Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

Name: Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 ounces bacon (about 4-5 strips)

I’m a big protein-for-breakfast kind of gal. So knowing how to cook bacon the fastest and easiest way possible is essential… And ya’ll- this Air Fryer Bacon is the answer!

In a mere 9-12 minutes (depending on the thickness of your slices) you can have the crispiest bacon with little to no mess!

Why Air Frying Bacon is the WAY!

For those of you out there who are still hesitant about whether or not this “new-age” air fryer will give you the kind of bacon you grew up eating.

The short answer… heck yes it will! And here’s why:

Unlike when cooking bacon in a skillet, or even on a sheet ban in the oven, the hot air of an air fryer is able to circulate underneath the bacon, allowing all parts of it to cook up evenly.

Also, since the air fryer basket has holes where excess grease can drip off, and the bacon isn’t just cooking in its own grease, you end up with leaner and crispier slices than you would cooking it any other method.

Thick-cut bacon strips are shown on butcher paper before being cooked in an air fryer.

How Types of Bacon affect Cook Times

Much like the oven, the air fryer is pretty forgiving when it comes to cooking just about everything. But there are a few rules you’ll want to follow when selecting the best bacon to air fry:

Bacon Thickness. Thick-cut bacon will take a minute or two longer than regular-cut. Thin bacon will take a minute or two less.
Bacon leanness. A leaner bacon will cook up more quickly since there is less fat to render off. Fattier slices will take a little longer to cook.

So the photo above, of my all-time favorite Whole Foods hickory smoked bacon? It’s thick-cut and has quite a bit of fat marbling, so it will be closer to the 11-12 minute mark before it’s done.

My Tried and True Air Fryer

The first air fryer I ever bought, and the one I still use to this day, is the 6-quart Cosori model. It looks sleek, has a square basket so it will fit more food in a single layer, and cooks things so evenly!

How to Make Air Fryer Bacon

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts and instructions.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.

As with all air fryer recipes, you’ll need to preheat your air fryer for at least 3 minutes before cooking.

After lots of trial and error, I’ve found that 350°F is the perfect temp. It’s low enough for the bacon to fully render off any excess fat, but hot enough so you still get that crisp texture.

An air fryer is sitting on a white countertop.

2. Arrange the strips in a single layer.

It’s crucial that you place the bacon in a single layer into the basket with a little space between each strip. You can even crease them to give them a wavy appearance or if they happen to be a little too long.

You can even sprinkle a bit of brown sugar on top if you want it to taste like candied bacon!

Pro Tip: Line the bottom of the basket (not the part with the holes!) with some aluminum foil to make clean-up a breeze!

A hand positions bacon slices in a single layer in an air fryer basket so none are overlapping.

3. Cook bacon at 350°F for 9-12 minutes

You’ll want to add or subtract a minute or two based on the leanness and thickness of the strips. Use tongs with a plastic tip to carefully remove the strips from the basket to avoid burning yourself and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Also, you can store all of that rendered bacon grease to use when cooking other dishes in the future! Simply store it in an airtight glass mason jar at room temperature for up to 6 months.

Pro Tip: If I’m testing out a new batch of bacon, I like to err on the safe side and start checking after about 7-8 minutes. But note: the more you open the air fryer, the more you let in cooler air, and the longer the slices will take to cook!

Crispy bacon slices are in a single layer in an air fryer basket.

A hand lifts up slice of a slice of air fryer bacon.

FAQs

What do I do if my air fryer smokes while cooking bacon?

For the record, this has NEVER happened to be. But… if you’re cooking a lot of bacon, you’ll want to make sure and completely drain the basket of any grease between batches. If you’re still having issues, you can place a few slices of bread in the bottom of the basket (NOT on the layer with the bacon!) so it soaks up any bacon drippings.

Do I need to put oil in the air fryer when cooking bacon?

Absolutely not!! Bacon already naturally has a LOT of fat which will help the slices crisp up beautifully on their own.

Do I need to flip my bacon when air frying?

I’ve tested this both ways, and there is little to no difference whether you flip the slices or not! As long as you place the strips in a single layer, without overcrowding, then they should all crisp up evenly!

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5 from 13 votes