How to Cook Turkey Bacon

Learn how to cook turkey bacon in 3 simple steps. All you need is your favorite turkey bacon, a baking sheet, and a wire rack and you'll be well on your way to making perfectly delicious bacon at home.

Crispy turkey bacon piled on a gray plate.

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📋 About the Recipe
🛒 Ingredients
⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
📓 Instructions
❄️ How to Store
🔍 Recipe FAQs
💭 One More Tip
🍴 Related Recipes
How to Cook Turkey Bacon
Reviews

📋 About the Recipe

A great alternative for regular bacon. If you're looking for a healthier option to feed your family, you'll love this turkey bacon recipe. It's ideal for quick breakfasts, burger nights, or chopping and sprinkling on your favorite salads.
Crispy bacon every single time - I'm teaching you a simple method to cook turkey bacon in the oven that allows for proper air circulation which yields perfect bacon every time.
Easy to make in large batches. Unlike an air fryer basket or Instant Pot with limited space, using the oven to make bacon means you can cook several strips of turkey bacon in one batch with minimal cleanup. A great time saver for meal prep or larger families!

🛒 Ingredients

A few notes about the ingredients:

Turkey bacon - For the best texture and flavor, buy an uncured turkey bacon that's free of nitrates when possible. These cuts of bacon are higher quality, minimally processed and made with no artificial ingredients. This is not only better for your health but yields better flavor, too!

⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations

Pan-fried turkey bacon: If you’d like, you can cook turkey bacon on the stove top instead of the oven using your favorite non-stick pan or cast iron skillet. Heat your skillet of choice over medium high heat and add in 1 tablespoon of oil or unsalted butter, if desired, then lay the strips in. Cook the bacon until crispy.
Air fryer bacon: If you have an air fryer or an Instant Pot with an air frying lid, air fry the bacon at 400 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes, or until your desired doneness is reached.
Pork bacon option: If you're looking for a more traditional option, simply swap the turkey bacon for pork bacon! They will have a similar cook time, but adjust as needed, or until your bacon is golden and crispy. You can even try my Instant Pot bacon recipe!

📓 Instructions

Preheat and prep. Set the oven to 400 degrees F and place a wire rack on a baking sheet. This will allow any excess grease to drain from the turkey bacon and help achieve the crispiest results.

Turkey bacon on a baking sheet before and after cooking.

Lay turkey bacon in a single layer. Spread the turkey bacon slices on top of the wire rack, leaving space between each piece.
Bake. Bake the turkey bacon slices for 10 minutes, flip, then bake for another 5 to 7 minutes or until brown and crispy.
Enjoy! Turkey bacon can be enjoyed hot, room temperature, or cold, as desired.

Cooked turkey bacon on a rack on top of a sheet pan.

❄️ How to Store

To store: If you have leftover cooked slices of turkey bacon, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, store leftover bacon in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.

To freeze: Leftover turkey bacon can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To do so, spread the cooked turkey bacon slices on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and allow the bacon to flash freeze until solid, about 3 hours. Once frozen solid, transfer the bacon slices to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat: Turkey bacon can be reheated in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven or air fryer basket until warmed through. When reheating in the microwave, wrap the bacon slices in a paper towel to help them remain moist.

🔍 Recipe FAQs

Do you need to add oil to cook turkey bacon?

No oil needed! Although turkey bacon is lower in fat compared to traditional pork bacon, it still contains saturated fat and does not need excess oil to be flavorful or crispy.

How do I know when turkey bacon is done?

When turkey bacon is fully cooked and ready to eat it will become darker in color and crispy, particularly around the edges. Turkey bacon is also typically pre-cooked and just needs to be heated up until warm and crispy.

Does turkey bacon have pork in it?

You wouldn't think that turkey bacon can contain pork, but it can be a mixture of the two! It's a great idea to get in the habit of reading the bacon package nutrition label to know what your bacon contains. If you're looking for a quality brand of uncured bacon, check out The Best Turkey Bacon picks from America's Test Kitchen.

What can I serve turkey bacon with?

Turkey bacon strips are as versatile as traditional bacon. Bacon's not only delicious for breakfast, but also easy to incorporate in lunches and dinners, or a savory afternoon snack. Enjoy it as the perfect accompaniment to your favorite breakfast dish, on a breakfast sandwich, on a burger, or as an appetizer, like these Bacon Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites with Strawberries.

You can even sprinkle it on any salad, like these Loaded Burger Bowls or my Summer Tortellini Caprese Salad.

💭 One More Tip

If you're looking for an easier cleanup trick, line your baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil before placing a wire rack over top. This will catch any possible fat drippings and make clean up a breeze.

Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!