Air Fryer Twisted Bacon Recipe
Awhile back there was a TikTok trend going around for twisted bacon. Honestly, I really don’t pay much attention to TikTok, but my 15-year-old daughter pointed it out to me. Which is when I thought, okay I need to try twisted bacon. You may wonder if twisted bacon is just a gimmick and how could twisted bacon in an air fryer be any different that just regular ‘ole strips of bacon? Well let me explain! Twisting bacon results in a more even cooking of the bacon making every bite crispy on the outside while staying juicy and delicious on the inside. Air frying bacon in twists also keeps the bacon moister because some of the bacon drippings are caught in the twists of the bacon. We like our bacon on the juicier side but if you cook it a bit longer, it will be chewier and a bit tougher, more like the consistency of beef jerky which can be good if that’s what you’re going for.
Ingredients in Air Fryer Bacon
It doesn’t get any easier than a one-ingredient recipe. And you guessed it, all you need for this twisted bacon strips recipe is center cut bacon!
How to Make Twisted Bacon in an Air Fryer
Cooking twisty bacon in an air fryer is so easy! Simply do the following:
Air Fryer Bacon Temperature & Cook Time
For cooking twisted bacon in air fryer, preheat the machine to 350ºF. The bacon will need to cook for 6 to 10 minutes (start checking it at 6 minutes because all air fryers vary!).
What Kind of Bacon is Best for Twisted Bacon?
I like to use center cut bacon when I make bacon in my air fryer because it fits into the basket easier than a full-sized strip. You can also use regular bacon and cut it in half before twisting it. Or add it in full length if your air fryer will accommodate that size. Some air fryers with XL baskets are large enough. I do not recommend turkey bacon nor plant-based vegan or vegetarian “bacons” because none of them have enough fat. And for twisted air fryer bacon you really do need the fat.
What Type of Air Fryer Makes the Best Air Fryer Bacon?
For my air fryer twisted bacon I used a Philips XXL Air Fryer. The basket is very large but use whatever brand of air fryer you have. I have a few air fryers. I also like the Cosori XL Air Fryer. It’s budget-friendly and gives solid results for most air fryer recipes.
Can I Make Twisted Bacon in the Oven?
While technically you can bake bacon, and therefore you could make twisted bacon in the oven, it will take much longer. If you’re going this route, I suggest lining a baking sheet with foil, folding it upwards on the sides a bit to catch the runoff droppings. And use a 425F oven and bake it for about 20 minutes, or as needed. You can also use a cooler over of approximately 350F and bake for 30-40 minutes, or as you see fit.
How to Make Flavored Bacon Twists
If you want to make flavored bacon I have a couple easy tweaks and variations for you:
Candied Bacon – Brush the twists with a bit of real maple syrup or sprinkle them with brown sugar after they’re twisted and ready to go in your air fryer.Honey Bacon – Similar to candied bacon, you can brush a bit of honey over the top of the twists.Spicy Bacon – Sprinkle the bacon with dried chili flakes. For extra spicy bacon, a tiny of bit of cayenne pepper will do the trick!Peppered Garlic Bacon – Add freshly ground black pepper to the bacon twists and sprinkle with freshly minced garlic.Cajun Bacon – You guessed it, sprinkle the bacon with cajun seasoning.
Feel free to get creative based on what spices you have in your cupboard and what your family enjoys. The sky’s the limit!
Serving and Storage Suggestions for Air Fryer Twisted Bacon
There’s nothing better than hot and fresh bacon, whether it’s air fryer bacon or served from a skillet. However, if you have extra twisted bacon on hand – hard to believe you will – it’ll keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days. This air fryer twisted bacon is fabulous with eggs, waffles, toast, or your favorite breakfast foods. Make sure to check out my Air Fryer Cinnamon French Toast Sticks recipe. It’s perfect alongside the bacon! Bacon is also naturally gluten-free (or should be, check the labels if this is important to you) and low carb and makes a great little snack.
Cleaning an Air Fryer After Making Bacon
Cleaning an air fryer isn’t one of my favorite tasks and is probably my number one gripe about air fryers in general. And after making bacon in an air fryer you are going to have some cleanup to do, as you would with any other air fryer recipe. Much of the natural bacon grease or bacon drippings will be caught in the twists of the bacon. However, some will runoff. While the bacon grease is still hot, pour it into a small glass jar if you want to save the bacon grease for other cooking and store it in the fridge. If you aren’t going to save it, pour it into any type of disposable plastic container such as margarine container, old whipped topping container, or jelly jar, or whatever you’ve got on hand, and toss it. Once the grease has been poured out, wipe it down everything with paper towels, and then wash with soapy water.
Tips for the Best Twisty Bacon
Making twisted air fryer bacon is a cinch but there are a couple pointers and tips so it’s absolutely perfect. Try to twist the bacon as tightly as you can. It can be a little slippery and like to move around on you, but just do your best. The bacon will continue to cook a little after it is done air frying, so pull it right before your desired crispness. When placing the bacon in the air fryer basket, it’s okay if the twists are touching (closer than what I show in the photos) but don’t allow them to overlap. Again, make sure to take it out of the air fryer just a bit before your desired level of doneness because it continues to crisp up as it cools. Place it on paper towels to absorb any excess grease.
More Savory Easy Breakfast Recipes:
Cheesy Egg Casserole with Bacon — Loaded with green onions and cheddar cheese, this egg casserole with bacon is a great recipe to have on hand for holiday brunches! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Savory French Toast Bake with Bacon and Cheese — No need to stand at the stove to flip and babysit your French toast with this easy BAKED version!! Plenty of bacon and melted cheddar for the perfect savory, comfort-food French toast that’s great for breakfast, brunch, or brinner!! Eggs In Hell with Italian Sausage — Sometimes called Eggs in Purgatory or shakshuka, this easy dish includes eggs poached in tomatoes with sausage and garlic for tons of flavor! Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner!! Egg-in-a-Hole Avocado Toast — Slathering warm egg in a hole toast with a creamy chive and lime-scented avocado spread is beyond DELICIOUS!! This avocado toast with egg is EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect ANYTIME! Easy Eggs, Sausage, and Hash Browns Skillet – Hearty comfort food that’s worth getting out of bed for! Great for brunch or as breakfast-for-dinner! Ready in 30 minutes and packed with big flavors! Loaded Southwestern Scramble – Don’t settle for plain scrambled eggs when you can have these!! Peppers, onions, corn, and more for flavor and texture! Easy, ready in 10 minutes, and healthy! Easy Spinach and Tomato Frittata – Ready in 10 minutes and healthy! Perfect for any meal!! Great for using up odds-and-ends veggies, too! How To Make a Brunch Board – Nothing says relaxation and pampering like a brunch or breakfast board that’s loaded with everyone’s morning favorites! Whether you include eggs, meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, or all the craveworthy carbs, it’s sure to be a hit! PERFECT for weekend brunches or special holiday mornings!
