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GET IT NOWAir Fryer Sausage Is My Favorite Low-Effort Dinner Hack
As a food blogger, I’m always cooking, testing, and retesting recipes… but honestly? Some nights I just don’t feel like making a big production. That’s when I lean hard on my air fryer recipes, and this air fryer sausage recipe is probably the fastest and easiest thing I make in it. You just toss the Italian sausages in and let the air fryer do its thing. Here’s why it’s always in my back pocket for an easy dinner:
- Crispy, juicy texture – The skin gets beautifully crisp while the inside stays tender and juicy. It’s better than pan-frying, with way less cleanup.
- Faster than the oven – Italian sausage cooks in less than 10 minutes — no seasoning, oil, or prep needed. That’s even quicker than preheating the oven, and it doesn’t heat up my whole kitchen (which trust me is great when you live in Florida 😉).
- Perfect for meal building – These are great on their own, or sliced into veggie bowls, tossed with peppers, or paired with mustard and sauerkraut. Check out my serving ideas for more easy sides!
Make them with me, and you’ll see why these are the perfect low-effort dinner!
Reader Review
“This sausage is bomb!!! I made it and put it on my pasta with some garlic sauce. YUM!!!!! So easy and delicious!” –Julia
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How To Cook Sausage In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Arrange the sausage. I just place the Italian sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook air fryer sausage. Air fry until the sausage is golden brown on the outside and juicy inside. No flipping needed — the air fryer handles it all!
My Recipe Tips
- This recipe is based on 3.8-ounce Italian sausage links, which is pretty typical. If yours are bigger or smaller, you’ll need to adjust the cook time a bit.
- Mild, sweet, or hot Italian sausage all work depending on your flavor preference. Or switch it up with kielbasa, chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or other pork sausage. Smaller kinds like breakfast sausages or patties usually cook in about 5-6 minutes.
- Clean the drip tray first. Sausage can get a little greasy in the air fryer. If your drip tray isn’t clean, the excess grease might start smoking, so I always give mine a quick rinse before cooking.
- Make sure to give the sausages space so they crisp instead of steam. I use this air fryer and it holds 5 sausage links perfectly, but if yours is smaller, you might need to cook them in batches.
- How long to air fry Italian sausage? About 7-8 minutes usually does the trick, but I always check that the inside hits 160 degrees F. I use this instant-read meat thermometer — it’s super fast and magnetic, so it lives on my fridge and never gets lost.
Air Fryer Sausage
Make juicy, flavorful Italian sausage in the air fryer with crispy skin and no mess! A quick, hands-off method for perfect links every time.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). (For air fryers, it’s also fine if you skip preheating.)
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Arrange Italian sausage in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with space between the links.
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Cook for 7-8 minutes, until golden brown and Internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 air fryer sausage link.
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, pick the right sausage, and make cooking Italian sausage in the air fryer even easier.
- Store: Keep leftover sausage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I’ll sometimes slice them up for Italian stuffed peppers or toss into a breakfast salad.
- Reheat: Pop the sausages back in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 2-3 minutes, just until they’re heated through.
- Freeze: You can freeze them cooked or raw. Just wrap in plastic, toss in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or in cold water before reheating.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Air Fryer Sausage
Serving Ideas
These air fryer sausages are super versatile, so I mix it up depending on what I’m in the mood for (or what’s already in the fridge 😉).
- Veggies – I’ll often throw sliced peppers or onions right into the air fryer with the sausages — they cook at the same time, so it’s easy. Or if I want something cozy, I pair them with roasted cabbage or fried cabbage.
- Pasta dishes or Pizza – Sometimes I slice them up and toss with zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or even regular pasta for the kids drizzled with marinara. They also make a great pizza topping — I’ll use my fathead crust or just turn it into a crustless pizza bowl.
- Potatoes – Juicy sausage links and potatoes just go together! My girls love them with roasted sweet potatoes, but Iike a simple caulfilower potato salad on the side.
- Salads & Bowls – These work great tossed into a kale crunch or roasted cauliflower salad. Or I just make a quick bowl with sauteed veggies and cauliflower rice.
5 Comments
Cindy
0Does the air fryer in the stove work the same way?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Cindy, I have never used that type of air fryer, but it should work.
Julia
0This sausage is bomb!!! I made it and put it on my pasta with some garlic sauce. YUM!!!!! So easy and delicious!
Abby
0My new favorite way to cook sausage when it’s too cold outside to grill. The casing still gets nice and crispy. Thanks for the great idea!
Trish C
0You have to love the air fryer! These came out simply perfect, thank you! Such an easy recipe.