Air Fryer Italian Sausage: How Long To Fry?

Cooking Italian sausages in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make juicy and delicious sausages. It is also versatile, as you can serve them with veggies, pasta, sandwiches, or on their own. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the sausages, but generally, it takes around 8-12 minutes in the air fryer set to 400°F. You can also cook frozen Italian sausages in the air fryer, which is a great option if you're short on time.

How to cook frozen Italian sausage in an air fryer

Ingredients:

Frozen Italian sausages (any thickness)

Optional:

• Avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray
• Bell peppers
• Onion
• Salt
• Pepper
• Marinara sauce
• Cheese
• String cheese
• Buns

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Meat thermometer
• Aluminum foil (if using an aluminium air fryer basket)

Method:

• Place the frozen Italian sausages in the air fryer basket. You don't need to preheat the air fryer first.
• Set the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for thicker sausages or 390°F (200°C) for thinner sausages.
• Cook for 12-14 minutes, turning the sausages over halfway through.
• Check that the sausages are cooked through. The internal temperature should be at least 160°F (74°C).
• If you're serving the sausages with peppers and onions, slice 2 bell peppers and 1 onion and toss them in a bowl with 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil, ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Spritz the air fryer basket with cooking spray if you're using an aluminium basket. Lay the veggies on the rack and put the Italian sausage on top of the peppers before cooking.
• Serve the sausages with peppers and onions, or on a bun covered with marinara sauce and cheese. You could even stuff them with string cheese.

Tips:

• If your sausages are frozen together, air fry them together for 2-3 minutes, then separate them and continue cooking.
• Use a meat thermometer to make sure they are cooked through.
• If your air fryer is prone to producing a lot of smoke, add some water to the bottom of the air fryer basket.
• You can reheat sausages in the air fryer by preheating it to 360°F and then cooking them for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through.

How to serve Italian sausage

There are many ways to serve Italian sausage, and it can be incorporated into any meal. Here are some ideas:

Breakfast

Pair Italian sausage with eggs for a hearty breakfast.

Lunch

• Put Italian sausages between the hinged halves of a loaf of frozen garlic bread, like Pepperidge Farm garlic bread, and load it up with onions, peppers, and mozzarella cheese.
• Make a sausage and pepper sandwich.
• Put Italian sausage between a bun for a quick and easy lunch.

