Sausage cooked in an air fryer is the easiest, fastest, and hands-off way to make Italian sausages that are juicy and golden brown.
You will never make air-fried sausage any other way again! It tastes great on its own, in a bun, over pasta, or in the classic way with peppers and sausage.
There was no way I thought I’d have such a good relationship with this countertop kitchen appliance after making air fryer tofu, the first thing I used it for.
For most of the year, I thought it would sit on a shelf in the basement and only be used a few times.
I don’t know what else to say besides the fact that I made these sausages in an air fryer to show how wrong I was.
But what it proves is that yes, you can cook sausage in an air fryer in minutes and it will turn out great.
When I say perfect I mean a beautiful crispy golden brown exterior with a juicy, succulent center.
The same applies to cooking brats in the air fryer in case you prefer those to sausage.
That may be a graphic or over the top way to describe a cooked sausage, but let’s be honest: that’s how you want it cooked.
The Instant Vortex air fryer has revolutionized the way we cook, offering a fast, convenient and healthy way to make crispy, delicious foods with little to no oil For sausage lovers, this versatile appliance can take your favorite links to the next level, achieving perfectly crisp, browned casings and juicy, flavor-packed interiors
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to cook various types of sausages to perfection in the Instant Vortex air fryer With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy restaurant-quality sausages from the comfort of your own kitchen Let’s get started!
Key Benefits of Cooking Sausages in an Air Fryer
Here are some of the biggest advantages to cooking sausages in the Instant Vortex air fryer:
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Even browning and crisping – The superheated air circulates around the sausages to uniformly brown and crisp the casings.
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Faster cooking – The air fryer cuts sausage cooking time nearly in half compared to oven baking.
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Juicy interior – Quick cooking locks in moisture so sausage interiors stay succulent.
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Minimal oil – Only a small amount of oil is needed to achieve crisping. Much healthier than frying.
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Easy cleanup – With no splattering grease, air frying sausages creates less mess.
Step-By-Step Guide to Cooking Sausages
Follow these simple steps for air fryer sausage success:
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Preheat air fryer – Press the “Air Fry” button and turn dial to 350°F. Allow to fully preheat, about 3-5 minutes.
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Prep sausages – Use a fork to gently poke holes along the sausage casings. This prevents “blowouts”.
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Toss in oil – Place sausages in a bowl and drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil or vegetable oil. Toss lightly to coat sausages.
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Arrange in fryer – Place sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer, evenly spaced.
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Cook 10 minutes – Press “Air Fry” and set time to 10 minutes. Press start to begin cooking.
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Flip halfway – After 5 minutes, open the fryer and flip sausages using tongs. Cook remaining 5 minutes.
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Check doneness – Sausages should register 160°F internally. Let rest 2 minutes before serving.
Helpful Tips for Air Frying Sausages
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Don’t overcrowd – Too many sausages prevents proper air circulation. Work in batches for best results.
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Brush with oil or glaze – Lightly brushing sausages with oil or a sweet glaze midway through cooking adds flavor.
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Foil prevents sticking – If needed, lightly grease a sheet of foil and place in the air fry basket before adding sausages.
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Cook from frozen – No need to thaw! Add 2-3 extra minutes to the cook time for frozen sausages.
Cooking Different Sausage Varieties
While the basic method remains the same, you may need to adjust cook times slightly based on the size and style of sausage:
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Breakfast links – These small, fully-cooked sausages take just 8-10 minutes at 350°F in the air fryer.
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Bratwurst – Cook fresh (not pre-cooked) brats for 12-14 minutes at 350°F, flipping halfway.
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Italian sausage – Slightly bulkier than brats, Italian sausage links need 12-15 minutes at 350°F, flipped halfway.
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Kielbasa – This thicker smoked sausage requires 14-16 minutes at 350°F, rotating occasionally.
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Andouille – The coarse Cajun sausage needs 12-15 minutes at 350°F. The high fat content keeps it moist.
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Chorizo – Remove casings first from fresh chorizo then crumble and air fry for 8-10 minutes at 350°F to use in dishes.
Serving Your Air Fried Sausages
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving air fried sausages! Here are some delicious ideas:
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Sandwiches – Tuck into rolls with desired toppings like sauerkraut, peppers and mustard.
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Breakfast – Serve with eggs, hashbrowns and pancakes or biscuits.
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Pasta dish – Slice and add to pasta with tomato sauce for a quick sausage Bolognese.
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Appetizers – Slice diagonally and arrange on a platter with cheese, crackers and pickles.
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Tacos – Warm tortillas and let guests build their own tacos with desired fixings.
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Pizza topping – Sliced sausages make a tasty topping on homemade or store-bought pizza.
With the Instant Vortex air fryer, you can enjoy fast, convenient and better-for-you sausages anytime. Experiment with different styles and flavors – the possibilities are endless! Serve them on buns, with sides or elevate them in creative dishes. However you enjoy them, air fried sausages are sure to become a new favorite for the whole family.
CAN YOU COOK SAUSAGE IN AN AIR FRYER?
It makes sense to wonder if sausage can be made in an air fryer, since most people cook it on the grill, stew it in a sauce, or sauté it in a skillet. That’s how I grew up eating it.
Since I was planning to make sausage and peppers for dinner not long ago, I chose to give it a try. And once again, the air fryer basically blew me away with its capabilities. Helpful Accessories.
We have everything you need, from oil sprays to muffin cups and pizza pans to racks. They also make great Christmas gifts!
Not only can you use an air fryer to cook sausage links, but they turn out GREAT!
What a great texture! It only takes 10 minutes to cook (plus or minus a minute or two on each side), and you don’t even have to touch it. Doesn’t get better than that.
HOW TO COOK SAUSAGE IN THE AIR FRYER
If you want to make sausage in the air fryer, all you need is sausage. This goes for sausage links, sausage patties, and the longer sausage coil.
For this recipe I’m using Italian sausage but any seasoning type will work and any type of meat.
Whether it’s pork, turkey, chicken, or lamb sausage, this same air fryer method can be used.
It’s interesting that the cooking times are pretty much the same for both uncooked and fully cooked sausage.
Simply place thawed sausage links in the air fryer either in the basket or on the trays.
Make sure the sausage is all in one layer so that the air fryer can do its magic and let air flow all around it while it cooks, giving it the perfect “fried” texture.
Easy Peasy Air Fry Bratwurst Sausages with instapot Vortex
FAQ
How long do you cook sausages in the air fryer?
How do you keep sausages from bursting in an air fryer?
Do you have to flip sausages in the air fryer?
How long to heat fully cooked sausage in air fryer?
How to cook sausage in instant vortex air fryer?
Step 1: Preheat your Instant Vortex Air Fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Step 2: While the air fryer is preheating, spread the sausages out in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave some space between them to allow for even cooking and browning.
How long do you cook sausages in an air fryer?
It’s important to leave some space between them to allow for even cooking and browning. Once the air fryer is preheated, place the basket with the sausages inside and cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip the sausages over and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until they are cooked through.
How do you reheat Italian sausage in an air fryer?
Preheat the air fryer. Add fresh or frozen Italian sausages in a single layer in the air fryer (as per the recipe below). Cook until they are fully cooked on the inside and browned and crispy on the outside. PRO TIP: If cooking in batches, wrap sausages in aluminum foil and reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes right before serving.
How long do you air Fry Italian sausage?
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Please see note if you have a 4-quart air fryer or smaller. Prepare the sausage: Thaw them overnight if frozen, and bring them to a room temperature before air frying. Air fry Italian sausage for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through.