Air Fryer Bacon
Updated Aug 25, 2026
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Air Fryer Bacon cooks up crispy and delicious in minutes, without standing over the stove or flipping each slice. It’s one of the easiest ways to cook bacon!
Serve this easy-to-make crispy bacon over a chef salad, with breakfast potatoes, or crumble it on top of crack chicken soup for a burst of crunchy texture and juicy flavor.
Crispy Bacon Cooked In The Air Fryer
I’m a crockpot fan, an Instant Pot gal, and I’ll fire up the grill any chance I get. But the air fryer has definitely earned a permanent spot in my kitchen, especially for quick basics like bacon.
I still cook bacon on the stove and in the oven, but the air fryer is especially handy when I’m making breakfast and need the stovetop for eggs, pancakes, or everything else happening at the same time. Just arrange the slices in the basket and let the air fryer handle the bacon while you get the rest of the food on the table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You guessed it: bacon! I usually use thick-cut bacon, but regular-cut works just as well. Choose your favorite smoked, cured, or flavored bacon, and that’s it. No oil or cooking spray needed since the bacon releases plenty of fat as it cooks.
How To Make Air Fryer Bacon
Cooking bacon in the air fryer couldn’t be simpler. Just arrange the slices in the basket and cook until they’re as crispy as you like.
- Prep. To begin, preheat your Air Fryer to 400˚F. Peel the bacon strips apart and arrange them in the air fryer basket. You can only cook a single layer of bacon at a time, so you may need to cook in batches if you are making a lot or if you have a very small air fryer.
- Fry! Cook the bacon strips for 4 minutes. Then flip the strips (a pair of tongs is helpful for this) and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy but not burned or dry.
- Drain and Serve. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper-towel lined plate to drain slightly, and serve warm.
How Long Does It Take To Air Fry Bacon?
To air fry thick-cut bacon, it should take 8 to 10 minutes at 400˚F. However, if you’re using thinner bacon, it won’t take as long. Also, since different air fryers cook at slightly different speeds and temperatures, you may need to adjust the time by a minute or two per side. Just keep an eye on it at first, until you get the hang of your Air Fryer’s temperatures.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the bacon in a single layer without overlapping. If you’re cooking a lot of bacon, work in batches.
- Skip the cooking spray. Bacon releases plenty of fat as it cooks, so there’s no need to add oil or cooking spray.
- Drain the grease between batches. If you’re making several batches, carefully pour off the accumulated bacon grease before starting the next one.
- Keep an eye on the first batch. Air fryers cook differently, and bacon thickness matters. Start checking a little early the first time and adjust the cooking time from there.
- Use tongs. Bacon and the rendered grease will be very hot, so use tongs to safely transfer the cooked slices from the basket.
Serving Suggestions
- Breakfast and brunch: Serve air fryer bacon with sheet pan eggs, a Western omelette, or cottage cheese pancakes. And if it’s brunch, a pitcher of mimosas never hurts.
- Lunch or dinner: Crumble crispy bacon over spicy rigatoni vodka, add it to my BLT chicken salad or creamy broccoli salad, or sprinkle it over a goat cheese pizza.
- Sandwiches: Tuck a few slices into an air fryer grilled cheese, make a classic BLT with honey mustard sauce, or pile everything onto homemade lavash bread.
- More ways to use it: Add crispy bacon to eggs Benedict, or turn it into bacon jam for burgers.
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Air Fryer Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 slices thick cut bacon
Instructions
- Prep and cook. Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, without overlapping. Set the Air Fryer to 400˚F and cook the bacon for 4 minutes; flip it over and continue cooking for 4 to 5 more minutes, or until crispy.
- Drain and serve. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, then serve.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- To store, let the cooked bacon cool, then place the strips in a plastic food storage bag or airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat leftover bacon in the air fryer, oven, or in a skillet over low heat.
- To freeze, place the bacon in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months.
What about the grease splatter on the walls and bottom of the unit???? Too much clean up. I’ll stick to my mess free perfect bacon cooked in my microwave.
Not sure what kind of air fryer you have, but how do you get splatter on the walls if you’re cooking the bacon in an enclosed unit? I have a double-basket Air Fryer, and all I do is put the baskets on the top rack in the dishwasher, which takes care of the mess.
This is my new favorite way to cook bacon!! It’s really perfect every time! Thank you!
Best way to cook bacon! I’d love to try this, yum!
I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Love how easy is to cook bacon in the air fryer! Must make!
Please enjoy! Thank YOU! 🙂
That bacon is cooked perfectly! I cannot wait to try this!
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I LOVE the idea of being able to cook bacon without all the spatter to clean up. I can’t wait to try this.
I hope you love it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This is so convenient. I love how easy the air fryer makes things!
Please enjoy! Thank YOU! 🙂
The best easy to make bacon! Perfect every time!
Thank YOU! Please enjoy! 🙂
This has definitely become my new favorite way to cook bacon! Couldn’t be easier and turned out perfect crisp and juicy; love it!
That’s great! I’m very happy you loved it! Thank YOU! 🙂