How to Cook Turkey Bacon Perfectly in an Air Fryer: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Air Fryer Turkey Bacon is fast, easy and less mess than frying it on the stovetop. This recipe includes all the tips you need for making turkey bacon in the air fryer, and you have three ways to try it – unseasoned, candied or peppered!

For all you at-home brunch folks or BLT sandwich lovers, this air fryer bacon recipe is for you!

While pork bacon makes it onto our brunch menu from time to time, we love turkey bacon for a healthier option. I usually prepare some on the weekends to pair with eggs for a quick breakfast during the week, or to add to sandwiches, salads or burgers.

Cooking turkey bacon in the air fryer is also more hands off than frying it on the stovetop, and it’s less mess to clean up, which is always a bonus!

Uncured turkey bacon – it may also be called bacon style turkey. It’s made with natural ingredients and sodium nitrate-free.

Coconut sugar – just a little is sprinkled on the bacon to make the candied version.

Ground black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes – again, just a little sprinkled on the bacon for the peppered version.

Turkey bacon has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pork bacon. Not only is it lower in fat and calories, but many people find it has a great taste too. Cooking turkey bacon in an air fryer takes this lean breakfast staple to the next level, yielding crispy, savory slices in record time.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook turkey bacon to crispy, mouthwatering perfection in your air fryer Let’s get started!

Benefits of Cooking Turkey Bacon in an Air Fryer

Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions let’s look at why an air fryer is such a great way to make turkey bacon

  • Quick cooking times – You can cook a batch of turkey bacon in an air fryer in just 8-10 minutes, Much faster than oven baking

  • Less fat – The air fryer requires little to no oil to crisp up the turkey bacon, keeping it lean.

  • Even crisping – The circulating hot air of the air fryer crisps up the turkey bacon evenly on all sides.

  • Easy cleanup – With less grease splatter, air frying turkey bacon means less mess and easier cleanup.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps for perfect air fryer turkey bacon every time.

Ingredients

  • Turkey bacon slices
  • Optional: Seasonings of choice

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Cooking spray or oil (optional)
  • Tongs
  • Paper towels

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer – Preheating is important so the air fryer is hot when you add the bacon. Preheat at 380°F for 3-5 minutes.

  2. Prepare turkey bacon – Pat the slices dry with paper towels. You can leave plain or sprinkle with seasonings. Go light, as turkey bacon is already flavorful.

  3. Arrange bacon in single layer – Place the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t overlap.

  4. Cook for 8-10 minutes – Air fry at 380°F, flipping halfway through. Cook times vary based on thickness.

  5. Check doneness and crispiness – After 8 minutes, check for desired crispness. Cook longer if needed.

  6. Drain excess fat – Remove bacon from air fryer and drain on paper towels.

  7. Enjoy your tasty turkey bacon! – Dig in right away or use it to complement other breakfast dishes.

Air Fryer Turkey Bacon Cooking Tips

Use these tips for the best possible results when cooking turkey bacon in your air fryer:

  • Choose good quality, thick-cut turkey bacon for the best texture.

  • Use cooking spray or brush with a little oil for extra crispness (optional).

  • Work in batches for large amounts to prevent overlapping.

  • Add a dash of seasoning like garlic powder, pepper, or chili powder.

  • Cook cured turkey bacon slightly longer than uncured.

  • Adjust cook times based on your preferred level of crispness.

  • Let the cooked bacon drain on paper towels to soak up excess grease.

Fun Ways to Enjoy Air Fryer Turkey Bacon

The possibilities are endless when it comes to enjoying crispy air fried turkey bacon! Here are some delicious ideas:

  • Breakfast sandwiches

  • Eggs Benedict with turkey bacon

  • Salad topper – crumble over greens for a tasty crunch

  • Turkey club sandwich

  • Pizza topping

  • BLT with avocado

  • tacos

  • Baked potatoes with crumbled turkey bacon

  • Stir fries

  • Soups – add crumbled bacon as garnish

  • Pasta dishes

Cooking turkey bacon in the air fryer yields tasty, lean bacon full of flavor and crunch. With an air fryer, you can skip the hassle of stove-top frying while still achieving that crispy bacon texture we all crave.

Follow this easy guide for great results every time. Feel free to get creative with different seasonings or use your perfectly cooked turkey bacon in fun recipes. Happy air frying!

how to cook turkey bacon in the air fryer

Additional recipe tips and substitutions

  • Try not to overlap the bacon in the air fryer. It air fries best when it is arranged in a single layer and the air can circulate around it.
  • I prefer to rub on the seasoning for the candied and peppered versions so it sticks to the bacon and doesn’t blow around or fall off in the air fryer.
  • To cook a full pack of bacon (500 grams), you will need to air fry it in multiple batches. Even with my larger capacity air fryer, I had to air fry the bacon in three separate batches.
  • If your bacon is blowing around the air fryer, try using a trivet. This will keep the bacon from blowing around but still allow the air to circulate around it.
  • Be careful not to over cook the bacon. It continues to firm up and get crispy around the edges after it’s removed from the air fryer.
  • The peppered version has some heat to it, so if you’re not a fan of hot food, just reduce the amount of crushed red pepper flakes you add or go for the unseasoned version instead.
  • Turkey bacon usually comes seasoned so for the unseasoned version, I just didn’t add any additional seasoning.

How to cook turkey bacon in the air fryer

  • Choose your flavour option – unseasoned, candied or peppered.
  • If you’re going with candied or peppered, sprinkle on the sugar or ground peppers and gently rub them into the bacon.
  • Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer in the air fryer and air fry on 350F for 8-10 minutes, flipping the slices after 4-5 minutes.
  • Carefully transfer the bacon to a plate and repeat until all of the bacon is air fried.

Air Fryer Turkey Bacon – How To Cook Turkey Bacon In The Air Fryer – So Crispy, YUM!

FAQ

How long does turkey bacon take in an air fryer?

FAQs. How long to cook turkey bacon in air fryer? The total time to cook air fryer turkey bacon is 10 minutes, 5 minutes on each side.Apr 5, 2022

How long does it take to air fry bacon in an air fryer?

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  • Thin-cut bacon: Cook for 5–6 minutes, or until crispy 

  • Regular-cut bacon: Cook for 7–9 minutes at 360°F 

  • Thick-cut bacon: Cook for 12 minutes for tender-crisp, or 14–15 minutes for shattering-crisp 

How to cook turkey bacon in air fryer reddit?

Place the turkey bacon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Alternatively, spray a little oil on your air frying rack and place slices hanging on the air fryer rack. Air fry for 5 minutes, open the air fryer, and flip. Cook for a further 5 minutes or until the desired level of crispiness has been achieved.

Do you cook turkey bacon the same as regular bacon?

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  • Similar cooking methods:
    You can cook turkey bacon on the stovetop in a pan, in the oven, or even in an air fryer, just like regular bacon. 

  • May require extra attention:
    Since turkey bacon has less fat, it can dry out quickly, so keep a close eye on it while cooking and adjust the heat as needed to achieve a crispy texture. 

  • Consider adding a little oil:
    Some cooks recommend adding a small amount of oil to the pan when cooking turkey bacon to help with browning and prevent sticking. 

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