How to Cook Sausages in an Air Fryer

Fresh pork, beef, or lamb sausages need to be cooked to 160°F (71°C). Do not pierce fresh sausages before cooking — the holes allow fat and juices to leak out, resulting in a drier sausage. Preheat to 375°F. Place sausages in a single layer. Cook for 7 minutes, turn, and cook for 5–8 more minutes. The skin will be deeply browned and slightly split where internal pressure builds.

Pre-cooked sausages (bratwurst, smoked sausages, kielbasa, hot dogs) are already food-safe and just need browning. Cook at 375°F for 8–10 minutes, turning once at 5 minutes. For sliced kielbasa or chorizo rounds, cook at 380°F for 6–8 minutes, shaking once. Pre-cooked sausages pair excellently with peppers and onions in the same basket.

Breakfast patties: 375°F for 8–10 minutes, flipped at 5 minutes. Breakfast links: 375°F for 10–12 minutes, rolled at 5 minutes. Chicken breakfast sausages reach 165°F slightly faster than pork — start checking at 8 minutes for patties.

Sausages produce significant grease. To prevent smoke: add 1–2 tablespoons of water to the drawer under the basket before cooking — this prevents grease from burning. Alternatively, place a slice of bread in the drawer to absorb dripping grease. Clean the drawer between batches.

How long do you cook sausages in an air fryer?

Pork or beef sausage links (standard): 12–15 minutes at 375°F (190°C), turning once at 7–8 minutes. Breakfast sausage patties: 8–10 minutes at 375°F. Thick bratwurst: 15–18 minutes at 375°F. Chicken sausages: 12–15 minutes at 380°F. All must reach safe internal temperatures: pork/beef sausage 160°F (71°C), chicken sausage 165°F (74°C). The air fryer contains grease splatter and browns sausages evenly without the uneven browning of stovetop cooking.

Can you cook raw breakfast sausage links in an air fryer?

Yes — raw breakfast sausage links cook perfectly from raw in an air fryer. Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10–13 minutes, turning once at 6 minutes. Links are done when they reach 160°F (71°C) internal temperature and have a nicely browned exterior. The air fryer is particularly good for breakfast sausages because it browns all sides evenly without needing to monitor and turn constantly as on a stovetop. Grease drips away from the sausage into the drip tray.