Perfect Crispy Bacon in the Toaster Oven

Next to my Ninja Foodie, my countertop toaster oven is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. We bought it because our rescue dog, Trucker, gets scared and runs outside whenever we use the main oven so I had to learn how to cook bacon in the toaster oven.

Trucker is a rescue and we’ve had him for quite a few years. I honestly don’t use the oven much so I’m not really surprised we never noticed he wasn’t around but it turns out, when the oven is in use, he high tails it outside. We don’t know if it’s that he smells the gas, or when it heats up it makes noise when a pan is in there, we just don’t know.

So that’s why we bought the toaster oven, so he wouldn’t be scared and run outside.

Getting crispy bacon in the microwave works and works good but I got tired of the greasy paper towels, greasy paper plates, greasy drips and splatters so I had to try a different solution to avoid these annoying greasy things going on.

Enter the cooking bacon in the toaster oven.

Why Cook Bacon in the Toaster Oven?

  1. Less Mess: There is no greasy paper towels or splatters.
  2. Even Cooking: The toaster oven achieves a perfect, crispy texture.
  3. So Convenient: Easy setup and easy cleanup.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I think cooking bacon in the toaster oven turned out pretty darn good – and crispy.

I used a small oven safe pan, lined it with aluminum foil (be sure the aluminum foil does not touch the heating elements), put four pieces of the cut in half bacon in the dish. I took out the top rack and cooked on the lowest rack.

Safety Tip: Do not use paper plates in the toaster oven, that's a big no-no. Basically anything you wouldn't put in the oven, don't put it in the toaster oven.

How to Cook Bacon in the Toaster Oven

Preparation

  • Line a small oven-safe pan with aluminum foil (avoid contact with heating elements). I used my Corning Ware small casserole.
  • Place bacon strips in the pan. For smaller pans, cut the bacon in half.

Cooking

  • No need to preheat the toaster oven.
  • Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cook for 12 minutes.
  • Turn the bacon over and cook for another 12 minutes.
  • When the bacon is finished cooking, remove from pan and place on a paper towel to absorb excess grease.

Tips

  • Avoid using paper plates in the toaster oven.
  • For best results, bacon strips should not overlap.
  • Cooking times may vary based on toaster oven model and bacon thickness. Adjust as needed to avoid burning.

I suppose depending on the toaster oven you have the time could be a little more or a little less, but for my basic toaster oven, these times worked perfect. Times may also vary with thicker cuts of bacon. I would suggest you keep an eye on it to avoid burning the bacon, especially if it’s the first time using the toaster oven for cooking bacon. Also, if you don’t want the bacon cut in half you can use a larger oven safe pan and cook it full slices.

Benefits of Using the Toaster Oven

  • No More Greasy Microwave: Avoids the greasy aftermath of microwave bacon.
  • Perfect for BLTs: Cutting bacon in half fits perfectly in smaller pans.
  • Less Stress for Pets: Trucker stays calm and happy when we use the toaster oven.

This method results in delicious, crispy bacon with minimal mess.

Here is the finished product. Nicely cooked bacon, just the way we like it. Enjoy learning how to cook bacon in your toaster oven.

Perfectly Cooked Toaster Oven Bacon.