Our air fryer bacon recipe is the way to go. It’s quick and much easier to clean up than making it on a stove or griddle. Once you give it a try, you’ll never go back.
Stovetop vs. Air Fryer Bacon
In my experience and experiments, air fryer bacon is crispier and has a better texture than bacon cooked on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven.
Stovetop Bacon:
- Have to cook it in batches.
- Difficult to get a uniform crispiness.
- Huge mess.
Air Fryer Bacon:
- Set and forget it!
- Consistent results.
- A self-contained mess.
This air fryer bacon method wins every time.
What You’ll Need
Bacon – Pretty self-explanatory… I prefer to use center-cut bacon.
How to Make It
- Remove desired strips of bacon from the package. You can cook the whole package, but you’ll want to work in batches.
- Next, cut the bacon strips in half. This is optional, but you’ll be able to fit more bacon in the airfryer this way.
- Arrange the bacon slices in the bottom of your air fryer basket, trying to avoid overlapping them.
- Cook the bacon in the air fryer at 350°F/177°C for 6-8 minutes. The final cook time will depend on how crispy you like your bacon.
- Much of the bacon fat will end up at the bottom of the air fryer, but drain the bacon on paper towels to soak up any excess crease and allow the bacon to get super crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Avoid Smoke and Burning
- Empty the main basket after every batch to avoid smoking
- Regular bacon takes 6 to 8 minutes in the air fryer.
- For thick cut bacon, increase the cook time to 8-10 minutes.
- For softer, less crispy bacon, reduce the cook time by 2 minutes.
Are you cooking with a Ninja Foodi? Learn how to make Ninja Foodi Bacon! The method and time and temp is slightly different for that specific machine.
Other Tricks
Try the “twist method” where you take each piece of bacon and twist it into a ringlet shape. It makes the bacon even crispier.
Try the “dump and go” method. Literally, stack your bacon in there and let it cook, stirring one time during the process.
How to Serve
Classic Breakfast: Serve with eggs, fruit, and a homemade Dirty Chai Latte, or a bold Cold Brew coffee for the perfect breakfast spread.
Salad Topping: Crumble air fryer bacon over a salad to add some crunch. This Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad sounds tasty.
Season Potatoes: Crumble bacon finely and mix with salt & pepper to make bacon salt. Bacon salt is amazing on Air Fryer French Fries and Air Fryer Potato Wedges!
Sandwiches: Make a BLT with Air Fryer Bacon! Add to a sandwich spread with mayo or hummus, and top with thick slices of fresh tomato and crunchy green lettuce.
FAQs
You can cook frozen bacon in the air fryer, it takes just a few extra minutes to thaw the bacon out.
Yep! See this Air Fryer Turkey Bacon post.
Yes! Here’s our recipe for a Tempe Vegan Bacon
Air Fryer Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package center cut bacon
Instructions
- Remove the desired slices of 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.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If you plan to cook a second batch, it is critical that you empty the second air fryer basket. If you do not empty and wipe it out, it will make your air fryer SMOKE.
- If you are using thick slices, I would suggest cooking the bacon strips 8-10 minutes.
- Just like with anything you cook, you need to monitor the cooking. Bacon can quickly turn from deliciously golden brown to burnt.
- Readers have shared that if you are using an air fryer unit with a basket you can put a piece of bread between the baskets to catch the grease.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
We recently updated the pictures for this post!
Recently we took some new photos to add to this post. You can see the old photos below. This is the same recipe, but we have also added new tips and tricks to be sure that this is the BEST air fryer bacon recipe yet!
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