Once you cook bacon in the air fryer, you'll never go back to the stovetop. No grease splatters all over your stove. No standing there with a spatula. No weirdly uneven strips where one end is burnt and the other is still floppy. Just perfect, crispy bacon in 8 minutes flat.
It's almost unfair how easy this is. Here's the method — plus a few tricks to keep it from smoking.
📋 Recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 slices of bacon (regular or thick-cut)
- 1-2 tbsp water (to prevent smoking, optional)
- Parchment liner (optional, makes cleanup easier)
Instructions
- Add water to the bottom drawer of your air fryer (below the basket). This catches grease drippings and prevents them from burning and smoking. Totally optional but helpful.
- Arrange bacon in a single layer in the basket. Overlap slightly if needed, but don't stack. For extra crispy, leave space between slices.
- Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes for regular bacon, or 10-12 minutes for thick-cut. Check at 6 minutes for thin bacon — it cooks fast.
- No need to flip unless your air fryer cooks unevenly. Air circulates around the strips and cooks both sides.
- Check doneness at the low end of the time range. Bacon goes from perfect to burnt in 30 seconds. Pull when it's just a touch less crispy than you want — it crisps more as it cools.
- Transfer to paper towels to drain. Let sit 1-2 minutes before serving. The bacon will crisp up further as it cools.
- Strain and save the bacon grease for cooking eggs, veggies, or anything else. Gold in liquid form.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Water trick prevents smoke: A tablespoon of water under the basket catches grease drippings before they burn. Huge difference if your air fryer tends to smoke.
- Thick-cut needs more time: Add 2-4 minutes to the cook time. Check earlier for thin bacon — it can be done in 5-6 minutes.
- Don't overcrowd: Overlapping is fine, stacking is not. Stacked bacon steams; single layer crisps.
- For straight strips: Line them up tightly next to each other. The heat flattens them naturally. No weights needed.
- Chewy vs crispy: Pull at 6-7 minutes for chewy. Go 8-10 for crispy. 11+ for shatter-crisp.
Variations
Turn basic bacon into something spectacular:
🍁 Maple Candied
Brush with maple syrup in the last 2 minutes. Sprinkle with black pepper. Sweet-salty magic.
🌶️ Peppered
Press cracked black pepper onto both sides before cooking. Classic steakhouse bacon.
🍫 Brown Sugar
Pat brown sugar onto both sides of each slice before cooking. Caramelizes into a sweet crust.
🌿 Herb Crusted
Sprinkle with fresh thyme and rosemary before cooking. Fancy brunch vibes.
🥓 Turkey Bacon
Works the same way! Cook at 400°F for 6-8 minutes. Less grease, same crispy result.
🔥 Sriracha Honey
Glaze with 1 tbsp sriracha + 1 tbsp honey in the last 2 minutes. Sweet heat, addictive.
🛠️ Recommended Equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
Does air fryer bacon smoke a lot?
Some air fryers do, especially without a pan underneath. Add 1-2 tbsp water to the drawer below the basket — it catches grease before it burns and cuts smoke dramatically.
Do I need to flip the bacon?
Usually no. The air circulation cooks both sides evenly. If your air fryer cooks unevenly (some brands do), flip halfway through.
What's the cleanup like?
Easy. Pour off any grease into a jar, wash the basket with hot soapy water. A parchment liner makes it even faster — just toss and go.
Can I cook a whole pound at once?
Depends on your basket size. A 5-6 qt air fryer fits about 8-10 slices in a single layer. For more, cook in batches. Keep finished bacon warm on a paper-towel-lined plate in a 200°F oven.
Can I save the bacon grease?
Absolutely. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve into a jar. Refrigerated, it lasts 3 months. Use it for eggs, sautéing veggies, popcorn — anywhere you'd use oil with more flavor.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Love this recipe? Check out our other favorites: