Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 22 minutes
METHOD: Air Fryer
OTHER TOOLS: parchment paper, tongs
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 2
Want a quick way to cook chicken sausage with the best texture and flavor? Add chicken sausage to the air fryer to get a lightly browned outside and juicy inside. Keep it mess-free for those busy mornings and enjoy a delicious addition to scrambled eggs, pancakes, and more!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- Using the air fryer to heat up sausage links is a fast and easy process! You can grab a package from the fridge and have links ready for breakfast in under 15 minutes.
- Chicken sausage cooked in the air fryer will turn out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The heat circulation develops the best texture and the sausages won’t dry out.
- No mess or splatter compared to stovetop cooking! This keeps things simple for busy mornings or whenever you need a quick protein.
- Chicken sausages are great for any meal—breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The air fryer allows you to heat up just a portion or two so you don’t have to make more than you need.
- Best of all? Just grab your two ingredients, and no chopping required!
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken sausage links – There are so many great, pre-cooked sausage link options to choose from! Select a classic seasoned option or opt for a specialty flavor. I used Jones All Natural Fully Cooked Chicken Sausage which has a minimal ingredient list.
- Olive oil – Olive oil helps to slightly crisp the sausage links and give them a nice glaze.
Best Brands of Chicken Sausage
- Jones Farm – Fully cooked and gluten-free.
- Aidells – Wide variety of flavors, gluten-free, pre-cooked.
- Applegate – Organic, clean ingredients, plenty of gluten-free options.
Be sure to check the label to ensure the sausage is gluten-free or dairy-free, as needed. Sometimes, specialty flavors can contain sneaky ingredients!
How To Make Chicken Sausage In The Air Fryer
- Place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the air fryer basket.
- Place the sausages on top.
- Drizzle the sausages with olive oil.
- Cook at 385 ℉ for 8 minutes, then flip.
- Cook for an additional 4-6 minutes until heated through and slightly browned.
Pro Tips
- Chicken sausage should reach 165 ℉ to be thoroughly cooked and heated through.
- For fully cooked (refrigerated) sausage, heat at 385 ℉ for 10-12 minutes total.
- For frozen sausage links, add 3–5 minutes to the total cooking time and check the internal temperature.
- Don’t overlap or stack the links in the basket. You will need to leave space between the sausages so the hot air circulates evenly.
- Parchment paper helps with easy cleanup, but make sure it fits the basket properly and doesn’t interfere with airflow.
- Let the sausages rest for 2–3 minutes before serving to retain the juices.
How To Serve Chicken Sausage
Chicken sausage is a tasty lean option for your classic breakfast plate! Serve it with your favorite style of eggs, Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes, and Easy Homemade Air Fryer Biscuits or pancakes. (Add some Crispy Air Fryer Bacon for a protein-rich plate!)
Sausage links also make a great addition to a snack box or wrapped up in a breakfast burrito for a meal on the go.
Slice chicken sausages to add to pasta dishes or rice bowls, or as a topping for homemade pizza. You can also use leftover sausages to make an easy sheet pan dinner with roasted vegetables!
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover sausage links in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezing is not recommended after cooking since it can alter the texture.
Choose your preferred option to reheat the sausages from the fridge:
- Add them back to the air fryer at 350 ℉ for 3–4 minutes.
- Microwave for 30–45 seconds, covered.
- Sauté over low to medium heat on the stovetop until warmed through.
Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
Equipment
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 6 chicken sausage links (I used Jones Fully Cooked Chicken Sausage)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Place a piece of parchment paper in bottom of air fryer basket
- Place sausages on top
- Drizzle sausages with olive oil
- Cook at 385 ℉ for 8 minutes, then flip
- Cook for an additional 4-6 minutes until heated through and slightly browned
Notes
- Store leftover sausage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer (350℉ for 3–4 minutes), microwave (30–45 seconds, covered), or sauté on the stovetop over low to medium heat.
- Add 3-5 minutes to the cook time for frozen sausage links and check the internal temperature.
- Chicken sausage must reach 165℉ for safety.
- Let sausages rest 2–3 minutes before serving.
