Oh my goodness, if you love crispy bacon, you are in for the best treat ever! I can’t believe how easy it is to make perfect BBQ bacon in the air fryer – it’s become my secret weapon for quick snacks and breakfasts. The first time I tried it, I was shocked at how the air fryer gives you that amazing crunch without all the splatter and mess of a frying pan. Now my kids beg for “Mom’s special bacon” every weekend. Seriously, once you try air fryer BBQ bacon, you’ll never go back to soggy microwave strips again!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer BBQ Bacon
Trust me, once you try this method, you’ll wonder why you ever cooked bacon any other way. Here’s why it’s a total game-changer:
- Perfect crispiness every time – The air fryer gives you that ideal balance of crunchy edges and tender centers.
- Ready in under 10 minutes – No waiting around for the oven to preheat or dealing with grease splatters on your stovetop.
- Minimal cleanup – Just wipe out the air fryer basket and you’re done. No scrubbing pans!
- That smoky-sweet BBQ flavor – The sauce caramelizes just enough to create this sticky, finger-licking goodness.
Seriously, it’s the easiest way to upgrade your bacon game. Even my picky nephew devours it!
Ingredients for Air Fryer BBQ Bacon
Here’s all you need for this ridiculously easy recipe – I bet you already have most of it in your kitchen right now!
- 6 slices of bacon (thick-cut recommended – trust me, it gets that perfect crisp-tender balance)
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce (go for smoky or sweet depending on your mood – I’m partial to hickory flavor myself)
That’s it! Just make sure your bacon slices aren’t overlapping in the air fryer basket – they need their personal space to get crispy.
Ingredient Substitutions
Out of something? No worries! Turkey bacon works too (just add 1-2 minutes cook time). Sugar-free BBQ sauce is fine, though it won’t caramelize as much. Once I used maple syrup mixed with smoked paprika in a pinch – surprisingly delicious! Just remember, thinner bacon cooks faster, so keep an eye on it. For more general tips on air frying techniques, check out this guide.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Bacon
Okay, let me walk you through exactly how I make this magic happen – it’s so simple you’ll laugh! Just follow these steps and you’ll have perfect BBQ bacon in no time.
Step 1: Preheat and Arrange
First, crank that air fryer to 375°F (190°C) – this gives the bacon a nice hot welcome! While it’s heating, lay your bacon slices in a single layer in the basket. No overlapping – they’ll stick together and steam instead of getting crispy. Learned that the hard way!
Step 2: Cook and Flip
After 5 minutes, grab some tongs (trust me, don’t use forks – hot grease splatters hurt!) and flip each slice. You’ll see them starting to curl and get that beautiful golden color. The smell at this point is absolutely heavenly! If you are curious about the science behind how air fryers work, there are great resources available.
Step 3: Add BBQ Sauce
Now the fun part! Brush each slice with BBQ sauce – go light at first, you can always add more. Too much sauce too early and it might burn before the bacon crisps up. I use a silicone brush so I don’t scratch my basket.
Step 4: Final Crisp
Cook for just 3-5 more minutes – check at 3! The sauce should be sticky and caramelized, not blackened. When it looks like candy-coated bacon perfection, it’s done!
Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer BBQ Bacon
After making this dozens of times (okay, maybe hundreds – don’t judge!), here are my foolproof tricks for bacon bliss:
- Drain the grease halfway – Pull out the basket at flip time and pour off excess fat for extra crispiness.
- Thickness matters – Thin bacon? Start checking at 6 minutes total. Extra thick? Might need 10-12 minutes.
- Sauce timing is key – Wait until the last few minutes to brush on BBQ sauce to prevent burning.
- Let it rest – The bacon crisps up even more as it cools on paper towels for 1 minute.
Follow these and you’ll be the BBQ bacon hero of your household!
Serving Suggestions for Air Fryer BBQ Bacon
Oh, the possibilities! This bacon is so much more than a solo act. My favorite way? Toss it on a BLT with extra BBQ sauce. It’s magic crumbled over avocado toast or mixed into scrambled eggs. Salad lovers – try it warm over a spinach salad with blue cheese. And don’t even get me started on how it upgrades burgers! Honestly, I’ve caught my husband sneaking it straight from the fridge at midnight too – no judgement here.
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer BBQ Bacon
Here’s my trick for keeping leftovers crispy (if you have any!): Store cooled bacon in an airtight container with paper towels between layers. When reheating, skip the microwave – it turns rubbery. Instead, pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F for just 1-2 minutes. Comes out nearly as good as fresh! Just don’t stack slices when reheating or they’ll steam instead of crisp.
Air Fryer BBQ Bacon FAQs
Can I use other sauces besides BBQ? Absolutely! Honey, maple syrup, or even sriracha work great – just watch cooking times as sugars burn faster than BBQ sauce. My neighbor swears by teriyaki glaze! For more ideas on using your air fryer, check out these air fryer burrata bomb recipes.
How do I prevent smoke from the air fryer? That usually means too much grease buildup. Drain excess fat halfway through cooking, and make sure your air fryer is clean before starting. A little water in the bottom tray helps too.
Is thick-cut bacon really better? For this recipe, yes! Thick slices hold up to the air fryer’s heat without overcooking too fast. They give you that perfect combo of crispy edges and meaty centers that makes this bacon so addictive.
Nutritional Information
Just so you know what you’re enjoying (no judgment here!), here’s the nutritional scoop per slice. Remember, these are estimates – your favorite brands might vary slightly:
- 80 calories – Not bad for such a tasty treat!
- 6g fat (2g saturated) – Hey, it’s bacon – that’s where the flavor lives
- 4g protein – Bonus protein boost with your indulgence
- 3g carbs (2g sugar) – Mostly from that delicious BBQ glaze
Now go enjoy your bacon guilt-free – life’s too short to skip the good stuff!
Did You Make This Recipe?
I’d love to hear how your BBQ bacon turned out! Tag me if you share photos – seeing your crispy creations makes my day. If you are looking for another quick air fryer treat, try these air fryer mozzarella chips.
Print
Air Fryer BBQ Bacon Perfection in Just 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 6 slices 1x
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
A quick and easy air fryer recipe for crispy BBQ bacon.
Ingredients
- 6 slices of bacon
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Place bacon slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the bacon.
- Brush the bacon with BBQ sauce.
- Cook for another 3-5 minutes until crispy.
- Remove and serve.
Notes
- Adjust cooking time based on bacon thickness.
- Use tongs to flip bacon safely.
- Drain excess grease before serving.
- Prep Time: 2 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: air fryer, BBQ bacon, crispy bacon, quick snack