Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe – Perfect Every Time

This air fryer bacon recipe makes cooking bacon a breeze and after trying it for the first time I think you’ll agree that this is the only way to do it.

Not only does the air fryer method take less time than the traditional way but it makes perfectly crispy bacon every single time.

This method is perfect for a quick breakfast with an easy cleanup, no matter what type of air fryer you are using. In mere minutes you can learn how to make the best bacon, the best way for the style of your air fryer. 

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Why You’ll Love This Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

This method cuts down on excess grease and delivers the crispiest bacon with little cooking time.

The cooking process is simple and if you haven’t tried air-fried bacon yet, this is a total game-changer.

Whether you are preparing thick-cut bacon or thin bacon strips, this will be your new favorite way to cook bacon. 

This method means less mess and less cleanup than the traditional stove top method. Gone are the days of cleaning up a greasy mess whenever you make a lot of bacon.

That’s one of the great things about air fryer recipes, the ease of clean up, especially when cooking bacon which is known to have a lot of extra grease.

Plus this easy air fryer bacon recipe ensures that the bacon cooks evenly which is difficult with a lot of different methods I have tried.

So, the next time you want to cook strips of bacon, don’t even bother with other cooking methods, you can make perfect bacon right in your air fryer. 

How to Make Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

How to make air fryer bacon will vary depending on the type of air fryer or air fryer brand you are using.

Be sure to read specific instructions for those who have an air fryer with trays or the kind with a basket, depending on which type you are making your delicious bacon in. 

Step 1 

To avoid any bacon-related smoke, the first thing you will need to do is give your air fryer a quick wipe.  

Step 2

Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees f. If you are using a Power Xl Air fryer, be sure to line the drip tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper to catch the bacon grease. If you are using an air fryer with a basket you can proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Add bacon to the bottom of the basket or if your air fryer has trays, lay the bacon strips on the trays, either way, make sure you add them in a single layer. 

​Step 4

Air fry bacon for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time or rearranging shelves if this is the type of air fryer you are using.

The cooking time will vary depending on the type of bacon, for really thick bacon, you may need to cook for up to 12 minutes, for really thin bacon 5-7 minutes may be all you need.

When you flip the bacon, check it to see if it needs more cooking time. 

Step 5

Transfer bacon to a paper towel, this will remove any excess grease which should be very little, if any. Wipe down the machine before cooking the remaining bacon.

Since the smoke point of bacon fat is 325F, you may notice some smoke during the cooking process.

Wiping the machine down in between cooking batches can help to limit that excess smoke although it never bothers me, I like that smoky flavor it brings to regular bacon. 

Recipe Notes

The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your bacon as well as the type.

If you are cooking thick cut bacon you may need to add an extra minute or two to the cook time.

Be sure to spread bacon out in a single layer and rotate trays to ensure all of the bacon slices get even time in front of the heating element. 

Turkey bacon tends to cook fast whether you are making oven-baked bacon on a baking sheet, convection oven bacon, or making it in a 6-quart air fryer. So be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Depending on the size of your air fryer and the thickness of the bacon, you may need to rotate the pieces of bacon at the bottom of the air fryer basket.

If you have a smaller air fryer, you won’t be able to cook as much bacon at once but you can cut the small amount of bacon you are cooking into strips to make more fit at once. 

Storage & Reheating Tips 

Allow it to come down to room temperature and then store any leftover bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Bringing the crisp bacon down from the higher temp can help reduce the formation of steam and help maintain the crispiness of the bacon.

This is one of the most popular bits of advice I can share about the storage of bacon.

A lot of people complained that storing their bacon made it soggy, but letting the hot air escape and bringing the bacon to a lower temperature prevents this from happening. 

Adding a slice of bread to a container of soggy bacon can help absorb some of the excess moisture and potentially improve the texture of the bacon.

The bread acts as a moisture absorber and can help prevent the bacon from becoming excessively soggy.

However, a piece of bread may not completely restore the bacon to its original crispiness if you let it get soggy. 

For the best results, it’s a good idea to reheat the bacon in an oven or an air fryer for a short time to regain its crisp texture.

More Great Recipes for Your Air Fryer

​One of the best parts of owning an air fryer is the ability to make so many different recipes, often better than the original.

That is the case with this Air Fryer Burger Recipe, this post shares how to make hamburgers in an air fryer, once you try it, it will be your favorite method for making burgers at home.

Another great use for the air fryer is learning how to reheat things in it to save time. This post shares with you how to reheat air fryer chicken wings to restore their original crispy texture.

Learn how to make your own homemade lunch meat in the air fryer here, or whip up a delicious dessert using your air fryer and make these low carb peanut butter bars.

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