FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Can You Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer?
• Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Bacon
• Choosing Your Bacon
• How To Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer
• Tips For The Best Air Fryer Bacon
• How To Prevent Air Fryer Bacon Smoke?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Storage Instructions
• Ways To Use Bacon
• My Favorite Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Bacon (Crispy, Easy, Fast!) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

This easy air fryer bacon recipe cooks up in under 10 minutes, it’s perfectly crisp, and it’s faster than the oven. One try and you’ll be hooked!

Can You Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer?

Yes, cooking bacon in the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook up crispy bacon without turning on the oven or making a mess of the stove.

Bacon in the oven has always been my go-to method for making bacon, but this year I learned how to cook bacon in an air fryer, and now it’s my hands-down favorite for small to medium batches. ( Microwave bacon also works well for small batches, but I still use the air fryer the most.)

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Bacon

• Perfectly crisp bacon every single time
• Pleasant wavy appearance
• Less fuss than the stove top
• More evenly cooked than the oven
• No splatters and easy cleanup
• Done in less than 10 minutes
• Ideal for small to medium batches

Choosing Your Bacon

• Thick, medium, or thick cut – Choose your favorite! The cooking time will vary depending on how thick the bacon is, but any type will work.
• Humanely raised vs. conventional – I prefer using humanely raised pork products, but you can buy what works best for you.
• Appearance – Look for bacon that has a mix of both fat and meat — not too fatty, and not too lean.

How To Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer

This section shows how to make bacon in the air fryer with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below .

1. Preheat. Preheating the air fryer will ensure that it’s hot and cooks your bacon evenly.

OPTIONAL STEP: Add water to the air fryer.

If you want to be extra careful to prevent the air fryer from smoking, cover the bottom of air fryer tray with water. But see the section below on why this is probably not even necessary.

1. Arrange. Place bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer, overlapping just slightly.

1. Air fry. Cook the bacon strips for 6 minutes. Use tongs to spread out the slices so that they aren’t overlapping (you can also flip them over if you like). Continue cooking until it reaches your desired crispiness.
2. Drain. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess grease. It will crisp up more as it cools from hot to warm.

Tips For The Best Air Fryer Bacon

• Use uniform pieces. You can cook bacon of any thickness in an air fryer, but it’s easiest to choose pieces that are all the same thickness, so that they are all done at the same time. If you have any thick or thin outliers, they may need to cook for more or less time than the rest.
• Arrange bacon in a single layer. A little overlapping is okay, as it will shrink, but not too much.
• Spread out the bacon pieces halfway through. If the bacon slices are initially touching or overlapping slightly, that’s okay, but you’ll want to open the air fryer after 5-6 minutes to spread out the pieces once they start to shrink. This will allow all the edges to crisp up.
• Cut bacon in half for smaller air fryers. This is not required for the air fryer I use , but if you can arrange the bacon in the air fryer more efficiently in smaller pieces, this can help. Note that the bacon will air fry just a bit faster if the pieces are halved.
• Use an air fryer oven for larger batches. My regular air fryer is a decent size, but it still fits just 8 slices of bacon at a time. If you want to cook a whole package, or a bit more, get an air fryer oven so that you can use multiple racks. Rotate them halfway through cooking for best results.
• Let the bacon cool at the end. Like any other method, air fryer bacon will crisp up more as it cools on paper towels.
• Save the bacon grease. Simply pour the bacon drippings from the bottom of the air fryer into a container with a lid.

How To Prevent Air Fryer Bacon Smoke?

• Air fry bacon at 370 degrees F. This is below the smoke point of bacon fat, which is 374 degrees F [ * ], but as high as possible to crisp up your bacon nicely.
• Add water. This isn’t totally necessary if you cook bacon in the air fryer at 370 degrees F as explained above, but if you want to be extra careful, you can add a bit of water into the air fryer, underneath the grate. The water will cool down the bacon grease that drips down during cooking.
• Bread method. I don’t personally use this method, but you can place a slice of bread underneath the grate to absorb the bacon grease.
• Keep the air fryer clean. Clean out any bacon fat drippings between batches. Wipe out the basket and the top burner as well. Any leftover grease on the heating element or elsewhere can start to smoke, and it may even have a lower smoke point if it’s on the heating element or if it’s some other food from another recipe.

