Crispy Air Fryer Bacon

5 from 10 votes
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Air fryer bacon is easy to cook! You can make delicious, crispy bacon in the air fryer in about 10 minutes.

Air fryer bacon on a plate


 

The air fryer is one of our most used kitchen appliances. You can use it to cook a variety of things like eggs, biscuits, chicken, even cookies.

Cooking bacon in the air fryer is incredibly easy and the best part is that it cooks the bacon evenly and perfectly crispy.

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.
uncooked bacon in air fryer

How to make air fryer bacon

For full, printable directions, scroll to the bottom.

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 6-7 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 390 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.

cooked bacon in air fryer

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 390 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.
  • I am using a 5.8 quart basket style air fryer. This will also work with a toaster style air fryer.
Plate of bacon

Common questions

Is it healthy?

One wonderful thing about cooking bacon in the air fryer is that the bacon isn’t sitting in grease. The grease drips off into the air fryer basket.

Can I use turkey bacon?

Yes you can easily cook turkey bacon in the air fryer.

Do I need to preheat?

You do not need to preheat your air fryer when cooking bacon.

How to prevent smoking?

Add about 1/4 cup water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to help prevent smoking. You can also use parchment paper or even a piece of bread to capture the grease.

What to serve with air fryer bacon

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.

Recipes with bacon

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

Plate with cooked bacon.
5 from 10 votes

Air Fryer Bacon

By Heather Seeley
How to cook bacon in an air fryer. 
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 1 12 oz package bacon I used center cut

Instructions 

  • Set temperature to 390 degrees and timer at 10 minutes. Check bacon at 5 minutes and flip over using a fork or tongs. Continue cooking for 5 minutes. 

Video

Notes

  • Time might be change according to thickness of the bacon and how crispy you like yours. If you have thinner bacon or like not so crispy bacon, start with 8 minutes. 
  • Begin by adding a little bit of water to the grease catcher. I find this helps reduce smoking and makes cleanup a little easier.
  • Place 6-7 pieces of bacon in the fryer basket. I try not to overlap too much to ensure the each piece cooks evenly.

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcal | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 11mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
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