Quick & Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage

This Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage recipe is perfect for busy mornings when you need breakfast fast! It's also great for meal prep & works for frozen sausage patties or links, so there's no need to remember to defrost anything ahead of time. It's the easiest way to throw together a simple, hearty breakfast in a flash!

The best way to ensure your morning gets off to a great start is, of course, by making yourself an easy breakfast! I am definitely someone who needs to eat breakfast shortly after waking up, but I don't love spending a ton of time cooking in the morning, so I love making a simple breakfast that usually includes some type of breakfast sausage with eggs and maybe even a protein smoothie.

One of my favorite ways to cook breakfast sausage fast is by using this easy air fryer recipe. They come together in around 10 minutes and I love having them on hand for busy mornings when my husband & I can't agree on breakfast. Sometimes he enjoys having an english muffin breakfast sandwich, so I'll add breakfast sausage patties to it with a side of hash browns for him because he loves it. You can also cook breakfast sausage in the oven if you prefer, but I like the air fryer method best because it takes just a little bit less time and I find the sausages get that nice, crispy skin more easily.

If you're looking for other easy breakfast recipes that you can meal prep ahead of time, you should try these Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites or this Brioche French Toast recipe.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's perfect for meal prep. Save a few extra minutes each morning by meal prepping juicy sausages ahead of time so you always have something protein packed to grab & go.
• It's versatile. The air fryer method is a great way to cook different kinds of sausages. Whether you prefer pork sausage or you like ground turkey or chicken sausages which are often thought to be a healthier option, this method works for them all.
• It's easy. Since this recipe works for both frozen and fresh breakfast sausages, all you need to do is adjust the cooking time when preparing. There is no need to defrost your frozen sausage. This recipe will work when cooking breakfast sausage links or patties.

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Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Ingredients & Equipment Needed

• Breakfast Sausage. You can use either sausage links or sausage patties depending on your personal preference. I love the Maple Syrup Chicken Breakfast Sausage from Trader Joe's but you can use brands like Jimmy Dean, Al Fresco or Applegate Naturals (another one of my favorites!) or whatever your favorite brand might be.

• Air Fryer. I have to admit, I was a little late to the air fryer game but now it is one of my all time favorite appliances. You don't need anything fancy! If you don't have an air fryer you love, I really enjoy this affordable option.

• Cooking Spray. I like to use an olive oil cooking spray & sometimes if I'm worried food might stick to the air fryer basket, I will use grilling spray just in case.

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Step by Step Instructions

1. Prep the air fryer. If your air fryer model requires it, pre-heat to 325 degrees F. The air fryer I use doesn't require pre-heating, but this will vary depending on air fryer models. After pre-heating, grease the air fryer basket with pan spray.

2. Add sausage to the air fryer. Arrange the sausage links or patties in a single layer in your air fryer basket, ensuring you're leaving enough room in between each link or patty for the hot air to circulate. If you have a large batch you are cooking, it is best to cook the sausages in batches for best results.

3. Cook the sausage. Once the breakfast sausage is arranged in your air fryer basket, place the basket back into the air fryer and cook on 325F. If you are cooking frozen breakfast sausages, you'll want to cook them for 10-12 minutes. If you are cooking fresh breakfast sausages, they will need a little less time and should cook for 8-10 minutes. I have found 8 minutes to be enough, but you can always test them with a meat thermometer to be extra sure they're done. The internal temperature should be around 160F for pork sausage and 165F for chicken or turkey sausage.

How to store Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage

Whether you have made air fryer breakfast sausage links or patties, you should store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days for maximum freshness, which makes them ideal for easy meal prep. Alternatively, you can fully cook the breakfast sausage & then freeze them if you don't think you will eat them within 5 days. If you decide to do this, you can put them in an airtight container or a freezer bag lined with parchment paper so the links or patties do not freeze together. They will keep in the freezer up to 3 months and can easily be reheated on the stove top or in the air fryer on 325F for 5-8 minutes.

If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy:

• Easy No Rise Homemade Bagels
• Perfect Homemade Pancakes
• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Strawberry Shortcake Baked Donuts

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!