How to Cook Perfect Crispy Bacon in the Air Fryer

The easiest way to make the best bacon is in the air fryer. It’s crispy, quick, and makes very little mess.

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Even though only half of the people in my household eat bacon, we still tend to cook some up almost every weekend. Tyler and I are in the “we don’t eat bacon” group and Justin and Ryan are part of the “give me all I can eat” group. For the longest time, Justin would pan-fry the bacon on a flat pan on the stove top. While this worked, it was a very messy way of cooking bacon.

A few months ago, I purchased an air fryer for myself during Prime Day on Amazon. I had been wanting one for a while and found a great deal. One of the first things Justin wanted to try was to air fry bacon and it became his new favorite way to get the crispiest bacon every single time. And he hasn’t made it another way since then! The hot air circulates around the crispy strips for an even cooking. 

Making air fryer bacon couldn’t be easier as you can put it in the fryer, set it, and walk away. We like to line the drip tray (NOT the tray) with aluminum foil to make cleanup even easier. Our air fryer has trays, but you can also use an air fryer basket as long as the bacon strips are in a single layer. The amount of delicious bacon you’ll be able to make at once depends on the size of your air fryer and the thickness of your bacon. You may need to make a second batch to cook it all. 

Advantages of Using the Air Fryer:

• It’s healthier since the far drips to the bottom of the air fryer
• There is less mess to clean up
• The smell doesn’t permeate the house as much
• Set it and forget it, the air fryer does all of the work in 8-10 minutes
• This works for any type of bacon such as turkey bacon and regular bacon from a pig
• The air fryer can cook thick-cut bacon, it just takes slightly longer

Other yummy bacon recipes they love: Alice Springs Chicken, Bacon-Wrapped Chicken, BLT Sandwich

Air Fryer Bacon Step by Step

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon

Preparation

Spread the bacon slices in a single layer on the tray. Justin likes to cut the bacon in half so it fits nicely.

Place the tray in the middle of the air fryer.

Bake at 400 degrees F until desired crispness. We have found the following cook time seems to work well:

• 8 mins = slightly chewy
• 9 mins = crispy
• 11 mins = very crispy/almost burned

Note: if you have thick cut bacon, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time to allow for the thickness of the bacon.

Move the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to blot off any excess grease from the bacon and serve warm.

Leftover Air-Fried Bacon

Storage: Any leftover bacon can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 1-2 days. 

Reheating: The best way to reheat the cooked bacon is either in a pan or in the microwave until warm.

Recipe

Air Fryer Bacon

The easiest way to make bacon is in the air fryer. It's crispy, quick, and makes very little mess. Try it next time you make breakfast.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Course:

Breakfast

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

air fryer

|

bacon

Dietary Needs:

Dairy-Free

|

Egg-Free

|

Gluten-Free

|

Keto

|

Nut-Free

|

Paleo

|

Whole30

Meat:

Pork

Cooking Method:

Air Fryer

Servings: 2

5 from 8 votes

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon

Recommended Equipment

• Air Fryer

Instructions

• For easier cleanup, line the drip pan with foil
• Spread the bacon in a single layer on the air fryer tray
• Bake at 400F for about 9 minutes, until desired crispness
• 8 mins = slightly chewy

  9 mins = crispy

  11 mins = very crispy/almost burned

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Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Bacon

Amount Per Serving (3 slices)

Calories 275 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 9g45%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 44mg15%

Sodium 437mg18%

Potassium 131mg4%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 24IU0%

Calcium 3mg0%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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