Air Fryer Bacon (So Easy and Crispy!)
Cooking bacon in the air fryer creates the crispiest, most delicious bacon without the mess of the stovetop or oven. For seriously crispy bacon in under ten minutes try this Air Fryer Bacon hack!
Bacon is an excellent addition to salads, sandwiches, wraps and more, and while there are plenty of different ways to prepare bacon, I’m sure once you try it in the air fryer you are never going back.
The air fryer creates perfectly crispy bacon, without the splatter mess of the stovetop or the wait to preheat the oven. In fact, you can have perfectly cooked bacon out of the air fryer in less than 10 minutes!
If you’re ready for bacon now and want the crispiest, most wonderful bacon possible, grab your air fryer and let’s do this!
If you love Air Fryer recipes, you’ll also love how easy it is to make Air Fryer Corn on the Cob and Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken!
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy: You may have thought cooking your bacon in the oven was a great hack but that was before you discovered this one. Just place your bacon in the air fryer, set the temperature and time and sit back and relax.
- Extra Crispy: The hot air circulation in an air fryer cooks the bacon and also wicks away some of the grease (I still recommend patting the bacon with a paper towel when it’s finished) leaving you with bacon that is extra crispy and delicious.
- Fast: This method is the quickest way to cook bacon. It’s perfect for when you need just a few pieces for a sandwich or salad.
Ingredients to Make Air Fryer Bacon
- Bacon: Any brand will do, so use what you like. Be aware that different thicknesses of bacon will take longer or shorter to cook so the first time you try this method it’s a good idea to keep an eye on it.
How to Make This Recipe
Step One: Prep the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
Cut each piece of bacon in half.
Once the air fryer is done preheating, arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the air fryer basket. You may need to cook the bacon in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Step Two: Hit Start
Place the basket into the air fryer and cook the bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Halfway through cooking, flip the bacon slices using tongs to ensure even cooking on both sides.
Once cooked, use tongs to carefully transfer the bacon onto a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
Allow the bacon to cool for a minute or two before serving to avoid any burns.
Expert Tips
- The exact amount of time you want to cook your bacon is a matter of preference and also depends on the thickness of your bacon. If you like your bacon a little crispier you may need to cook it for longer. Keep an eye on it the first few times to determine the timing that’s best for you.
- The great thing about an air fryer is you can check on your bacon a few times without messing up the cooking process. I recommend after about five minutes pausing your air fryer about every 1-2 minutes to see if it’s cooked to your liking.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer. Be sure and place your bacon only in a single layer, with some space for air to travel between pieces. This is how the air fryer cooks, so for best results, make sure the air can flow.
- Any leftover bacon grease in the air fryer will smoke, so be sure and clean out the tray or basket well after each use.
FAQs
Probably the biggest fault of this cooking method is the potential for smoke from the air fryer. Bacon grease and other fats do tend to smoke if they get too hot in the air fryer.
To help this, be sure and clean your tray well after each use and start with a clean tray each time.
You can also try adding some water or a slice of bread to the bottom portion of the tray. The bread helps to soak up some of the fat as it drips down.
You should also be careful not to cook your bacon at a temperature higher than 400 degrees as that is its smoking point. If you continue to see smoke, try lowering the temperature.
This method works just as well with turkey bacon as it does with regular bacon. Feel free to make that swap for a healthier option.
You do not need to add any oil to your air fryer for bacon. The bacon produces enough grease as it cooks that it will not stick to the air fryer.
You can use this bacon any way you like!
You can enjoy it all on its own, as a side with your breakfast (like Cracker Barrel Pancakes or Muffin Mix Pancakes) or you can incorporate this crispy bacon into your favorite sandwich, salad or wraps. You could also chop it up and use it in casseroles, pasta (it would be delicious in this Marry Me Chicken Tortellini) or soup!
Anywhere you would use bacon, you can use air fryer bacon.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Then make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
Air Fryer Bacon
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut each piece of the pound of bacon in half.
- Once the air fryer is done preheating, arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the air fryer basket. You may need to cook the bacon in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Place the basket into the air fryer and cook the bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Halfway through cooking, flip the bacon slices using tongs to ensure even cooking on both sides.
- Once cooked, use tongs to carefully transfer the bacon onto a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
- Allow the bacon to cool for a minute or two before serving to avoid any burns.
Notes
- Bacon: Any brand will do, so use what you like. Be aware that different thicknesses of bacon will take longer or shorter to cook so the first time you try this method it’s a good idea to keep an eye on it.
- The exact amount of time you want to cook your bacon is a matter of preference and also depends on the thickness of your bacon. If you like your bacon a little crispier you may need to cook it for longer. Keep an eye on it the first few times to determine the timing that’s best for you.
- The great thing about an air fryer is you can check on your bacon a few times without messing up the cooking process. I recommend after about five minutes pausing your air fryer about every 1-2 minutes to see if it’s cooked to your liking.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer. Be sure and place your bacon only in a single layer, with some space for air to travel between pieces. This is how the air fryer cooks, so for best results, make sure the air can flow.
- Any leftover bacon grease in the air fryer will smoke, so be sure and clean out the tray or basket well after each use.
