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Cooking bacon in the air fryer has become one of my favorite kitchen shortcuts, especially on busy mornings when I’m already making things like Hotel Style Waffles, Biscuits and Gravy, Cinnamon Sugar French Toast or a pan of Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls (Same Day or Overnight). It keeps the stovetop clean, the bacon cooks evenly, and I can focus on the rest of breakfast instead of standing over a frying pan.
This method is especially helpful when you’re making a full breakfast or brunch spread. We often serve this bacon alongside Fluffy Homemade Pancakes, Sourdough Discard Pancakes, as a side with scrambled eggs or inside my Southwest Breakfast Burritos or my Bacon Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches. You can also crumble this bacon and use it in Buffalo Chicken Bacon Ranch Street Tacos, or even sprinkle it over Classic Sausage Gravy for a hearty weekend breakfast.
If you’re looking for more breakfast ideas, you can browse the ever growing
Breakfast Recipes category.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Less mess than cooking bacon on the stovetop
- No grease splatter
- Easy to cook a full pound at once
- Bacon comes out crispy and evenly cooked
- Great for breakfast, brunch, sandwiches, and salads
- Perfect for meal prep
Ingredients
- Bacon
Equipment
Air Fryer – A basket-style air fryer works best for bacon because the grease drips down below the basket, which helps the bacon crisp instead of sitting in grease. I can not say enough good things about my Ninja Air Fryer!
Tongs – Makes it easy to safely remove the hot bacon from the air fryer without splashing grease.
Paper Towels – Lining a plate with paper towels allows the excess grease to drain off the bacon after cooking so it stays crisp.
Kitchen Scissors or Sharp Knife – Cutting the bacon in half makes it much easier to fit a full pound into the air fryer in a single layer.
How to Make
Cooking bacon in the air fryer is more about arrangement and timing than it is about actual effort. The key is to cut the bacon in half before cooking so the strips fit nicely across the bottom of the air fryer basket. When the bacon lays flat in a single layer, the hot air can circulate properly, which is what makes the bacon cook evenly and crisp up instead of steaming.
Set the air fryer to 350°F, which allows the fat to slowly render while the bacon crisps. If the temperature is too high, the edges can cook too quickly before the center has time to fully cook. Around 7 to 9 minutes is the sweet spot for most bacon, but thicker bacon may need slightly longer.
As the bacon cooks, the grease drips down below the basket. This is why air fryer bacon gets so crispy — the bacon isn’t sitting in grease like it does in a frying pan. Once the bacon is done cooking, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels so the excess grease can drain off. This step helps the bacon stay crisp as it cools instead of becoming greasy.
If you’re cooking a full pound of bacon, you may need to cook it in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Once you try this method, it’s hard to go back to cooking bacon on the stovetop, especially when you’re already making other breakfast favorites like Homemade Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches, Sourdough Discard Waffles, or Traditional Hotel Style Waffles.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
PrintAir Fryer Bacon
Learn how to cook bacon in the air fryer for perfectly crispy bacon every time. This easy method is less messy than stovetop bacon and cooks in just minutes, making it perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and more.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Cut bacon strips in half so they fit in the air fryer basket.
- Lay bacon in a single layer across the bottom of the air fryer basket. Do not stack the bacon.
- Cook at 350°F for 7–9 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon and how thick the bacon is. (If using Thick Cut Bacon, cook for 9-12 minutes)
- Use tongs to remove bacon from the air fryer and place on a paper towel–lined plate to drain.
- Repeat with remaining bacon if cooking in batches.
Notes
- Thin bacon will cook closer to 7 minutes.
- Thick-cut bacon may take 9–10 minutes.
- Cutting bacon in half makes it easier to fit a full pound in the air fryer.
- Always cook bacon in a single layer so it crisps properly.
- Some overlap is ok, but try not to totally stack multiple layers on top of each other.
- Clean excess grease from the air fryer after cooking to prevent smoking.
Recipes That Pair Well With This
- Hotel Style Waffles
- Fluffy Homemade Pancakes
- Sourdough Discard Pancakes
- Biscuits and Gravy
- French Toast
- Bakery-Style Cinnamon Rolls (Same Day or Overnight)
- Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
- Homemade Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches
More Recipes to Try
- Easy Homemade Lasagna
- Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
- Pollo Bandito Mexican Queso Chicken
- Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken
- CFA Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Easy Homemade Spanish Rice
- Garlic Butter Rice
- Fluffy Steamed White Rice
- Easy Seasoned Rice
Tips for Little Helpers
Kids can help lay the bacon strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer. This is an easy kitchen job that helps them learn about cooking and kitchen safety while still being involved. Older kids can also help line the plate with paper towels and help transfer the cooked bacon once it has cooled slightly.
Tips for Success
- Cut bacon in half so more fits in the air fryer
- Always cook bacon in a single layer
- Start checking bacon at 7 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon will take longer to cook
- Transfer bacon to paper towels after cooking so it stays crispy
- Clean the air fryer after cooking to prevent smoking next time
FAQs
Can you stack bacon in the air fryer?
It’s best not to stack bacon. The bacon needs to be in a single layer so the hot air can circulate and cook it evenly.
What temperature do you cook bacon in the air fryer?
350°F works best because it allows the fat to render slowly so the bacon gets crispy without burning.
How long does bacon take in the air fryer?
Most bacon takes about 7–9 minutes at 350°F, depending on thickness and how crispy you like it.
Do you have to flip bacon in the air fryer?
No, you do not need to flip bacon in the air fryer because the hot air circulates around the bacon as it cooks.
How do you keep bacon from smoking in the air fryer?
Clean excess grease from the air fryer after cooking and avoid cooking at very high temperatures.
Storage
Store leftover cooked bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing Instructions
Cooked bacon can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes until warm and crispy.
Variations
- Use thick-cut bacon for extra crispy bacon
- Try peppered bacon for extra flavor
- Cut bacon into small pieces before cooking to make bacon crumbles for salads or baked potatoes
- Sprinkle brown sugar on bacon before cooking for a sweet version
Final Thoughts
Air fryer bacon is one of the easiest kitchen basics once you try it. It’s less messy, easy to make, and perfect for everything from quick weekday breakfasts to big weekend brunch. This is one of those simple cooking methods that makes a big difference in your everyday kitchen routine.
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