Air Fryer Bacon is ready in just 5-6 minutes with no stovetop splatter and perfectly crispy results every time! The air fryer renders the fat beautifully, leaving you with crispy bacon and minimal mess. No preheating required!
The Crispiest Bacon You've Ever Had
Crispy air fryer bacon will be the only bacon you make from now on. Why would you ever bother with stove top bacon when the air version is so much easier - and crispier?!
All done in just a few minutes, and the result is very crispy bacon, without a whole mess to clean up. Quicker, easier, and cleaner than stove top!
"I was a bit nervous to air fry bacon because of all the grease but thought to give it a try and I'm glad I did! It turned out crispy just how I like it, yum! The grease was not an issue at all, plus I love the mentioned trick of adding a bit of water" - Katya
All You Need Is Bacon
You only need bacon to make this. Choose your favorite type, this recipe works for regular, thick cut and turkey bacon. For thick cut bacon you will need to adjust the time and temperature - see the recipe card below for details.
How to Make the Crispiest Bacon Ever
1. Start From Cold
Cooking bacon is one of the few times when you want to start with a cold pan or air fryer, as this helps render off as much fat as possible. So just place the bacon slices in your cold air fryer basket.
2. Air Fry
Air fry 5-6 minutes (for thin cut bacon, see recipe card below for other alternatives) until bacon is cooked and looks crispy. Flip it halfway.
3. Crisp
To get that extra crispy final touch, place the bacon on a piece of parchment paper and allow it to soak up the excess fat. Leave it there for a minute, then serve!
Expert Tips for the Crispiest Bacon
Don't preheat! Starting with a cold air fryer helps even more of the fat render off, which in turn gives you even crispier bacon.
Make sure the bacon fits. Slice the bacon strips in half if needed, as I did here.
Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket. It's fine if the bacon slices overlap slightly, but you shouldn't have multiple layers. If you're making a lot, cook them in batches.
If you air fryer starts to smoke, don't panic! This is due to fat collecting in the bottom of the air fryer basket. Just add a bit of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to avoid the fat burning.
Cook time can vary. Both with different air fryers and with the exact bacon you choose. Below are some guidelines.
For crispy bacon: air fry 5-6 minutes.
For less crispy bacon: air fry 4-5 minutes.
For thick cut bacon: air fry 8-10 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
What to Do with Leftovers
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Place cooked bacon covered on a flat surface in the fridge until frozen, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat straight from frozen.
Reheating in the air fryer: Reheat cooked bacon in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 350°F (175°C). If reheating from frozen, add 1 minute.
Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments.
What to Serve It With
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes17 Minutes
- Fried Potatoes Breakfast Bowl with Feta Cheese & Poached Egg10 Minutes
- Country Potatoes15 Minutes
- Easy Overnight Focaccia1 Hours 30 Minutes
More Quick & Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Balsamic20 Minutes
- Air Fryer Skirt Steak50 Minutes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon20 Minutes
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites10 Minutes
Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
Print RateIngredients
- 6 slices bacon
Instructions
- Place bacon in air fryer and air fry 5-6 minutes at 360°F (180°C), flipping the bacon once halfway. See notes for thicker cuts of bacon.6 slices bacon
- Remove bacon from the air fryer and place on parchment paper to crisp up.
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
- Kitchen tongs
- 1 paper towel
Notes
What to Do with Leftovers
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Freezing: Place cooked bacon covered on a flat surface in the fridge until frozen, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat straight from frozen. Reheating in the air fryer: Reheat cooked bacon in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 350°F (175°C). If reheating from frozen, add 1 minute. Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments.Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
charles w morgan
I called barber foods to ask how to cook their chicken cordon blue frozen entree in the air fryer - they don't know ! do you folks have any ideas ? please let me know !
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi Charles,
I'm not familiar with that brand, but is it a full meal or is it "just" the chicken cordon bleu? If it's the latter, I have a whole post dedicated to cooking frozen chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer: https://alwaysusebutter.com/frozen-chicken-cordon-bleu-in-air-fryer/
Hope that helps!
Emmeline
Katya
I was a bit nervous to air fry bacon because of all the grease but thought to give it a try and I’m glad I did! It turned out crispy just how I like it, yum! The grease was not an issue at all, plus I love the mentioned trick of adding a bit of water