Dinner

• Crumble Italian sausage into pasta.
• Serve Italian sausage with pasta and sauce, or cooked peppers and onions.
• Serve Italian sausage with roasted veggies like broccoli or cauliflower and potatoes.
• Serve Italian sausage with keto sides like cauliflower mash and roasted veggies.
• Season Italian sausage with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or Italian seasoning.
• Make a sausage hoagie.
• Spread some pesto on your roll for a nice nutty, garlicky, basil-y kick.
• Whipping up a quick pasta? Orrecchiette, pesto, and sliced-up Italian sausage is the truth and the way.
• Make a sausage and kale soup.
• Make a sausage and lentil soup.
• Make Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Soup.
• Make a sausage and pepper sandwich.
• Slice and cook some zucchini in a pan with olive oil, onion, and salt. When it's almost done, cut the sausage into tiny pieces and add them to the pan. Then, add some cooked pasta and Parmesan.
• Sliced and roasted potatoes with sausage, peppers, and onions.
• Serve in a bun covered with marinara sauce and cheese.
• Stuffed acorn squash. Remove the sausage from its casing and brown. Sauté onion and mushrooms. Mix sausage, onion, and mushrooms with cooked rice and grated cheddar. Split an acorn squash, brush with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until fork-tender. Fill with the sausage mixture, top with a slice of cheddar, and bake until heated through and the cheese is melted.
• As an enhancement to bottled marinara (tomato) sauce: lightly cook chopped onions and garlic in olive oil, add sliced sausage, then dump all or part of a bottle of marinara sauce to simmer gently while cooking the pasta or zucchini noodles to go with; add a pinch of sugar and some red wine. Serve over the pasta or zoodles, and top with fresh-grated Parmesan.
• Make a sheet pan recipe with sausage, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
• Grilled on the barbeque.
• Take them out of the casing and fry them up. Then cook a bundle of rapini and toss them together with the sausage in the pan. Top it off with white cannellini beans until they get heated through.
• Make Italian meatball soup.
• Make a sausage and pepper sandwich.
• Make a sausage and zucchini casserole.
• Make a sausage pizza.
• Make a sausage lasagna.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet supper.
• Make a sausage and pepper sheet pan recipe.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet.
• Make biscuits and gravy.
• Make pasta with sausage and arugula.
• Make a rice bowl with jasmine rice, sausage, and roast veggies (some mix of peppers, red onion, broccoli, grape tomatoes).
• Take the meat out of the casing and sauté it with garlic and rapini.
• Make drunken noodles.
• Make a tomato, pepper, onion, zucchini stew with salt, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, pepper flakes, fish sauce, or anchovies. Slow-simmered and best if warmed up the next day, served with Italian bread.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet supper.
• Make a sausage and vegetable soup.
• Make a sausage and polenta skillet.
• Make a sausage and egg sandwich.
• Make a sausage and spaghetti skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with olive oil, onion, and salt. When the zucchini is almost done, cut the sausage into tiny pieces and add them to the pan. Then add some cooked pasta and Parmesan.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with baby potatoes.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet supper.
• Make a sausage and red pepper skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet.
• Make a sausage and pepper skillet with zucchini, onion, and mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and egg skillet.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked zoodles.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with egg noodles or rice and chicken pieces.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with rice, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and noodle skillet.
• Make a sausage and broccoli skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with boxed noodles, canned tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, and ricotta cheese.
• Make a sausage and eggplant skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with onions, garlic, sugar, and red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked pasta and broccoli.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with pine nuts.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, chicken stock, and egg noodles.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet with buttered noodles.
• Make a sausage and arugula skillet.
• Make a sausage and crouton skillet with mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and olive skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with spaghetti squash and diced tomatoes.
• Make a sausage and grape skillet.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, chicken stock, and egg noodles.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with a bundle of rapini.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with hummus and sriracha.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with vegan feta.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet with provolone cheese.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with mashed potatoes.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with Parmesan.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with baby potatoes.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet.
• Make a sausage and red pepper skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet.
• Make a sausage and pepper skillet with zucchini, onion, and mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and egg skillet.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked zoodles.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with egg noodles or rice and chicken pieces.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with rice, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and noodle skillet.
• Make a sausage and broccoli skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with boxed noodles, canned tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, and ricotta cheese.
• Make a sausage and eggplant skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with onions, garlic, sugar, and red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked pasta and broccoli.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with pine nuts.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, chicken stock, and egg noodles.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet with buttered noodles.
• Make a sausage and arugula skillet.
• Make a sausage and crouton skillet with mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and olive skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with spaghetti squash and diced tomatoes.
• Make a sausage and grape skillet.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with a bundle of rapini.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with hummus and sriracha.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with vegan feta.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet with provolone cheese.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with mashed potatoes.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with Parmesan.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with baby potatoes.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet.
• Make a sausage and red pepper skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet.
• Make a sausage and pepper skillet with zucchini, onion, and mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and egg skillet.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked zoodles.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with egg noodles or rice and chicken pieces.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with rice, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and noodle skillet.
• Make a sausage and broccoli skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with boxed noodles, canned tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, and ricotta cheese.
• Make a sausage and eggplant skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with onions, garlic, sugar, and red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked pasta and broccoli.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with pine nuts.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, chicken stock, and egg noodles.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet with buttered noodles.
• Make a sausage and arugula skillet.
• Make a sausage and crouton skillet with mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and olive skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with spaghetti squash and diced tomatoes.
• Make a sausage and grape skillet.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with a bundle of rapini.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with hummus and sriracha.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with vegan feta.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet with provolone cheese.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with mashed potatoes.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with Parmesan.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with baby potatoes.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet.
• Make a sausage and red pepper skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet.
• Make a sausage and pepper skillet with zucchini, onion, and mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and egg skillet.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked zoodles.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with egg noodles or rice and chicken pieces.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with rice, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and noodle skillet.
• Make a sausage and broccoli skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with boxed noodles, canned tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, and ricotta cheese.
• Make a sausage and eggplant skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with onions, garlic, sugar, and red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked pasta and broccoli.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with pine nuts.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, chicken stock, and egg noodles.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet with buttered noodles.
• Make a sausage and arugula skillet.
• Make a sausage and crouton skillet with mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and olive skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with spaghetti squash and diced tomatoes.
• Make a sausage and grape skillet.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with a bundle of rapini.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with hummus and sriracha.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with vegan feta.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet with provolone cheese.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with mashed potatoes.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with Parmesan.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with baby potatoes.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet.
• Make a sausage and red pepper skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet.
• Make a sausage and pepper skillet with zucchini, onion, and mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and egg skillet.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked zoodles.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with egg noodles or rice and chicken pieces.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with rice, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and noodle skillet.
• Make a sausage and broccoli skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with boxed noodles, canned tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, and ricotta cheese.
• Make a sausage and eggplant skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with onions, garlic, sugar, and red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked pasta and broccoli.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with pine nuts.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, chicken stock, and egg noodles.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet with buttered noodles.
• Make a sausage and arugula skillet.
• Make a sausage and crouton skillet with mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and olive skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with red wine.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with spaghetti squash and diced tomatoes.
• Make a sausage and grape skillet.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, cabbage, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with a bundle of rapini.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with hummus and sriracha.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with vegan feta.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet with provolone cheese.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with mashed potatoes.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet with Parmesan.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with polenta, pasta, a roll with eggs, etc.
• Make a sausage and peppers skillet with baby potatoes.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet.
• Make a sausage and red pepper skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet.
• Make a sausage and pepper skillet with zucchini, onion, and mushrooms.
• Make a sausage and egg skillet.
• Make a sausage and spinach skillet.
• Make a sausage and marinara skillet.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with cooked zoodles.
• Make a sausage and pierogi skillet with onions, peppers, cheese, and sour cream.
• Make a sausage and rice skillet.
• Make a sausage and mushroom skillet with egg noodles or rice and chicken pieces.
• Make a sausage and zucchini skillet with rice, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Make a sausage and cabbage skillet with onion, garlic, turnips, red potatoes, butter, and chicken stock.
• Make a sausage and noodle skillet.
• Make a sausage and broccoli

