Upgrade dinner or breakfast with this easy-to-make air fryer chicken sausage recipe! Toss the sausage into the air fryer basket, sit back, and let the air fryer do the work. Add your favorite vegetables for an easy one-pan meal in less than 30 minutes.
Can You Air Fry Chicken Sausages?
My family loves precooked sausages, and they are usually a good excuse to make sheet pan meals like kielbasa and potatoes. But using an air fryer to cook chicken sausages is convenient, mess-free, and delicious!
Plus, they cook in the time it takes to preheat my oven! All you have to do is preheat the air fryer, add the chicken sausages, and let the air fryer do the hard work. I keep this recipe around for nights when I haven’t set aside anything for dinner, and it’s excellent for meal prep.
The Best Brands of Chicken Sausage
- Aidells: Aidells chicken sausages are minimally processed, with no artificial ingredients. They come in flavors like Italian, chicken & apple (pictured), and Cajun-style andouille. I buy this brand the most often because they have it at Costco.
- Applegate Farms: Applegate Farms is another brand of sausages with many different flavors, including apple, cheddar, and maple breakfast sausage. The links are made with organic chicken and contain no antibiotics, hormones, or artificial ingredients.
- Al Fresco: Al Fresco offers a variety of chicken sausage flavors, such as sweet apple, spinach & feta, and buffalo. I haven’t tried them, but I have heard only good things.
- Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s has a signature line of chicken sausages, including sun-dried tomato, sweet apple, and spicy jalapeño.
- Amylu: Amylu is another one of those chicken sausage brands I buy from Costco. I tend to buy their breakfast sausage links, but they also have Cacio e Pepe, garlic & asiago, andouille, and apple & gouda.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 370℉ (188℃). Then, arrange the sausage into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Step 2: Cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Expert Tips
- Most chicken sausage comes pre-cooked, but you can still cook raw chicken sausage using this recipe if you increase the cooking time. The best way to know when the chicken finishes cooking is to insert a food thermometer; the safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165°F (73°C).
- Cook more than one package of chicken sausage at one time, depending on the size of your air fryer. I use an Instant Pot Vortex that fits about a dozen sausages. If you have a smaller air fryer model, I recommend cooking them in batches.
- Shake the basket halfway through to ensure the sausages cook evenly.
- This recipe is for chicken sausages in the air fryer, but it works for turkey, pork, and beef sausages.
If you enjoy the air fryer chicken sausages, try more air fryer recipes!
Side Dishes for Air Fried Sausages
- Make it a one-pan meal by adding bell peppers, onions, and other vegetables to the air fryer basket with the chicken sausages.
- Complete the meal by preparing air fryer broccoli and cauliflower or air fryer zucchini and squash as a tasty side dish.
- Sausage pairs well with potatoes. Try air fryer red potatoes for dinner or air fryer home fries and fried eggs for a complete breakfast.
- I also love serving air fryer chicken sausage with sweet potato fries, sauerkraut, coleslaw, pickled onion, corn on the cob, or a fresh green salad like spinach and arugula.
- If you’re serving the sausage as more of an appetizer or snack, dip them in our horseradish cream sauce or mustard dip.
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftover sausage in an airtight container for one week.
- Freeze: Let the sausages cool and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Air fryer chicken sausage freeze for 1-2 months.
- Reheat: Warm the leftover sausage in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 350℉ (176℃).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to cook sausages in an air fryer?
I like to cook them whole, cut them in half, or slice them up with vegetables like peppers, onions, and mushrooms. However you choose to prepare chicken sausages in the air fryer, follow the instructions below.
How long does it take to cook chicken sausages?
The cooking time for chicken sausages can vary depending on the size, thickness, and cooking method you’re using. The cooking times below are for whole chicken sausage.
• Air Fryer: Cook for 8-10 minutes at 370℉ (188℃).
• Stovetop: Warm a skillet over medium heat and cook the sausages for 8-10 minutes.
• Oven: Bake the chicken sausage at 375℉ (193℃) for 18-25 minutes.
• Grill: Cook the sausages over medium-low heat on the grill for 8-10 minutes.
Is chicken sausage healthy?
Chicken sausage can be a healthier part of a well balanced diet – especially because chicken sausage is often low in fat and calories.
It’s a good source of lean protein too! And since you’re making chicken sausage in the air fryer, there is no need for extra oil.
Can I use frozen chicken sausage?
You sure can! Preheat the air fryer to 370℉ (188℃) and add the chicken sausages to the basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through; use a food thermometer to make sure your chicken sausage cooks to 165°F (73°C).
More Recipes with Sausage:
Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
- 6-12 chicken sausages (I used Aidell's Chicken and Apple)
- Preheat the air fryer to 370℉ (188℃). Then, arrange the sausage into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Most chicken sausage comes pre-cooked, but you can still cook raw chicken sausage using this recipe if you increase the cooking time. The best way to know when the chicken finishes cooking is to insert a food thermometer; the safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165°F (73°C).
- Cook more than one package of chicken sausage at one time, depending on the size of your air fryer. I use an Instant Pot Vortex that fits about a dozen sausages. If you have a smaller air fryer model, I recommend cooking them in batches.
- Shake the basket halfway through to ensure the sausages cook evenly.
- This recipe is for chicken sausages in the air fryer, but it works for turkey, pork, and beef sausages.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.