This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Air Fryer Italian Sausage cooks in just 12 minutes! Times for frozen, fresh and sliced links. This is the most effortless way to cook Italian Sausage.
This is the most useful one ingredient recipe in my air fryer rotation: a package of Italian sausage links, 370°F for 12 minutes, done It’s less of a recipe and more of a method. It works with brats, andouille and chorizo, really any raw sausage link, so a single technique covers half the sausage aisle. I cook a few extra whenever I can, because cooked links keep four days in the fridge. Use this for a quick pasta dinner, sausage and peppers, or slap them between a bun on a night nobody wants to cook.
How to Cook Italian Sausage in Air Fryer
To evenly cook Italian sausage in the air fryer, preheat your appliance to 370 degrees F for 3 minutes. Even when the air fryer says it doesn’t require preheating, I’ve still found giving it just a few minutes leads to better, more even cooking!
Add your sausages to the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes total. Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer and flip the sausages.
- Frozen links: 370°F for 15-18 minutes. Flip at 10 minute mark.
- Sliced into coins: 370°F for 4-6 minutes. Flip at 3 minute mark.
What is Italian Sausage?
Italian sausages are usually made of ground pork mixed with Italian herbs and seasonings, then put into casings to create sausage links. Fennel seed (and sometimes anise) is the distinctive flavor that sets it apart from other sausages, but herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, paprika, and others help season it as well.
What to do with Italian Sausage
This versatile option can be used in so many delicious ways! These recipes with Italian sausage are loaded with flavor.
- Pizza – Sliced Italian sausage makes a GREAT pizza topping!
- On a bun – Grab a pack of hotdog buns, add your air fryer Italian sausages, and you’ve got a super quick meal! This is a great gameday meal or an easy option for pool parties or other outdoor gatherings.
- Pasta – Adding Italian sausage to your pasta instantly adds LOADS of delicious Italian seasoning taste without extra work. This Sausage and Butternut Squash Pasta is the perfect way to use up leftover sausage! This One Pan Sausage Cheese Pasta is also a big fan favorite.
- Soup – So many soups are delicious with Italian sausage!
- With Vegetables – Roast simple veggies on a sheet pan, then add to your air fryer Italian sausage for an easy, healthy dish. You could try air fryer vegetables like cauliflower, or potatoes for quick options as well.
Storage and Reheating
Allow the Italian sausage to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge up to 4 days.
- Microwave – Cover with a damp paper towel. On 50% power, microwave in 1 minute blasts until the sausage is hot all the way through.
- Air fryer – 350 degrees, reheat for 3-4 minutes, flipping around the 2 minute mark.
- Skillet – Add 2 tablespoons of water then add sausages. Cover with lid and heat on low for about 5 minutes or until water has evaporated. Shake pan frequently to turn the sausages and heat on all sides.
Tips for the BEST Air Fryer Italian Sausage
- If you’re in a hurry, slice your sausages to reduce the cooking time! This is more of a trial and error method as the cooking time would depend on the size you’ve sliced the links to.
- The total cooking time needed will depend on the size and thickness of your sausages. Some packaged sausages are thicker while others are thin, so keep a close eye on your sausages. Pork should be cooked to 160 degrees F for safety, so use a meat thermometer to be sure.
- Cook extra! Sausages are so easy to reheat and can be tossed into SO many recipes. Cook a few extra if possible for an easy meal prep option for lunches, snacks, or a readymade dinner when you need a lazy night.
FAQ’s about Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer
This depends entirely on the size of your sausages and the size of your air fryer. Sausages should be cooked in a single layer and shouldn’t be touching, so you may need to cook multiple batches depending on how many you can fit without touching.
Pork sausage should be cooked to 160 degrees F, so it’s best practice to use a meat thermometer before removing the sausages from the air fryer.
For this recipe, it’s best to not use foil or a liner in the air fryer. Not having a liner ensures that the air circulates easily and quickly, and it allows the grease to drip away from the sausages.
Yes – USUALLY! Always make sure to double check your ingredient labels, but most Italian sausages fall perfectly into these diets. Make sure the variety you buy does not have added sugar or preservatives that may exclude them from your dietary needs.
More Great Recipes
Italian Sausage in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 package Italian sausage links
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Add the uncooked, thawed sausages to the air fryer. Cook for 6 minutes, flip, and cook an additional 6 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
