Air Fryer Bacon (Best. Bacon. Ever!) (2024)

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Did you know that air fryer bacon is a thing? I will show you exactly how to cook bacon in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Bacon (Best. Bacon. Ever!) (1)

And y’all! It is the most perfect, most delicious bacon I have ever had. Seriously!

I am not even that big of a bacon eater, but this is sooooo good because it makes the crispiest bacon. After you try this method for cooking bacon, it may become your new favorite way.

It’s a total game-changer, people. 🙌🏻

Why? It is so much easier and less messy than making it the more traditional way: stove top, microwave or baking in the oven. It is simple, mostly hands off, plus the bacon grease effortlessly falls off into the bottom of the basket. It is the king of easy recipes. You get the best bacon for the least effort.

Note: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. See my full affiliate disclosure policy here.

Note: If you want to make turkey bacon instead, check out my air fryer turkey bacon here.

And you can wash the pair fryer parts in the dish washer if you want to, making clean up even easier.💁🏼‍♀️ Double check your model for that dishwasher bit.

But my Avalon Bay Air Fryer (Amazon affiliate link) is dish washer approved.✅ I got that one because it has consistently great reviews, plus it wasn’t too pricey. I have been pleased!

But back to cooking bacon in the air fryer!

How to Cook Bacon in the Air Fryer

Here is how to cook bacon in the air fryer. Note: I was able to do a twelve ounce package from Trader Joe’s in two batches.

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It is a twelve ounce package, and it had eleven slices, FYI. And heads up: be sure and pay attention to the type of bacon (i.e., thickness of your bacon) you are using because it can significantly affect cook time. These slices were more of a thick-cut bacon. Thinner slices of bacon will likely need less cooking time.

The cooking process is very simple. First, arrange the bacon slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer. A few folds are okay, but try not to overcrowd the pan.

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Next, it’s time to air fry the bacon!

Air fryer bacon cook time and temperature

How long do you air fry bacon? Ten minutes on 400 degrees F will do the trick. I did take a peek half way through to see if anything needed to be re-spaced.

Tongs are extremely helpful for this. True to form, bacon shrinks down quite a bit when cooking.

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Check it after ten minutes, and see if you want it any more done. I like mine pretty well-done, so I went an extra minute and a half. It was perfect y’all!👌🏻

I use the tongs to place the air-fried bacon strips on paper towels, where I blot and drain off any excess grease.

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Crunchy outside, chewy inside, dark around the edges…just perfect!!!😍👌🏻

Heads up: I did empty out the bacon grease prior to cooking my second batch. Just for the record, I may never make bacon any other way again.

And if you are a big bacon eater, I think cooking bacon alone would justify an air fryer purchase.😎👌🏻 Just sayin’! 🤷🏼‍♀️😉

By the way, this has inspired me to explore more cooking with my air fryer. So stay tuned for more of those recipes.

Also, if you love your air fryer, leave me a comment with your favorite things to make in it. OR, a wish list of foods you wish you knew how to make in the air fryer.

👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻And if you love air fryer recipes, check out my entire Air Fryer recipe archive here. 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻

How to prevent air fryer from smoking

Update: after a few people have experienced smoke issues with this recipe, I wanted to share a few tips that will help prevent this smoking issue.

  • Perhaps the easiest solution is to add a cup of water to the lower pan
  • Alternatively, you can add a slice of bread to the lower pan to soak up the bacon grease
  • One reader mentioned he adds rock salt (not regular salt), like you use to make ice cream. The pieces are big enough that they won’t blow around from the air blowing in your air fryer, and they will soak up the grease.
  • Use parchment paper to line your air fryer basket. There are a few types of parchment paper that are made specifically for the air fryer. (Amazon affiliate) They are made specifically for air frying and have little holes in them to allow for air circulation. Check your specific model for the correct dimensions, as these can vary in size. There are several sizes of parchment paper available.

How long is leftover bacon good for?

So how long is cooked bacon good in the fridge? 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator or one month in the freezer.

Recipes with Bacon

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy where I use bacon.

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  • Chicken BLT salad with avocado
  • Classic club sandwich (pictured above)
  • Cobb salad
  • Irish potato leek soup
  • Chicken corn chowder

Here are a few of my favorite breakfast recipes that pair well with bacon as a side.👌🏻

  • Egg muffins
  • Banana bread
  • Breakfast veggie scramble
  • Breakfast casserole
  • Whole wheat pumpkin spice muffins
  • Instant Pot hardboiled eggs
  • Blueberry oat muffins
  • Strawberry muffins
  • Irish corned beef hash
  • Double chocolate mocha muffins
  • Pumpkin spice bread
  • Tomato basil frittata

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

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Print

Air Fryer Bacon

I will show you exactly how to cook bacon in the air fryer. You may never make it any other way again because it is seriously the best!

