe bag or container. This prevents the slices from sticking together, making it easy to grab and reheat individual pieces.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen turkey bacon, simply reheat it in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until warmed through and crispy again!
More Breakfast Ideas To Love…
- Recipes for Frittata with Ham
- Sourdough Starter Pancakes
- Pancakes on the Griddle
- Original Bisquick Waffle Recipe
If you tried this turkey bacon in oven recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Baked Turkey Bacon in Oven
Equipment
- baking rack - metal cooling rack
- rimmed baking sheet
- parchment paper - optional
Ingredients
- 12 – 16 ounces turkey bacon
optional
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
- Spray the baking sheet with cooking oil or use my recommended method of lining with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place the flat baking rack on top of the baking sheet.
- Add the strips of bacon to the baking rack, leaving 1/4" of space around them. If using pepper, sprinkle or rub that ton. Bake for 8 minutes, then flip the slices over and bake for 8 minutes more for crispy bacon (see notes below for chewier bacon).
- Using tongs, remove the crisp strips and place them between paper towels to blot the remaining grease and fat.
Notes
- Maple-glazed: Brush the slices with pure maple syrup before baking for a touch of sweetness that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
- Smoky & spicy twist: Add a dash of smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or chili powder for a smoky, spicy flavor.
- Dairy-free & gluten-free option: This turkey bacon in oven recipe is naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a great choice for those with dietary restrictions. Just be sure to check the ingredient label on your turkey bacon slices to avoid any hidden additives.
- Honey mustard: In a small bowl, mix honey and Dijon mustard, then lightly brush it over the bacon before baking for a tangy-sweet flavor.
- Garlic herb: Sprinkle the bacon with a mix of garlic powder, black pepper, and Italian seasoning for a savory, herb-infused twis
- This recipe makes crispy turkey bacon. If you prefer chewier bacon, then reduce the oven temperature to 400º F and bake for 10 minutes on each side.
- To keep your turkey bacon strips fresh and crispy, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, place the cooked bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes before transferring it to a freezer-safe bag or container. This prevents the slices from sticking together, making it easy to grab and reheat individual pieces.
- When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen turkey bacon, simply reheat it in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until warmed through and crispy again!
Nutrition
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Beth says
This is some of the best turkey bacon I’ve ever made. I love how easy it is to cook it in the oven and how there’s so little cleanup vs. stovetop.
Tara says
Oooh, I love how you got that crispy texture from the oven! Definitely less mess than on the stove and so easy too.
Dina and Bruce says
The addition of pepper was so good!!
Donalyn says
This is definitely the best way to cook bacon – thanks for all the great tips!