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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Air Fryer Sausage

    Published: Jan 23, 2023 by Alyssa · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Cooked and browned sausage links on an air fryer basket.

    Cooking sausage links in the air fryer couldn't be easier! With a few tips to keep in mind, juicy, golden-brown sausages can be on the table or used in recipes in no time. This works with raw, fully-cooked, and frozen sausages alike.

    Cooked and browned sausage links on an air fryer basket.

    Who doesn't love a one ingredient "recipe"?

    While I've typically gravitated toward using a skillet or a grill, knowing how to cook sausages in the air fryer is a kitchen tip that really comes in handy. In under 15 minutes of cook time, you'll have golden-brown sausages with crisp skin and a juicy interior that are ready to eat a variety of different ways. There's no need to babysit them on the stovetop, continuously flip, etc.

    I've tested out several types of sausages here, from raw pork Italian sausages to fully-cooked chicken sausages (both thawed and frozen). It all works!

    Easy Steps

    1. Spray basket with non-stick cooking spray. Place whole sausage links on the basket, leaving space between each one.

    Don't prick the sausages with a fork, as this will cause extra juices and fat to leak out. This will negatively impact the flavor and also potentially cause a bit of smoking as excess hot juices hit the drip tray.

    Four raw Italian sausage links on an air fryer basket.
    1. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping the sausages over halfway through, or until the minimum food safety temperature for your particular sausage variety has been reached. Serve right away.
    Cooked and browned sausage links on an air fryer basket.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Know the temperature. Using an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature is the best way to know exactly when your air fryer sausage links are fully cooked. Here are the USDA guidelines for sausages containing the following.
      • Raw pork/beef: 160°F
      • Raw chicken/turkey: 165°F
      • Fully-cooked: Follow packaging guidance, often 165°F.
    • Your mileage may vary. All air fryer models cook a little differently, so the timing listed here may not be exact, especially when accounting for a variety of sausage types. You may need a few extra minutes of cook time. Again, using an instant-read thermometer takes all of the guesswork out of knowing when your sausages are done.
    • More fat = more "steam". Air frying sausages with a higher fat content, such as raw pork sausages, can lead to more steam/light smoke as the fat drips onto the tray beneath the air fryer basket. To mitigate, line the bottom of your tray with a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit the bottom surface. Make sure it is weighed down by the basket and no part of it hangs over as this can risk fire if it touches a heating element.
    An air fryer sausage in a bun with peppers on a plate with a side salad.

    Ways to Eat Air Fryer Sausage

    Typical of most sausages, the longer the air fryer sausage links sit after they've been cooked the wrinklier they appear. This is normal. Here are ways we love to use cooked sausages.

    • In a fresh bakery roll with sautéed peppers and onions. Like a bare bones Italian sausage and peppers.
    • Sliced up and added to pasta, such as smoked sausage fra diavolo or creamy pumpkin pasta when cooking apple chicken sausages.
    • Combined with pan-toasted gnocchi in a maple sausage gnocchi skillet (delicious with maple chicken sausage links).
    • With an egg and potatoes, à la this egg and sausage breakfast scramble.
    • Wrapped in crescent roll dough for supersized air fryer pigs in a blanket.

    Related Recipes

    • Air Fryer Chicken Wings
    • Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
    • Breakfast Sausage Recipe
    • Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

    If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating in the recipe card and/or a comment review below!

    Golden-brown cooked Italian sausages on an air fryer basket.

    Air Fryer Sausage

    Cooking sausage links in the air fryer couldn't be easier! With a few tips to keep in mind, juicy, golden-brown sausages can be on the table or used in recipes in no time. This works with raw, fully-cooked, and frozen sausages alike.
    No ratings yet
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    Course: Meat
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 4 minutes
    Cook Time: 13 minutes
    Total Time: 17 minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 230kcal
    Author: Alyssa

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound sausage links (raw or fully-cooked, fresh or frozen)
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    Instructions

    • Spray air fryer basket with a quick spritz of cooking spray. Place whole sausage links in the basket in a single layer, leaving a little bit of space between each sausage. Do not pierce the links.
    • Air fry at 375°F for 7 minutes, then carefully flip each sausage over. Air fry for another 5-6 minutes, or until the center of the largest link reaches a minimum 160°F for raw pork and beef or 165°F for raw turkey and chicken. Add an extra 3 minutes or so if air frying frozen fully-cooked sausage links.

    Notes

    Sausage: Many kinds of sausage links work, from raw pork sausages to fully-cooked chicken sausages. The timing listed is for full-size sausages that are 3-4 ounces each. Small breakfast sausages will require less time. In my experience there isn't much time difference between raw and fully-cooked sausages. Frozen sausages will need more time.
    Steam/Smoke: Keep in mind more fat will drip onto the tray with pork sausages, which may cause steam/a little smoke to form. I have not found this to be an issue with the leaner chicken sausages.
    Adjust Timing: All air fryers cook differently so your particular sausages may need more time than what is listed here. Using an instant-read thermometer is the most precise way to know when your sausages are fully-cooked.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1link | Calories: 230kcal
    Tried this Recipe?Tag @mysequinedlife - I love to see what you're making!

    Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

    Food Safety and Nutrition Disclaimer
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    Hi! I’m Alyssa and welcome to my food blog. Here you can find a variety of food and drink recipes, running the gamut from better-for-you main dishes to holiday fare, and from lighter bites to some serious desserts. All with the occasional cocktail recipe thrown in for good measure, too. ♥ Learn more →

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