• How long to cook bacon in an air fryer? One of the best things about cooking bacon in the air fryer is that it cooks up incredibly fast: 7-10 minutes for average bacon, 6-8 minutes for thin bacon, or 9-11 minutes for thick cut bacon.
• What temp to cook bacon in the air fryer? The best air fryer bacon temp is 370 degrees F. This is below the smoke point of bacon fat, but as high as possible to crisp up your bacon nicely.
• Can you cook frozen bacon in the air fryer? Yes, you can cook frozen bacon in the air fryer, it will just take longer. Start with 8 minutes, spread out the bacon, then cook another 4-8 minutes until it’s done to your liking.
• Can you use this method for turkey bacon? Yes, you can cook turkey bacon in the air fryer . Adjust timing if necessary.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Keep leftover bacon in the fridge for 3-4 days. Or use leftovers to make brussels sprouts with bacon .
• Reheat: You can reheat bacon in the air fryer again (at the lowest temperature it has), or simply microwave it on a paper towel.
• Freeze: Store cooked bacon in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Ways To Use Bacon

Now that you know how to cook bacon in the air fryer, there are so many ways to use it:

• Breakfast – Enjoy it with breakfast favorites, like fried eggs, an omelette , or a stack of almond flour pancakes , or even toss it into a breakfast casserole .
• Appetizers – Appetizer recipes like deviled egg with bacon , cheesy jalapeno poppers , and warm ranch dip need some cooked bacon.
• Vegetables – Vegetable recipes like bacon fried cabbage , creamy broccoli cauliflower salad , and zucchini noodle salad all need some crispy bacon.
• Mains – Try air fryer bacon in main dishes like cheesy bacon cheeseburger soup , creamy chicken bacon ranch casserole , or a BLT sandwich. It’s also great in many other salads and soups !

If you’re looking for more delicious air fryer recipes , try easy air fryer hard boiled eggs to go with your bacon, crunchy air fryer zucchini chips , simple air fryer chicken wings or air fryer chicken legs (the skin gets so crispy!), or air fryer pork chops .

My Favorite Air Fryer

• Air Fryer – The outside is compact, but the basket is roomy!

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 8 slices Bacon ▢
• 1/2 cup Water (optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F (187 degrees C).
2. Optional step: Add a little bit of water to the air fryer drip tray, to prevent smoking. Use just enough to cover the bottom of the tray below the grate; this was 1/2 cup in my air fryer.
3. Arrange the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer rack or basket, overlapping slightly. (Bacon in the air fryer will shrink as it cooks.) Depending on the size and shape of your air fryer, it may help to cut the bacon pieces in half.
4. Cook for 6 minutes . Open the air fryer and spread out the bacon pieces so that they aren’t overlapping. Cook for 1-4 more minutes for regular bacon, or 3-5 more minutes for thick cut bacon, or until done to your liking.
5. Drain the cooked bacon on paper towels. It will crisp up more as it cools from hot to warm.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 air fried bacon slice

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Air Fryer Bacon

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Air Fryer Bacon (Crispy, Easy, Fast!)

Learn how to cook bacon in the air fryer – perfect every time! This fast, easy air fryer bacon recipe makes crispy bacon without the mess.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/air-fryer-bacon/

Ingredients

• 8 slices Bacon
• 1/2 cup Water (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F (187 degrees C).
2. Optional step: Add a little bit of water to the air fryer drip tray, to prevent smoking. Use just enough to cover the bottom of the tray below the grate; this was 1/2 cup in my air fryer.
3. Arrange the bacon in a single layer in the air fryer rack or basket, overlapping slightly. (Bacon in the air fryer will shrink as it cooks.) Depending on the size and shape of your air fryer, it may help to cut the bacon pieces in half.
4. Cook for 6 minutes . Open the air fryer and spread out the bacon pieces so that they aren’t overlapping. Cook for 1-4 more minutes for regular bacon, or 3-5 more minutes for thick cut bacon, or until done to your liking.
5. Drain the cooked bacon on paper towels. It will crisp up more as it cools from hot to warm.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 air fried bacon slice

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)