Get perfectly cooked turkey bacon without much effort! This hands-off and grease-free method only takes 10 minutes to cook and gives crispy and delicious turkey bacon every time!
Along with air fryer scrambled eggs and air fryer breakfast sausage links, turkey bacon is one of our favorite things to have for breakfast. It is extremely simple to make, making it perfect for busy mornings.
why you will love this recipe
- easy hands-free method - no need to stand by the stovetop watching and flipping the bacon.
- no grease splattering about or smelly kitchen from frying.
- turkey bacon has fewer calories than regular bacon making it a better alternative for those counting their calories.
- quick - you only need just about 10 minutes, plus no babysitting of your pan is needed.
ingredients
- turkey bacon - The best type of turkey bacon to use is the uncured kind (the packages are normally labeled cured or uncured so you can easily check). The uncured variety has not been treated with sodium nitrates (a type of salt used in preserving food) and is the best kind to use. Having said this, you can still use any brand you have or like.
Like with most air fryer recipes of mine, I used my Ninja Foodi 12-1 8 Quart to make these air fryer turkey bacon pieces but you can use any air fryer that you own.
how to make
This section gives a summarized breakdown of how to make air fryer turkey bacon. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card provided at the bottom of this page.
- Preheat your air fryer. Place the turkey bacon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket (use an air fryer liner for easier cleanup). Alternatively, spray a little oil on your air frying rack and place slices hanging on the air fryer rack.
- Air fry until the desired level of crispiness has been achieved, making sure to flip mid-cooking. Repeat the process until all bacon pieces have been cooked.
- Serve with bread, air fryer hard-boiled eggs, air fryer sweet potato cubes, or your favorite breakfast meals!
air fryer turkey bacon time and temperature
Using a temperature of 360°F (approximately 180°C), turkey bacon will take 10 minutes to cook. The total time will depend, however, on how crispy you like your bacon as well as on the air fryer you are using (different models cook differently). If batch-cooking, subsequent batches may require a shorter time to cook, as the air fryer is already hot so keep an eye on them and adjust the time accordingly.
useful tips
- depending on the brand you are using, you may need to spray a little cooking oil on the turkey bacon before air frying. This is because turkey bacon is generally leaner and has little fat so spraying helps prevent the bacon from drying out. Some turkey bacon varieties come already pre-greased so you can skip this.
- place cooked bacon on a kitchen or paper towel, to drain excess grease.
- this may seem like a no-brainer but do not, by all means, be tempted to add salt during air frying.
- you will know the turkey bacon is done when the edges curl up and start to brown. It will also have attained your desired level of crispiness. For this reason, keep an eye on it and adjust the time accordingly, depending on how crispy you like your bacon.
more tasty air fryer recipes
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Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
Ingredients
- 8 ounces turkey bacon (about 225 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (about 180°C). 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. Repeat the process until all bacon pieces have been cooked.
- Serve with bread, eggs, baked potatoes, or your favorite meals!
Notes
- depending on the brand you are using, you may need to spray a little cooking oil on the turkey bacon before air frying. This is because turkey bacon is generally leaner and has little fat so spraying helps prevent ending up with dried bacon. Some turkey bacon varieties come already pre-greased so you can skip this.
- place cooked bacon on a kitchen or paper towel, to drain excess grease.
- this may seem like a no-brainer but do not, by all means, be tempted to add salt during air frying.
- you will know the turkey bacon is done when the edges curl up and start to brown. It will also have attained your desired level of crispiness. For this reason, keep an eye on it and adjust the time accordingly, depending on how crispy you like your bacon.
Nutrition
frequently asked questions
Turkey bacon has significantly less fat and calories, than regular pork bacon. However, it is still processed food and is high in sodium and saturated fat. Two ounces of turkey bacon have more than 1,900 milligrams of sodium (the American Heart Foundation recommends a daily intake of 1,900 milligrams). If you are concerned about taking nitrates then by all means go for uncured types. Also, uncured bacon is still cured, only using a lot of salt, instead of nitrates, which does not necessarily make it healthier. In conclusion, just like with most processed foods, you should practice moderation when it comes to eating bacon.
How long turkey bacon lasts will depend on whether it is cooked, uncooked, or whether it is commercially packed. Cooked bacon can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months. You can keep uncooked bacon in the fridge for up to one week, and in the freezer for 1-2 months. Commercially packed bacon can be kept for up to 2 hours on the countertop, four days in the fridge, and 10 days in the freezer. Read more about storing turkey bacon here.
Yes, it is okay to cut the turkey bacon if you feel doing so will help the pieces fit better in your air fryer basket. It is also fine if the bacon slices slightly touch or overlap, just don't stack several slices on top of each other.
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