Easy Air Fryer Candied Bacon

Just 2 ingredients needed to make Easy Air Fryer Candied Bacon! This sweet and salty treat is perfect for breakfast, brunch, snack or even on a charcuterie board.

Brown sugar is really two ingredients in one. Did you know molasses is added to granulated sugar and that's what makes it "brown" sugar?

The molasses in brown sugar gives Easy Air Fryer Candied Bacon it's special flavor, along with the smokey flavor of the bacon.

When the sugar melts on the bacon in the air fryer, it "candies" the bacon, making it easy to pick up and eat with your fingers (My favorite way to eat any bacon.)

The melted sugar also creates a super thin crunchy coating on the outside of the bacon. This sweet and salty and crunchy combination puts bacon in a whole 'nother level ... and it was already at the top of my list of favorite foods!

Candied Bacon is sometimes nicknamed "man candy" or "pig candy". I am neither a man nor a pig and I LOVE it!

What you will need to make Easy Air Fryer Candied Bacon

• Bacon- I recommend thick cut bacon for the air fryer because regular bacon is thinner and tends to move around because of the convection fan. This causes the brown sugar to fall off the bacon.
• Brown Sugar- Light brown sugar has just the right amount of molasses flavor for me. Dark brown sugar has twice the amount of molasses.

How to make Candied Bacon in the Air Fryer

• No need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.
• I have a Ninja 4 quart basket-style air fryer so I cut my bacon pieces in half to fit better.
• Sprinkle half the brown sugar on the top side of the bacon and gently press down with fingertips. Then, transfer the bacon carefully to the preheated air fryer rack. You should hear it sizzle.

• Cook the bacon for 4 to 5 minutes or just until the outside edges start to get browned and crisp.
• Carefully remove the basket and place on a heat-proof surface like a cutting board or silicone trivet.
• Quickly turn the pieces of bacon over. Sprinkle the remaining half of the brown sugar on the other sides of the bacon.
• Cook the bacon an additional 3 to 4 minutes, checking after each minute, just until the brown sugar is melted and the bacon edges are browned.
• IMMEDIATELY remove bacon from the air fryer with nonstick tongs to a cooling rack or parchment paper. Do not place the hot candied bacon on paper towels as you would normally do with bacon. Candied Bacon will stick to paper towels.

The candied bacon will crisp up when it cools.

Tip: Regular cut bacon tends to move around in the air fryer due to the convection fan. So, I recommend thick cut bacon for the air fryer.

Can I make Candied Bacon in the oven?

Yes. It is simple and easy to make Candied Bacon in a conventional oven. My recipe for The Best Easy Candied Bacon shows you how with step by step pics.

How do I clean the baked-on sugar in my air fryer

This is how I clean my air fryer basket and rack. It may look daunting, but candied sugar is just sugar and it melts away with soap and water.

After letting the air fryer basket cool completely, wipe out the bacon drippings with a paper towel. (I save my bacon drippings in the refrigerator for frying eggs.)

I use Dawn dish detergent and hot tap water. Place the rack in the basket (not the base with cord) and add dish soap and hot water and let it soak 30 minutes to an hour. Do not immerse air fryer base in water

Then, clean with a plastic, nonabrasive, scrub brush or cloth. Some baskets are dishwasher safe but I would still soak most of the sugar off first if you use the dishwasher.

Some racks and baskets are ok to place in the dishwasher but I'd do this after soaking the baked sugar off first. Check your model to see what parts are dishwasher safe.

Pro tip: You can also line the bottom of the air fryer basket with aluminum foil or parchment circles for even easier cleanup.

How do you store candied bacon?

Candied bacon is not shelf stable. While it can sit out at room temperature for a an hour or two at most, in a cool dry environment, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator.

Since the atmosphere in a refrigerator is fairly moist, it is a good idea to layer the candied bacon between sheets of parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking together.

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Other breakfast recipes you will love

• Bacon Sausage Strata Breakfast Casserole
• Double Stuffed Cinnamon Rolls
• Banana Pancakes (King Cake Pancakes)
• 2 Ingredients Biscuits
• Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast Casserole

Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.

Updated post on 11/2/22 with valuable information.