Air Fryer Bacon (Crispy, Easy, Perfectly Cooked)

Name: Air Fryer Bacon - Crispy, Easy, Perfect!
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 11 min
Ingredients: 5 slices bacon

This post may contain affiliate links.

Ready in just 10 minutes or less, Air Fryer Bacon is crispy, delicious, and perfect every time! There’s virtually zero clean-up, no greasy splatters, and as a bonus, you can cook the bacon to your liking.

The bacon is arranged in a neat row, with each strip glistening and evenly browned. The texture looks crunchy and crispy, with visible charred edges and a slightly curled shape. The background appears to be a white plate or tray, highlighting the appetizing and mouth-watering appearance of the bacon.

Bacon cooked in the air fryer is downright delicious! I can’t get enough of its crispy goodness and always find myself reaching for another piece. While I’ve been a fan of the air fryer for some time now, it wasn’t until recently that I thought to cook bacon in it. Despite having success with other air fryer recipes like sweet potatoes, hot dogs, and baked potatoes, it never occurred to me to try bacon.

Although oven-baked bacon has been my go-to method for years, I have to say that the air fryer yields the crispiest and perfectly cooked bacon. If you have an air fryer, you have to try cooking bacon in it using these simple steps for how to cook crispy bacon in the air fryer.

Uncooked bacon in the basket of an air fryer.

What You Need To Make Air Fryer Bacon

This one-ingredient “recipe” is really all about timing and the process. There are two import items that you need to pay attention to in order to make the crispiest bacon:

Quality Ingredients

Buy good bacon. I look for lean bacon with just the right about of fat-to-meat ratio.

An Air Fryer

There are several brands of air fryers on the market. I use this one, which is a basket-style air fryer. I’ve been using it for more than a year and absolutely love it. It’s easy to set the temperature and time, plus clean-up is almost non-existent since the basket goes into the dishwasher.

What Type Of Bacon Can Be Used?

You can use any type of bacon that you like. Cooking times will vary, though.

Regular sliced bacon – 8 to 10 minutes.
Thick-cut bacon – 10 to 13 minutes.
Turkey bacon – I have not tested turkey bacon in the air fryer. If you prefer it to regular bacon, I would use the regular sliced bacon time and temperature to start with.

Cooked bacon in the basket of an air fryer.

At What Temperature Do You Air Fry Bacon?

The best temperature I’ve found for air-frying bacon is 360 degrees. This temp will crisp the bacon and cook it beautifully without causing excess smoke.

After frying the bacon, carefully remove it from the air fryer and let it drain on paper towels.

PRO TIP: add about a ¼ cup of water to the bottom of the air fryer to minimize smoking.

Air fried cooked bacon strips on a woooden cutting board.

Tips For Cooking Bacon In An Air Fryer

Make sure your air fryer is well-vented. Never put it up against a backsplash or wall.
Check the bacon at about the midway point. That way, if it curls up, you can reposition it for the remainder of the cooking time.
Adjust the cooking time to how you like your bacon, whether it’s soft or super crispy.
Place the bacon in a single layer. If you have a problem fitting it in, just cut the pieces in half.
Clean your air fryer after using it. Once the air fryer has cooled, I like to run a soft, damp towel over the inside and coils to remove any grease.

Pieces of cooked bacon with blueberries and english muffins for breakfast.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I cook turkey bacon in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook turkey bacon in the air fryer using the same steps as regular bacon.

What is the best type of bacon to use for air frying?

Thick-cut bacon works best for air frying, as it holds its shape and crisps up nicely.

What is the difference between convection ovens and air frying?

Convection ovens use fans to circulate hot air, while air frying uses high-speed hot air. Air frying produces crispier and juicier results and is a healthier option with less oil and fat.

What can I serve with crispy bacon cooked in the air fryer?

Crispy bacon pairs well with toasted bread, eggs, and other breakfast foods. It can also be used as a topping for salads or sandwiches.

What is the difference between an oven and an air fryer when cooking bacon?

Cooking bacon in an air fryer is faster and results in crispier and healthier bacon, while cooking in the oven can result in less crispy and unevenly cooked bacon.

More Air Fryer Recipes To Make!

5 from 1 vote