Course Basics, Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer bacon, how to cook bacon in the air fryer

Cook Time 11 minutes

Total Time 11 minutes

Servings 11 slices

Calories 91 kcal

Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

  • 11 slices bacon (I am using Trader Joe's, and it is a thick-cut bacon)

Instructions

  1. Divide the bacon strips in half, and place the first half in the air fryer in a single layer.

  2. Set the temperature at 400 degrees, and set the timer to 10 minutes (possibly less time for thinner bacon).

  3. Check it halfway through to see if anything needs to be rearranged (tongs are helpful!).

  4. Cook remainder of the time. Check for desired doneness. I like mine extra crispy so I did about 1.5 minutes extra for a total of 11.5 minutes, and mine was perfect. 👌🏻

  5. Use tongs to place finished cooked bacon on paper towels to drain excess grease.

Recipe Notes

If you are doing more than one batch, be sure and empty the bacon grease from the lower portion of the air fryer basket before cooking the second batch.

I liked using thick-cut bacon for this recipe. If you are using thinner cuts, watch closely because you may need less time.

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Bacon

Amount Per Serving

Calories 91 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 14mg5%

Sodium 145mg6%

Potassium 43mg1%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 10IU0%

Calcium 1mg0%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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  4. Air Fryer Chicken Skewers (Kebabs)
Air Fryer Bacon (Best. Bacon. Ever!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best temperature to air fry bacon? ›

Preheat an air fryer to 390 degrees F (200 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions. Lay bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer; some overlap is okay. Fry for 8 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until bacon is crisp, about 7 minutes more.

Do you need to flip bacon in an air fryer? ›

You only have to try cooking bacon in the Air Fryer once for it to become your new favorite way to cook bacon. It's perfectly crisp every time and since the air circulates, there's no need to flip the bacon halfway.

Should you put water in the bottom of an air fryer when cooking bacon? ›

To reduce smoke when cooking bacon in the air fryer: Water. Put a little bit of water in the bottom pan/basket of the air fryer. You put some water in it, you put the bacon on the rack/grill part of the basket, and you have at it.

What is the secret to perfect bacon? ›

Tried and true, this is the way I learned to cook bacon: Lay the strips in a cold skillet, place over medium-low to medium heat, flip and fry until you reach your desired doneness and then transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

Where does the grease go when you air fry bacon? ›

Unlike bacon that is cooked on a sheet pan in the oven, or in a skillet on the stovetop, the air fryer allows the bacon grease to drip into the pan below as it cooks, so the bacon strips will be less greasy when they are done.

Should I use foil in air fryer for bacon? ›

Place bacon in air fryer

If you're using an oven-style air fryer, you'll want to put the bacon on an air-fry basket (basically a mesh rack) with either a solid pan or a piece of aluminum foil folded up on the edges underneath to catch any bacon grease drippings.

How do you keep bacon straight in an air fryer? ›

If the strips do overlap, they probably won't all cook fully and evenly. Bacon doesn't normally blow around too much in an air fryer, but if you want to keep it from curling, you can place a small rack directly on top. I used the trivet from my Instant Pot.

Is it better to air fry or pan fry bacon? ›

The air fryer heats bacon evenly while draining excess fat for that great crispy texture. Plus, unlike stovetop or oven cooking, the air fryer requires no added fat. You can also save the rendered bacon grease for other cooking purposes.

Can you fry an egg in an air fryer? ›

Place it in the fryer basket and preheat it for 5 minutes at 400°F (204 °C). Crack an egg to a small cup and slide the egg to the hot pan. Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 3 minutes for a sunny side over easy fried egg. If you prefer a fried egg with medium egg yolk, add 1 more minute to the cooking time.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Is parchment paper safe in an air fryer? ›

Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer - up to 428°F (220°C). To get the best results, add the parchment paper to the air fryer basket at the same time as you add your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element while cooking.

How do restaurants get bacon so crispy? ›

How do hotels make bacon so crispy? Hotels use their oven to cook the bacon over pan-frying.

How long does it take to air fry bacon in an air fryer? ›

Place the bacon slices evenly, in a single layer, inside the air fryer basket. Air fry bacon at 360°F for 7-9 minutes for regular cut bacon or 12-14 minutes for thick cut bacon. We used thick cut bacon for this recipe and cooked it for 13 minutes until crispy.

How do I stop my air fryer from smoking when I cook bacon? ›

Place bread or water in the bottom of the air fryer

All you need to do is place a couple of tablespoons in the bottom of the appliance to end the smoking. The water will quickly convert to steam and prevent the greasy food from causing more smoke as it finishes cooking.

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