Air Fryer Beef Bacon(Ninja Foodi)
You’ll never want to cook bacon over the stove again after making Beef Bacon in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. Ready in 10 minutes, this air fryer beef bacon is the best breakfast or high-protein snack. Perfectly crisp, beefy, and so delicious.
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What is beef bacon?
Beef bacon is bacon made out of the belly area of a cow. It tastes and cooks similarly to pork bacon, and because it contains so much fat, beef bacon crisps up beautifully. This is a great bacon alternative to turkey bacon, and if 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 air fryer. Unlike cooking the bacon over the stove or in the oven, air frying bacon isn’t messy to prepare and you don’t have to heat up your home in the process. By the time your oven preheats, the bacon will be ready to eat.
- 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 Loaded Baked Potato Soup for lunch or dinner, or use it to make The Best Beef Bacon BLT Sandwich.
How to Make Beef Bacon in an Air Fryer
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step one. 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.
Step two. 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.
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 Caesar Salad
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the Air Fryer
- Beef Bacon BLT Sandwich
- Frozen Hot Dogs in Air Fryer
- Easy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs with Beef Bacon
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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.1 (8-ounce) package of beef bacon
- 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.
