Our road to this tasty baked bacon is a bit of a rocky one. I’m good at many things but I’ve never been any good at making bacon. I have no problems admitting to this either, I’ll own up to it and happily offer the bacon making to anyone else!
However, I’m not sure if it’s that I end up cooking it over too high a heat in the skillet or if it’s just cooking for too long. Whatever it is, nine times out of ten if I make it on the stove while cooking other foods, the bacon ends up burnt to a crisp. Years ago I found a solution by cooking it in the microwave using a microwave safe plate and quality paper towels. I was so happy. Perfect bacon, every time.
Yay.
My eldest son is really starting to get into cooking. One morning he went into the kitchen to make breakfast and decided he wanted to make bacon, but he refused to go the microwaved bacon route.
Instead, he wanted to bake it. He also wanted to add a few things to give it a different taste. We talked about it and together we came up with the sweet smoky peppered bacon that you see here. Since then, this is the only bacon he makes and this is his favorite method.
No bacon splatters, no accidental burnt bacon. Perfectly baked bacon, that’s sweet, smoky and perfectly peppered. It literally melts in your mouth thanks to the brown sugar, smoked paprika, and freshly ground black pepper we chose to use. This stuff is delicious on it’s own when served with breakfast, but it’s also amazing in sandwiches! Try it for yourself, you might not go back to boring pan-fried or microwaved bacon.
Ingredients for Sweet Smoky Peppered Baked Bacon:
- 10 slices of thick cut bacon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil, then lay out the strips of bacon. Sprinkle the brown sugar, smoked paprika and ground black pepper onto both side of the bacon, then arrange on foil. I like to make the bacon risen in different spots, rather than laying flat.
Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven on a rack placed in the middle of the oven and allow to bake for about 15-20 minutes. Once cooked, remove bacon from sheet and place on paper towels to soak up some of the grease until cooled. They will crisp just a bit more once removed from the grease.
Serve as a side dish for a meal, like breakfast or brunch with an omelet, or in a breakfast sandwich or BLT!
Enjoy!
How to make perfectly baked bacon, that's sweet, smoky, perfectly peppered and literally melts in your mouth. Yum!
Ingredients
- 10 slices of thick cut bacon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a cookie sheet with foil, then lay out the strips of bacon.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, smoked paprika and ground black pepper onto both side of the bacon, then arrange on foil. I like to make the bacon risen in different spots, rather than laying flat.
- Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven on a rack placed in the middle of the oven and allow to bake for about 15-20 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove bacon from sheet and place on paper towels to soak up some of the grease until cooled. They will crisp just a bit more once removed from the grease.
- Serve as a side dish for a meal, like breakfast or brunch with an omelet, or in a breakfast sandwich or BLT!
- Enjoy!
Do you like baked bacon, or do you make it in a pan (or microwave)?
We have never tried baked bacon, but have heard lots about it. Going to try this on the weekend. I always microwave it and tend to overcook it, so need to mix it up a bit!
Winner, recipe for sure. Whole family will love this.
I love all things bacon, so this sounds delicious. I am certainly going to try it.
I love anything with bacon! Definitely trying this.
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
OMG! What’s not to like here. I’m so making this Memorial Day morn Hope I remember to revisit to tell you how it turned out!