We love air fryer bacon! But have you tried air fryer twisted bacon? The twirls make the bacon crispy and super fun to eat. Air fried bacon twists, twirls or sticks is the perfect low carb snack or for breakfast.

air fryer twisted bacon in basket

Air Fryer Twisted Bacon

Why air fry your bacon in twists? The taste is the same as air frying bacon in long strips, but the crunch factor is better! You get the crispy twirls of bacon and it’s also fun to eat. We’ve made this so many times and everyone loves the twisty crunch when you air fry the bacon this way.

air fryer twisted bacon

Video: Air Fried Bacon Twists

Why Does Air Fryer Smoke When Cooking Bacon?

This is a great question and air fryers tend to smoke when cooking any types of food with high fat content. Read our detailed article on why your air fryer is smoking.

  • One method that helps is to place a piece of bread under the basket or rack. The bread absorbs splattering oil from hitting the heating element, which can minimize the smoking. It’s all the fat that splatters the heating coils that causes the smoke. Discard the oil soaked bread after use. oil soaked bread

Tips for Air Frying Twisted Bacon

  • You use any type of bacon thickness. If you’re air frying thicker cut bacon, then the cooking time will take about 1-2 more minutes and extra another flip.
  • Don’t twist the bacon too tight as you want enough space through the twirls. The space will allow hot air to circulate through the twist and make the center crispy.
  • When the bacon is curled during air frying it takes up less space, so you can fit more in the air fryer.
  • There’s so many different flavors of bacon and they all work great!
  • All air fryer twisted bacon recipe details are in the recipe box below.
air fryer twisted bacon in basket

Air Fryer Twisted Bacon

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
This timing is for regular bacon thickness. If you’re using a really thicker cut like an artisan thick bacon, add about another minute or two of cooking time if needed. Placing the bread underneath the bacon in a separate rack or under the basket helps absorb the splattering oil. This also helps minimize smoking.
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Ingredients

  • 6-8 slices pork bacon , regular thickness
  • bread slice , to absorb bacon juices

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Place a slice of bread under the air fryer perforated basket or under the bacon on a separate rack to under the bacon.
    Slice of bread under air fryer basket
  • Carefully remove the bacon from it’s package and separate into individual strips.
    Uncooked bacon on a plate
  • Gently twist each strip of bacon in loose curls. Place in a single layer the air fryer basket/tray. Allow some space between each bacon. They can slightly tough but do not stack or overlap them.
    Twisting the bacon
  • Air Fry at 380°F/193°C for 8 minutes. Check the bacon and turn if needed.
    Tongs turning the bacon twists in air fryer basket
  • Continue to Air Fry for 1-3 minutes, or until crisped to your liking.
    Cooked bacon twists in air fryer basket
  • Place on paper towel to drain excess oil. Enjoy them warm and crispy!
    Bacon twists on a plate with a paper towel
  • Discard the bread under the air fryer perforated tray. If you like the timing and temp for the way the bacon turned out, write it down and save it! If not, make adjustments on your next batch. If needed add a touch of extra salt &/or black pepper for extra deliciousness.
    Tongs grabbing bacon oil soaked toast for air fryer basket

Notes

FOR SOFT BACON: For softer bacon, Air Fry at 340°F/170°C. Start with the same timing as above. Add more time as needed.
GOOD VENTILATION: Make sure to cook the bacon in a well ventilated area. Turn on your kitchen exhaust fans and open up a few windows. You will get some smoking because that’s the nature of grease cooking at hot temperatures. Please read the full recipe write up about excess smoking and best practices for cooking air fryer bacon.

If your air fryer is preheated or if you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce timing by a few minutes (unless preheating is called for in the recipe).

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 138kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.4g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 218mg, Potassium: 65mg, Vitamin A: 12IU, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 138
air fried bacon twists in basket

Can you air fry turkey bacon?

Yes, turkey bacon is a nice way to cut back on the grease and fat. But some brands of turkey bacon are too dry, so it helps to oil spray both sides of the turkey bacon first. After oil spraying, you can start twisting the bacon and then air fry it. The oil helps make the turkey bacon a little crispier and not cook into a hard stick.

Viral Tik Tok Twisted Bacon

If you follow social media at all you’ll know that this method of twisting bacon and air frying it really took off on Tik Tok. This viral bacon recipe was so popular that it had millions of views across so many different creator accounts. We believe it because this method of eating bacon twist is super fun and easy!

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