Air fryer bacon is the perfect breakfast side dish. Making bacon in the air fryer is quicker and much easier to clean up than making it on a stove or griddle. Once you give it a try, you might never go back!
This crispy bacon is perfect for breakfast, crumbling over a salad, or adding to sandwiches or burgers. With an air fryer bacon recipe that’s this simple and straightforward, making bacon has never been easier.
“This was so delicious. I made it today! It was approved by my entire family! I am adding it to the breakfast rotation! YUMMMM”
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Bacon
- Unlock maximum crispiness! In my experience, air fryer bacon is crispier and has better texture than bacon cooked on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven.
- Less mess! When you make bacon in the air fryer, there’s no stovetop oil splatters, just crispy bacon in minutes.
- A healthier cooking option! When you air fry bacon, the fat and grease drips off and collects on the bottom of your air fryer basket. This makes it healthier than other cooking methods that involve more oil.
If you love this air fryer bacon recipe, make sure to try some of our favorite air fryer breakfast recipes: easy French Toast, simple frozen waffles, or fluffy scrambled eggs.
Are you cooking with a Ninja Foodi? Check out our Ninja Foodi Bacon recipe! The method, cooking time, and temperature are slightly different for that specific machine.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cut the bacon strips in half. This is optional, but if you cut them in half, you’ll be able to fit more bacon in the air fryer.
- Empty the air fryer basket after each batch to avoid smoking. Excess oil in the bottom of your air fryer basket is what makes your air fryer smoke. Since bacon releases a lot of fat when cooked, make sure you drain the oil after each batch for best results.
- Twist your bacon for extra crispiness. Take each piece of bacon and twist it into a ringlet shape. This is the best way to go if you want your bacon as crispy as possible!
How to Store Air Fryer Bacon
You can store leftover bacon in an airtight Ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to heat it up, just put it in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-4 minutes.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Bacon
What doesn’t bacon combine magically with? There are so many dishes bacon can star in. How about a crispy BLT sandwich? Crumbled on top of a cobb salad? As the classic breakfast side dish?
You can even mix it in with pasta (like this fantastic Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe) or add it to a cheeseburger. It even goes great in tacos—recently I’ve been obsessed with this gourmet shrimp taco recipe (and of course I make the crispy bacon in the air fryer!).
More Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
- Air Fryer Egg McMuffin (McDonald’s Copycat): This favorite fast food breakfast is ready in just 20 minutes in the air fryer (and it tastes even better than the one from Mickey D’s)!
- Air Fryer French Toast: Sweet French Toast drizzled with maple syrup and fresh fruit has to be one of the best ways to start the morning. Making it in the air fryer is fast and mess-free!
- Air Fryer Blueberry Bagels: These fluffy, fruity, homemade blueberry bagels are absolutely stunning! This is a recipe that’s sure to impress.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from fellow home chefs and air fryer fans. Comment below, follow Air Fryer Eats on Instagram, pin this recipe to Pinterest, and join our Air Fryer Recipes Facebook group.
Air Fryer Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package center cut bacon
Instructions
- Remove the bacon from the package.
- Cut the bacon strips in half so they fit without overlap.
- Place your bacon in the air fryer in a single layer.
- Cook your air fryer bacon a 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Flip the bacon midway through the cooking process.
- Remove the bacon from the air fryer and place it on paper towels to soak up the grease.
Notes
- This recipe can be made in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven. If you are using an air fryer oven, use the middle rack and choose the “Air Fry” function.
- Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Make sure to check your food as it’s cooking to learn your air fryer better and avoid over- or undercooking.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can, and it’s much crispier, easier, healthier, and faster than cooking it on the stove.
Making bacon in the air fryer is super simple and straightforward. Just lay the slices of bacon in your air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 350°F (175°C) for 6-8 minutes. If your bacon is thicker, you might need to add a few minutes.
When there’s excess oil in the bottom of your air fryer basket, your air fryer can start smoking. To prevent this, drain the oil after each batch, or add a slice of bread in the bottom of the basket to soak up the grease and prevent smoking.
Yes, you can cook frozen bacon in the air fryer, it takes just a few extra minutes to thaw the bacon out.
Yes you can! It’s very similar to making normal bacon, just cook it at 360°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check out our full Turkey Bacon recipe here for more information.
Tips from our readers 📝
“I recommend adding a slice of bread underneath the basket to absorb the grease and prevent smoking and flare ups!!”
~Barbara
“I twisted my thin bacon, and therefore able to fit the whole package in the fryer..”
~Pinkett
“Doesn’t heat up house and so easy to clean up.”
~Sherrie
“Happy to say that this is doggy approved”
~Veronica
We’ve updated this recipe!
We want our recipes to be as easy to follow as possible. That’s why we periodically update our recipes to share new tips and tricks, valuable information, and new photos. But don’t worry, it’s still the same great air fryer crispy bacon recipe you know and love.
For those with an air fryer, this is definitely one of the easiest method to fry bacon. 🙂
BACON! 😍I just got a new air fryer, and this recipe sounds perfect for its first fry. The tip about using two baskets for larger batches is great, I’ll be sure to do that. Thank you for sharing!
So glad you found our recipe! Enjoy this air fryer bacon!! YUM!
The best way to cook bacon! Love how it’s virtually mess free!
