How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer

It’s easy to cook Italian Sausage in the air fryer. Just preheat your air fryer and cook. If you’d like, flip them once for even browning.

Select the Sausage.

Italian sausage is a supermarket term used mostly in North America for a specific type of seasoned fresh, raw pork sausage. It comes in various flavors and is sold with and without sausage casing. Some brands offer precooked Italian sausages. If the sausage is precooked, it will be listed on the label. 

Popular Types of Sausage. 

Here are the most common seasonings found in each type of Italian sausage. Please note that seasonings vary by brand. 

• Mild. Tastes of fennel, garlic, and paprika. Mild Italian sausage might contain black pepper but it’s not hot or spicy.
• Sweet. Similar to the flavor of mild sausage with the addition of basil. Sweet Italian sausage is not sugary sweet. Rather, the name comes from the sweet basil used to flavor it.
• Hot or Spicy. All the seasonings of mild Italian sausage with the addition of red pepper flakes. This variety is great for people who like a little spice.
• Extra Hot. Some brands offer Extra Hot Italian sausage. The spicy red pepper is the most pronounced flavor.
• Precooked Sausage. Some varieties of Italian sausage are pre-cooked (sometimes labeled fully cooked). These are available in a variety of flavors.

A Note About Sausage Shapes. 

Use individual links or patties in the air fryer. They cook evenly and fit onto the tray of most air fryers.

How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer.

1. Preheat the air fryer. Set the temperature to 350℉ and preheat the air fryer for three to five minutes before cooking the sausage. 
2. Add the sausage. Place the sausages into the air fryer tray or pan. Leave a little space between each sausage. This allows the air to circulate and helps the sausages cook evenly. There’s no need to add oil to the air fryer pan. The sausage will release oil and juices as it cooks.
3. Cook. A 4 ounce link takes about 12 minutes to cook. Check the temperature of the sausage to ensure doneness before removing it from the air fryer. 
4. Flip (optional). For even browning, flip the sausage halfway through cooking.

The Best Temperature for Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer.

Set your air fryer to 350℉ for Italian sausage. This temperature keeps the sausage tender and doesn’t dry them out. This temperature works for large and small links and sausage patties.

How Long Does It Take to Cook Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer?

Cook time is based on a standard 4-ounce link or patty. For larger links, increase cooking time. For smaller links or patties, decrease cooking time.

• Links: Cook 4-ounce links for about 12 minutes.
• Patties: Cook a 4-ounce patties for 8 minutes. Flip the patty halfway through cooking.
• Precooked Sausage: There’s no need to cook a precooked Italian sausage, if you’d like to warm it before eating, heat it for 5 minutes.

Do I need to flip the sausage in the air fryer?

There’s no need to flip Italian sausage links or patties in the air fryer. The circulating air cooks the top and bottom of the sausages evenly. However, for even browning, it’s nice to flip them once during cooking.

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Air Fryer Italian Sausage

It’s easy to cook Italian sausage in the air fryer. Just preheat your air fryer and cook. If you’d like, flip them once for even browning. No oil needed.

Prep Time 3 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4 sausages

Ingredients

• 16 ounces Italian sausage links or patties

Instructions

1. Preheat Air Fryer to 350℉ for three to five minutes.

2. Place sausage onto the air fryer tray. Leave a little room around each sausage to allow air to circulate. Don’t stack the sausages on top of each other.
3. Flip the sausage halfway through cooking for even browning. (optional)

4. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165℉, about 12 minutes for a 4-ounce link. About 8 minutes for a 4-ounce patty.