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Air Fryer Bacon: Perfectly Crispy, No Splatter, Every Time
Air Fryer Bacon is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to cook bacon at home. If you’ve ever dealt with grease splatter on the stovetop, uneven cooking, or limp oven bacon, the air fryer changes everything. With consistent heat circulation and hands-off cooking, bacon in the air fryer turns out evenly crisp, beautifully browned, and far less messy than traditional methods.
This method works for breakfast, brunch, meal prep, or even recipes that call for cooked bacon as an ingredient. The air fryer renders fat efficiently, allowing bacon to crisp without sitting in grease. The result is bacon that’s crunchy where it should be, tender where it counts, and reliably delicious every single time.
Once you try air fryer bacon, it quickly becomes the only way you’ll want to cook it.
Why the Air Fryer Is Ideal for Cooking Bacon
Bacon is naturally high in fat, which makes it perfect for air frying. As the air fryer circulates hot air around the strips, fat renders out and drips away from the meat. This process prevents soggy texture and eliminates the need for flipping multiple times.
Compared to pan-frying, air fryer bacon cooks more evenly and produces far less mess. Compared to oven bacon, it heats faster and doesn’t require preheating a full-sized appliance. The air fryer also allows better control over doneness, whether you prefer chewy bacon or ultra-crispy strips.
Another benefit is batch cooking. Bacon can be cooked in multiple layers depending on the air fryer size, making it ideal for feeding a crowd or prepping ahead.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Bacon
- Bacon slices (thick-cut or regular)
That’s it. No oil, no seasoning, no extras required. Bacon contains enough fat and flavor on its own, making this one of the simplest air fryer recipes possible.
Both regular-cut and thick-cut bacon work well, though cooking times vary slightly. Center-cut bacon tends to cook evenly and shrink less, while thick-cut bacon offers a meatier bite.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Remove bacon from packaging and separate slices.
- Place bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Slight overlapping is fine, but avoid tightly stacking.
- Set the air fryer to 370°F (188°C). No preheating is required.
- Cook bacon for 7 minutes.
- Open the basket and flip or rearrange strips for even cooking.
- Continue cooking for 3–6 minutes, depending on desired crispiness and thickness.
- Carefully remove bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- Serve immediately or cool completely for storage.
How Long to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer
- Thin-cut bacon: 8–10 minutes
- Regular bacon: 10–12 minutes
- Thick-cut bacon: 12–15 minutes
Cooking times vary slightly based on air fryer model and bacon brand. Always check during the final minutes to prevent overcooking.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Bacon
- Don’t overcrowd the basket
- Use parchment liners designed for air fryers (optional)
- Flip halfway for even browning
- Pour off excess grease carefully if cooking multiple batches
- Adjust cook time based on bacon thickness
For extra crispy bacon, increase the temperature to 390°F during the final 1–2 minutes.
Flavor Variations
Pepper Bacon:
Sprinkle cracked black pepper on raw bacon before cooking.
Sweet Bacon:
Lightly brush with maple syrup during the last 2 minutes.
Spicy Bacon:
Dust with cayenne or chili powder before cooking.
Candied Bacon:
Brush with brown sugar and bake until caramelized during the final minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Air Fryer Bacon works perfectly with:
- Eggs, toast, and breakfast potatoes
- Pancakes or waffles
- Breakfast sandwiches and wraps
- Salads and soups
- Burgers, sliders, and baked potatoes
It also works beautifully chopped into pasta, casseroles, or savory baked goods.
Using Bacon Grease from the Air Fryer
Rendered bacon grease collects at the bottom of the air fryer basket. Once cooled, it can be strained and stored for cooking eggs, vegetables, or adding flavor to recipes. Always handle hot grease carefully.
Storage and Reheating
Cooked bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–3 minutes to restore crispness.
For meal prep, bacon can also be frozen and reheated straight from frozen.
Nutritional Considerations
Air frying bacon allows excess fat to drip away, reducing grease compared to pan-frying. While still indulgent, this method offers a cleaner, more controlled approach to enjoying bacon.
Fun Fact About Bacon
Bacon has been enjoyed for thousands of years, dating back to ancient China. Today, modern air fryer technology has transformed this classic food into a cleaner, faster, and more convenient staple for home cooks.
Air Fryer Bacon
Crispy bacon cooked evenly in the air fryer with no splatter or mess.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Arrange bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 370°F for 7 minutes.
- Flip bacon and cook an additional 3–6 minutes until desired crispness.
- Drain on paper towels and serve.
Notes
Adjust cook time based on bacon thickness.