Easy Air Fryer Sausage

Name: Easy Air Fryer Sausage
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 11 min
Ingredients: 8 Sausages, your favorite kind

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Want an easy dinner idea? Give Air Fryer Sausage a try! Cooking sausages in the air fryer is an easy way to make an easy and delicious dinner. You can cook them fresh or frozen, making them a perfect option for busy weeknights. With this easy recipe, you can have juicy sausages on the table in less than 15 minutes!

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Air fryer sausages placed on parchment paper with a bunch of cilantro in the background.

Sausage is one of our favorite main dishes; you can eat them any time of the day for any meal.

I'm always trying to find easy recipes, and the first time I made sausage in the air fryer I was worried they would be dried out. However, I was thrilled when I bit into a juicy air fryer sausage, and now this is my go-to cooking method for sausages!

There are so many types of sausages, and this recipe can be used with any type, from breakfast sausage links to farmers' sausage.

It doesn't matter if you prefer spicy sausage or classic sausage, this air fryer method will cook them all to perfection.

You will quickly find out that the air fryer is one of the best methods to cook sausages; you can even cook frozen sausages!

Plus, cooking sausages from frozen makes this a perfect option for busy weeknights. Just dump them in and let the air fryer do the work!

Pair the sausage with Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes, Frozen Sweet Potato Fries, or Oven-Roasted Potatoes for a quick weeknight dinner.

Or make air fryer breakfast sausages to go with pancakes, waffles, or an omelet casserole for a hearty breakfast or brunch.

👩🏻‍🍳 More easy air fryer recipes

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👩🏻‍🍳 More easy air fryer recipes
❓ Why cook sausages in the air fryer
❤️ Why you will love sausage in the air fryer
❓ Can you cook sausages from frozen?
🌭 Ingredients
⏲️ Instructions
📋 What kind of sausages can I cook in the air fryer?
🍕 How to serve air fryer sausages
🍕 What can I make with leftover sausage?
📖 Substitutions
📖 Variations
🍽 Equipment
🌡️ Storage
💭 Top tips
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
📋 Recipe
📑 Food safety

❓ Why cook sausages in the air fryer

Seriously, this is the easiest way to cook sausages. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, which results in a sizzling, crispy, golden outer crust without any added fat.

Plus, any grease on the sausage drips down underneath the air fryer rack, making this method much healthier and way less greasy.

❤️ Why you will love sausage in the air fryer

It's a healthier way to cook sausages instead of pan-frying them.
Air frying sausage cooks FAST, much faster than traditional methods.
The grease in the sausage drips down underneath the air fryer rack.
It's a simple recipe with no prep work involved
You can cook thawed or frozen sausage.
It is a great weeknight dinner recipe.
You can use any type of sausage for this recipe.
Easy clean up. No more oil splatter in your kitchen, and no more messing around with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Hands free cooking.
Great for meal prep
Sausages are low carb, making them a great option for those following the keto diet.

❓ Can you cook sausages from frozen?

Yes! It is SO easy to make air fryer sausages from frozen. You don't even need to thaw them first. Place the uncooked sausages in the air fryer and cook according to the recipe instructions. However, the cooking time may need to be increased by a few minutes.

🌭 Ingredients

Only one ingredient is needed to make these delicious sausages. You can use homemade sausage or buy your favorite type of sausages at the local grocery store.

Sausage. Use your favorite sausage. You can cook sausage containing any type of meat. Use fresh or frozen sausage, either will cook perfectly.

See the recipe card for quantities.

⏲️ Instructions

Air frying is one of the easiest methods to cook delicious sausage. Just follow a few easy steps:

First, open up the package of uncooked sausage. Use a fork or tip of a knife to poke about four holes in the sausage. This helps any fat to drip out.

However, if your sausage is frozen, let it cook for a few minutes first, open up the air fryer and poke the sausages.

Raw sausages with casings poked with a knife on a white plate.

Next, preheat the air fryer to 395 degrees F. Lay the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not overcrowded. You want the air to circulate the sausages, so they cook evenly.

Raw sausages placed in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Cook the sausages for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.

The cook time will depend on the thickness of the sausages and how full the air fryer basket is. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't overcook. If they are not quite done, put them back in for another few minutes.

Your sausages are done when they are sizzling, and golden brown on the outside and no pink remains on the inside.

Fully cooked sausages in the air fryer basket.

I like to use a knife to check for doneness. Cut into the sausage, and if no pink remains, it's ready!

The best way to check for doneness is to check the internal temperature of the sausages with a meat thermometer, it should be 160 degrees F.

Remove sausages immediately. I like to drain them on a paper towel before I serve them, so they are less greasy.

HINT: If you want extra crispy skin, you can brush some olive oil on the sausages or use a bit of cooking spray before cooking.

