Cooking sausages in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy deliciously juicy sausages any night of the week! This air fryer chicken sausage method yields browned, crispy sausages in just minutes with little to no oil required.
Air fryer, meet juicy chicken sausages. Chicken sausages, say bye to greasy frying pans and hello to crispy browned perfection in minutes. With sizzling hot air and no oil, the air fryer transforms these links into crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside sausage heaven. Cue the air fryer - it's chicken sausage time!
Cooking chicken sausages in the air fryer is one of the quickest and easiest ways to put a fast, delicious dinner on the table any night of the week. Pair your air fryer sausages with fresh veggies or dipping sauces for a complete meal.
By cooking the chicken sausage in the air fryer instead of on the stovetop, you'll get tender and juicy results with crispy browned exteriors. The hot circulating air seals in flavor and cuts down on grease for satisfying sausages without all the fat and calories.
If you like quick meals for busy weeknights, check out my recipes for Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes, How to Make Cube Steak in Air Fryer, and Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes!
[feast_advanced_jump_to]📋 Why You'll Love This Recipe!
- Quick & Easy: This air fryer chicken sausage recipe is ready in just 10-15 minutes start to finish.
- Crispy Outside: The hot air frying method is the best way to make the sausage skins crispy and browned.
- Juicy Inside: While the outside gets crispy, the inside stays nice and juicy.
- Set & Forget: Simply set the air fryer timer and let it work its magic.
- Minimal Ingredients: Only fresh sausages are needed for this chicken sausage air fryer recipe. Oil and added seasonings are optional!
- Healthier Method: Air-fried chicken sausages use less oil than traditional frying.
- Kid-Friendly: Chicken sausages are a hit with kids and adults alike.
- Added Protein: Easy way to add protein into meals for a nutrition boost.
🌭 Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Ingredients
To make air fryer chicken sausages, you will need just one main ingredient - the sausages! For best results, choose quality fresh or fully cooked sausages.
To make chicken sausages in the air fryer, you'll need:
- Chicken sausages (Can be pre-cooked or uncooked chicken sausages, increase cook time if using raw chicken sausage)
- Oil (optional)
- Preferred seasonings (optional)
Here are some great options (and my favorite brands) for chicken sausages to make in the air fryer:
- Italian chicken sausage
- Bratwurst
- Andouille
- Chicken apple sausage
- Chicken breakfast sausage
- Aidell's chicken sausage
- Al Fresco chicken sausages
- Trader Joe's chicken sausage
Whatever brand of chicken sausages you use, they all work well in an air fryer! Opt for sausages that are 3-4 inches long. Avoid very thin sausages as they may overcook. Choose sausages labeled "air fried" or "oven ready" for best results.
See the recipe card for quantities and complete instructions.
✔️ Ingredient Substitutions
- Pork Sausages: There are many delicious pork sausage varieties that can be used in place of chicken sausage in this air fryer recipe. Substitute breakfast sausages, Italian sausages, bratwurst, andouille sausages, chorizo sausages, kielbasa, or any other pork sausage you enjoy. Just adjust cook times accordingly for thicker or pre-cooked sausages. Pork sausages are a great option and pair especially well with heartier flavor profiles.
- Turkey Sausages: For a leaner alternative, try swapping the chicken sausage for turkey sausage. Breakfast turkey sausages and Italian turkey sausages work seamlessly in this recipe. Turkey sausages are a bit lower in fat than pork or chicken varieties. Their mild flavor allows them to be adaptable in many dishes.
- Chicken Sausages: Any pre-cooked chicken sausage variety can be used in this recipe with delicious results. Some specific varieties to try are chicken-apple sausages, chicken-maple sausages, chicken andouille sausages, and mild or spicy Italian chicken sausages. The prep and cook times will be shortest with pre-cooked chicken sausages.
- Meatless Sausages: To make a vegetarian or vegan version, swap in meatless sausages. Look for veggie or plant-based sausages and vegan sausages at your grocery store. Meatless sausages are a healthy way to cut down on meat while keeping all the flavor. Their texture and taste work perfectly with the air fryer method.
- Other Sausages: Other sausage varieties like hot dogs, smoked sausages, or brats would also work well. Sausage patties are also fantastic in the air fryer. Adjust cook times as needed for your favorite substitute.
📖 How to Make Chicken Sausages in the Air Fryer
Making chicken sausages in the air fryer couldn't be easier! Here's how:
Pre-heat the air fryer to 380°F. This high heat helps sear the sausages.
Pat sausages dry with paper towels. Make sure they are not wet or frozen.
Coat sausages lightly with oil or oil spray if desired. This gives a crispier texture.
Place sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping. Overcrowding reduces crispiness.
Cook thin sausages for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. For thicker sausages, cook 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
Sausages are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The exterior should be browned.
Remove sausages from the air fryer and enjoy!
Hint: Sausages come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so adjust the air frying times as needed. Thicker chicken sausages can air fry for up to 20 minutes. If using thin chicken sausages, keep an eye on them while cooking so they don't burn or dry out!
