Achieve Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Bacon Every Time

Say goodbye to greasy stovetops and unevenly cooked strips! The air fryer is, without a doubt, the ultimate tool for cooking perfect, crispy turkey bacon with minimal fuss and maximum flavor. This revolutionary kitchen appliance transforms turkey bacon from often-soggy to delightfully crisp in just 10 minutes, making it an absolute game-changer for breakfast, brunch, or even a healthier dinner side. Experience the ease, reliability, and sheer deliciousness that air frying brings to your turkey bacon routine.

Top-down view of strips of crispy turkey bacon in an air fryer basket.

Turkey bacon offers a leaner, often healthier alternative to traditional pork bacon, but it can sometimes be challenging to get that coveted crisp texture. Many home cooks struggle with achieving the right balance on the stovetop, often resulting in either undercooked, chewy strips or burnt, brittle pieces. Enter the air fryer – a kitchen hero that utilizes hot circulating air to cook food evenly and create an incredible crispiness without excessive oil. This method not only simplifies the cooking process but also ensures consistently delicious results.

🥓 Why Air Fryer Turkey Bacon is a Must-Try

Discovering the air fryer method for turkey bacon will elevate your cooking experience and deliver unparalleled results. Here’s why this recipe stands out:

Unbeatable Ease and Convenience: Forget standing over a hot stove, constantly flipping bacon and dealing with splattering grease. With the air fryer, the process is incredibly hands-off. Simply arrange your turkey bacon in a single layer, set the timer, and let the air fryer do the heavy lifting. A quick flip halfway through is all it takes, freeing you up to prepare other breakfast items or simply relax. This “set it and forget it” approach makes busy mornings a breeze!
Achieve the Ultimate Crispy Texture: The air fryer’s powerful convection cooking circulates super-heated air around each strip of bacon, ensuring even cooking and incredible crispness from edge to edge. This consistent heat distribution eliminates the guesswork and stress associated with pan-frying, delivering perfectly golden and crispy turkey bacon every single time. You’ll be amazed at how well it mimics the texture of perfectly fried pork bacon, but with a lighter feel.
Efficient Batch Cooking: Whether you’re cooking for a small family or preparing a larger brunch, the air fryer handles multiple pieces of bacon with efficiency. While you might need to work in batches to avoid overcrowding, the rapid cooking time of the air fryer means that each batch is ready in just minutes. This ensures that everyone gets to enjoy hot, fresh, crispy turkey bacon without a long wait. It’s perfect for meal prepping a week’s worth of bacon too!
Significantly Less Mess: One of the biggest advantages of air frying is the drastically reduced cleanup. Unlike stovetop cooking, which often leaves behind a greasy mess of splatters on your countertops and backsplash, the air fryer keeps the oil contained within its basket. Any rendered fat drips into the tray below, making disposal and cleaning incredibly simple. Spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your meal!
A Healthier Cooking Method: Turkey bacon is already a leaner choice, but air frying takes its health benefits a step further. Because the air fryer doesn’t require a significant amount of added oil (often just a light spray), you’re cutting down on unnecessary fats. The circulating hot air helps to render out excess fat from the bacon itself, which then collects in the basket below, resulting in a lighter, less greasy final product without sacrificing flavor or crunch.
Versatility for Any Meal: Crispy air fryer turkey bacon isn’t just for breakfast. Its fantastic texture and savory flavor make it a versatile addition to countless dishes. Crumble it over salads, layer it into sandwiches or wraps, add it to egg dishes, or even use it as a garnish for soups. It’s also a wonderful alternative to traditional bacon in recipes like BLTs, quiches, or carbonara, offering a lighter yet equally satisfying protein boost.

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips for Air Fryer Turkey Bacon Perfection

Follow these expert tips to ensure your air fryer turkey bacon turns out perfectly crispy and delicious every single time:

Understand Air Fryer Variances: Air fryer cooking times can differ significantly between brands and models due to variations in wattage and fan strength. Always use the suggested cook times in this recipe as a starting guideline. It’s crucial to check your turkey bacon frequently, especially during your first few attempts, to prevent undercooking or burning and achieve your desired level of crispness. Smaller air fryers might cook faster, while larger models could take slightly longer.
Achieving Your Preferred Crispness: For bacon that’s extra crispy and devoid of residual grease, immediately transfer the cooked strips to a wire cooling rack placed over a paper towel-lined plate. This elevation allows air to circulate around the bacon, preventing it from steaming and becoming soft as it cools, while the paper towels absorb any draining fat. If you prefer a slightly softer, chewier texture, you can place the turkey bacon directly onto the paper towel-lined plate.
Clean Between Batches for Best Results: If you are cooking multiple batches of turkey bacon, it’s essential to allow your air fryer basket to cool slightly before wiping away any accumulated excess grease with paper towels. Old bacon grease can heat up quickly in subsequent batches, leading to smoke and an unpleasant odor that can permeate your kitchen and affect the flavor of your food. A quick clean ensures clear air and perfectly cooked bacon throughout your cooking session.
Avoid Overcrowding the Basket: For truly crispy bacon, adequate airflow is key. Always arrange your turkey bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Overlapping strips will steam rather than crisp, resulting in soggy patches. If you have a large amount of bacon to cook, work in small batches; the rapid cooking time of the air fryer means this won’t significantly extend your overall prep time.
Preheat for Optimal Results: Just like a traditional oven, preheating your air fryer is crucial for consistent cooking. A preheated air fryer ensures that the bacon starts cooking immediately upon contact with hot air, leading to a better sear and crispier texture. Skipping this step can result in unevenly cooked bacon or a longer overall cooking time.
Don’t Be Afraid to Check Visually: While timers are helpful, the best indicator of doneness is visual. Turkey bacon can go from perfectly crispy to burnt very quickly. Look for a deep golden-brown color and a firm, slightly brittle appearance. If you like it extra crispy, you might add an extra minute or two, but always keep a close eye on it.
Consider Seasoning: While turkey bacon is typically pre-seasoned, a light sprinkle of black pepper, a touch of maple syrup (for a sweet and savory kick), or a dash of smoked paprika can enhance its flavor profile. Add these sparingly before cooking, or after for a fresh burst of flavor.
Storage and Reheating: Cooked air fryer turkey bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply place it back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 2-3 minutes until warm and re-crisped. This makes it an excellent option for meal prep!

