Toaster Oven Bacon

Making toaster oven bacon is the best way to get hot & crispy bacon in no time. If you ever wondered, if can you cook bacon in a toaster oven, you are not alone. I have had a few friends personally ask me over the years and I am always happy to answer - yes! The best way to cook bacon when you only need a few slices is in the toaster oven.

In just a few minutes your breakfast side dish will be ready. What I love about making bacon this way is that it is perfect for making only 1 or 2 servings of bacon at a time. So whether I need a fast keto breakfast or want a few slices for a BLT for lunch, cooking bacon in the toaster oven is my go-to recipe.

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Benefits of Toaster Oven Cooking

Why is cooking bacon in a toaster oven so wonderful? Beyond it coming out tasty and crisp, it also is less messy. Instead of grease splattering in a frying pan, the toaster oven is a cleaner way to cook bacon. It also uses less energy than turning on a full-sized regular oven. I also find that it cooks things more evenly than when in the microwave.

Therefore, when you only need a few slices of bacon for one serving or to add to a meal, this recipe is perfect. A great way to cook up some bacon for cheeseburgers or Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Bacon. I also love getting out the waffle iron for some homemade mochi waffles to serve with this.

Jump to:

• Benefits of Toaster Oven Cooking
• Ingredients
• Different Kinds of Bacon
• How To Cook Bacon in the Toaster Oven
• Temperature & Cooking Times
• How Long to Cook Bacon in a Toaster Oven
• Substitutions
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top tip
• Toaster Oven Bacon

Ingredients

Making bacon in your toaster oven is not so much a recipe as it is a way to cook it. However, there is still an important ingredient - BACON! Cooking it in a toaster oven is great when you only need about 6 or fewer slices and not the entire package cooked. The small sheet pan that fits into my large toaster oven/air fryer, fits 6 slices maximum for cooking.

How Many Slices in a Pound of Bacon?

A package of bacon typically has about a pound of bacon. The Kirkland Low-Sodium bacon I used here had 16 slices to it. Depending on the brand or kind of bacon, there is a bit of difference in the number of slices in each package. For a typical one-pound package of regular sliced bacon, there are about 16-20 slices. If it is thick-sliced, there are fewer and only about 12-15 slices.

For smaller packages that are under a pound, there may be fewer slices. I get a free package of bacon (for life!) in my monthly Butcher Box subscription. Yeah for free bacon. It's uncured, nitrate-free, and sugar-free which is ideal for those on a keto or low-carb diet. Each package has about 9-10 slices in the 10oz package.

Different Kinds of Bacon

As shown, I am cooking regular pork bacon in the toaster oven. But you may be wondering, can I cook turkey bacon or vegan bacon in the toaster oven too? Yes, you can. Keep in mind they will need different cooking times and temperatures to be cooked correctly.

For reference, this recipe calls for regular-cut pork bacon. For information about thick-cut bacon, turkey bacon, and other kinds of bacon, see the substitution section below.

How To Cook Bacon in the Toaster Oven

Bacon needs to be cooked in a pan that will fit in your toaster oven. Simply placing it on a rack will not suffice - what a mess that fatty & slippy bacon will make. If you do not have a pan that came with your toaster oven, you can use another oven-safe rectangular pan. I suggest lining the bottom of the pan with foil, clean-up is so much easier.

I also suggest using a rack that fits into the small pan. Having the bacon elevated out of the bacon drippings helps to crisp it up more. If you do not have one, that is ok and it will cook just fine but may not be as crispy. See my recommendations below for great toaster oven accessories like pans, racks, and more.

Depending on the size of your bacon and your pan, you should be able to fit up to 5-6 slices.

Hint: If your bacon is frozen, you can quickly defrost it in the microwave for a few minutes on defrost. Remove it from the package and place the packaged bacon on a microwave-safe plate. This may take about 3-5 minutes on the defrost mode. It will require the bacon to be flipped and moved around as needed.

