When I want some crispy, delicious bacon NOW, I turn to this recipe for air fryer bacon. It’s so quick and easy!
Whether you want to learn how to air fry thick-cut bacon, regular sliced bacon, or center cut, this recipe has you covered. You’ll love how easy it is to cook perfect air-fried bacon!
If I’m cooking bacon for a crowd I’ll usually make a batch of oven baked bacon, but when it’s just for one or two people I love to quickly cook bacon in the air fryer.
The dry, convection heat of the air fryer makes bacon so perfectly golden brown and crispy! I also use this technique in recipes like Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs and Jalapeno Poppers in the Air Fryer.
Bacon Air Fryer Time and Temp
Need this info fast? Here’s a quick recap of timing, if you’re cooking a few strips of thick bacon in the air fryer.
To avoid drying out the bacon and overcooking the ends, I recommend a moderate air fryer temperature of 350 to 375 F. Cooking it at a slightly lower temperature will give it the most perfect texture — crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Air Fryer Bacon Cooking Chart
| Bacon Type | 350 degrees F | 375 degrees F |
| Center Cut | 7 to 9 minutes | 6 to 8 minutes |
| Regular | 8 to 10 minutes | 7 to 9 minutes |
| Thick Cut | 10 to 12 minutes | 9 to 11 minutes |
Please note: Because air fryers vary in their heating capabilities, and because bacon is a natural product with varying thickness and moisture content, your ideal timing may be shorter or longer.
The first time you cook bacon in the airfryer, check it periodically and note how many minutes it takes to cook to your liking.
Once you’ve figured out the exact timing that gives you just the degree of crispiness you want, it’s easy to duplicate your results.
Tips for Success
Make cleanup easy – Line the tray under the basket with a piece of foil.
Avoid overlapping – I usually cut regular sized bacon in half to fit our air fryer basket. Leave space around the strips for hot air to circulate.
Blot the raw bacon first – Removing excess moisture with paper towels reduces spattering.
Check the bacon early – Take a peek about 2 minutes before the suggested finish time, since air fryers vary widely.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE: For easy cleanup and no mess, line the bottom of your air fryer with a piece of aluminum foil.
STEP TWO: No need to preheat your air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket and the length of your bacon, you may need to cut the strips in half. “Center cut” bacon often fits just right in standard sized air fryers.
STEP THREE: Arrange the strips in the basket so that they are not overlapping.
STEP FOUR: Cook at 350 degrees F until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness. For this batch, I wanted golden brown crispy bacon that was still a bit chewy, and it took about 8 minutes.
Depending on how thick your bacon is, how hot your air fryer cooks, and whether you want crispy or softer bacon, your timing may vary.
Remove the cooked bacon slices with tongs and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Now you can enjoy eggs and bacon for breakfast, or add it to salads or sandwiches,
Do I Need to Flip the Bacon in the Air Fryer?
If the bacon is very thick, you may want to flip the slices over about halfway during cooking so that both sides are evenly browned.
For regular sliced and center cut bacon, you generally don’t need to flip it over because the convection heat cooks it on both sides.
Adding Extra Flavor
For Spicy Air Fryer Bacon, sprinkle the uncooked bacon strips with a little cayenne pepper to add some heat.
For Pepper Bacon, sprinkle the raw bacon slices with freshly ground black pepper before cooking in the air fryer.
How to Clean the Air Fryer After Making Bacon
Do you save your bacon grease, like we do? If so, you can drain it into a container after it’s cooled to room temperature. (Here are 25 ways to use bacon fat!)
If you’re not saving the bacon grease, wipe the tray with paper towels to remove excess grease.
Or you can cool it until it begins to thicken, and scrape it away with a spatula. (If you lined the tray with foil, simply wad up the foil and discard.)
Wipe the rack with paper towels to remove all the grease. Then wash the tray and rack in hot, soapy water.
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Bacon Cooked in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- air fryer
- aluminum foil
- paper towels
Ingredients
- 3 slices thick cut or regular bacon, or 4 slices center cut bacon
(Optional Add-Ons)
- freshly ground black pepper
- a sprinkle of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with a piece of aluminum foil for easier cleanup.
- If needed, cut the bacon strips in half to fit the basket. Center-cut bacon often fits perfectly in standard-sized air fryers without trimming.
- Arrange the bacon strips in a single layer in the basket, making sure they do not overlap. (Optional: For spicy bacon, you can sprinkle the strips with freshly ground black pepper or a tiny bit of cayenne pepper.)
- Air fry at 350 degrees F until the bacon reaches your desired crispiness, about 7 to 12 minutes depending on the thickness. For thick-cut bacon, flip the slices halfway through cooking for more even crisping. Drain on paper towels and enjoy.
Notes
- Center Cut Bacon – 350 degrees F: 7 to 9 minutes; 375 degrees F: 6 to 8 minutes.
- Regular Bacon – 350 degrees F: 8 to 10 minutes; 375 degrees F: 7 to 9 minutes.
- Thick-Cut Bacon – 350 degrees F: 10 to 12 minutes; 375 degrees F: 9 to 11 minutes.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
Whenever you come back to this recipe, you’ll be able to see your notes!
Nutrition
Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help.
If you post your creations on social media, tag #BENSABaconLovers so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.
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