This air fryer bacon recipe is about to be your new favorite way to make crispy, perfectly cooked bacon with no fuss and no mess! No more dodging splattering grease; let the air fryer do all the work for you! Whether you like thick-cut, hickory-smoked, peppered, or applewood-smoked, it will do wonders for your breakfast game!
Crumble these up to make loaded baked potato salad, or chop and add to a green salad for something extra!
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Bacon is easily one of the most hunger-inducing smells in the world! I can’t remember when I wasn’t immediately craving bacon as soon as the aroma hit my nose.
Most people don’t think about using an air fryer for this classic skillet food. Air fryers are fantastic for making things crispy, so they match perfectly!
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy Cleanup! No more grease splatters to wipe up around the stove!
- Versatile! Bacon is amazing in, on, and wrapped around pretty much everything.·
- Family-favorite! Everyone loves bacon! Cook it up to add flavor to any meal!
🥘 Ingredients
This is a simple recipe with only 2 ingredients. Simply pick up a package of your favorite bacon, and you’re good to go!
- Bacon - 3 slices of bacon. Regular or thick-cut both work well in the air fryer.
- Ground Black Pepper (optional) - ground black pepper to taste. This is completely optional but highly recommended for extra delicious flavor!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Bacon
It’s super easy to cook bacon in the air fryer, but if it’s your first time, carefully read through all the instructions before you begin! Pull out your air fryer (basket style), the manufacturer's instructions, a cutting board, and a chef’s knife to get started.
This recipe will make 3 servings! You can always make more if you work in batches and avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket.
- Arrange. Place your 3 bacon slices (66 grams) in a single layer in your air fryer basket. I always cut my strips in half to best fit them into the air fryer.
- Fry. Season the bacon with freshly ground black pepper if desired, then air fry at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4). Cook regular bacon for 7-9 minutes and thick-cut bacon for 10-12 minutes or until crisped to your desired level.
- Serve. Transfer air-fried bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat for additional batches as needed. *Remember to discard bacon grease between batches and that consecutive cooking times may be quicker than the first.
🍽️ What To Serve With
You can also use it on a Western bacon cheeseburger or try my cheese and bacon turnovers. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Cook it slower and lower. If you’re having trouble with smoke, try cooking bacon for longer at just 300°F (150°C/Gas Mark 2). It could take up to 20 minutes. Sometimes, higher heat causes grease to drip and smoke up your kitchen.
- If you see smoke, stop cooking! The minute you see smoke coming out of your air fryer, shut it off and finish cooking on the stove. When it is cool, be sure the heating element is free of drippings.
- Keep it flat! If your bacon curls up while cooking in your air fryer, try setting a small rack over the bacon.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
If you have leftovers, however unlikely, you can store them for 4 to 5 days in the fridge wrapped in foil or an airtight container.
Freezing
Place your leftover bacon into a freezer-safe plastic bag. Press out any excess air and store the bacon in your freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating
The easiest way to reheat bacon is to pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 2 to 3 minutes.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
In general, it will take between 7 and 12 minutes at 350°F (175 °C/Gas Mark 4) to cook your bacon in an air fryer. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon.
No, it is not necessary to flip the bacon while cooking in an air fryer. The air circulation in the fryer ensures that the bacon cooks evenly on both sides.
The amount of bacon you can cook at one time will depend on the size of the air fryer basket. It's best not to overcrowd the basket to allow proper airflow for even cooking. You can cook several strips at a time, making sure they don't overlap.
😋🥓🐷 More Tasty Bacon Recipes
- Bacon Aioli - A creamy and delicious condiment for fries, burgers, sandwiches, and more!
- Chicken Bacon Risotto - Elevate your traditional risotto by adding chicken, bacon, and cheddar cheese!
- Bacon Breakfast Casserole - A hearty breakfast dish loaded with eggs, cheese, and bacon!
- Candied Bacon - The perfect sweet and salty treat that is a wonderful addition to any meal!
- Microwave Bacon - Whenever you're in a rush, try my microwave bacon, which turns out amazingly crispy in just 6 minutes!
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus - A tasty snack or side dish that even your kids will enjoy!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Bacon
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon (regular or thick-cut bacon)
- ground black pepper (optional, to taste)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Place your 3 slices bacon in a single layer in your air fryer basket. I always cut my strips in half to best fit them into the air fryer.
- Season with freshly ground black pepper if desired, then air fry at 350°F (175°C). Cook regular bacon for 7-9 minutes, and thick-cut bacon for 10-12 minutes or until crisped to your desired level.
- Transfer air-fried bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat for additional batches as needed. *Remember to discard bacon grease between batches, and that consecutive cooking times may be quicker than the first.
Notes
- Cook it slower and lower. If you’re having trouble with smoke, try cooking bacon for longer at just 300°F (150°C/Gas Mark 2). It could take up to 20 minutes. Sometimes, higher heat causes grease to drip and smoke up your kitchen.
- If you see smoke, stop cooking! The minute you see smoke coming out of your air fryer, shut it off and finish cooking on the stove. When it is cool, be sure the heating element is free of drippings.
- Keep it flat! If your bacon curls up while cooking in your air fryer, try setting a small rack over the bacon.
Micheline says
J'ai fait dans mon nouvel appareil, le bacon j'ai la kalorik maxx 5,7, comme machine j'ai adoré
Merci encore pour vos conseils
"I made in my new device, the bacon I have the kalorik maxx 5.7, as a machine I loved it
Thanks again for your advice"
Dale says
Directions provided were perfect, made some crispy bacon for my eggs, thanks.
Deli says
Ya lo hice y me salió muy crujiente. I did and it came out very crispy.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
¡Me alegro de que te haya funcionado! I am glad it worked for you!