🥘 Variations
- Chicken Sausage Pasta: Toss crispy air fried sausages with pasta, marinara sauce, and Parmesan for a quick and easy meal.
- Added Veggies: An easy dinner idea is to serve cooked chicken sausages over a side of air fried green beans and bell peppers for extra color and nutrition.
- Breakfast Sausages: One of my favorite ways to make breakfast for the entire family! Use chicken apple breakfast sausages or Italian sausage and serve with pancakes, eggs and hash browns for a hearty breakfast.
- Slider Style: Chop sausages and serve on mini buns with your favorite toppings for easy handheld snacks.
- Sheet Pan Meal: Roast vegetables like potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and squash alongside the sausages for a complete sheet pan dinner.
- With Grains: Pair cooked sausages with your grain of choice like rice, quinoa or couscous for a simple lunch or dinner.
- Different Flavors: The world is your oyster when it comes to sausage flavors. Try spicy chicken andouille or apple chicken sausage. You can also add some flavor by brushing sausages with barbecue sauce, garlic oil, or hot sauce before air frying.
- Sausage Bites: Cut sausages into bite-size pieces before air frying for quick, fun finger food.
- Sausage Sandwiches: Chop sausages and pile them onto buns for easy air-fried hot dogs. or sausage sandwiches.
- Breaded Sausage: For something decadent, coat sausages in panko or breadcrumbs before air frying.
🧂Serving Suggestions
These easy air fryer chicken sausages are a great main dish and pair well with a variety of side dishes:
- Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
- Roasted vegetables like Air Fryer Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or Instant Pot Asparagus.
- Baked beans, pasta salad, or Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or baked potatoes. Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are a perfect side dish!
- Instant Pot Basmati Rice, quinoa, or roasted new potatoes.
- Hot dog rolls for sausage sandwiches.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like barbecue, mustard, or ketchup!
⏲ Equipment
Air Fryer: This recipe has been tested using two air fryer models:
- Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer Oven. This air fryer has a useful viewing window that allows you to monitor the food as it cooks. This model always cooks food a bit quicker than my Cosori model, so reduce the cooking time as needed.
- Cosori Max XL Large Cooker. It has a capacity of 5.8 quarts which is quite large. The basket is smaller than my Instant Pot model but has very good hot air circulation.
Meat Thermometer: It is important that the internal temperature of the chicken sausages reach a temperature of at least 165°F (75°C) for food safety. I use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature.
🍶 Storage
Make a big batch to enjoy sausages all week long; they are great for meal prep too! Here are some storage tips for leftover chicken sausages:
- Store leftover sausages in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
- Freeze sausages up to 2-3 months. Reheat directly from frozen.
- Let sausages cool completely before storing to prevent condensation.
To reheat, place frozen or refrigerated sausages back in the air fryer at 380°F until warmed through, about 3-5 minutes. Or microwave in 30-second intervals. Perfect for a healthy lunch!
🙋🏻♂️ FAQs
Fully cooked, pre-packed sausages work great since they just need to be heated through. Raw sausages work too but require more cooking time. Avoid very thin sausages.
Thin sausages take 8-10 minutes, thicker sausages 10-15 minutes at 380°F, flipping halfway. Cook to an internal temp of 165°F.
Yes, flipping halfway through ensures the sausages brown evenly on both sides.
Yes, you can cook chicken sausages from frozen, just add 2-3 extra minutes to the cook time. Defrost first for the best texture.
It's optional, but coating sausages lightly in oil helps them get extra crispy.
Cook at 380°F to properly sear the sausages while fully cooking the inside.
👨🏻🍳 Top tips
- Don't Overcrowd the Basket: Too many sausages reduce the airflow and lead to uneven cooking.
- Use Meat Thermometer: To check if the internal temp reaches 165°F. This prevents undercooked sausages.
- Flip Sausages Halfway: Turn sausages halfway through cooking for even browning on both sides.
- Allow to Rest: Let sausages rest 1-2 minutes before eating so juices can redistribute.
- Crisper Sausages: Brush with a little oil or spray to help sausages get extra crispy.
- Dry Sausages: Pat sausages dry before cooking to maximize browning and for crispy skin.
- Cook in batches for fastest results: Avoid overcrowding for best texture.
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📒 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Chicken Sausages
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Chicken sausages of choice Use as many as you like and air fry in batches. Use raw or precooked chicken sausages but increase the cooking time if using raw sausages.
Instructions
- Pre-heat air fryer to 380°F. This high heat helps sear the sausages.
- Pat sausages dry with paper towels. Make sure they are not wet or frozen.
- Optional: Coat sausages lightly with oil or oil spray if desired. This gives a crispier texture. You can also add a dash of seasonings like garlic powder, paprika or oregano for extra flavor.
- Place sausages in air fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping. Overcrowding reduces crispiness.Chicken sausages of choice
- Cook thin sausages for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. For thicker sausages, cook 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Sausages are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The exterior should be browned. Check that they are cooked through by slicing open one sausage, it should be cooked to the center.
- Remove sausages from the air fryer, allow to cool for 1-2 minutes, and enjoy!
Nutrition
🍳 More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
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