Cooking sausages in the air fryer is hands-free, quick, and the sausages turn brown and crispy on the outside, and juicy in the middle.
When I first got my air fryer I thought I’d be using it for foods that are traditionally fried. However, it turns out that the air fryer can be used like a mini oven in which you can cook just about anything.
- Video: Air Fryer Sausages
- Temperature For Cooking Sausages
- How Long To Cook Them
- Why Cook Sausages In The Air Fryer?
- How To Cook Sausages In The Air Fryer
- Types Of Sausages Can You Air Fry
- Heating Fully-Cooked Sausages In The Air Fryer
- Podcast Episode: Cooking Air Fryer Sausages
- Air Fryer Sausages Recipe
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Video: Air Fryer Sausages
Temperature For Cooking Sausages
I’ll give more details below, but if you came here to find out what temperature to set your air fryer to when cooking sausages, I crank my air fryer all the way up to 400F. That makes sure that they get a nice crispy brown crust on the outside. It also means that they won’t be in there as long, so they’re less likely to dry out.
How Long To Cook Them
This depends on the size of the sausages, and when I say size, I really mean thickness. For thinner sausages, like breakfast sausages, they’ll take about 8-10 minutes to get crisp on the outside and fully cooked inside. For thicker sausages like Brats or Italian sausage, it will be 9-12 minutes.
Whatever kind of sausage you have, you should cut into one and make sure it’s not at all pink inside before serving.
Why Cook Sausages In The Air Fryer?
Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s dive in to more details. I love using my air fryer to cook the meat portion of our dinners, like over here where I show how to cook ground beef in the air fryer, and how to make salmon with crispy skin. I find that it’s a great hands-free way to cook one thing if I need to pay more attention to something else.
That’s how I discovered that sausages are amazing when cooked in the air fryer. Unlike cooking them on the stove, when you put sausages in the air fryer, you don’t need to watch them or flip them or anything. They cook and brown evenly all the way around and you don’t have to do anything.
The result is a sausage with a crisp and brown exterior that is nice and juicy on the inside.
How To Cook Sausages In The Air Fryer
First, it depends on if the sausages are frozen or not. If your sausages are frozen, defrost them like this. For thicker links like Bratwurst and Italian sausages, you can also just go ahead and cook them straight from frozen like this (even if they’re frozen in a clump). For breakfast sausages, you can defrost them, or you can cook them straight from frozen as well.
For fresh or thawed sausages, use a paring knife or a fork to poke holes in the casings. For an average Italian sausage, I poke it three times with a knife. Poking the sausage is simply so that the fat is able to escape easily from the casing.
Next, arrange the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 400°F and then cook the sausages until they’re well-browned on the outside and cooked through in the middle if you cut into them. It takes about 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sausages and how many you have in the basket. See cooking times for different kinds of sausages above.
Types Of Sausages Can You Air Fry
You can do any kind of sausages in the air fryer, thin breakfast ones, thick ones, sliced or whole fully-cooked sausages. As mentioned, you can even cook frozen sausages in there. And they always turn out so good because the high heat really crisps the skin. Whatever kind of sausage you have, you’re using high heat and you’re cooking it until the skin is crispy and brown, and the inside is no longer pink. They’ll be so juicy and perfect!
“Omg thank you! I love sausages but hate cooking them… This was so easy, 10 mins and done and I didn’t have to do a thing. I will never cook sausage any other way again!!!”
JILL, COOKTHESTORY READER
Heating Fully-Cooked Sausages In The Air Fryer
The other kinds of sausages that you can cook in your air fryer are the fully-cooked ones that just need a little color and to be heated through. For kielbasa, I slice it about 3/4 inch thick and then arrange the slices in a single layer. Cook them for 4-5 minutes at 400°F, just until lightly browned in places. For a kielbassa ring, or unsliced kielbassa link, I cook it about 7 minutes at 400F, just to get some crispy skin.
You can get other kinds of fully-cooked sausage links at the grocery store. Wieners count, as do a variety of chicken sausages that usually have other flavorings too. For these, just put the links in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook until heated through and browned in places, 5-7 minutes at 400°F. You don’t have to poke holes in the casings of these before cooking them.
I really hope you like cooking sausages in the air fryer. I find it to be such a delicious, quick, and easy way to do it and I think you will too!
Podcast Episode: Cooking Air Fryer Sausages
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make these sausages, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Air Fryer Sausages Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
Cooking sausages in the air fryer is hands-free, quick, and the sausages turn brown and crispy on the outside, and juicy in the middle.