How to reheat Italian sausage in an air fryer

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 360–400 °F. Preheating usually takes around 3–5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Sausages

Place the leftover Italian sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between them. This will allow the hot air to circulate and cook the sausages evenly.

Step 3: Reheat the Sausages

Reheat the sausages in the air fryer for 3–5 minutes, or until they are heated through. The exact time will depend on the number of sausages and their thickness.

Step 4: Serve

Once the sausages are heated to your liking, they are ready to be served. Enjoy!

Tips:

• You can reheat frozen Italian sausages in the air fryer without thawing them first. Simply increase the cooking time by a few minutes and ensure they reach an internal temperature of at least 160 °F.
• To prevent smoking, use a clean air fryer basket free of excess grease. You can also place a perforated parchment paper liner in the basket or add water to the drawer underneath.
• For best results, use a digital meat thermometer to check that the sausages have reached an internal temperature of at least 160 °F.
• You can store leftover Italian sausages in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days or freeze them for up to 2–3 months.

Variations:

• You can reheat Italian sausages with peppers and onions. Place the sausages on top of the peppers and onions in the air fryer basket and cook for around 4–5 minutes at 400 °F.
• If you want to reheat an Italian sausage roll, place it in the air fryer at 380 °F for 1–2 minutes until hot.

Enjoy your perfectly reheated Italian sausages!

How to cook Italian sausage without peppers and onions

Cooking Italian sausage in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make perfect, juicy sausages every time. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook Italian sausage without peppers and onions:

Ingredients:

1 pkg uncooked Italian sausage (mild, sweet, or hot)

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer: Set your air fryer to 360-370 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes.
• Prepare the sausage: Place the Italian sausage in a single layer on the air fryer rack or basket, leaving space around each sausage.
• Cook the sausage: Air fry the Italian sausage for a total of 10-12 minutes at 360-370 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the sausage over halfway through the cooking process. Ensure the internal temperature of the sausage reaches at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rest and serve: Remove the sausage from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat, ensuring a juicy and flavorful sausage.

Tips:

• You can cook frozen Italian sausage in the air fryer without thawing it first. Simply preheat your air fryer basket at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then cook the frozen sausage for 12-14 minutes, flipping it halfway through.
• If you prefer your sausage extra crispy, cook it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping it halfway.
• You can cook up to four sausages at once, and the time and temperature will remain the same.

How to cook Italian sausage in an oven

Ingredients:

• Italian sausage links (mild, sweet, or hot)
• Olive oil (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Preheat your oven to 400°F and place a rack in the center. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Arrange the sausage links in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan, leaving a small space between each link. If desired, spray or brush the links lightly with olive oil to promote browning.

Place the sausages in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Then, flip them over and roast for an additional 10-15 minutes. This ensures that both sides of the sausages are evenly cooked and caramelized.

After the total cooking time of 20-25 minutes, check if the sausages are done. They should look slightly crispy and wrinkled on the outside. For absolute doneness, use a meat thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of 160°F for pork sausages or 165°F for chicken or turkey sausages.

Remove the sausages from the oven and serve immediately.

Tips:

• Do not prick or pierce the sausage skin before or during cooking, as this will cause the juices to escape, resulting in dry sausages.
• If you prefer extra crispy skin, finish the sausages under the broiler on a low setting for a couple of minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
• This method works for both hot and sweet Italian sausages made with pork, turkey, or chicken.
• If using frozen sausages, there is no need to defrost them first. However, they will take longer to cook, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• For best results, preheat your oven for at least 10 minutes to ensure it reaches the desired temperature.
• Always allow the sausages to rest for a few minutes before serving to let the juices redistribute and ensure a juicy, tender bite.

Serving Suggestions:

These oven-baked Italian sausages are versatile and can be served in various ways:

• As a standalone dish or alongside pasta, tomato sauce, or roasted vegetables.
• On a sub roll with sautéed vegetables, such as broccoli rabe, fried sweet peppers, or roasted bell peppers.
• With a side of Tuscan beans, Italian cannellini beans, or white bean bruschetta.
• As a complement to a simple pasta dish with garlic and oil, fresh tomato sauce, or pesto.

Storing and Reheating:

• To store leftovers, cool the sausages completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
• When reheating, preheat the oven to 350°F. Wrap the sausages in aluminum foil and place them in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

Enjoy your perfectly cooked Italian sausages!

Frequently asked questions