Air-Fryer Bacon Bites: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious

Bacon bites are the perfect topping for salads, soups, and more. They can be expensive to buy, but making them in an air fryer is quick, easy, and budget-friendly. You can also customise the flavour to your liking.

To make bacon bites in an air fryer, cut the bacon slices in half crosswise and place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they do not overlap. Set the air fryer temperature to between 350°F and 400°F and cook for 5 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon. Check the bacon frequently to ensure it doesn't burn. Once it's crispy, remove it from the air fryer and cut it into bite-sized pieces. You can also pulse the bacon in a food processor to form a crumb mixture.

Enjoy your homemade bacon bites!

Choosing the right bacon

Type of Bacon

You can use different types of bacon in your air fryer, such as regular bacon, center-cut bacon, thick-cut bacon, or even turkey bacon. The type of bacon you choose will depend on your personal preference and the specific recipe you are following. For example, if you prefer a chewier texture, thick-cut bacon may be a better option. On the other hand, thinner slices of bacon will cook faster and may be more suitable for recipes that require crispy bacon bits.

Quality

When choosing bacon, it is essential to select a high-quality product. Look for bacon with a good meat-to-fat ratio, avoiding options with excessive fat or streaky bacon. A good rule of thumb is to choose bacon that has a nice marbling of fat throughout the meat. This will help ensure that your bacon bites are juicy and flavourful.

Amount

Air fryers work best when there is proper airflow around the food. Therefore, it is crucial not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. For bacon bites, cut the bacon into small pieces or strips, ensuring they are not too small to fall through the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the bacon in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Thickness

The thickness of the bacon will impact the cooking time and the final texture of your bacon bites. Thicker slices of bacon will take longer to cook and may require a higher temperature. They are suitable for recipes where you want a chewier texture. On the other hand, thinner slices will cook faster and are ideal if you want crispy bacon bits.

Storage

If you are not using the entire package of bacon at once, proper storage is essential to maintain freshness and quality. Bacon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or frozen for up to a month. You can also freeze cooked bacon bites for up to 2-3 months.

Cutting the bacon

Place the bacon slices on a cutting board. Ensure you are using a clean, dry surface to cut your bacon. You can cut the bacon into strips or halves first, to make it easier to handle. Thick-cut bacon may be easier to cut when it is colder, so you can place it in the freezer for a few minutes before cutting.

Using a sharp knife, cut the bacon slices into your desired size. You can cut the bacon lengthwise and then across into smaller pieces or "bits". Be careful not to cut the pieces too small, as they may fall through the air fryer basket and burn. If you are making bacon bites, you want them to be bite-sized, so keep that in mind as you cut. You can also use kitchen scissors to cut the bacon, which can be quicker and easier, especially if you have a large quantity of bacon to prepare.

If you are making bacon-wrapped bites, such as bacon-wrapped sausage or bacon-wrapped apricot bites, cut the bacon strips widthwise into halves or thinner pieces, depending on the size of what you are wrapping.

Once you have cut your bacon to the desired size, you can transfer it to the air fryer basket for air frying. If you are making bacon-wrapped bites, wrap the bacon around the other ingredient (such as sausage or apricot) and secure it with a toothpick before placing it in the air fryer basket.

Remember to pre-heat your air fryer to the desired temperature, usually between 350-400°F, and cook the bacon bites for 5-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon and the model of your air fryer. Check the bacon bites regularly to ensure they are cooking evenly and don't burn.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for bacon bites in an air fryer depend on the type of bacon you are using. For instance, thick-cut bacon will require a higher temperature and longer cooking time than thin-cut bacon.

If you are using an air fryer to cook your bacon bites, it is recommended that you set the temperature between 350-400°F. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon, but on average, it should take around 5-12 minutes for thin-cut bacon and 10-12 minutes for thick-cut bacon.

It is important to note that air fryer models differ, so you should check your specific model for the correct temperature and cooking time. Additionally, if you are cooking multiple batches of bacon bites, be sure to empty the bacon grease from the lower portion of the air fryer basket before starting a new batch.

For thin-cut bacon bites, set the air fryer temperature to 350°F and cook for 5-9 minutes. Check the bacon bites frequently to ensure they don't burn. If you prefer your bacon extra crispy, you can cook it for a little longer, checking every 30 seconds or so until it reaches your desired level of doneness.

For thick-cut bacon bites, set the air fryer temperature to 400°F and cook for 10-12 minutes. Again, it is important to keep an eye on the bacon bites to ensure they don't burn. If you like your bacon well-done, you can cook it for an additional minute or two.

If you are cooking a large batch of bacon bites, it is recommended that you cook the bacon in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This will help ensure even cooking and prevent the bacon from becoming soggy.

Crisping up store-bought bacon bits

Store-bought bacon bits can be a little lacklustre and gummy, but with an air fryer, you can crisp them up and they'll taste freshly fried. The intense heat of the air fryer gets the fat moving and grooving, while the aggressive air circulation whisks away moisture and ensures every inch of the bacon bits cooks evenly.

To crisp up store-bought bacon bits in your air fryer, set your air fryer to 400°F, remove the basket tray, and place a handful of bacon bits directly in the basket. Let the air fryer warm the bits for a minute or two, until you can smell bacon. Give the bacon bits a taste. If they’re nice and crispy, take them out and sprinkle them on your dish. If they’re still a little gummy, give them another minute, until they reach the texture you desire.

You can also cut the bacon bits into thin strips (about 1 inch thick) and air fry them at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, tossing the bacon pieces around every 5 minutes for even cooking. They are done when the fat has rendered and the bacon meat is golden brown.

Tips for making bacon bits in an air fryer

• You don't need to preheat the air fryer.
• It's much easier to cut cold bacon, so leave it in the refrigerator until just before you want to cut it.
• You can also freeze the bacon for 30 minutes if you want to make it even easier to cut.
• Make sure the bacon bits are cut big enough that they don't all fall through the holes in the basket or tray.
• If you are cooking a large batch of bacon bits, cook the bacon in batches. Don't overcrowd the basket.
• Different air fryers will cook slightly differently so you may have to adjust your temperature and timing depending on the model of air fryer you have.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer bacon bites are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to get you started:

Salads

Add some crunch and flavour to your salads by sprinkling a handful of crispy bacon bites on top. They go particularly well with a Cobb salad or a classic garden salad.

Appetizers and Snacks

Bacon bites make a great snack on their own, but you can also get creative and serve them with various dips or use them as a filling for bacon grilled cheese sandwiches.

Potato Dishes

Use bacon bites as toppings for loaded potato skins, baked potatoes, or air fryer loaded fries. They add a salty, savoury kick to these dishes and complement the potato perfectly.

Soups

Crumble some bacon bites over your favourite soup to add texture and a burst of flavour. They are especially good in a classic chicken corn chowder or a garden vegetable soup.

Breakfast

Include bacon bites as a side dish for breakfast, or incorporate them into breakfast recipes such as breakfast veggie scramble or egg dishes like quiches and frittatas.

Other Ideas

Bacon bites can also be used in a variety of other dishes, such as:

• Air fryer bacon-wrapped zucchini
• Air fryer twisted candied bacon
• Bacon-wrapped peaches
• Air fryer bacon bombs
• Air fryer chicken wings
• Air fryer potato chips

Frequently asked questions