Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. Their convection heating technology allows you to make deliciously crispy foods like french fries, chicken wings, and more using little to no oil.
One of the most convenient foods to make in an air fryer is sausages Sausages cook up quick and become wonderfully crispy in an air fryer But if you are new to air frying, you may be wondering exactly how long to cook sausages in an air fryer.
In this guide, we’ll provide tips on how long to cook chicken sausages in an air fryer along with some tasty recipe ideas.
Factors That Affect Air Fryer Sausage Cook Times
There are a few factors that impact how long sausages take to cook in an air fryer:
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Size of the sausages – Smaller sausages like breakfast links will cook faster than larger sausages.
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Amount of sausages – The more sausages you add to the air fryer basket, the longer they will take to cook since more food mass takes longer to heat up.
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Preheating – Preheating your air fryer before adding the sausages will reduce cook time.
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Air fryer wattage – More powerful air fryers (1300-1500W) will cook food faster than less powerful models.
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Doneness preference – Cook times will vary based on if you prefer lightly browned vs well browned/crisped sausages.
Taking these factors into account will allow you to estimate the best cook times for your batch of sausages.
How Long to Air Fry Chicken Sausages
For 2-3 average sized (4 ounces each) chicken sausages, the approximate air fryer cook times are:
- For lightly browned: 8-10 minutes at 370°F
- For well browned/crisp: 10-12 minutes at 370°F
If cooking a larger batch, you may need closer to 12-15 minutes. Be sure to shake the basket halfway during cooking to promote even browning.
Always check internal temperature using a meat thermometer to ensure the sausages reach a safe 165°F internally. If needed, add 1-2 minutes more cook time until thermometer reads 165°F.
Tips for the Best Air Fried Sausages
- Pat sausages dry before air frying for crisper skin
- Use a small amount of oil or cooking spray to promote browning
- Flip/rotate sausages halfway during cooking
- Don’t overcrowd the basket – cook in batches for even cooking
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness
- Let rest 1-2 minutes before serving
Flavorful Air Fryer Sausage Recipes to Try
Air fried sausages pair nicely with flavorful seasonings and toppings. Here are some tasty recipes to try in your air fryer:
Italian Chicken Sausage with Bell Peppers and Onions
- Ingredients: Chicken sausage, bell peppers, onions, Italian seasoning
- Directions: Toss sausages and veggies with oil and Italian seasoning. Air fry 10-12 minutes until sausages reach 165°F.
Maple Dijon Chicken Apple Sausages
- Ingredients: Chicken apple sausage, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, fresh thyme
- Directions: Brush sausages with maple-Dijon mixture. Air fry 10 minutes, flip and brush again. Cook 2-4 minutes more until done.
Chili Lime Chicken Sausages with Corn Salsa
- Ingredients: Chicken sausage, lime, chili powder, corn salsa
- Directions: Coat sausages in lime juice and chili powder. Air fry 10-12 minutes. Serve with corn salsa.
Pesto Chicken Sausages with Zucchini Noodles
- Ingredients: Chicken sausage, pesto, zucchini noodles
- Directions: Spread pesto over sausages. Air fry 10-12 minutes. Toss with zucchini noodles.
Beer Brats with Caramelized Onions and Peppers
- Ingredients: Bratwurst, beer, onions, bell peppers
- Directions: Boil brats in beer 5 minutes. Drain and air fry 10-12 minutes until browned. Top with sautéed onions and peppers.
So there you have it! With an approximate 10-12 minute cook time, air fried sausages make for a super quick and easy dinner or appetizer. I hope these tips help you achieve perfectly cooked chicken sausages from your air fryer. Let the air frying begin!
Tips for the best result
- If the chicken sausages aren’t releasing from the grill/ griddle pan, let them cook a bit longer until they release without tearing.
- Don’t overcook them- chicken sausages often use chicken breast not thighs so they are leaner, making them easier to overcook. Temp them and stop cooking as soon as they reach 165°F/ 73°C.
- Use a spritz of fry light to evenly distribute the oil, whilst still keeping the calories low. This will promote browning and flavor.
- Use foil to reduce clean up with both the oven and the air fryer.
Why you’ll love these methods
I won’t make you scroll to the bottom to see which methods win each category for cooking chicken sausages.
- Fastest: Pan frying for the win! Depending on the size of your chicken sausage, the fastest method is usually pan-frying, as you can fry them in oil over a medium/high heat.
- Flavorful: Now this is a preference- I have to say, using a griddle or BBQ does impart a flavor of summer, which does make me want to choose it as the winner. But both the airfryer and pan-frying method get amazing browning, which is the most important factor when it comes to deciding the best way to cook chicken sausages. Sorry oven!
- Least effort: Air frying! All you have to do is chuck the sausages in the air fryer basket, no preheating required! You don’t even have to rotate them halfway through. The only thing I’ll mention is that you should use foil if you hate washing your air fryer basket.
- Healthiest: Air frying or oven, with both of these methods, I use the least oil, making these the healthiest methods.
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Recipe | Munchy Goddess
FAQ
How long do you air fryer chicken sausages?
Air fry the precooked chicken sausage at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F. Every air fryer is a little different so keep an eye on them. If the chicken sausage is raw, air fry the sausage at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
How long should you cook chicken sausages in an air fryer?
- Pierce the sausages a few times all over using a sharp knife (this is optional, but will help release more fat). Arrange the sausages in a single layer in an air fryer basket.
- Set the air fryer to 180C and cook for 10-15 mins, turning every 5 mins, until the sausages are cooked through.
How long do you put chicken sausages in the airfryer?
Pre-cooked chicken sausages take about 8 to 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 400°F (204°C). They are done when golden and crisp on the outside with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
How long should you put chicken sausages in the air fryer?
Instructions Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees. Then place the chicken sausages in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the sausages with olive oil. Air fry for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.