How To Cook Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

by Kayla Berman on November 9, 2023 0 comments

Air Fryer Chicken Sausage will be your new go-to way to whip up a quick, easy, and tasty protein option for dinner or meal prep! This foolproof method for cooking chicken sausage in the air fryer works every time, no matter the brand or the flavor. They’ll come out crispy, juicy, and delicious in under 15 minutes!

For more quick and easy protein you can prepare in the air fryer, check out my Air Fryer Shrimp or Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cooking chicken sausages in the air fryer is truly the best way to do it! Grab you favorite kind from the grocery store, pop in the trendy appliance, and let the magic happen. This tasty protein source is:

Quick & Easy: If you want dinner or lunch on the table in no time at all you’ll have to try air frying your chicken sausages. They will be finished in 15 minutes or less! So freaking fast.
Versatile: Chicken sausage is the perfect flavorful and tasty option to add to your favorite dishes for a boost of protein. Think salads, pizza, pasta, and more! Sometimes plain rotisserie chicken doesn’t do it for me, you know!?!
Foolproof: Take any flavor of pre-cooked chicken sausage from any brand you can find in the aisles, follow the cooking instructions below, and the results will be pure perfection. Chef’s kiss!!

If you love using your air fryer as much as I do, check out How To Air Fry Frozen French Fries or Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples next!

Ingredients & Substitutions

This air fryer sausage recipe requires one and only one ingredient … chicken sausage! Plus olive oil cooking spray, but I’m not counting that.

Chicken Sausage: This guide for cooking chicken sausage in the air fryer requires fully cooked chicken sausages, not frozen or raw chicken sausage. Any brand or flavor will work! I personally was air frying up some Al Fresco Buffalo Style with Blue Cheese here. It is a new favorite of mine … wonderfully savory and a bit spicy.
Cooking Spray: I like to spray the chicken sausages with a bit of olive oil in this cooking method, but it is not required. I think it just helps add a bit of crisp!

If you are a lover of sausages (LOL), you’ll have to try out my Chicken Maple Breakfast Sausages or Chicken Apple Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner too.

Equipment

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Air Fryer – Instant Slim 6Qt Air Fryer Oven
Tongs

How To Cook Chicken Sausage In The Air Fryer

Air Fryer Chicken Sausages are SO quick and easy to make! I wouldn’t even consider this one a recipe, it’s simply a short and sweet how-to guide.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees. Then place the chicken sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the sausages with olive oil.

Step 2: Air fry for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. I recommend checking your sausages at 5 minutes.

chicken sausages in the air fryer basket before cooking

chicken sausages in the air fryer basket after cooking

Step 3: Serve and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Don’t overcrowd the basket! You don’t have to worry about even spacing or keeping the sausages in place, as they will definitely roll around as air frying a bit. BUT you definitely don’t want to overcrowd the basket too much. They need some space to get even cooking and their wonderfully crispy skin!

Check throughout the cooking time! Every air fryer is different, so whenever I’m cooking something new in mine for the first time I like to check on it throughout the process to ensure everything is going according to plan. Your appliance may cook things way faster then mine does and thus you could find your sausages burnt at the end of the allotted time rather than perfectly cooked like mine!

Flip halfway through! I recommend flipping the chicken sausages in the air fryer at about the 6 minute mark to make for even cooking.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many delicious ways you can serve these tasty air fryer sausages! I love them when I am in the need of a quick, easy, and yummy protein source – but I have loads of other fun serving suggestions as well.

Pasta Dinner: The ultimate way to enjoy these juicy sausages is with a big bowl of pasta! I suggest pairing with your favorite sauce, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and digging in. Perhaps my Greek Yogurt Alfredo, Healthy Tomato Sauce, Basil Pesto, or Spicy Vodka Sauce. You could also add a side of Cheesy Garlic Bread and Roasted Broccoli. Talk about the perfect spread!?!
Simple Meal: An easy dinner idea that always hits home for the entire family is one surrounding chicken sausage! Choose your favorite flavor and pair with a couple of simple side dishes to get a quick meal on the table on a busy weeknight. My Honey Garlic Green Beans are a great option! Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes are too if you want to keep preparation all to one appliance.
Salads: Air fryer chicken sausage links also make a wonderful salad topper. Slice them up and throw them on top of your favorite recipe. I suggest a Chopped Grinder Salad or Mediterranean Chopped Salad.
Pizza: Swap out your classic meatballs or pepperoni with leftover chicken sausages the next time you are topping homemade pizza. Or if you follow a low carb diet, opt for my Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls. YUM!
Greek Bowl: Depending on the flavor of chicken sausage you cook up in your air fryer, I think it would work deliciously in a Greek inspired bowl. I’m thinking roasted veggies, hummus, tzatziki, and more. Or just throw them on top of my Mediterranean Chickpea Couscous Salad!
Refrigerator Clean-Out: I love incorporating this air fryer chicken sausage recipe into a sort of refrigerator clean out meal. Especially if I have leftover sausages! I chop ’em up and throw them in a stir fry of sorts with zucchini, bell peppers, cauliflower rice, white rice, marinara, and cheese. It is amazing!
Breakfast: Who says chicken sausage is only for lunch or dinner? Not me!! Serve them up with some Cinnamon Rolls, Jammy Eggs, and fresh fruit for a well rounded, beautiful breakfast spread.

Storing Suggestions

You can store air fried chicken sausages in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep best for 3-4 days.

I like to reheat in a skillet on the stovetop or just pop in the microwave for 30-60 seconds depending on the serving size.

Cooking Chicken Sausage In The Air Fryer FAQs

Which air fryer should I use?

I use and recommend using the Instant Slim 6QT Air Fryer Oven. I love it and find it works great for all sorts of recipes in the air fryer.

From cinnamon rolls and salmon bites, to s’mores and chicken thighs … this trendy appliance can do it all!

Which chicken sausages should I use?

You can use any flavor or brand of chicken sausages that you would like! As long as they are the pre-cooked type.

Some of personal favorite brands are Aidells and Al Fresco.

Can I use a different type of sausage?

Yes, totally! Again, as long as they are cooked sausages. This cooking process is not for the raw, uncooked sausage.

If you can find turkey sausages or traditional pork sausages that fit this description, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

How will I know if the chicken sausage is fully cooked?

You actually do not need to worry about this too much here, because the recipe calls for precooked chicken sausage.

However, if you want to be super super sure and safe you can use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature. It should reach 165 degrees F.

How long should I cook chicken sausage in the air fryer?

I think the perfect cooking time for chicken sausage in the air fryer is 12 minutes.

However your personal favorite time could be a couple minutes less or more, depending on how well done you want the sausages!

Related Recipes

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this chicken sausage air fryer recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations

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