Crispy Air Fryer Bacon – Simply Home Cooked

24 March 2024

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Published: Mar 23, 2024 by Dina

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon is juicy, crunchy, and savory. Air frying your bacon gives it all the deliciousness you crave with none of the greasiness from pan-frying.

Make sure to add this yummy bacon to a hearty croissant egg sandwich or combine it with air fryer asparagus for a tasty meal.

Table Of Contents

Recipe Details

I wish I knew how amazing bacon could taste in an air fryer. I never would have oven-cooked or pan-fried it over the years. This super fast method creates the crispiest and yummiest bacon around. You’re going to love it.

TASTE: Savory, salty, and scrumptious, this air fryer bacon is so good. You’ll love eating it with any meal of the day, or on its own!
TEXTURE: This bacon comes out absolutely crispy and crunchy, with the perfect amount of chew. And there’s no sogginess from too much grease.
TIME: It only takes 10 minutes to make. It’s faster than the oven!
EASE: Quick and easy and mess-free, air frying bacon is the way to go.

Ingredient Notes

Bacon- Thin cut bacon slices cook faster, but you can use thick cut as well.
Air fryer- You can use an oven air fryer or a basket air fryer, just adjust the temperatures and times for the one you are using.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Substitute thick cut bacon- You can use a thicker cut of bacon but you will need to cook the meat longer in order for it to give that desired crispy texture.
Add maple syrup- Give this bacon a sweet flavor by coating it with pure maple syrup before cooking to allow it time to caramelize.
Add black pepper- Add some spice to the air fryer bacon by sprinkling a little ground black pepper on it.

How to Make Air Fryer Bacon

Place the bacon in the basket. Lay the bacon flat in the basket of your air fryer, evenly spaced out and in a single layer.
Cook. Cook the bacon at 390 degrees F for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you’re using the basket kind, cook it at 360 degrees F for 6 minutes. Then flip and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Pro Tip: I like to use my oven air fryer since I can line the bottom tray with foil for easy clean up.

Steps to make Air Fryer Bacon: lay the strips of bacon in the basket and then cook them.

Recipe Tips

Use thinner slices– I always go for the classic cut since it crisps up better than the thick cut.
Flatten the bacon- Lay the bacon strips out as flat as you can. A bent end that overlaps will result in undercooked bacon and less crispness.
Don’t overcrowd– You want to avoid overcrowding. Having space around each piece of bacon will allow enough air to circulate around and cook the food to a fried crisp. Do them in batches if you need to.
Avoid the grease smoking up- If your air fryer starts smoking up while the meat cooks, lay some paper towels on the bottom of the drip tray to absorb some of that sitting grease.

FAQs

Do you have to flip bacon when air frying?

No, you don’t have to flip the bacon halfway through the cooking process, but doing so ensures that the bacon comes out thoroughly crispy on both sides. So I recommend flipping it.

Do you put foil in the air fryer when cooking bacon?

If you have the oven type, I recommend lining only the bottom pan with foil for easy cleanup. Do not line the wire basket with foil or the bottom of a basket air fryer with foil. The foil covers up the wholes which will prevent the air from circulating and cooking the food properly.

Is bacon healthier in an air fryer?

Well, bacon is bacon no matter what you do to it. But an air fryer helps reduce the amount of fat since a lot of the bacon drippings get left at the bottom of the air fryer. This makes the bacon perfectly crispy and downright delicious! An air fryer is the “healthiest” way of cooking bacon.

Close up image of crispy cooked on an air fryer wire rack.

Serving Suggestions

This crispy Air Fryer Bacon is delicious, savory, and perfect with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Serve it with sandwiches, vegetables, eggs, or pancakes.

Eggs: Serve this crispy bacon with Easy Poached Eggs with Caramelized Onions, Quiche Lorraine, Shakshuka, or Eggs Benedict.
Pancakes: Pair this savory bacon with some sweet Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes, German Pancakes (VIDEO), Buttermilk Pancakes, or Cottage Cheese Pancakes.
Sandwiches: Enjoy it with a Classic BLT Sandwich, Brisket Sandwich, Breakfast Sandwich (3 Ways), or Turkey Croissant Sandwich.
Vegetables: Serve this Air Fryer Bacon with Sauteed Garlic Asparagus, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: Make this bacon ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Place the cooked bacon back into the air fryer and cook for about 4 minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit to reheat.

Storing: Store this Air Fryer Bacon in an airtight container or in a ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze: You can freeze this bacon once it has cooled by placing it in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months.

More Tasty Air Fryer Dishes!

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Full Recipe Instructions