As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Learn how to make perfect crispy Air Fryer Bacon. The air fryer is a great mess-free method for cooking bacon. You’ll love the easy cleanup and the awesome taste!

crispy air fryer bacon on a grey plate with a white plate with bacon, eggs, and parsley on a marbled board.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

We have been baking bacon in the oven for years which is perfect for large batches. But sometimes you just want a few pieces or don’t want to turn your oven on.

That is where the air fryer comes in!

And if you prefer turkey bacon? Check out our post on Air Fryer Turkey Bacon.

How to Cook Air Fryer Bacon

*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact measurements, etc. You can also click “jump to recipe” to skip down.

For a basket-style air fryer, start by lining your basket with parchment (this is the brand of parchment that I use). For an oven-style air fryer, line the tray at the bottom with foil.

Lay your bacon in the basket or on the trays. Depending on the size of the air fryer, you may need to cut the slices to fit. Pro tip: to keep the bacon from curling a lot or flying around, place a wire rack on top of the bacon.

  • For bacon that is crispy but not crunchy, cook at 370˚F for 8 minutes, and then flip and cook another 2 minutes.
  • For bacon that is extra crispy, bake at 400˚F for 8 minutes. There is no need to flip.

Transfer cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Drain any accumulated grease after each batch.

two photos showing the process of cooking bacon in an air fryer.

How to Store and Reheat

Storing Leftovers: Store fully-cooled leftover bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. I place the bacon on a clean paper towel in the container.

Reheating Leftovers: Reheat bacon in the air fryer at 330˚F for 2 minutes, or in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Freezing Leftovers: Freeze fully cooled leftover bacon in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat using the reheating leftovers method above.

My favorite way to freeze leftover bacon is to wrap it in one layer of paper towels and then place it in freezer-safe silicone bags.

a note from sarah

air fryer Tip

Bacon cooked at higher temps in an air fryer may smoke during the cooking process.

If you have a basket-style air fryer, place 1-2 pieces of bread (this is a great way to use the heel from a loaf of bread!) in the base of the basket to absorb excess grease.

If cooking multiple batches, drain the grease after you finish cooking each batch.

How to Use Bacon

Crumble up some of that delicious meat candy and use it with Air Fryer Omelets, Breakfast Egg Rolls, Cabbage Salad, Instant Pot Potato Soup, Instant Pot Potato Salad, Mini Quiche Appetizers, 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 of bacon and brand of air fryer is different. Check after 5 minutes of cooking time the first time you make bacon in the air fryer.
  • 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, cloves, and orange peels 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.
  • There is no need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.
cooked bacon on a grey plate.
5 from 1 rating

Air Fryer Bacon

Servings: 12
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 12 minutes
crispy air fryer bacon on a grey plate with a white plate with bacon, eggs, and parsley on a marbled board.
Learn how to make perfect crispy bacon in the air fryer. An air fryer is a great mess-free method for cooking bacon. You'll love the easy cleanup and the awesome taste!

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • For a basket-style air fryer, start by lining your basket with parchment.
    For an oven-style air fryer, line the tray at the bottom with foil.
  • Lay your bacon in the basket or on the trays. Depending on the size of the air fryer, you may need to cut the slices to fit.
  • To keep the bacon from curling a lot or flying around, place a wire rack on top of the bacon.
  • For bacon that is crispy but not crunchy, cook at 370˚F for 8 minutes, and then flip and cook another 2 minutes. Thicker cuts of bacon may take longer.
  • For bacon that is extra crispy, bake at 400˚F for 8 minutes. There is no need to flip. Thicker cuts of bacon may take longer.
  • Transfer cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels
  • Drain any accumulated grease after each batch.

Notes

  1. Each brand and cut of bacon and brand of air fryer is different. Check after 5 minutes of cooking time the first time you make bacon in the air fryer.
  2. Allow bacon to fully cool before storing in the fridge or the freezer.
  3. There is no need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 158kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 250mgPotassium: 75mgVitamin A: 14IUCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

Explore Recipes

Shop This Post

About Sarah Cook

I'm here to help you make easy, seasonal, and no-fuss recipes for yourself and your family.

Whether it's a quick one-pot dinner or if I am teaching you how to can and preserve local produce, you can consider me your elder millennial grandma

You May Also Like:

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




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

2 Comments

  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? 5 stars

    1. Do you have a pressure cooker by any chance? Mealthy makes a lid that converts your electric pressure cooker into an air fryer.