Crispy Air Fryer Bacon: Perfectly Cooked in 10 Minutes
If you love perfectly cooked bacon without having to deal with all the mess and grease splatter, then this Crispy Air Fryer Bacon is about to be your new favorite kitchen hack.
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
This quick and easy method delivers golden, crunchy strips of bacon every time. Whether you’re making a classic breakfast, adding a savory crunch to salads, or a delicious BLT sandwich, this air fryer bacon recipe is fast, foolproof, and delicious.
Everyone knows that making bacon is one of the easiest things you can make. You can make a big batch of it by baking it in the oven on a large baking sheet, or cook it in a pan for smaller batches. But let’s be honest, no one wants to heat a large oven to bake a few strips of bacon or deal with the splatter of grease when making it on the stovetop.
That’s where the handy-dandy air fryer comes into play. It is small enough to make a small batch of crispy bacon, and fast enough to make several batches. And the best part is that clean up is a breeze!
Why is this the best way to make crispy bacon?
- Speed. Unlike a regular oven, you can make super crispy bacon using an air fryer in about 10 minutes. And if you need to make a larger amount of bacon, you can easily and quickly make a few batches at a time.
- Clean up. For me, this is the best part. While the bacon is cooking, the rendered fat will fall to the bottom of the air fryer, and all you have to do is wipe it clean or give it a quick rinse with soapy water. You won’t have to deal with any of the greasy mess.
How to Make Crispy Bacon In The Air Fryer
Scroll down to the recipe card to see detailed step-by-step instructions.
- Arrange the bacon strips in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the bacon at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 10 minutes or until crispy.
- Remove the cooked bacon from the air fryer and drain it on paper towels.
- Remove any rendered fat at the bottom of the pan and wipe it clean before making a new batch of bacon to prevent smokiness.
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How long should I cook bacon in the air fryer?
It all depends on the type of bacon you are using, whether regular-cut or thick-cut.
- Regular-cut bacon – I recommend you cook regular-cut bacon for 10 minutes or until crispy. Air frying it for a shorter amount of time will give you softer bacon, so it all depends on how crispy you want it.
- Thick-cut bacon – My recommendation for thick-cut bacon is to cook it for 12-14 minutes or until crispy. And again, cooking it for a shorter amount of time may give you softer bacon.
That said, remember that air fryer models vary, so your bacon might need a bit more or less cooking time than recommended to get it to your desired texture.
Tips For Success
- Cook the bacon in small batches. Make sure the bacon strips don’t overlap too much in the air fryer so you can get the crispiest texture. Cut the strips of bacon if they’re too long.
- When making several batches of bacon, drain the rendered fat and wipe the bottom of the air fryer with a paper towel to prevent smoking.
- Flip the bacon halfway through cooking. I find that this makes the crispiest bacon, which is how we like it.
- Don’t use air fryer liners if you want to get crispy bacon. This hinders air circulation, which is crucial for even cooking and crisping. Liners will also prevent the fat rendered from draining away, making the bacon greasy and less crispy.
Air Fryers For Making Crispy Bacon
- PowerXL Air Fryer 4 QT Capacity – This is the air fryer that I have been using for years. It’s on the smaller side, but it is perfect for my small family.
- Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 with 5 QT Capacity – I have heard great things about this air fryer from friends and family, who highly recommend it.
- Instant Pot 10 QT Air Fryer – If you’re looking for a larger size air fryer, this one is great when you need to make a large batch of bacon.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Croissant Breakfast Casserole
- Traditional Oatmeal
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Blueberry Muffins
- Colombian Buñuelos
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
Ingredients
- 4-5 strips of bacon
Instructions
- In a single layer, place the strips of bacon in the air fryer basket. It is okay if they overlap a little. If the strips are too long, you can cut them to size.
- For regular cut bacon – cook at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 5 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
- For thick-cut bacon – cook at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 6-7 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for another 6-7 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
- Transfer the cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Serve immediately.
- If making more batches of bacon, drain the rendered fat and wipe clean the bottom of the air fryer with a paper towel between batches to avoid smoking.
Notes
- Tip: Use kitchen scissors to cut long strips of bacon to size. It makes cutting it so much easier! 😉
- Avoid using air fryer liners to get the crispiest bacon.
- It is okay to overlap the strips of bacon a little to make them fit inside the air fryer basket. Just make sure they are not completely on top of each other.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer that you are using. So, check the bacon when you flip it to see if you need more or less cooking time than recommended.
- If cooking bacon in batches, it is very important that you drain and wipe clean the rendered fat at the bottom of the air fryer to avoid smoking.
