I’m writing this blog post and I can’t believe this is my first time air frying. I see air fryer recipes all over the internet, but for some reason I’m late to the game. That’s usually the case with me. I’ve never been an early adopter.
I always thought, “Why would anyone even need to air fry sausages if you have a frying pan?”
But that’s all going to change now that I know about this air fry sausage recipe.
I love sausages. Maybe even too much! I cook them all the time – just not with the air fry method. This is my first time.
I thought I already knew the easy way to cook sausages. Either in a frying pan or on a sheet pan in the oven. I mean, Italian sausages are usually an easy dinner to make already.
A classic sausage recipe that I like to make an easy meal out of is sausages with peppers and onions. The cook time is quick, the ingredients are simple and they come out great every single time whether I cook them in a frying pan on the stove or in the oven.
Full disclosure… I’m not an expert on all types of sausage. My experiences have been cooking Italian sausage. You can’t go wrong with these big, fat juicy sausages.
If you want to try to use this recipe for thin sausages I’m sure it will be fine but I have not experimented with this type of sausages.
Let’s make some Italian sausages in the air fryer!
KEY INGREDIENTS
Italian Sausages: Go to the grocery store or butcher shop and get some good Italian link sausages. These are going to be raw sausages. For the best results get thicker sausages. A mild Italian sausage is great, but you can also get hot Italian sausage if you prefer spicy. Keep a package of uncooked sausage in your freezer so you can make easy air fryer sausage anytime you want.
Olive oil: Use good olive oil. It doesn’t have to be too fancy.
Peppers: I like a mix of red and yellow bell peppers. You can also add some green peppers or cubanelles if you want.
Onions: Get some yellow onions or Spanish onions
Salt: I prefer Kosher salt or sea salt when I cook.
Black pepper: I suggest freshly cracked black pepper.
For more detailed amounts check out the recipe card below.
HOW TO MAKE ITALIAN SAUSAGE IN THE AIR FRYER
For a simple recipe to make delicious sausage follow these easy steps.
First, take your peppers and onions and cut them into one inch strips with a sharp knife. I think this is the perfect size because they cook down and get soft, but they are still substantial when you bite into them.
Next, toss your vegetables in olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.
Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F degrees for about 3 minutes.
Now add the seasoned peppers and onions to the air fryer basket and cook them for about 12-15 minutes. The cooking time of this step will depend on how you like your veggies cooked. Give them a toss after about 7 minutes.
Remove the peppers and onions from the air fryer basket and set them aside on a plate.
Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400 °F degrees.
Grab your uncooked sausages and place them in a single layer in the basket. The cooking time on this step will depend on the size of the sausages you use.
The bigger the thickness of the sausage, the more time in the air fryer. Adjust the time based on the size of the sausage links.
Based upon my experience, I would recommend cooking your sausages for 12 minutes. That was the perfect amount of time for my favorite sausages. And make sure you flip them at the halfway point.
According to the USDA, the internal temperature of the sausage should be 160 °F degrees Fahrenheit. Use a digital meat thermometer to check them out if you want.
When the sausages are done add them to the plate of peppers and onions.
AIR FRYER SAUSAGE FAQs
Q: What if I don’t want to use pork sausage?
A: That’s fine. Try chicken sausage or turkey sausage. I haven’t tested them out but I’m sure they will be good. But remember…the flavor is in the fat! That’s why I like pork sausage. You could even use hot dogs if you want. Toss some hot dog buns in the air fryer for a couple minutes to warm them up.
Q: Can I use other vegetables?
A: Yes. Get your favorite veggies recipe together and throw the ingredients in the basket. Add some additional seasonings like garlic powder and oregano. Let me know how it comes out.
Q: What other vegetables go great with Italian sausages?
A: I haven’t tried these in the air fryer, but I like baking sausages in the oven with baby potatoes, green beans and grape tomatoes. If you can’t find baby potatoes use potato wedges. Add some onions and garlic for loads of flavor.
Q: What is the best type of Italian sausage to use?
A: My favorite sausage is a mild and sweet sausage with fennel. This is a tough question because there are so many different kinds of sausages to choose from these days. Some are filled with cheese, garlic, broccoli rabe and so many other things. Try a few different kinds and go with what you like.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH THESE AIR FRYER SAUSAGES?
Wine: I love a nice glass of Montepulciano with sausages.
Side Dish: Make some Cannellini beans slow cooked in tomato sauce to serve with your sausages.
Bread: Get a nice crusty loaf of French bread and fill it with the sausage, peppers and onions. A sausage and broccoli rabe sandwich is also a great idea. Wrap them up in aluminum foil to keep them warm and put them out at a party.
Let me know what you think of the air fryer method for cooking Italian sausages.
Was it an easy way to make the sausages? Yes. This is one of the easiest cooking methods I’ve tried. With an easy recipe you’ll end up with a juicy air fryer sausage.
Was it my favorite? I don’t think so. I like to have leftover sausages the next day and the basket of the air fryer isn’t big enough to cook a big batch.
Making Italian sausages is a good way to make a quick meal with a small amount of prep work and clean up. It takes less time wiping out the air fryer with a little water and a paper towel than it does washing a baking dish or frying pan.
My thoughts on cooking sausages in the air fryer
The air fryer is a great tool for someone who is pressed for time and doesn’t really enjoy cooking.
I think that making sausage patties in the air fryer for a quick breakfast is great. Air fryer breakfast sausages make sense because you just need to heat and serve them.
An air fryer is also a good tool for someone who doesn’t have a full kitchen.
Once again, a student living in a college dorm can whip up some air fryer sausage patties in no time.
An air fryer is actually an oven. It moves the hot air around really fast which crisps the food as if it were frying.
It’s more of an air fryer oven.
I know people who love it because they can make really simple meals in a short period of time.
You can use it for a variety of meats. It’s good for chicken, steak, lamb and fish.
When you cook with an air fryer you don’t need to use much fat.
A little olive oil or cooking spray on your food is the best way to crisp things up in the air fryer.
You can also cook vegetables in the air fryer. Some of my friends swear by using an air fryer for sweet potatoes. They say it’s the easiest way to make crispy sweet potato fries.
Print
Air Fryer Sausage
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
4 Italian sausages
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 Spanish onion or yellow onion
Kosher salt to taste
Olive oil to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Take your peppers and onions and cut them into one inch strips with a sharp knife.
- Toss your vegetables in olive oil and season them with salt and pepper.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F degrees for about 3 minutes.
- Now add the seasoned peppers and onions to the air fryer basket and cook them for about 12-15 minutes. The cooking time of this step will depend on how you like your veggies cooked. Give them a toss after about 7 minutes.
- Remove the peppers and onions from the air fryer basket and set them aside on a plate.
- Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400 °F degrees.
- Grab your uncooked sausages and place them in a single layer in the basket. The cooking time on this step will depend on the size of the sausages you use. The bigger the thickness of the sausage, the more time in the air fryer. Adjust the time based on the size of the sausage links.
- For standard Italian sausages, cook for at least 12 minutes, and make sure you flip them at the halfway point.
- According to the USDA, the internal temperature of the sausage should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a digital meat thermometer to check them out if you want.
- When the sausages are done add them to the plate of peppers and onions.
Notes
You need to lay the sausages on a single layer, and most air fryer buckets are not big enough to cook Italian sausages in big batches. If you’re cooking for many people, you may have to repeat the process.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Air Fryer Recipes
- Method: Air Frying
