I started making Air Fryer Bacon because I got tired of grease splattering all over my stovetop, and now I honestly would not cook it any other way. It comes out perfectly crispy and evenly browned every single time with almost no mess. I make a big batch on the weekend and use it all week for breakfast, BLTs, and anything else that needs a little bacon!

A hand uses tongs to remove cooked bacon from an air fryer basket, with eggs, bacon strips, blueberries, and a red striped towel nearby on the counter.

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon

I used to think the only way to get diner-style crispy bacon was in a skillet, watching grease pop everywhere. It works, but I found a better way. The air fryer circulates hot air all around each strip so the fat renders evenly and you don’t have to flip, adjust, or babysit anything. Now I can make a batch on a school morning without covering my whole stovetop in grease.

What tends to go wrong with stovetop bacon is uneven heat. The center cooks faster than the ends, the fat pools up, and you end up with strips that are chewy in some spots and overdone in others. My method eliminates all of that. I’ve tested the temperature and timing with different brands and thicknesses so there is no guesswork and your bacon comes out perfectly every time.

If you love bacon, don’t miss my Twisted Bacon recipe. It is another less-mess bacon recipe that bakes up crispy in the oven.

Why My Air Fryer Bacon Recipe is the Best

Lower temperature than most recipes – Most air fryer bacon recipes cook at 400 degrees and end up with burnt edges before the center has a chance to crisp up. I cook mine at 350, which gives the fat time to render slowly and evenly.
Customized timing – Regular and thick-cut bacon cook completely differently and most recipes only account for one. Mine covers both so you get the same result no matter what.
Secret bread trick – Smoking is one of the biggest complaints about air fryer bacon. I solve that by adding a piece of bread to the bottom tray to absorb the dripping grease before it has a chance to burn.

Air Fryer Bacon Ingredents

Uncooked bacon on a white plate next to an empty air fryer basket on a marble countertop with a red and white striped towel.

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card for the specific amounts.

Bacon strips – Standard-cut is the most forgiving and produces the most reliably crispy result. Thin-cut cooks faster and gets extra crispy while thick-cut needs a couple of extra minutes.

Substitutions or Variations

Want it on the sweeter side? Brush each strip lightly with maple syrup before cooking. The sugars caramelize in the air fryer and you get a sweet-savory strip.
Prefer a little heat? Sprinkle the strips with a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika before cooking.
Out of regular bacon? Turkey bacon works in the air fryer at the same temperature, though it tends to cook a minute or two faster since it has less fat. Watch it closely the first time to dial in your preferred crispiness.

How to Cook Bacon in an Air Fryer

Here are my step-by-step instructions so you can make this recipe with ease. For the full, printable recipe with amounts and temperatures, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Cooked bacon strips in an air fryer basket, with raw eggs, cooked bacon on a plate, blueberries, and a red-striped towel nearby on a white surface.

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F for 3 minutes.
Lay bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overlap. If the strips are too long, cut them in half.
For thin-cut cook for 7 to 8 minutes. For standard-cut, cook for 9 to 10 minutes and for thick-cut, cook 11 to 12 minutes. Check at the lower end of the time range. Bacon continues to crisp slightly as it rests, so pull it about 30 seconds before you think it’s done.
Use tongs to transfer strips to a paper-towel-lined plate. Let rest 1 to 2 minutes before serving.
Carefully pour off the rendered bacon fat from the basket before cooking additional batches.

A plate of cooked bacon strips is on a marble surface next to a bowl of eggs, a bowl of blueberries, and two whole tangerines with one peeled segment.

Save your grease: Save the rendered bacon fat that collects in the basket. It strains cleanly through a fine mesh strainer into a jar and keeps in the fridge for weeks. It’s exceptional for cooking eggs, roasting potatoes, or making cornbread.
Easy cleanup: Line the bottom of the basket with a piece of aluminum foil (leaving the sides open for airflow) if your air fryer is harder to clean. This is optional, but it cuts cleanup time in half.
Don’t crowd the basket: This is the number one mistake people make. Overcrowding traps steam, and steamed bacon is chewy bacon. If you need a lot of bacon, cook in batches rather than stacking.
Dry your bacon: Pat your bacon strips with a paper towel before cooking. Drier strips crisp faster and more evenly.
Test the timing for your air fryer model: The first time you make this recipe in your machine, check the bacon a minute early. After one batch, you’ll know exactly where your air fryer lands and can adjust the timing to suit it perfectly.

Air Fryer Bacon FAQs

Will I be able to cook a whole pound of bacon at once?

In most standard air fryers, no. You need the strips in a single layer for proper airflow. For a full pound, plan on two to three batches. The good news is each batch only takes about ten minutes, so a full pound is still done faster than a large skillet on the stove.

Do I need to flip the bacon halfway through?

That’s one of the biggest advantages of the air fryer method. The circulating heat reaches both sides of the strip simultaneously, so flipping is unnecessary. You can flip if you want to, but it won’t improve the result.

Is air fryer bacon less greasy than pan-fried bacon?

Because the bacon sits elevated on the basket rack, the rendered fat drips away from the strips as they cook rather than the strips sitting in it. This can reduce the overall fat content compared to pan frying, where the bacon cooks in its own pooled grease.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate – Store cooled bacon in an airtight container with paper towels to absorb moisture. It keeps well for up to 5 days.
Freeze – Lay cooled strips flat on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Keeps for up to 1 month without losing quality.
Reheat – Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes. It comes back crispy, not soggy. The microwave works in a pinch but won’t restore the crunch the same way.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

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Six cooked Air Fryer Bacon strips are arranged in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon

Author Alicia

Course Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 9

Total Time 11

My Air Fryer Bacon comes out perfectly crispy and evenly browned every single time. This easy air fryer bacon recipe is quick, less mess, and ready in minutes

Equipment

1 air fryer

Ingredients

▢ 1 pound bacon regular cut or thick-cut

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F
Lightly spray the air fryer basket if desired, though this is usually not necessary.

Use parchment or foil only in the bottom tray, not blocking airflow in the basket.

Place the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. The slices can touch slightly but should not heavily overlap. If the slices are too long, cut them in half so they fit comfortably in the basket.
1 pound bacon
Air fry at 350°F. Regular-cut bacon: 7 to 9 minutes Thick-cut bacon: 9 to 12 minutes

If the bacon begins to smoke, add a small piece of bread to the bottom tray to absorb grease

Check the bacon halfway through cooking. If pieces are overlapping, adjust them slightly for even cooking.
Transfer the cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease. Allow the bacon to cool for 1 to 2 minutes. It will crisp slightly more as it cools.