Perfect Oven-Baked Bacon for Feeding a Crew

Forget standing over a hot stovetop, flipping strips one by one while grease pops everywhere. When you're cooking bacon for 10 people in a galley, the oven is your best friend. This method delivers perfectly cooked bacon every time - whether you like it chewy or crispy - with minimal mess and maximum efficiency.

Why Oven-Baked Bacon Rules the Galley

Let's be honest - cooking bacon for a group on a stovetop is a recipe for chaos. Grease splattering, uneven cooking, and standing there for 30 minutes flipping strips. The oven method solves all of these problems while giving you perfectly flat, evenly cooked bacon every single time.

Plus, you'll get that liquid gold - bacon fat - that's perfect for cooking eggs, seasoning vegetables, or adding flavor to other dishes throughout your meal plan.

Perfect Oven-Baked Bacon (Serves 10)

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 18-25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. thick-cut bacon (36-40 strips)

• Parchment paper or foil

• 4 tablespoons butter (for other breakfast items)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Setup for Success:

• Preheat oven to 400°F

• Line 2 large sheet pans with parchment paper or foil (parchment is easier for cleanup)

• Arrange bacon strips in a single layer with no overlapping

• Aim for about 12-15 strips per sheet pan, depending on size

2. Let the Oven Work:

• Place both pans in the oven (use different racks if needed)

• For chewy bacon: Bake 18-20 minutes

• For crispy bacon: Bake 22-25 minutes

• No flipping required - that's the beauty of this method

3. Drain and Serve:

• Remove from oven when bacon reaches your desired crispness

• Transfer immediately to paper towel-lined plates

• Save that bacon fat! Pour it into a container for future cooking

Galley Pro Tips:

• Cook extra on purpose: This recipe makes enough for breakfast plus leftovers for lunch sandwiches or Day 2 meals. Smart meal planning in action.

• Timing is everything: Start the bacon first, then prep your eggs and other breakfast items while it cooks.

• Save the fat: That rendered bacon fat is culinary gold. Store it in the refrigerator and use it for cooking eggs, seasoning vegetables, or adding flavor to other dishes.

• Batch cooking: If you're meal prepping, cooked bacon keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week.

The Even Cooking Advantage

Unlike stovetop cooking where some strips get crispy while others stay chewy, the oven's consistent heat gives you perfectly even results. Every strip comes out exactly how you want it, and you're not standing there babysitting the process.

Storage and Reheating

Cooked bacon stores beautifully in the refrigerator for up to a week. To reheat, just pop it in a 350°F oven for 2-3 minutes, or give it 30 seconds in the microwave. Perfect for quick breakfast additions or sandwich prep throughout the week.

Whether you're starting the day with a full breakfast spread or prepping components for multiple meals, this technique will become your go-to method for bacon that actually feeds everyone.

Want more efficient galley cooking techniques that actually work? Subscribe to Ben's Galley and receive my free 1-day meal plan sample and discover how I approach feeding groups with systematic, tested methods that save time and deliver great results.