You know it, Beth! The best way to make bacon is in the air fryer!
Hands down, easiest way to make bacon! What a treat of a recipe! Thanks for sharing, Cindy!
Thank you so much!! Air Fryer Bacon is totally easy, isn’t it?!! Its a WIN!
Thanks for the Air Fryer Bacon info. This makes the Bacon healthier and definitely crunchy and best topping options too.
Now I need to buy an air fryer. We love bacon at home but like it crispy I use the microwave but now I want an air fryer.
You for sure need an air fryer!
I have never think to cook bacon on airfryer, brilliant! So crispy! I usually cook spring roll on it, so much better than deep fry it.
Spring rolls in the air fryer are delicious! Yes it is better than a deep fry! You’ll have to try air fryer bacon!
WOW thanks to you guys
The recipe are real
Much love from air fry
I don’t eat bacon. But hope I can try the same recipe just by replacing the meat. 😬 Thank you for sharing. ❤️
You would like our VEGAN air fryer bacon on our sister site: https://vegetarianmamma.com/vegan-air-fryer-bacon/
Do you preheat, or put the bacon into the air fryer and then turn it on?
Hello! I did not preheat the air fryer. I just put it into the air fryer basket and turned it on. I give space between in my air fryer basket, however people in our air fryer facebook group say they stack it up/criss cross and it cooks okay. I haven’t tried yet but that is what they are saying works for them 🙂
Best way to fix bacon
Thank you so much! We couldn’t agree more. After we tried this air fryer bacon recipe, we though the same thing!
I have tried this fried bacon recipe and added a twist! I twisted my thin bacon, and therefore able to fit the whole package in the fryer. I cooked them at 350 degrees for 8 mins, turned over once and cooked for another 6 mins, they came out crispy and the best and no mess bacon ever. I will not fry bacon any other way. It’s a 5 out of 5 stars recipe!!!
Hi Pinkett! Thank you for coming back and letting us know how this air fryer bacon turned out for you. I like that you twisted your thin bacon to make the entire package fit! Great thinking! Isn’t it great to not have much mess!!
I purchased an air fryer about a week ago and started right off looking for recipes. I ran across these recipes by Cindy. Since I love bacon and wanted something simple at first, her bacon recipe caught my eye first thing. I am a big skeptic and thought that her bacon looked too perfect and I was out to prove her wrong! Well, I got my bacon started in my air fryer like she said. I kept checking on it to see if it was failing (literally). Well, I gave up and let it cook. So, lo and behold, when it finished (in the time she said), I took it out and found it to be PERFECT!!! Thank you so much Cindy for not only the bacon recipe, but all the others. I have recommended this site to all my friends! Again, thanks!
Mable, that is the sweetest comment. I am so glad that you loved it and it came out perfect! What a testimony! Thank you so much for trying and love our air fryer bacon!
i love my Air fryer. i cook my bacon always. so crispy… the way i like it…
So glad you loved our air fryer bacon! We love it too! So easy to make!
The best way to make bacon ever in the air fryer. Doesn’t heat up house and so easy to clean up. I put two pieces of bread in bottom pan to soak up the grease.
Fully agree! I love that the air fryers DO NOT heat up the entire house!! The bread tip is a great one to soak up that grease!
i love my Air fryer. i cook my bacon always. so crispy… the way i like it…
HI Chris!! We love our air fryers too! So glad you liked our air fryer bacon recipe! Thanks for coming back and letting us know!
I love cooking bacon this way. It is amazing. Will never cook on stove again. Who knew? Called and told my son. He is fixing to get an airfryer.
So glad that you called and told your son about your air frying success with this bacon recipe! We think its delish too!
Have made the air fryer bacon and it’s perfect! No mess, crispy and delicious! Watch the cook time as it can burn easily. Also, I recommend adding a slice of bread underneath the basket to absorb the grease and prevent smoking and flare ups!!
Yes, you for sure have to watch that cook time it can change from perfect to burnt oh so quickly!! I like the bread tip!! 🙂
Thanks so much
My husband loves this
I love your recipes so much
Hello Betty! So glad you made it and enjoyed it! I appreciate your support! Thanks for coming back and letting us know how it turned out! We are happy to help you in your air fryer journey!
I love cooking bacon this way in my air fryer! Thank you for the easy instructions
Hi Ben, so glad you loved the easy instructions and it turned out tasty for you!
Honestly one of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer! Thank you for showing me how easily it can be done.
Hi Michelle, so glad you liked the air fryer bacon. It really does a great job of cooking it up!
Bacon is THE best in the air fryer. Thanks for the temp suggestion, it worked perfectly!
Hi Lou, so glad you liked our temp/time for air fryer bacon! yay!
Legit the best bacon ever!
We Agree Trevor! So glad you like it!
This was so delicious. I made it today! It was approved by my entire family! I am adding it to the breakfast rotation! YUMMMM
So glad you liked it, thank you for coming back and leaving a review and comment!
Well I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like this at first – bacon was always grilled when I was growing up because my Mum wasn’t too keen on the taste of it from the frying pan.
Well, I tried one rasher and I was hooked! I’ll never grill or pan fry my bacon again! Happy to say that this is doggy approved and hubby approved!
Thank you Cindy for converting me!
Veronica xox