My air fryer bacon recipe has been tested more than 50 times by my family now because my kids keep wanting it for breakfast! If my 5 year old wants it every morning, it’s a recipe worth keeping!
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My Family Loved Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
One morning I was making breakfast for the kids and my son requested bacon. I looked at my air fryer that was already cooking hash brown patties and wondered, can you air fry bacon?
So I pulled a few bacon strips out of the fridge and put them in our air fryer. I didn’t want to dirty any more pans, so why not try? Well, it was absolutely delicious and we were converted!
And when I tell you I’ve tested and ate this recipe more than 50 times now, I am not exaggerating. It’s probably a lot more by the time you’re reading this.
It’s caused my son to be bacon obsessed and now we always have a package of it in the fridge. But it’s all good because it’s quick to make and easy to add to our breakfast!
It also doesn’t hurt that I love the recipe too and it’s the crispiest bacon I’ve ever had.
And, if you love bacon in the air fryer, try my frozen bacon, bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, bacon wrapped asparagus, brussels sprouts with bacon, bacon wrapped hot dogs, and bacon wrapped shrimp recipes.
Why Should I Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer
- It gets super crispy
- It’s done air frying in less time than it takes my oven to preheat
- I can cook it with other air fryer breakfast recipes at the same time
- It cooks evenly every time
- It helps drain off bacon grease unlike a frying pan
- No splatter on the stove
How to Cook Bacon in An Air Fryer
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Place the bacon in an even layer inside the air fryer basket or tray. If your bacon is too long, cut them in half so they fit easily.
STEP THREE: Cook at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until it reaches your desired crispiness. Remove and enjoy immediately!
Air Fry Bacon Tips
- Use these long tongs to remove any bacon from your air fryer. It’s saved me from burning myself plenty of times.
- Use thick, uncured bacon. It’s the most flavorful!
- Only cook in a single layer or your food will not cook evenly. Cook in batches if needed or cook the bacon in an oven if you need a huge amount made.
- Flip the bacon halfway through to get it nice and crispy. It’s not mandatory, but I’ve found it gets that second side just a little crispier.
- Season it with pepper, maple syrup, or brown sugar for some added flavor!
- Place the cooked bacon on a paper towel after air frying to drain any remaining bacon grease.
- Store leftover bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat in a preheated air fryer at 330 degrees for about 2 minutes.
WAys to Use Cooked Bacon
I love to cook a few extra strips of bacon each time we make it and use it for my lunches such as in my chicken bacon wrap, BLT pasta salad, turkey sandwich, and broccoli salad.
I also air fry my bacon when making recipes like my greens beans and bacon, potato skins, green bean casserole, twiced baked mashed potatoes, and bacon mac and cheese.
Air Fryer Bacon FAQs
Can You Put Raw Bacon in an Air Fryer?
Yes, I just pull the raw bacon out of the fridge and put it right in the air fryer! I find fresh raw bacon tastes the best when air fried. I’ve also pulled bacon straight from the freezer and air fried it in a pinch.
How to Keep Your Air Fryer From Smoking When Cooking Bacon
If using an air fryer basket, place a piece of bread or a little water underneath the air fryer basket to catch any grease.
If using an air fryer oven, place a drip tray lined with aluminum foil.
Do I Need to Preheat My Air Fryer?
Yes, every air fryer preheats differently, so I find I get the most codnsistently cooked food when I preheat my air fryers before putting food in it. It also helps get the bacon nice and crispy too!
How Long To Cook Bacon in The Air Fryer?
- Regular bacon: For crispy bacon, cook at 350 degrees F for 8-9 minutes. For non-crispy, cook for 7 minutes.
- Thick cut bacon: For the crispiest version, cook at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. For non-crispy, cook for 9-10 minutes.
How do you keep bacon from splattering in an air fryer?
I find cooking bacon in the air fryer higher than 350 degrees F causes it to splatter, so keep the temperature low. If I do notice any splatter, I will stick a piece of bread under my air fryer basket or use a drip tray lined with aluminum foil in an air fryer oven.
More Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
- Turkey Bacon in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Pancakes
- Scrambled Eggs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs
- Air Fryer Hash Browns
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 7 ounces of bacon approximately 8 bacon slices
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Place bacon in the air fryer evenly in one layer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until your desired crispiness.* Cut the bacon in half if too long.
Video
Notes
- Air fryer basket: Place 1-2 pieces of bread or a little water underneath the basket.
- Air fryer oven: Use a drip tray or a piece of aluminum foil under the crisper tray.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
I’ve trying the bacon in the oven air fryer right now. It’s at 350% and it’s been in there for 30 minutes and it’s still not done. Not sure what’s up with that.
Hi Sandra, have you used your air fryer oven before? If it’s not done after 30 minutes, that sounds like there may be an issue with your air fryer not hitting temperature correctly.