This recipe for Air Fryer Turkey Bacon is just so easy. This lower-fat bacon option can be served with breakfast or on top of a sandwich at lunchtime. Make it in less than 10 minutes for a quick breakfast on a busy morning!

cooked turkey bacon in air fryer

There are several great ways to cook turkey bacon. I love to bake it in the oven, or you can just cook it up in a skillet on the stove top. Some people even microwave it.

As an alternative to those methods, let me introduce you to air fryer turkey bacon! I hope you’ll agree that this crispy turkey bacon is perfect for the entire family.

This method of using the air fryer is perfect for when you:

  • just want to cook several pieces (like to crumble on a salad or put on a sandwich),
  • don’t want to heat up your kitchen,
  • and need to make it fast with easy cleanup (no greasy mess in your kitchen oven).
Contents hide
1 Why You Need This Recipe
2 Key Ingredients
3 Recipe Steps
4 Recipe Tips & Substitutions
5 Recipe FAQs
6 More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
7 Don’t Miss These Air Fryer Resources!
8 Air Fryer Turkey Bacon

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Skip the oven and use the air fryer to make the best turkey bacon you’ve ever had! The cooking process is quick with easy clean up.
  • Turkey bacon has less fat than traditional pork bacon, but still has tons of flavor. Serve it with eggs or on a sandwich.
  • Use the air fryer to cook bacon when you just need a few pieces.

Key Ingredients

turkey bacon on a tabletop

Turkey bacon is available at most grocery stores. It’s made from turkey meat as opposed to pork like regular bacon.

Turkey bacon is lower in fat than regular bacon. Be sure to look for gluten-free brands if you’re on a gluten-free diet.

You can add water to the bottom of your air fryer basket to help prevent it from smoking. This is optional.

Recipe Steps

raw turkey bacon in air fryer

Step One

Lay your bacon slices flat in the basket of your air fryer.

Add a little bit of water to the bottom of your air fryer basket to help prevent smoking (optional).

If this is your first time using your air fryer, then be sure to check the instruction manual for tips on whether or not you need to pre-heat your air fryer (most models do not require pre-heating).

Step Two

Cook the bacon for 5 minutes at 360 degree F. After 5 minutes cooking time, use tongs to turn the turkey strips of bacon over and cook for 5 more minutes.

Your cook time may increase or decrease by a minute or two depending on your exact air fryer model and if you use thick cut bacon.

cooked turkey bacon

Step Three

Blot any excess grease from the bacon strips with paper towels before serving.

turkey bacon on paper towels

Step Four

Serve warm or at room temperature. The turkey bacon will get crispier as it cools. My husband loves his crispy bacon with over-medium eggs.

If you want to make a second batch right away, just repeat the steps.

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • The amount of turkey bacon that you can cook in one batch depends on how big your air fryer basket is. You don’t want to overlap the pieces as they will not cook evenly.
  • If you are on a gluten-free diet, be sure to read the packaging to make sure your turkey bacon is gluten-free. 
  • The bacon will get crispier as it cools.
  • Store any leftover cooked turkey bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Recipe FAQs

What kind of air fryer do you recommend?

I am not tied to one brand. I have had several air fryers and liked them all. Check out my full list of the best air fryers under $100.

Can I cook regular bacon this way?

Yes, you can. Increase the temperature to 375 degrees F and keep the cook time to around 10 minutes. Just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Is turkey bacon gluten-free?

Not all brands of bacon are gluten-free, so just be sure to read the labels when purchasing. I like to find a brand of uncured turkey bacon to avoid any added sodium nitrates and preservatives.

Is turkey bacon healthy?

Turkey bacon is has less fat and fewer calories than regular pork bacon. It can be a healthier option to regular bacon.

Is it messy to cook bacon in the air fryer?

The bacon grease will be trapped in the bottom of the air fryer. To help with easy clean-up, you can lay a single piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of the air fryer to catch the hot grease.

cooked turkey bacon on a plate

More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like

Or, check out my entire index of Gluten-Free Air Fryer Recipes.

Don’t Miss These Air Fryer Resources!

Air Fryer Versus Deep Fryer

45+ Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

Air Fryer Pros and Cons for 2023

8 Best Air Fryers Under $100 (2023)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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air fryer turkey bacon in basket

Air Fryer Turkey Bacon

★★★★★

5 from 1 review
Print Recipe

This recipe for Air Fryer Turkey Bacon is just so easy. This healthy and flavorful side dish can be served with breakfast or on top of a sandwich at lunchtime. Make it in less than 10 minutes!

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/4 cup of water (optional)
  • 4–6 slices of turkey bacon

Instructions

  1. Pour the water into the bottom of your air fryer basket to help prevent smoking (optional).
  2. Lay your strips of turkey bacon in the basket of your air-fryer. Set the temperature to 360°F and let the bacon cook for 5 minutes. Use tongs to turn the slices over after 5 minutes and cook for an additional 5 minutes. The bacon should be bubbling and a medium shade of brown when it is done cooking.
  3. Use tongs to carefully transfer the cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Blot any excess grease from the cooked bacon.
  4. Serve warm.

Notes

  1. The amount of turkey bacon that you can cook in one batch depends on how big your air fryer basket is. You don’t want to overlap the pieces as they will not cook evenly.
  2. If you are on a gluten-free diet, be sure to read the packaging to make sure your turkey bacon is gluten-free. 
  3. The bacon will get crispier as it cools.
  4. Store any leftover cooked turkey bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 slices
  • Calories: 234
  • Sugar: 0.6 g
  • Sodium: 370.7 mg
  • Fat: 22.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.7 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 7.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 37 mg

Keywords: turkey bacon in air fryer, air fryer bacon, how to cook turkey bacon

If you like this post, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.