Juicy air fryer sausages on parchment paper with a bunch of cilantro in the background.

📋 What kind of sausages can I cook in the air fryer?

You can cook any type of sausage in the air fryer, but some will cook more quickly than others. Thin sausages cook in less time than thick sausages.

For example, raw sausage of beef, pork, or chicken cooks quickly and evenly, with a crispy outside that is nicely browned while remaining soft on the inside.

Bratwurst sausage or thick Italian sausages will take longer to cook as they are thicker sausages. They might take anywhere from 11-15 minutes to cook.

Venison and turkey sausages tend to be a little drier; therefore cook much quicker.

You can also cook hot dogs or link sausages in the air fryer. You do not need to poke holes in the hot dogs though. Hot dogs take about 5 minutes at 395 degrees F, and link sausages will take about 10 minutes at 395 degrees F.

You can also cook raw sausage patties in the air fryer. These will take about 8-9 minutes at 395 degrees F.

Also, heat fully-cooked sausages in the air fryer. These need less cooking time as they are fully cooked and only need to be browned and heated up. These will take about 5-6 minutes at 395 degrees F.

🍕 How to serve air fryer sausages

Serve air fryer sausages with your favorite sides for a delicious and easy meal. Some of our favorites include perogies, air fryer waffle fries, air fryer broccoli, or air fryer carrots.

I also sometimes make a quick meal using white rice and roasted peppers.

You can also serve them with a dipping sauce, such as maple syrup, ketchup, mustard, or BBQ sauce.

No matter how you choose to serve them, air fryer sausages are sure to be a hit!

🍕 What can I make with leftover sausage?

Leftover sausages can be used in a variety of recipes. For example, they can be added to pasta dishes, pizza, casseroles, or even breakfast scrambles.

They can also be used as topping for burgers or salads or for soup.

Additionally, air fryer sausages make for a quick and easy snack. Simply heat them up in the air fryer and enjoy!

📖 Substitutions

If you're looking for a different flavor profile, there are a few substitutes you can try.

Pork - Use pork sausage
Chicken - Use chicken sausage or turkey sausage
Venison - Use venison sausage instead of beef for a healthier sausage.
Herbs - Sprinkle some different spices on the sausage before or after cooking to change up the flavor. Some good ones to try are thyme, rosemary, or parsley for a savory flavor, or basil, oregano, or garlic for a more Italian-inspired flavor.

📖 Variations

There are many variations you can try with air fryer sausage. Here are a few of our favorites. After the sausages are cooked:

Saute some onion and green bell peppers and add to your sausages for a quick and delicious meal.
Make a sweet and sour sauce to coat the sausage in and serve over jasmine rice.
Add diced pineapple and onions to the sausage for sweetness and crunch.
Make Italian air fryer sausage with peppers, onions, and marinara sauce.

Get creative and make your own air fryer sausage recipe!

Perfectly cooked air fryer sausages on parchment paper with a bunch of cilantro.

🍽 Equipment

To make these air fryer sausages, you will need an air fryer.

Air fryers come in a wide variety of models and sizes, leading to differences in how quickly the food gets cooked. Some are hotter and cook faster than others.

I made these sausages in a Cosori air fryer, and they cooked pretty quickly.

My Ninja Foodi air fryer cooks a little slower, so the amount of time needed to cook the sausages will need to be increased.

🌡️ Storage

Cooked air fryer sausage can easily be stored in the fridge or freezer. Here's how:

FRIDGE: Place cooked sausage in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

FREEZER: Place cooked sausage in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then air fry at 380ºF for 4-5 minutes until warm.

💭 Top tips

Make sure the air fryer is fully heated before adding the sausages.
Place the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Ensure sausages are a similar size to ensure even cooking.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
Pierce the casing a few times to allow fat to escape.
Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it is 160 degrees F before serving.
All air fryers cook differently, so the cooking time may need to be adjusted.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long do you cook sausages in an air fryer?

Depending on the thickness, it takes about 8-12 minutes to cook sausage in an air fryer.

Is air fryer sausage healthy?

The healthiness of air fryer sausage depends on a couple of things. First, it depends on the type of sausage you're using - for example, leaner sausages will generally be healthier than those high in fat. Second, it also depends on your personal health goals and preferences - some people might prefer to avoid processed meats even if they are lower in fat. In contrast, others might not mind the occasional indulgence. If you're concerned about calories or fat content, be sure to check the labels on the sausage before cooking.

How do you thaw sausages?

To thaw sausages, place them in the refrigerator overnight, or submerge them in cold water for about 30 minutes.

Overhead picture of cooked sausage on parchment paper.

If you're looking for an easy dinner idea, give air fryer sausage a try! This recipe is simple to follow and can be on the table in under 15 minutes. Be sure to rate the recipe below and let us know how it turns out for you!

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