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Bacon in the Air Fryer is hands down the easiest, least messy way to get perfectly crispy bacon every single time, with no splattering stovetop and no babysitting. I started making it this way on busy mornings and never looked back; the kids get crispy bacon while I scramble the eggs. Once you try it you will want to air fry everything, like our crowd-favorite air fryer baked potatoes.
It comes out evenly cooked and crispy with almost zero cleanup, which makes weekend breakfast so much easier.
Bacon in the Air Fryer Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 2 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 12 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 92kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Smoky, salty, and shatter-crisp
- ✋ Difficulty: Beginner easy, even simpler than our air fryer salmon
Quick Answer
Lay bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping or checking halfway, until it reaches your desired crispiness. Remove the bacon with tongs and drain it on a paper-towel-lined plate. No oil, no flipping a hot skillet, and almost no cleanup.
Jump to:
- Bacon in the Air Fryer Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Bacon in the Air Fryer
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Bacon in the Air Fryer FAQs
- Other Recommended Air Fryer Recipes
- Crispy Bacon in the Air Fryer
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The air fryer circulates heat evenly. Every strip crisps up at the same rate, so you get consistent results without hot spots or limp pieces.
- No oil needed. Bacon renders its own fat as it cooks, so it crisps in its own grease with nothing added.
- Way less mess. The grease drips below the basket instead of splattering all over your stovetop and you.
- It is totally hands-off. Set the timer and walk away to make the rest of breakfast; no standing over a skillet.
- You control the crispiness. A minute or two more or less lets you nail chewy, crispy, or extra-crispy every time.
- It frees up your stovetop. Cook bacon in the air fryer while eggs, pancakes, or hash browns take the burners.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It delivers perfectly crispy bacon with almost no effort or cleanup.
- It frees up your stovetop for the rest of breakfast.
- It is perfect for everything from BLTs to topping our overnight breakfast casserole.
Key Ingredients
You only need one thing to make great air fryer bacon, so the type of bacon you choose is what matters most.
- Bacon: the one and only ingredient; regular, thick-cut, or center-cut all work beautifully.
- Thick-Cut vs Regular: thick-cut stays chewy-crisp, while regular bacon shatters; pick your favorite texture.
- No Oil Required: bacon renders plenty of its own fat, so the air fryer does all the work; save the rendered bacon fat to use like we do in our maple bacon cookies.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Bacon in the air fryer is a blank canvas. Try these easy twists.
- Candied bacon: brush with brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne before cooking.
- Maple bacon: drizzle with maple syrup in the last few minutes; great for our maple bacon cookies.
- Peppered bacon: add a generous crack of black pepper before air frying.
- Bacon for a crowd: work in batches so the strips stay in a single layer.
- Use it everywhere: crumble it over salads, soups, and our overnight breakfast casserole.
How to Make Bacon in the Air Fryer
- Lay the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, slightly overlapping is okay.
- Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the bacon reaches your desired crispiness, checking halfway.
- Use tongs to remove the crispy bacon from the basket.
- Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overcrowd the basket; a single layer gives the crispiest, most even results.
- Check early the first time; air fryer models vary, so start checking around 8 minutes.
- Pour off grease between batches to avoid smoking when cooking a lot of bacon.
- Add a slice of bread or water under the basket to catch grease and cut down on smoke.
- Save the bacon fat for cooking eggs or veggies; it is liquid gold.
- Pair it with our crispy air fryer baked potatoes for an easy all-air-fryer meal.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Crispy air fryer bacon is a breakfast staple, perfect alongside eggs, pancakes, or piled onto our overnight breakfast casserole. It is also the star of a classic BLT sandwich with crisp lettuce and ripe tomato.
Beyond breakfast, crumble it over salads like our creamy pea salad, stir it into stove top baked beans, or scatter it over baked potatoes and soups for a smoky crunch.
It also makes a great topping for burgers and a crunchy garnish for our baked chicken tenders. Once you have a batch of crispy bacon ready, it goes with just about everything.
Bacon in the Air Fryer FAQs
Cook bacon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for crispy results. Regular bacon usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes, while thick-cut may need 10 to 12 minutes.
Flipping is optional. The circulating air cooks both sides, but flipping or rearranging halfway through can help especially thick strips crisp more evenly.
Smoke comes from rendered grease. Avoid overcrowding, pour off grease between batches, and place a slice of bread or a little water under the basket to absorb drippings.
For the crispiest results, cook bacon in a single layer. A little overlap is fine, but stacking will steam the strips and leave them less crispy.
Store cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the air fryer for a minute or two to bring back the crisp.
Yes. Thick-cut bacon does great in the air fryer; just add a couple of extra minutes and check for your preferred level of crispiness.
Loving your air fryer? Make our crispy air fryer baked potatoes next for an easy, hands-off side dish.
Crispy Bacon in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 slice bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 5 minutes.
- Place the bacon slices, not touching, in a single layer, into the air fryer in the bottom of the basket.
- Cook for 7-9 minutes, flipping the bacon strips halfway through.
- Place air-fried bacon on paper towels to soak up any excess grease. Serve.
Video
Notes
- No need to spray the air fryer with cooking spray.
- Can you regular or thick-cut bacon, cooking time may vary
- Use as-is or in recipes that use crispy cooked bacon or bacon crumbles.
- Freezes well, see tips above on how to store.
Nutrition
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