Sustainable Cooks
First Time Visiting? Start Here!

Air Fryer Bacon

Learn how to make perfect Air Fryer Bacon each and every time.
a wooden tray lined with parchment and bacon

Free Guide Get 14 Recipes You Can Make From Your Pantry

Learn how to make perfect Air Fryer Bacon each and every time.  It’s a great method for cooking bacon that is mess and fuss-free. You’ll love the easy cleanup and the awesome taste!

a wooden tray lined with parchment and bacon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Perfectly crispy bacon is a true pleasure in life. And now that you can make it in the air fryer, your mornings just got so much easier. And more delicious.

We have been baking bacon in the oven for years which is perfect for large batches and is an important component of our easy healthy meal prep. But sometimes you just want a few pieces and don’t want to even turn your oven on. That is where the air fryer comes in!

Is Air Fryer Bacon Healthier?

Yes. Since the fat drains while it is cooking, your finished product is just a little bit leaner. Prefer turkey bacon? Check out our post on Air Fryer Turkey Bacon.

How to Keep Your Air Fryer From Smoking

Some models will smoke when certain foods are cooked. There are four ways to prevent this from happening:

  • If your basket has two parts (one part removable and one part solid), add a bit of water to the solid basket.
  • Line your fryer basket with parchment specifically designed for an air fryer (this is the one I used).
  • If your basket has two parts, put a piece of bread in the solid basket, under the wire basket. The bread will absorb any grease that might accumulate.
  • If cooking multiple batches, drain the grease after you finish cooking each batch.

How to Cook Air Fryer Bacon

*You’ll find a detailed and printable recipe card at the bottom of this post

Start by lining your basket with parchment (this the brand I used). Lay your bacon as flat as possible. If you have a smaller fryer, it may crinkle up a bit. That’s ok! Pro tip: if you want your bacon to be absolutely flat, cut the meat to fit the basket and add a wire trivet to the top.

4 photos showing the step by step process for making bacon in the air fryer

If you want it crispy but not crunchy, cook at 370 degrees F for 8 minutes, and then flip and cook another 2 minutes. If you want it extra crispy, bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. There is no need to flip. Drain any accumulated grease after each batch.

2 photos showing various cooking times for air fryer bacon

How to Use it

Crumble up some of that delicious meat candy and use it with Air Fryer Omelets, Breakfast Egg Rolls, Kale Chopped Salad With Bacon, Whole30 Potato Soup, Instant Pot Potato Salad, Mac and Cheese Egg Rolls, Mini Quiche Appetizers, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes, or Crispy Baked Potatoes.

Or cook it with this Air Fryer Cabbage for an incredible bacon and cabbage dish.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • Each brand and cut and air fryer is different. Check after 5 minutes of cooking time the first time you make it.
  • You may need to cut the pieces in half before cooking if your basket is small. 
  • Hate the smell of your kitchen after cooking bacon? Combine water, ground cinnamon, and a splash of almond extract in a small saucepan and let it simmer on the stove. You can also use a slow cooker on low if you’d like it to simmer all day.
  • Allow it to fully cool before storing in the fridge or the freezer. 
  • Store cooked bacon in an air-tight container in the fridge for a week or up to three months in the freezer. For the freezer, wrap it in a paper towel and then store it in freezer storage. I love these reusable bags from Stasher.
  • There is no need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.
a wooden tray lined with parchment and bacon
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Air Fryer Bacon

Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time12 minutes
Learn how to make perfect Air Fryer Bacon each and every time.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  • Line the fryer basket with parchment.
  • Lay your bacon as flat as possible. If you have a smaller fryer, it may crinkle up or overlap a bit.
  • For crispy but not crunchy: cook at 370 degrees F for 8 minutes, and then flip and cook another 2 minutes.
  • For extra crispy: bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. There is no need to flip. Drain any accumulated grease after each batch.

Notes

Each brand and cut and air fryer is different. Check after 5 minutes of cooking time the first time you make it.
 
Allow it to fully cool before storing in the fridge or the freezer. 
 
There is no need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Bacon
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 158 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 25mg8%
Sodium 250mg11%
Potassium 75mg2%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 14IU0%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 comments on “Air Fryer Bacon”

  1. I’m so torn on getting an air fryer. I think I would use it, but do I really need another appliance in my small kitchen?