Making Air Fryer Bacon is so EASY! Enjoy crisp and evenly cooked bacon in under 10 minutes with the easiest cleanup. This is my family’s go-to method for cooking small batches of bacon.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Air Fryer Bacon
We love Air Fryer Recipes like Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, not only because they cook faster, but they turn out extra crispy with little to no extra oil. If you crave crispy bacon, then this recipe is for you!
The air fryer method is so much easier to make than stovetop or baking in the oven because it’s quick, less messy and there’s no need to pre-heat the oven. You can make that epic BLT Sandwich in half the time.
Helpful Reader Reviews
“Oh my goodness! Thank you Natasha.Crisp and no greasy splatters all over the kitchen.Fantastic, just fantastic.” – Heather ★★★★★
“Thank you soooo much for this recipe. It is the best! In the past I have avoided cooking bacon on th stove or in the oven because of the greasy mess. After trying your recipe in my air frier, as you stated, I will be cooking bacon this way from now on. It is so quick and easy. As for messiness…there was NO MESS! I followed your recipe to the letter…” – Sheila ★★★★★
How to Cook Bacon in Air Fryer
- Arrange bacon in a single layer without overlapping to ensure even airflow and crisping.
- Air Fry at 350˚F for 7-10 minutes, or to your desired crispness (see cooking time chart below). It varies depending on the thickness of your bacon.
- Drain – Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat and enjoy!
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer
The cook time for this recipe can vary depending on the doneness of your bacon, the thickness of the bacon, and the style of your air fryer. Also, we do not preheat the air fryer for bacon.
- Regular Cut Bacon – for softer bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 7 minutes, and for crispy bacon, cook 8 to 9 minutes
- Thick-Cut Bacon – for softer bacon, air fry at 350˚F for 9-10 minutes, and for crispy bacon, cook 10-12 minutes.
Do I have to preheat the air fryer?
This depends on your air fryer. Some air fryers recommend preheating, but it is not necessary for bacon and I never preheat my air fryer for anything, to be very honest.
Can I use turkey bacon?
Yes, if you want to use turkey bacon, this recipe works great. Just cook the turkey bacon as you would regular bacon. Since turkey bacon is leaner and thinner, reduce the cooking time and air fry for 5-7 minutes
Does Bacon need to be flipped in the air fryer?
Since the air circulates, there’s no need to flip the bacon halfway. It will be perfectly crispy on both sides.
How to prevent bacon smoking?
Since the smoke point of bacon fat is 400˚F, we air fry at 350˚F to avoid any smokiness while cooking bacon. Also, if cooking in batches, be sure to drain the drip pan of any oil and wipe clean with a paper towel. Another tip that was shared by one of our readers is to put a thin slice of bread flat in the bottom of the air fryer (beneath the basket – this only works in the basket-style air fryer) to absorb grease, simplify cleaning, and reduce smoking.
You only have to try cooking bacon in the Air Fryer once for it to become your new favorite way to cook bacon.
Use Cooked Bacon for
- Sandwiches – BLT Sandwich, Breakfast Sandwich, or Eggs Benedict
- With Eggs – Omelettes, Scrambled Eggs, Poached Eggs, or Deviled Eggs
- Wraps – Tortilla Breakfast Wrap, or Chicken Wrap – Valentina’s Corner
- Salad – Pasta Caesar salad – Valentina’s Corner
- Topping for Pierogi, Zuppa Toscana, or Clam Chowder
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
Ingredients
- 5 slices bacon , (6 oz regular bacon, or 8-12 oz thick-cut bacon)
Instructions
- Place the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cut strips in half if needed to fit more.
- Air fry regular cut bacon at 350˚F for 7-9 minutes, or until bacon is browned and reaches desired crispiness. Air fry thick-cut bacon for 10-12 minutes.
- Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate then serve. If cooking bacon in batches, be sure to discard any oil in the drip pan before repeating the process.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Hi! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, and writer. Here you’ll find delicious, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, plus easy step-by-step photos and videos to help you cook confidently at home. 
Can you sprinkle brown sugar on bacon in air fryer
Hi Michael! Yes, you can sprinkle some brown sugar on beforehand.
You forgot to mention saving the bacon grease! It’s healthy because it’s rendered fat and adds so much flavor to other foods! We Southerners always keep bacon drippings in our fridge 😁
Hi!, Natasha!
Which air fryer brand do you use to cook bacon?
Thank you
Hi Jane! Click on “air fryer” in bold font in step 1 and it will take you to the link.
Is this the same for airfryer in my oven?
Hi K! It can work in the oven too, but it will take longer to crisp up since it’s a larger space.