Ingredients
- 6 Italian sausages
Instructions
- Poke the sausages in 3 places each with a sharp knife, breaking through the casing.
- Arrange the sausages in a single non-overlapping layer in the air fryer.
- Cook at 400°F until well browned and no longer pink inside, 9-12 minutes.
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This post originally appeared in June 2020 and was revised and republished in March 2021.
Easy peasy and you can walk away; show back up in time for near perfect sausages!
So happy you like it, James! It’s the only way I cook sausages now, for sure.
New to airfrying and don’t have a booklet, so thank you.
You’re welcome, Mazz! I’ve got lots of great air fryer recipes for you.
400F filled my kitchen with smoke lol, but for my fryer 360 worked perfectly my next try. Was worth trying again as they are great and so quick to do (8 minutes).
Oh goodness, thanks for letting us know, Leigh! What kind of air fryer do you have?
Such a great simply recipe for sausages. Nicely browned on all sides and delicious. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Sharon! I love cooking sausages this way.
Simple and delicious
I appreciate it!
Made this tonight. Served over a thinly sliced onion and apple (with red wine vinegar and brown sugar). Mash potatoes and steamed broccoli on the side. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
That sounds wonderful, Sharon! Thank you for coming back to leave a comment. :)
Superb. I made Turkey Italian sausage (used your recipe for sausage and sausage seasoning). I’m quite impressed. Sausage tastes delicious and your air fryer instructions are spot on. Crisp outside, tender and juicy inside. Yum! Making sausage for your first few times is daunting, but your guidance made for a successful experience. Thank you :)
Tammy, This is so fantastic! I’m so excited for you and that it all turned out so well. (If anyone’s looking for it, the Italian Sausage recipes are over here https://thecookful.com/homemade-italian-sausages/). Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and rating. I really appreciate it! :)
I use this link all the time. Always
turn out perfect.
That makes me so happy to hear, Tammy. Thank you!
I tried this for a quick dinner and it was delicious.
Glad it hear it, Dwanye!
You can skip poking holes in the casings. I make my own types of sausages at home. Putting holes in the sausage drains them of their fat. If you like dry sausage, then be my guest. Otherwise, the recipe is fine.
I haven’t had a problem with dry sausage, but thanks for your feedback, Dan!
I have a gourmia air fryer how do I use it do fresh sausage are any other meat not burn it. I did chick good nothing else can please help
I’m not sure I totally understand your question, Eva, but the recipe above works for larger sized sausages in the air fryer like bratwurst or Italian sausages. If you have smaller sausage, like breakfast links use these instructions. https://cookthestory.com/air-fryer-breakfast-sausages/
We also have air fryer instructions for various other meats including chicken, ground beef, and pork loin. You can browse the entire air fryer category for recipes – https://cookthestory.com/category/air-fryer/ – or use the search function if you have specifics you’re looking for. Hope that helps!
I saw your video for this on TikTok and tried it. It’s amazing! Sausages were a pain to cook before but now they’re the easiest thing ever. Thank you!!!
You’re welcome, Brielle!
Your information is super helpful. I cooked Chicken Sausage and it came out perfect with this Recipe.
Thanks so much, Amir!
I just love how simple it is to cook sausages. Your information is super helpful.
I’m happy it was helpful for you!
i cooked Chicken Sausage and they came out perfect with this Recipe
So happy to hear, Bear!
Gave myself an airfryer for Xmas and was mightily disappointed. Bread crumbs were burnt on the edges of the basket and soft and white everywhere else. Toast was dry but white. Hard boiled eggs (11 mins) were a wobbly jelly on my hand. Had to blitz them in the microwave to make mashed egg sandwich. Then I found your sausage recipe – it’s a winner. The 2 books I bought (A$80.10) have been relegated to the back of the bookcase and can stay there!
I’m so happy you found this recipe then, Pamela! I have lots of other great air fryer recipes for you to browse. :)
Love your recipe. My breakfast sausages turned out delicious! Crispy on the outside and so juicy inside. This is the only way to cook sausages!! Thanks for sharing!!
You’re welcome, Annette! So happy that you love it.
Well-informed info…
Thanks, Sidney!
Thank you this is awesome
You’re welcome, Jo-Anne! I just love how easy it is.
succulent, juicy and so tender inside.
Absolutely banging (excuse the pun)
Thank you, Julian!