This air fryer candied bacon recipe is a delicious sweet and savory treat. It’s perfect for dressing up a charcuterie board or topping cakes and cupcakes. Cooking air fryer candied bacon also cuts down the cooking time by half!
The best part of air fried candied bacon is the fact that it cooks faster than the traditional oven-baked method, and clean up is super easy. Fall is my favorite time to enjoy candied bacon because it pairs perfectly with desserts, like my maple bacon spice cupcakes. I also like to pair it with all the fall seasonal foods on my fall charcuterie board.
Ingredients Needed
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon
- 5 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. coarse black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
How to make air fried candied bacon
- Lay about 1/2 the bacon into the air fryer basket. (It’s okay for them to overlap) Season with coarse black pepper and cook at 400 degrees F. for 5 minutes.
- While the bacon is cooking, add the maple syrup and brown sugar to a bowl and stir to combine.
- After 5 minutes, open the air fryer and flip the bacon. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Open the air fryer and brush the bacon with the maple syrup mixture. Cook another 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to set. Let sit for at least 5 minutes.
- Repeat the same process with the other 1/2 of the bacon.
- See notes below for storage recommendations.
Recipe Notes and FAQs
Can I overlap the bacon in the air fryer basket?
Yes, with this recipe it is okay to overlap the bacon as it shrinks when it cooks.
How long does candied bacon last?
You can store candied bacon in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Note that the syrup may get wet and sticky as it sits. You can reheat in the air fryer by cooking for 3-5 minutes and then let it set again on a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes
- Add a little heat by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes with the black pepper.
- If you prefer to bake the bacon in the oven, you can find oven-baked candied bacon instructions in this recipe maple bacon spice cupcakes.
Recommended kitchen resources for this recipe
Wanderlust and Wellness
Priced from high to low, these are my top recommended air fryers.
Ninja OP401 Foodi 8-Quart Pressure, Steamer, Air Fryer All-in-One Multi-Cooker, Black/Gray
The Ninja Kitchen Foodie has everything! This multi-cooker can do everything from air fry to pressure cook to bake and roast. If you don't have an Instant Pot/pressure cooker, this is the gadget for you! *This is my current air fryer.
Ninja Air Fryer, 1550-Watt Programmable Base for Air Frying, Roasting, Reheating & Dehydrating with 4-Quart Ceramic Coated Basket (AF101), Black/Gray
If you're looking for a high-quality air fryer only, I recommend this Ninja Air Fryer.
Farberware Multi-functional Powerful and Versatile No Oil Smell, No Splatter, No Mess Fast Cooking Air Fryer
If you're not sure about using an air fryer and don't want to invest a ton of money, this is the basic air fryer I started with.
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer with 8 Cook Presets, GW22639
If you're looking for a mid-range air fryer with fun color options, GoWISE has great options.
Try these other bacon-inspired recipes!
- Bacon Jam Recipe – another great addition to your next charcuterie board
- Strawberry Bacon Brie – a delicious sweet and savory party appetizer
- Savory Bacon Asiago Pastry Tart – perfect for you next brunch
- Maple Bacon Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash – a delicious sweet and savory breakfast hash
Try out these additional air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Candied Bacon Recipe
Air Fryer Candied Bacon Recipe
This air fryer candied bacon recipe is a delicious sweet and savory treat. It's perfect for dressing up a charcuterie board or topping cakes and cupcakes. Cooking air fryer candied bacon also cuts down the cooking time by half!
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon
- 5 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. coarse black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
Instructions
- Lay about 1/2 the bacon into the air fryer basket. (It's okay for them to overlap)
- Season with coarse black pepper and cook at 400 degrees F. for 5 minutes.
- While the bacon is cooking, add the maple syrup and brown sugar to a bowl and stir to combine.
- After 5 minutes, open the air fryer and flip the bacon. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Open the air fryer and brush the bacon with the maple syrup mixture. Cook another 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to set. Let sit for at least 5 minutes.
- Repeat the same process with the other 1/2 of the bacon.
- See notes below for storage recommendations.
Notes
- Add a little heat by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes with the black pepper.
- If you prefer to bake the bacon in the oven, you can find oven-baked candied bacon instructions in this recipe maple bacon spice cupcakes.
- You can store candied bacon in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Note that the syrup may get wet and sticky as it sits. You can reheat in the air fryer by cooking for 3-5 minutes and then let it set again on a cooling rack.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 412Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 1276mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 26g
The recipes included on this website are written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist or medical professional, and the nutritional data on this site have not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist, registered dietician ,or other medical professionals.
Jennifer is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Wanderlust and Wellness since 2016. She creates easy, approachable gluten-free recipes for the everyday home cook; because cooking gluten-free doesn’t mean food has to be complicated or tasteless.
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