Strips of crispy air fryer turkey bacon piled on a round white plate.

♨️ More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

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Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Frozen Waffles in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
Air Fryer Kale Chips

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Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Bacon

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Total: 15 minutes

Achieve perfectly crisp and flavorful turkey bacon in your air fryer in under 15 minutes! This easy, low-mess method delivers ideal texture every time, making it perfect for quick breakfasts, brunches, or as a lighter side dish.

Cheryl Malik Cheryl Malik

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4 servings

Ingredients

▢ 1 12-ounce package turkey bacon any brand, ideally thin-sliced for best crisping

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Equipment

Air Fryer
Large plate or serving platter
Paper towels
Wire cooling rack optional, for extra crispiness
Neutral cooking spray must be safe for air fryers; avocado or grapeseed oil spray works well

Instructions

Prepare for Cooking: Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit (200°C). While the air fryer is heating up, prepare your landing spot for the cooked bacon. Line a large plate with several layers of paper towels to absorb excess grease. For turkey bacon that is truly extra crispy, place a wire cooling rack directly over this paper towel-lined plate. This allows air to circulate around the bacon as it cools, preventing it from becoming soggy.
Load the Air Fryer Basket: Once your air fryer has fully preheated, lightly spray the inside of the air fryer basket with a neutral cooking spray (ensure it is air fryer safe, like avocado or grapeseed oil spray). Carefully separate the strips of turkey bacon and arrange them in a single, even layer in the air fryer basket. It’s crucial that the strips do not overlap, as this will prevent them from crisping properly. If you have more bacon than can fit in a single layer, plan to cook it in multiple batches.
First Cook and Flip: Gently slide the basket back into the preheated air fryer and cook the turkey bacon for 4 minutes. After this initial cooking time, carefully remove the basket from the air fryer. Using tongs, flip each strip of bacon over to ensure even crisping on both sides. Again, make sure the strips remain in a single layer without overlapping.
Second Cook and Achieve Desired Doneness: Return the basket to the air fryer and continue cooking the bacon for an additional 4 minutes, or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Keep a close eye on the bacon during this final stage, as air fryers can cook quickly and bacon can go from perfectly crisp to burnt in a short amount of time. Look for a rich, golden-brown color and a firm texture.
Serve or Continue Batch Cooking: Once the turkey bacon is cooked to your satisfaction, promptly transfer it to your prepared paper towel-lined plate or wire cooling rack. If you are cooking multiple batches, it is crucial to wipe out any excess grease from the air fryer basket with paper towels between batches. Then, re-spray the basket lightly with cooking spray before adding the next set of bacon strips. Repeat the cooking process with all remaining bacon until every strip is perfectly cooked. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Understanding Cook Times: It bears repeating that exact cook times will vary depending on your specific air fryer model and the thickness of your turkey bacon. Thinner strips will cook faster and crisp more readily, while thicker cuts may require an additional minute or two. Always prioritize visual cues over strict timers, checking bacon frequently to prevent under- or over-cooking.
Making it Whole30 Compliant: For a Whole30 approved meal, ensure you select a turkey bacon brand that contains no added sweeteners (like sugar, maple syrup, or honey) or any other incompatible additives. Always double-check the ingredient label carefully.
Making it Paleo Friendly: To keep this recipe Paleo, use a compliant turkey bacon. It’s important to note that some natural sweeteners (like dates or honey in very small amounts) are occasionally allowed on a Paleo diet, depending on specific interpretations. If your turkey bacon contains such natural sweeteners and you follow a flexible Paleo approach, it would likely be fine here.
Making it Keto Friendly: For a strict ketogenic diet, opt for a sugar-free turkey bacon. Many brands offer varieties without added sugars or carbohydrates, which are ideal for maintaining ketosis.
Choosing the Right Cooking Spray: Use a neutral oil cooking spray that has a high smoke point and is safe for air fryers. Avocado oil or grapeseed oil sprays are excellent choices. Avoid non-stick sprays that contain propellants that can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer basket over time.
Serving Suggestions: This crispy turkey bacon is perfect alongside Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes, scrambled eggs, or a fresh fruit salad. It’s also fantastic crumbled over salads, in wraps, or as a lighter alternative in a classic BLT sandwich.
Storage and Reheating: Leftover cooked turkey bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply place the bacon back in your air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 2-4 minutes, or until it’s hot and re-crisped to your liking.

Nutrition Information

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.