Beef Bacon in the Air Fryer (Ninja Foodi)
You’ll never want to cook bacon over the stove again after making Beef Bacon in the Air Fryer. No need to deal with popping grease from the stove or heating up your house with the oven. Air fryer bacon is a simpler way to make everyone’s favorite breakfast addition in a fraction of the time. In 10 minutes you have crisp and delicious air fryer beef bacon ready for breakfast or simply enjoy it straight from the air fryer as a snack!
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What is beef bacon?
Beef bacon is bacon made out of the naval or the belly area of a cow. It tastes and cooks similar to pork bacon but it’s greasy and crispier than turkey bacon. This is a great bacon alternative if you want something more satisfying than turkey bacon but you don’t want to eat pork. Beef bacon has a beefy taste that is so good and it can be used and enjoyed in the same way as traditional pork bacon.
The brand of beef bacon I especially love is currently sold exclusively at Whole Foods but there are plenty of other brands of beef bacon available like this one from Godshalls. You can check out your local butcher shops as well.
Why this recipe is so good
- There’s no spill, mess or need to preheat your oven. Unlike cooking the bacon over the stove or in the oven, air frying bacon isn’t messy to make and you don’t have to heat up your home in the process. In the time it takes to preheat your oven, the bacon will be ready.
- It’s super crispy. Thanks to the circulating hot air of the air fryer the bacon cooks evenly, the fat gets rendered out and it’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious. No floppy or chewy bacon over here.
- It’s a quick and easy breakfast addition served with eggs and croissants or Southern Buttermilk Biscuits. Add it to a giant bowl of Load Baked Potato Soup for lunch or dinner or use it to make The Best Beef Bacon BLT Sandwich.
How to Make Air Fried Beef Bacon
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Place as many strips of bacon into your air fryer basket as you can without overlapping. Some overlap is ok because beef bacon tends to shrink a ton as it cooks. I usually can fit 4 slices in my Ninja Foodi basket.
- Air fry until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Use a fork or a pair of tongs to transfer cooked bacon to a paper-towel lined plate to drain.
- Enjoy as a snack or for breakfast.
Tips and Tricks
- Try not to overlap the bacon too much. Some overlap is ok but you don’t want to stack the bacon or overlap the pieces too much otherwise it won’t get as crispy in the air fryer.
- Some air fryers cook food at a different rate so it’s important to keep an eye on your bacon as it cooks. Bacon can quickly go from crisp to burnt. Check on it, especially towards the end of the cooking time.
- If there is too much fat draining off your bacon and if at any point your air fryer starts to smoke, stop your machine and wipe out as much of the oil as you can, be careful because it will be very hot.
- Unlike turkey bacon, beef bacon is very greasy and will need to drain on a plate lined with paper towels before serving.
- Wipe out your air fryer in between batches to prevent the grease from building up and possibly burning or becoming stuck to your air fryer making it harder to clean later.
Frequently Asked Questions —
Nope! The beef bacon I use isn’t thick cut so it will cook evenly without having to flip it.
It will be brown and crispy and the fat will be rendered out.
Looking For More Recipes?
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the Air Fryer
- Beef Bacon BLT Sandwich
- Frozen Hot Dogs in Air Fryer
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Beef Bacon in the Air Fryer (Ninja Foodi)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package of beef bacon about 8 slices*
Instructions
- Lay 4 slices of bacon in the air fryer basket, some overlay is ok.
- Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 – 8 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness.
- Once done, use a fork or a pair of tongs to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat with the rest of your bacon. If there is too much oil in the bottom of the air fryer, remove the basket wipe it out with paper towels then continue cooking the rest of the bacon.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
- Try not to overlap the bacon too much. Some overlap is ok but you don’t want to stack the bacon or overlap the pieces too much otherwise it won’t get as crispy in the air fryer.
- Some air fryers cook food at a different rate so it’s important to keep an eye on your bacon as it cooks. Bacon can quickly go from crisp to burnt. Check on it, especially towards the end of the cooking time.
- If there is too much fat draining off your bacon and if at any point your air fryer starts to smoke, stop your machine and wipe out as much of the oil as you can, be careful because it will be very hot.
- Unlike turkey bacon, beef bacon is very greasy and will need to drain on a plate lined with paper towels before serving.
- Wipe out your air fryer in between batches to prevent the grease from building up and possibly burning or becoming stuck to your air fryer making it harder to clean later.
Nutrition
All nutrition information is automatically generated and should be only used as a rough estimate. This recipe card may contain affiliate links.
