Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

Learn how to make the best homemade air fryer bacon with this easy baking recipe. Achieve perfect crispy bacon every time with virtually no mess and in half the time of conventional methods. This foolproof technique delivers consistently delicious results with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Difficulty:

Beginner

Prep Time:

2 mins

Cook Time:

8 mins

Serves:

8 slices

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">8 slices bacon (regular thickness)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Freshly ground black pepper (optional)</li></ul>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 slice

🔥 Calories: 43 calories

🥑 Fat: 3.3 g

🧈 Saturated Fat: 1.1 g

🍞 Carbohydrates: 0 g

🍭 Sugar: 0 g

🍗 Protein: 3 g

🫀 Cholesterol: 10 mg

🧂 Sodium: 185 mg

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Air fryer</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Paper towels</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Tongs</li></ul>

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Preheat your air fryer to 180°C for 2-3 minutes. This initial heating ensures even cooking from the moment you add the bacon. While the air fryer preheats, pat your bacon strips gently with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve better crispiness.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Arrange the bacon in a single layer in your air fryer basket. It's perfectly fine if the slices overlap slightly as they'll shrink during cooking, but try to avoid completely stacking them. For even cooking, ensure air can circulate around most of the bacon surface area. If your air fryer is small, cook in batches rather than overcrowding.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Cook the bacon at 180°C for 8-10 minutes, checking at the 6-minute mark. Cooking time varies based on your bacon thickness and desired crispiness. Thicker bacon will need closer to 10-12 minutes, while thin-cut bacon may be done in 6-8 minutes. The bacon will continue crisping slightly after removing, so take it out when it's just shy of your desired doneness.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>At the halfway point (about 4 minutes in), use tongs to carefully flip the bacon for even crisping on both sides. This step ensures perfectly uniform cooking. If some pieces are cooking faster than others (especially those closer to the heating element), rearrange them at this point.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Once your bacon reaches your preferred level of crispiness, use tongs to carefully remove it from the air fryer to a plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb excess fat, resulting in crispier bacon. Allow the bacon to rest for 1-2 minutes before serving – this brief resting period allows the bacon to finish crisping up.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>For an extra touch of flavor, sprinkle freshly ground black pepper over the hot bacon immediately after removing it from the air fryer. The residual heat will help release the pepper's aromatic oils. Serve immediately while hot and crispy for the best texture and flavor experience.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Before starting your next batch, carefully pour out the rendered bacon fat from the air fryer drawer (this can be saved in a heat-proof container for future cooking). Wipe down the air fryer basket with paper towels between batches to prevent smoking from leftover bacon fat. Your air fryer is now ready for the next delicious batch!</li></ol>

FAQs

Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.

What ingredients are used in Air Fryer Bacon Recipe?

This straightforward recipe requires only bacon strips (regular thickness) and optional freshly ground black pepper. The beauty lies in its simplicity, allowing the natural flavours of quality bacon to shine through while achieving perfect crispiness.

How to cook Air Fryer Bacon Recipe at home?

Learn how to cook Air Fryer Bacon Recipe by preheating your air fryer to 180°C, arranging bacon strips in a single layer, and cooking for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Flip halfway through for even cooking. The air fryer method delivers consistent results with minimal mess compared to stovetop cooking, making it perfect for quick breakfasts or recipe preparations.

Can I cook thick-cut bacon in an air fryer?

Yes, thick-cut bacon works beautifully in an air fryer! Simply adjust the cooking time to 10-12 minutes instead of 8-10 for regular bacon. Check frequently after the 8-minute mark to achieve your preferred level of crispiness without overcooking, as thick-cut pieces require slightly different timing.

How do I prevent my air fryer from smoking when cooking bacon?

Prevent smoking by adding 1-2 tablespoons of water to the bottom drawer beneath the basket to keep fat drippings from overheating. Always pour out rendered fat between batches, and consider lining the drawer with bread slices to absorb excess grease during cooking.

What can I do with the leftover bacon grease?

Bacon grease is culinary gold! Strain and store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to three months. Use it to fry eggs, sauté vegetables, make roux for gravies, season cast iron pans, or add depth to homemade popcorn, biscuits, cornbread and roasted potatoes.

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