Delicious, crispy turkey bacon is ready in just 10 minutes using the air fryer. This breakfast side is a great alternative to traditional bacon and can be served in exactly the same way. Great with eggs and toast, or chopped up and used in salad or any recipe that calls for cooked bacon.
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What is Turkey Bacon
Turkey bacon is turkey that has been processed, chopped and smoked and then formed before being cut into strips that roughly resemble bacon.
It is not bacon in its true form, which would actually be a cut of meat, usually from the belly or back of pork, which is then salted and cured. However, it is generally a lower-fat alternative and can be used in much the same way as traditional bacon.
There are various brands of turkey bacon, and as it is a processed product, they can vary in appearance. Some are cut into wide strips, some are narrow, they range from thick to thin, and some have even been made to look like pork bacon by having stripes of lighter meat in the slices to resemble the fat.
As a result, they can all taste very different as well depending on what parts of the turkey they are made from, what spices are used, and whether it is fully cooked and packaged or whether it is sold raw.
You may need to try a few to find one that you like, but once you do it can make a great lower fat alternative to traditional pork bacon.
Instructions
Lay the turkey bacon in the preheated air fryer basket or tray. In my 5.8qt basket, I can fit 6 slices with a very slight overlap.
The overlap is ok because after a few minutes the bacon will shrink a bit and you can move them so they are no longer overlapping. They will cook just fine this way.
Place the basket in the air fryer and set it to 370°F. Cook the bacon for 8-10 minutes or until it is your desired crispiness.
Be sure to turn the bacon a couple of times to ensure even cooking.
The cooking time of turkey bacon can vary considerably depending on the brand, how thick the slices are, and whether it is sold raw or precooked. The first time you cook it you will want to check it several times to make sure it is not overcooking. Preheating the air fryer will give you more consistent results.
Serving Suggestions
Turkey bacon can be used in any recipe that calls for bacon.
It is a great side dish to serve for breakfast alongside eggs, toast or even pancakes or french toast.
We also like to chop it up and use it in omelettes. But you can use it in place of bacon whenever you are looking for a lower-fat alternative. It works well in twice-baked potatoes, or instant pot bacon mac and cheese, you could even add it to hot cheese dip.
FAQS
Most turkey bacon comes fully cooked, all you have to do is heat and serve. However, as there are a few brands that are not pre-cooked, just be sure you read the package before serving.
It is recommended to preheat the air fryer for this recipe. It will help get the bacon crispier faster.
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Printable Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 slices turkey bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 4 minutes at 370°F,
- Lay the turkey bacon in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If you have to overlap the edges a little bit, that's ok. They will shrink after a couple of minutes and have plenty of room to crisp up. I can fit 6 slices in my 5.8qt basket.
- Place the basket in the air fryer, set it to 370°F and cook the turkey bacon for 8-10 minutes until it reaches your desired crispiness. Be sure to turn the bacon a couple of times during the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
- Remove the bacon from the basket and repeat with remaining slices or until you've cooked as much as you need.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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