This easy recipe for Air Fryer Candied Bacon is the perfect way to add a sweet and umami flavor to your next brunch, lunch, or dinner!
Easy to prep, easy to cook, and best of all... easy to clean-up.
If you love the crispy results you get from air fried bacon, you're going to adore this new recipe for air fryer candied bacon.
Forget the sticky clean-up that normally comes along with preparing this sweet and salty snack, and instead make it quicker (and easier) in the air fryer!
Made with just 3 simple ingredients, this easy recipe is the perfect way to add flavor and texture to your favorite burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and more.
Why You'll Love It:
- Made in your favorite appliance. Who doesn't love the air fryer!? Preparing bacon in an air fryer means crispy results and an easier cleanup.
- Sweet and salty. The most satisfying combo! Savory bacon pairs with sweet and caramel-y brown sugar for a flavor explosion.
- Easier than the oven. While I love making big batches of candied bacon, this air fryer version is a quicker and easier way to prepare just enough slices for 1-2 meals.
Ingredients
- Bacon: Use your favorite brand of bacon, and ideally one that is a bit on the shorter side, as shorter slices are easier to fit inside of the average air fryer basket.
- Brown sugar: The heat caramelizes and candies the brown sugar, making for a crunchy coating that has a delicious flavor.
- Black pepper: Provides a little bit of balance to the sweetness. This won't make it "spicy" at all – if you want spicy, you can add crushed pepper flakes and/or ground cayenne.
Recommended Tools
- Air fryer
- Wire baking rack
- Tongs
How to Make Candied Bacon (in the Air Fryer)
Psst...if you're looking for a traditional oven method, check out my original recipe for classic candied bacon.
- Prepare the brown sugar mixture. Add ½ cup of packed brown sugar and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper to a small bowl. Stir well to combine.
- Add the bacon. Preheat your air fryer to 350ºF (180ºC) for 3 minutes, or according to your manufacturer's instructions. Add 4 slices of bacon in a single layer, taking care that the pieces do not overlap.
- Tip: It's okay if your bacon goes up the sides a little bit, it will shrink down as it cooks. You can "wrinkle" the bacon in the center to help pull in more of the edges.
- If your basket is too small, you can slice your pieces in half, which are a little easier to space in smaller baskets.
- Add the brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle about half of the brown sugar mixture on top of the bacon slices, aiming to do so as evenly as possible.
- You will use the remaining half with the remaining 4 slices of bacon if preparing 8 slices total.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes. The bacon is done when it's crisp enough to your liking and well-browned. This takes about 8-10 minutes at 350ºF for most air fryer models.
Cooling and Crisping
To get the perfect "candied" texture and crunch, it's essential to cool your bacon properly. Here's how to do it!
- Cool on a wire rack. Once your candied bacon is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer carefully using tongs. Place the bacon slices on a wire baking rack that has a layer of parchment paper or paper towel beneath it.
- Do not drain directly on paper towels. Since candied bacon is very sticky, it will adhere to the paper towels (ask me how I know!).
- If you don't have a wire baking rack: you can use the trivet from the air fryer (remove it and place it on a heat-proof surface),
- OR you can place the bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bacon that is not cooled on a rack will be softer, more pliable, and have more of a "glazed" texture rather than a candied one. All that being said – it's still delicious!
- Allow the bacon to cool for about 5 minutes. This will help it to crisp up as the brown sugar layer hardens.
Top Tip: Use a Wire Rack
Keeping the bacon elevated as it cools allows the excess grease and moisture to drip below. This results in a crispier bacon with a harder "candy" layer.
Ways to Use Candied Bacon
Also known as pig candy, bacon candy, or candy bacon, this sweet and salty treat is the perfect addition to all of your favorite foods. Here are a few ideas:
- Burgers, sandwiches, and wraps.
- Served with french toast, scrambled eggs, or pancakes.
- Chopped into bacon bits for salads, deviled eggs, or for sprinkling on top of roasted veggies.
- Adding a fun twist to a bloody Mary or Caesar (if you're Canadian).
- A sweet, yet savory addition to your next charcuterie board or brunch buffet.
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, you can transfer your candied bacon to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days, or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Reheating
- Air fryer: Reheat the bacon in a 300ºF air fryer for 2-3 minutes, or until hot.
- Skillet: Cook the bacon over medium heat in a non-stick skillet for 30-60 seconds per side.
- Allow the bacon to drain on a wire rack to re-crisp after warming (if desired).
Expert Tips
- Don't flip during air frying. Although flipping is a great practice for regular air fryer bacon, it's a big no-no when it comes to making candied bacon in the air fryer. Doing so creates a sticky mess; instead, follow the instructions and do not turn or flip the bacon at any point.
- Drained bacon = crispy bacon. Drain your bacon on an elevated surface (such as a wire baking rack) where the grease and moisture can drop and collect below. This helps the bacon crisp up perfectly and creates a delicious candy-like coating.
- Wiggle to fit. If your bacon is very long, you can use your fingers to gather up bits of the meat, making a "wrinkle" or wiggle effect. This prevents it from laying up against the edge of the air fryer and helps it to cook evenly.
Variations and Substitutions
Air fryer spicy bacon: If you like your bacon sweet AND spicy, you can add ½-1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and up to ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the brown sugar mixture. This is also known as millionaire's bacon or billionaire bacon.
With maple syrup: I've tested this recipe with maple syrup, and because of the high moisture content, it doesn't give the bacon that "candied" feeling you get with brown sugar. If you like a maple flavor, brush both sides of the bacon with 1-2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup (or use maple-flavored bacon).
Using thick cut bacon: If you're using bacon labeled as "thick-cut" you may need to increase the cooking time by 1-3 minutes.
More Ways to Cook Bacon
Our Favorite Bacon Recipes:
If you loved this recipe for candied bacon in the air fryer, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Air Fryer Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF (180ºC) for 3 minutes, or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Prepare a wire cooling rack with a piece of parchment or paper towel folded underneath.
- Combine the brown sugar and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Lay 4 slices of bacon in your air fryer basket, taking care that no two slices overlap. If your bacon is long, it may go up the sides of the air fryer, and this is okay as long as it’s not extreme (you can wrinkle it a bit to help it fit). Otherwise, slice the bacon in half to form 2 shorter pieces, and work in 3-4 batches rather than the 2 outlined in the recipe.
- Sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture evenly on top of the bacon slices.
- Place the air fryer basket in the air fryer and cook at 350ºF (180ºC) for 8-10 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp enough for your liking. Do not flip at any point.
- Remove from the air fryer and use tongs to carefully transfer the candied bacon to a wire baking rack (with parchment or paper towel underneath) to cool and crisp up (this should take about 5 minutes).
- Repeat with the remaining bacon and brown sugar mixture.
- Once the candied bacon slices are cool they should be firm, crispy, and have a delicious candy coating. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.
Leave a Reply