Crispy Bacon in The Air Fryer (Easy and Delicious)

Want crispy bacon without having to watch it over a stove? Make it in the air fryer! Bacon in the Air Fryer is one of the easiest ways ever to make bacon. You’ll never go back to cooking them over a skillet again.

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Crispy bacon with eggs and toast on a plate

Over the years I have tried all kinds of different ways to make bacon, but I have to say bacon in the air fryer is the way to go.

How to Make Crispy Bacon in The Air Fryer – Step By Step

  1. Preheat air fryer at 400 degrees.

  2. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

  3. Cook bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway. Remove bacon and place on paper towels. Keep warm.

  4. Repeat until all bacon is cooked.

Bacon in the air fryer tray before cooking

How Does An Air Fryer Work?

An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism.

It is a downsized version of the convection oven. A mechanical fan circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy layer via browning reactions of two kinds (Maillard and Schiff).

In caramelization, sugars break down and chemically transform into complex brown-colored substances, while in the Maillard reaction, typically seen where meat is roasted or stir-fried, the carbohydrates/sugars and proteins in a food react with each other to form Schiff bases, which then form other flavorful compounds.

bacon in the air fryer tray after cooking, looking crispy

Bacon in The Air Fryer vs. Bacon in the Oven

Many people like air fryers because it uses less oil than traditional deep fryers. It can be a lower calorie option if that’s what you’re looking for.

For me, I like fat and cook with fat and oil all the time from animal sources (butter, ghee, lard, and tallow) or unrefined, organic nut or vegetable oils (like avocado, olive, and coconut oil). Fat is so good for brain health, hormones and so much more.

So for me, the air fryer isn’t about going low fat. It’s about less mess. I can make bacon without the greasy mess and splatters compared to cooking it in a pan on a stovetop. It’s also just easy to set it in the air fryer and walk away to do other things. It doesn’t require watching it over a stove.

And you know I enjoy making bacon in the oven (it’s so easy this way) but it does take at least 15 minutes for my oven to heat up, plus another 20 minutes to cook the bacon. That’s at least 35 minutes total. The air fryer heats up instantly, so if you’re in a rush or short on time you can get bacon done and ready to eat in about 10 minutes.

I find bacon in the oven (because it cooks in its own lard) has a richer, fattier texture, which we actually really like in our family. Bacon in the air fryer (because it’s cooked on a rack that drains the fat) comes out crunchier, with less of that fatty texture. It’s a total preference thing but both ways – it’s delicious!

crispy bacon on a paper towel

The Easiest Way To Cook Crispy Bacon

Cooking bacon is one of those tasks that sounds simple on paper but then ends up smoking out your kitchen and leaving a greasy trail around your counter tops. Bacon in the air fryer is definitely the way to go.

Not only is the air fryer compact but whipping up a batch of delicious crispy bacon is a cinch.

Most air fryers are really easy to use – just select the temperature and the cooking time, add bacon flip just once, no need to fuss or keep flipping like when using the stove top.

The baskets make shaking your food simple and fast as well, and the unit doesn’t lose a lot of heat when you open it. So feel free to peek while cooking if you want. Unlike an oven, you won’t be slowing things down if you do.

The bacon comes out beautifully crisp and with virtually no mess, plus the air fryer is easy to clean.

Top Tips For Bacon in The Air Fryer

  • Make sure you preheat the fryer. This may not be necessary, depending on the air fryer you have. I have this air fryer and it doesn’t require pre-heating.
  • Opt for nitrate-free bacon for an even healthier crispy bacon.
  • Make sure to spread the bacon in a single layer for best results.
  • Once bacon is removed, place on some kitchen towels.

close up of bacon on a plate with boiled eggs and toast

Did you try this Air Fryer Bacon? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and comment below to let me know how it went. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Crispy Air Fryer Bacon on a plate with toast and eggs

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon (Easy and Delicious)

Don't Mess With Mama
Want crispy bacon without having to watch it over a stove? Make it in the air fryer! This Crispy Air Fryer Bacon recipe is one of the easiest ways ever to make bacon. You'll never go back to cooking them over a skillet again.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 236 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz bacon I love the nitrate-free Trader Joe's brand
  • cooking spray

Instructions
 

  • Preheat air fryer at 400 degrees.


  • Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  • Cook bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway. Remove bacon and place on paper towels. Keep warm.
  • Repeat until all bacon is cooked.

Notes

I really like the Cuisinart Toaster Oven / Air Fryer combo. I did a lot of research and this one has the best reviews. It's one of the best appliance purchases we've made. We use the air fryer and toaster oven daily. 

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 7gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 375mgPotassium: 112mgVitamin A: 21IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg
Keyword air fryer bacon, Crispy bacon
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7 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Such a great way of cooking our all-time favorite breakfast dish. The best part is that it separates the oil from the bacon, making it healthy meat.

  2. I like the way these slices of bacon looks clean without all the oily we can get from pan-frying. I don’t have an air-fryer yet, and this recipe makes me think of having one!

  3. 5 stars
    I usually cook bacon in the oven and have been quite happy with that. However after following your recipe, I’m hooked! I was one of those that resisted buying an air fryer but it’s worth it even if it’s just for cooking bacon. Thanks for a great recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this post…it was such a life saver. I was out of town and my husband wanted to make bacon in our new air fryer. So, I sent him your post and it turned out perfectly!