Air Fryer Sausage
Sausage links are quick, but a skillet often leaves them burnt on one side and raw inside. Air fryer sausage cooks in about 14 minutes at 380 °F, with a snappy, evenly browned casing and a juicy center. This recipe uses Italian pork sausage links, and the timing works for sweet, mild or hot varieties.
- Temperature
- 380°F190 °C
- Total time
- 19min
- Prep time
- 2min
- Servings
- 4
- Internal temp
- 160°F71 °C
- Per serving
- 330kcal
Why the air fryer works for sausage
A fresh sausage is ground meat in a casing. It should cook gently enough for the center to reach a safe temperature without the casing bursting or the fat burning. A skillet gives a dark sear on one side and leaves the other pale, and boiling first washes away flavor. In the air fryer, hot air surrounds each link, the fat renders and drips away, and the casing turns brown and snappy all around.
Italian sausage is a good test of this method because it is thick and well seasoned with fennel and garlic. Sausage in the air fryer takes less than 15 minutes, uses almost no oil and needs only one turn. A 4 qt basket holds 4 links in a single layer and a 6 qt basket 6 or more. For bratwurst, the timing and seasoning differ slightly, so see the brats page.
How to make sausage in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Prepare Take the sausages out of the refrigerator ahead. Rub them lightly with the oil. Do not prick the casings, as that lets the juices run out.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 380 °F for .
- Cook Place the links in the basket in a single layer, spaced apart. Cook for , turning them over after , until the casings are deeply browned.
- Check Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the thickest link. Raw pork sausage is safe at 160 °F. If it reads lower, cook more.
- Rest Let the sausages rest for so the juices settle, then serve whole or sliced.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Sausage | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Italian links, 4 ozTurn after 7 min | 380 °F (190 °C) | 14 min |
| Thin links, 2 oz | 380 °F (190 °C) | 10–12 min |
| Precooked linksHeat to 165 °F | 370 °F (190 °C) | 6–8 min |
| FrozenTurn twice | 360 °F (180 °C) | 18–22 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. Done at 160 °F (71 °C) in the center. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Do not prick the casings. Pricking lets juices escape and dries out the sausage. A moderate temperature stops the casings from bursting.
- Spread the links apart. Touching sausages brown unevenly where they meet. Leave a little space around each one.
- Check the center. Raw pork sausage needs 160 °F. Chicken and turkey sausage need 165 °F.
What to serve with sausage
The classic way is a sausage sandwich on a hoagie roll with peppers and onions. Slice a bell pepper and a small onion, toss with a little oil, and add them to the basket for the last 8 minutes of cooking. Sausage also goes with pasta, polenta or mini potatoes and with garlic bread on the side.
Storing and reheating
Leftover sausages keep for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator, and for 2 months in the freezer. Reheat whole links in the air fryer at 350 °F for 4–5 minutes until they reach 165 °F. Sliced cold sausage is good in pasta, soup, frittatas and on pizza.
Variations
- Peppers and onions: Add 1 sliced bell pepper and half a sliced onion for the final 8 minutes.
- Chicken sausage: Use chicken or turkey links and cook them to 165 °F, which takes 10–12 minutes.
- Sausage and potatoes: Cut baby potatoes in half, toss with oil and start them 10 minutes before the sausages.
- Sliced: Cut cooked links into rounds and crisp them for 3–4 minutes at 400 °F.
- Kielbasa: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer kielbasa.
- Pigs in a Blanket: For a dedicated recipe, see air fryer pigs in a blanket.
If it does not turn out right
- The sausage casing split
- The heat was too high or the links were pricked. Keep the temperature at 380 °F, do not prick the casing, and let cold links sit for 10 minutes before cooking.
- The outside is dark but the center is pink
- Links that are thick or still partly frozen need more time at a lower temperature. Reduce to 360 °F and cook 3–5 minutes longer, until the center reaches 160 °F.
- The sausages stick to the basket
- Rub the links with a little oil and make sure the basket is clean. Turn them with tongs rather than a fork, which pierces the casing.
Questions and answers
How long does sausage take in the air fryer?
About 14 minutes at 380 °F for raw Italian links of 4 oz, turned halfway. Thinner links take 10–12 minutes. Precooked sausages need only 6–8 minutes.
Can you cook sausage from frozen in the air fryer?
Yes. Cook frozen links at 360 °F for 18–22 minutes, turning twice. Check that the center reaches 160 °F before serving.
Is it better to cook sausage in the air fryer or in a pan?
The air fryer browns the links evenly with no turning and almost no oil, and the fat drains into the drawer. A pan gives a darker sear on one side, but it needs more attention.
Can you cook sausage patties in the air fryer?
Yes. Raw patties cook in about 10 minutes at 370 °F. The sausage patties page has the details.
What did you think of this recipe?
Be the first to rate this recipe.
