My air fryer completely changed the way I cook bacon. No more grease splatters, no more flipping, and no standing over a hot stove. Air fryer bacon makes perfectly crispy strips every time. This is now my go-to cooking method!

I used to dread when my kids would ask for bacon for breakfast. Standing over the stove with grease splattering everywhere just felt like a lot for a few strips of bacon. Now that I use my air fryer, I can set it and forget it, have minimal cleanup, and it tastes great.

One of my favorite things about this cooking method is that it’s pretty hands off. Once I pop the bacon in the air fryer and set the timer, I can finish cooking breakfast. The bacon turns out so delicious without me having to babysit it and it’s the perfect quick breakfast side.

If you want to make more air fryer breakfast recipes be sure to try these scrambled eggs in air fryer, frozen biscuits in the air fryer, and air fryer hash browns.

Why cook bacon in the air fryer?

• Less Grease – Cooking bacon in the air fryer allows excess grease to drip off of the bacon into the air fryer basket.
• Fast – Bacon cooks up in about 10 minutes.
• Even Cooking – The circulating hot air makes for consistent, crispy strips of bacon.
• Easy Clean-Up – You don’t have to worry about splattering grease when cooking in the air fryer. Most air fryer are dishwasher safe making for super easy clean-up.

How to make air fryer bacon

This is an overview on how to make the perfect bacon in the air fryer. You can jump to the recipe for the full, printable instructions.

Cooking time will vary depending on what type of bacon you are using. I am using center cut bacon for this recipe. You can also use this recipe to make smoked bacon, turkey bacon, or even Canadian bacon.

Step one: Place 5-6 pieces of bacon in the air fryer basket. Try not to overlap the bacon too much so that the hot air is able to circulate around each piece and cook evenly.

Step two: Cook the bacon at 350 degrees F for 8-10. minutes. I recommend checking the bacon after 8 minutes. If you like yours crispy add 1-2 minutes of cook time.

Step three: Carefully remove the cooked bacon with tongs and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain any excess grease.

How long to cook bacon in the air fryer

There are several things that may determine how long you cook your bacon. The type of air fryer you are using, the thickness of the bacon, and how done you prefer your bacon will all effect the cooking time.

• Regular or center cut bacon – If you like softer bacon, cook for 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees F. For crispy bacon, cook 9-10 minutes.
• Thick cut bacon – Softer bacon will cook in 9-10 minutes, crispy bacon in 11-12 minutes.

Tips for success

• Add a little water to the air fryer basket to help prevent smoking. I also like to empty the grease before making a second batch of bacon.
• You can also add a piece of bread to the very bottom of the air fryer basket to soak up any grease.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. You want the hot air to be able to circulate around each piece.
• Drain on paper towels. This will help your bacon be crispy and delicious because it absorbs any excess grease.
• I am using a 5.8 quart basket style air fryer. This will also work with a toaster style air fryer.

What to serve with crispy air fryer bacon

• Breakfast – Bacon is the ultimate breakfast food. Try serving alongside things like french toast, pancakes, waffles, cinnamon roll casserole, and eggs.
• Lunch and dinner – Serve on sandwiches, crumbled on a dip, on a salad, or on a baked potato.

How to store leftovers

Store any leftovers in a sealed bag or airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last 4-5 days.

Reheat the bacon by placing a piece on a paper towel lined plate and microwave for 30 seconds. You can also reheat it in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes.

Freeze any leftover strips of bacon in a freezer safe bag.

Frequently asked questions

Recipes with bacon

• Grilled chicken bacon melt is topped with bacon, jalapenos, and cheese.
• Bacon spinach artichoke dip is a hot creamy dip that is great for parties.
• BLT dip is a classic BLT sandwich made into a creamy dip.
• Bacon wrapped water chestnuts are one of our favorite appetizers.
• Bacon wrapped asparagus is a delicious side.
• Bacon wrapped pineapple bites can be made in the air fryer.

If you made this recipe please leave a comment and star rating below.