Air Fryer Bacon is the EASIEST method for cooking bacon. Avoid the greasy mess, and the bacon turns out deliciously crispy and perfect!
Using the Air Fryer to make bacon is genius! Not only does it take a fraction of the time, but the cleanup is nearly effortless and the results extraordinary! If you don't have an air fryer already, this is reason enough to purchase one now! I will share my favorites with you further down in this post.
Not only can you make bacon in the air fryer, but you can make other delicious meals such as Air Fryer French Toast, Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls, and French Toast Sticks, Hot Dogs, Chicken Parmesan, and so much more!
Making the best bacon ever is SO easy in the air fryer! Setting it and forgetting it is totally a thing with this recipe! Here's how we do it!
How to make The BEST Air Fryer Bacon:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Using your favorite brand of bacon, add slices to the air fryer basket so that they are touching, but not overlapping (I can usually fit 5-6 slices per batch in my Air Fryer).
- Optional: set something on top of your bacon like a metal rack. This prevents the bacon from flying around inside the basket. I use this metal rack UPSIDE DOWN from my instant pot.
- Close the air fryer and set for 370 degrees and 8 minutes.
- Open the air fryer basket and check doneness of the bacon. If you want the bacon crispier, add 1-2 more minutes.
- Using tongs (silicone to prevent scratching), carefully remove the bacon from the air fryer and serve immediately!
Best way to clean up bacon grease from the air fryer:
There are many ways to clean the air fryer after cooking bacon, and here are some tips I've learned along the way:
- My favorite method is the old fashioned way, hand washing it. I place my basket in the sink, and add Dawn dish soap. Then, after my water is hot, I use the sink sprayer to spray the inside of the basket. It literally cleans itself and I just rinse it out after that!
- Place a piece of bread in the very bottom of the air fryer while cooking the bacon. This will absorb the grease and you can toss the bread for an easy cleanup.
- Use parchment paper air fryer liners on the bottom of your air fryer. I don't use these, but a lot of people recommend them.
- I've read people recommending to put some water in the bottom of your air fryer basket, but I DO NOT recommend this. That water will be boiling by the time the recipe is done and it can easily splash out and burn you. Do not try this.
What type of Air Fryer should I use for this recipe?
There are many Air Fryers to choose from, but I love my PowerXL Vortex Air fryer! Here are some other great options:
- OMORC Air Fryer 6QT -1600W Powerful Electric Hot Oven 10 Preset Menus Dual Control System 6-in-1 Function
- COSORI Air Fryer 5.8QT - Large Hot Electric Oven Oilless Cooker with 8 Quick Setting Recommendation
- GoWISE USA 7 QT Air Fryer -with Dehydrator & 3 Stackable Racks, Led Digital Touchscreen
Bacon makes a great side dish! Here's some ideas of things to serve alongside the bacon!
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks are so easy and delicious! Eat them fresh or freeze and reheat later for a quick breakfast!
- This citrusy moist lemon pound cake topped with a sweet icing is bakery perfection! Making this Starbucks Lemon Loaf at home is so easy!
- Honey Lime fruit salad is filled with berries, pineapple, and watermelon, and then coated in a delicious honey lime poppyseed glaze! It’s easy and delicious!
- Ooey gooey apple pie cinnamon rolls! Perfect for fall breakfast or brunch!
- These scrambled eggs make the perfect classic breakfast served alongside this bacon.
- Best Banana Bread EVER: It’s moist, delicious, and SO easy to make! With only a handful of ingredients needed, this whips up in no time!
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls are done in less than 10 minutes!
- Pumpkin Pancakes are a fall breakfast staple! Adding Greek yogurt lightens them up, adds protein, and keeps the pancakes delicious and moist!
- The Best Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are so easy to make! Done in a few minutes and super easy to peel, you’ll never make them any other way again!
Air Fryer Bacon is the EASIEST method for cooking bacon. Avoid the greasy mess, and the bacon turns out deliciously crispy and perfect!
- 6-12 slices bacon
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Using your favorite brand of bacon, add slices to the air fryer basket so that they are touching, but not overlapping (I can usually fit 5-6 slices per batch in my Air Fryer). Optional: set something on top of your bacon like a metal rack. This prevents the bacon from flying around inside the basket. I use this metal rack UPSIDE DOWN from my instant pot.
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Close the air fryer and set for 370 degrees and 8 minutes. Open the air fryer basket and check doneness of the bacon. If you want the bacon crispier, add 1-2 more minutes.
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Using tongs, carefully remove the bacon from the air fryer and serve immediately!
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Repeat if more bacon is desired.
Sara Welch
Another great recipe for my air fryer; this turned out perfectly crisp and juicy! Going to be making bacon like this from now on!
Lily
I love this new method of making bacon, it turns out crispy and perfect without the whole mess that you have to clean.
Amanda
Came out perfect and delicious! Highly recommend!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This Air Fryer Bacon looks so perfect! Definitely a must try!
Kimberly
Great idea, I haven't tried this method of making bacon yet but that's about to change!
Vikki
I love how easy this is to make, my bacon came out perfectly crispy!
Allyson
SO EASY!
Beth
We love bacon around here! It looks so delicious and yummy! I can't wait to give this a try!
Kristyn
This is the only way to make bacon!! I hate the grease & this helps with that & it is so nice & crispy, the way we like it!
Rock Smith
Great tips, and the BEST part is that you can save all those bacon drippings to cook with, they pour right out of the basket. We keep ours refrigerated, perfect for cooking Keto-Friendly
Allyson
LOVE THAT!
Jacque Hooper
Quite possibly the best way to enjoy bacon! So crisp and delicious!
Catalina
What a great idea to cook bacon in the Air Fryer! So easy!
Simon
There are so many good dishes that can be made with air fryer, and I love that it makes cleaning easier. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Madeline Dube
Love the bread in the bottom to soak up the grease. I bet it’d be great suet for the birds.
Winniebear
I'm the only person in my house who eats bacon and have made it several times in my air fryer but not once thought to put bread down to soak up the grease. Great idea Madeline!!