Air Fryer Candied Bacon
If you’re looking for a delicious and easy way to make candied bacon, try making it in the air fryer or Ninja Foodi. Air Fryer Candied Bacon is a sweet and salty treat that’s perfect as a topping for salads, cinnamon rolls, or to eat as a snack!
Can you make candied bacon in the air fryer? Yes, you can make deliciously crispy, salty, and sweet candied bacon by using your air fryer.
Just when you didn’t think bacon could get any better, we go and air fry it and cover it in sugar. Yep, that’s right – air fryer candied bacon is a thing, and it’s amazing! This recipe is so easy to make and only takes less than 15 minutes.
You can use candied bacon as a salad topper, or in dishes like breakfast casseroles, omelets, cinnamon rolls, maple cupcakes, and more! It’s also delicious just eaten as a snack!
🥓What You’ll Need
Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi – The air fryer is a small convection oven that uses dry circulating heat to cook food. This means it cooks at a fraction of the time while making the food crispy without the use of extra oil. You can use any air fryer you enjoy for this recipe.
Thick Cut Bacon – Thick-cut bacon is best for candied bacon because it doesn’t shrink as much as regular bacon when cooked.
Brown Sugar – This type of sugar is unique in that it has molasses in it, giving it a richer flavor and a more crispy texture.
Optional Seasonings – If you want to add more depth of flavor, you can add additional seasonings like cinnamon, black pepper, cayenne pepper, or maple syrup.
🔥How To Make Candied Bacon In Air Fryer
1️⃣Prepare the air fryer basket: Remove the air fryer basket from the air fryer and give it a very light coating of cooking spray.
2️⃣Prepare the bacon: Layer the thick-cut bacon in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket with no overlapping.
3️⃣Add the brown sugar: Evenly distribute the brown sugar onto each piece of bacon pressing down with your hands to fully coat.
4️⃣Air fry the bacon: Place the air fryer basket back into the unit. Close the lid and set the temperature to 375F. Set the timer for 15 minutes.
5️⃣Adjust time: At the 8-minute mark, check the bacon and rearrange if necessary. Then, continue to cook for an additional 6-8 minutes or until the bacon is fully cooked and crispy.
6️⃣Remove and cool: Remove with tongs and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
👩🏻🍳Air Fryer Cooking Tips
- The bacon in this recipe has sugar on one side only. This will help prevent the bacon from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Place the bacon in a single layer with no overlapping. This will ensure that the bacon cooks evenly.
- There is no preheating in this recipe to ensure that you don’t burn yourself when placing the bacon into the air fryer basket.
- Let the candied bacon cool on a wire rack to ensure it becomes crispy and to ensure it doesn’t stick together.
- Every air fryer is different. The best time and temperature depends on how thick your bacon is and your individual air fryer. A good place to start is 375F for 12-15 minutes. Always check halfway to adjust time and temperature if necessary.
🌶️Variations
- Million-dollar bacon: This special bacon also known as “crack bacon” is candied bacon that is made with black pepper and cayenne pepper.
- Cinnamon sugar: Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the brown sugar for a sweet and spicy twist.
- Maple bacon: Add a tablespoon of maple syrup to the brown sugar for a delicious and easy way to make maple bacon.
- Keto candied bacon: Use a sugar-free brown sugar replacement such as monk fruit, erythritol, or Swerve.
- Candied turkey bacon: This recipe can also be used for thick-cut turkey bacon for a different flavor profile and lighter in fat.
- Chocolate-covered candied bacon: Once the bacon is completely cooled, dip half of each strip into melted chocolate. Place on a parchment paper-lined plate and sprinkle with sea salt. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
🧊Storing & Freezing
Storing: To store candied bacon, place in an airtight container and keep it on the counter for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the fridge for up to one week.
Freezing: Candied bacon can be frozen by layering strips of bacon between sheets of parchment paper. Place in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the air fryer if necessary.
🥓More Bacon Recipes
- Air Fryer Thick Cut Bacon
- Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
- Instant Pot Bacon
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
- How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
Air Fryer Candied Bacon
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
- Tongs
- cooling rack
Ingredients
- 8 oz Bacon Thick Cut (1/2 lb)
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar light or dark
- ½ tsp Cooking Spray light coating
Instructions
- Remove the air fryer basket from the air fryer and give it a very light coating of cooking spray.
- Layer the thick-cut bacon in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket with no overlapping.
- Evenly distribute the brown sugar onto each piece of bacon pressing down with your hands to fully coat.
- Place the air fryer basket back into the unit. Close the lid and set the temperature to 375F. Set the timer for 15 minutes.
- At the 8-minute mark, check the bacon and rearrange if necessary. Then, continue to cook for an additional 6-8 minutes or until the bacon is fully cooked and crispy.
- Remove with tongs and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