Temperature & Cooking Times

Chewy, crisp, or extra crispy is a common debate on how people like their bacon. No matter how soft or well-done you like your bacon, cooking it in the toaster oven makes it come out perfect. The key is making sure you cook it at the right temperature and for the right amount of minutes.

The best temperature to cook bacon in your toaster oven is to set it on bake at 425°. If you have a convection oven mode on your toaster oven, you can use that to cook bacon too. Since convection cooking cooks faster than a regular oven temperature, set your temperature to 400° when making bacon in a convection toaster oven.

How Long to Cook Bacon in a Toaster Oven

Below is all the information on baking bacon in the toaster oven. Here are the temperature and baking times need to get bacon the way you like it. Once you get the bacon on the baking pan rack, preheat the toaster oven to 425°. Set the timer for 12-18 minutes depending on how you like your bacon.

• Soft & Chewy - 12 minutes
• Crispy - 15 minutes
• Extra Crispy - 18 minutes

Bacon Cooked for 12 Minutes

Here is what the bacon will look like after 12 minutes in the toaster oven.

Bacon Cooked for 15 Minutes

Here is what the bacon will look like after 15 minutes in the toaster oven.

Bacon Cooked for 18 Minutes

Here is what the bacon will look like after 18 minutes in the toaster oven. It is extra crispy. This is how our family likes it. This is also best for making bacon bits to crumble on soups, salads, chili, and casseroles. Also great in recipes like my Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Blue Cheese.

For turkey bacon lovers, you may also want to try making it in the microwave oven or regular oven.

Once the bacon has been cooked to your liking, remove the pan carefully from the toaster oven. Use a good quality oven mitt and be careful as bacon grease is very hot and may pop. Using tongs, remove the cooked bacon from the baking tray. Place cooked slices on a plate that has been lined with paper towels.

Substitutions

For a quick guide on cooking other kinds of bacon in a toaster oven, see the information below. I have only tested the turkey bacon cooking temperature and times in the toaster oven. However, the other information comes from other tasty blogs that have made different kinds of bacon for eating.

Cooking Different Kinds of Bacon

The time ranges shared below will result in soft bacon for the lower end of the range to extra crispy at the high end. Making bacon to your liking has never been easier. Use these cooking times and temperatures for baking bacon alternatives.

• Turkey - 400° for 8-13 minutes
• Thick-Cut Bacon - 425° for 15-20 minutes
• Vegan Bacon - best to follow the package instructions for baking but drop the temperature by 25° and cook for 1-3 minutes less. (small toaster ovens tend to cook quicker than full-sized ovens)

Equipment

This recipe calls for a toaster oven and a few accessories. I like to make my bacon on a rack over a baking pan, as seen above. If you do not have a rack, that is ok too but your bacon may not be as crispy. I recommend getting one for the next time you put bacon in your toaster oven. They are reasonably priced and relatively small so they don't take up too much cupboard space.

Whether you want a small or large toaster oven to fit under the counter, here are the Best Toaster Ovens Under $100. What I love about many of these is that they do more than toast or bake. Several also have air frying, dehydrating, and pizza-baking functions. A great way to have one appliance do so many things. That is ideal for any home, dorm room, office, or RV.

Here are a few top-quality models and equipment that I recommend for this recipe and so many other tasty things you can make in a toaster oven. I own the Breville model and absolutely love it - toast, bake, air fry, pizza making, broil, & more!

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Storage

If you have leftover cooked bacon, you are like a rare unicorn. Seriously, we never have leftover bacon in our house. However, if you find yourself with leftover bacon, it can be stored in the refrigerator. Wrap it up in foil or plastic wrap or place it in an air-tight container or ziplock bag. Place it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Top tip

Leftover cooked bacon can also be stored in the freezer. Store in an air-tight container for up to 30 days. You can also refreeze any uncooked bacon. This is handy since with this recipe you are only cooking part of the full package.