Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Links

Published on Jan 6, 2022. Updated on May 31, 2026. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. — Leave a Comment

These air fryer breakfast sausage links are an easy way to get breakfast prepared for busy mornings. And they are kid-friendly too!

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Links on a white plate.
learn how to air fry sausage links

This super easy air fryer sausage recipe is super easy to make and is ready in about 10 minutes. I love to make these for my kids while I run around preparing them for school in the mornings.

Making sausages in the air fryer does not need any monitoring, so I don’t have to be afraid it will burn, unlike using a frying pan. This is by far the best way and easiest way to prepare sausages.

This easy recipe is also low carb, keto-friendly and gluten-free!

Equipment used

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For this easy air fryer sausage links recipe, you will need an air fryer to fry the sausage links in, olive oil spray, and a pair of tongs to flip the sausages with. You will also need a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

An air fryer is one of the best investments in your kitchen to cook food in less time with less monitoring.

Check out this list of the best affordable air fryers that will get the job done!

Ingredients Used

sausages and olive oil spray.
air fryer breakfast links
  • Raw sausage links: Get your uncooked sausage links from your nearby grocery store. I use pork sausage for this recipe, but you can use chicken sausage or even turkey. You can also use any brand of sausage you like, but I like to go for minimally processed with little or no preservatives.
  • Olive oil spray: A little olive oil will prevent the sausage links from sticking to the air fryer basket and make them turn out deliciously crispy.

How To Air Fry Breakfast Sausage

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400F. If your air fryer doesn’t come with a ‘Preheat’ function, just set it to 400F and let it heat up for four to five minutes.
  2. Next, arrange your raw breakfast sausage links on a single layer in the air fryer basket (if you’re using a basket-style air fryer) or in the air fryer tray.
  3. Spray the sausages with olive oil spray or any cooking spray.
  4. Air fry sausages for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway with a pair of tongs. You can also give the basket or tray a good shake to move the sausages around.
  5. The sausages should now be a nice golden brown color, but to be sure, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. It would be ready to eat once the internal temperature reaches 160F.
  6. After the sausage is ready, place the delicious breakfast sausage links on a few paper towels to catch excess grease that drips off.
making sausages in the air fryer.
making sausage in air fryer is so convenient

Storing and Reheating

You can store your leftover air fryer breakfast sausage links in the refrigerator. Place them in an airtight container first, and they will remain fresh for up to four or five days.

You can also freeze the sausage links. They come in really handy when used for meal prep for future breakfast purposes or whatever you choose. Just put them in an airtight container or even sealable freezer bags first.

To reheat, defrost them in the microwave or in the refrigerator overnight. After they have thawed, you can reheat them in your air fryer. Preheat it to 350 degrees F, place sausages inside, and then cook for three to five minutes, or until heated through.

What can I eat this recipe with?

Enjoy the delectable air fryer breakfast sausages with your favorite breakfast meals. You can pair it with some spicy omelet or bacon.

Breakfast sausage links are quite versatile. You can freeze them to preserve them and then use them for meal prep whenever you wish. They’re delicious and could be used in so many dishes like this sausage cauliflower rice skillet or sausage and spinach frittata.

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Links on a white plate.
quick and easy air fryer breakfast recipe

Tips on making this recipe

  • Depending on the thickness of the sausage, you might have to air fry it slightly longer than the given time. The extra minutes would depend on the thickness of the sausages or the size of the sausages.
  • If you have a smaller air fryer and you need to prepare a lot of sausages, do it in batches.
  • If you’re using Italian sausage links, you might have to poke holes in them before air frying. This will allow the fat to escape easily while you air fry them. You don’t need to do this if you’re frying regular breakfast sausages. 
  • You can air fry frozen sausage links without defrosting them, but you will need to fry them five minutes longer. Just stop the air fryer after five minutes and separate the sausages from each other, then continue air frying.
  • For even easier cleanup, you can place a piece of parchment paper underneath to catch falling grease.
  • You can also use aluminum foil to catch grease as it drips. However, you should note that sausages are a high-fat food, so dripping oil might circulate and hit the heating element, which might cause smoke.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between sausage and breakfast sausage?

Regular sausages are made up of ground meat, preservatives, and fats. They are usually not as tasty as breakfast sausages because they hardly have any additional seasonings added to them. Breakfast sausage is an American type of sausage that is made from pork and mild seasonings like black pepper, thyme, and sage. It is also known as Fresh Country sausage and is served mostly for breakfast.

Are sausage links already cooked?

Sausages either come cooked or uncooked. Cooked sausages are ready-to-eat and come either dry, partially dry, or cooked. Semi-dry sausages are usually cooked fully and partially dried to preserve them. The label will say if the sausage is cooked or needs to be cooked before being eaten.

Why are sausages called links?

Sausages are called links because of the way they are packaged during production. Typically, sausages are packed in one long casing or skin. Then, each end of the sausage is twisted or tied up to separate one sausage from the next, this way, the sausages are linked together. The sausage casing is usually made from animal intestines or synthetic materials made out of collagen.

Related Recipes

Check out these other tasty air fryer recipes!

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Links.
sausages served with omelet on a white plate

Air Fryer BreakFast Sausage Links

These air fryer breakfast sausage links are an easy way to get breakfast prepared for busy mornings. And they are kid-friendly too!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 95kcal
Author: Tayo Oredola

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 400F.
  • Arrange breakfast sausage links on a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  • Spray with olive oil spray.
  • Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.

Notes

This recipe serves 4 and contains 0 carbs per serving.
  • Depending on the thickness of the sausage, you might have to air fry slightly longer than the given time. 
  • If you have a smaller air fryer and you need to prepare a lot of sausages, do it in batches.
  • If you’re using Italian sausage links, you might have to poke holes in them before air frying. This will allow the fat to escape easily while you air fry them. You don’t need to do this if you’re frying regular breakfast sausages.
  • You can air fry frozen sausage links without defrosting them, but you will need to fry them five minutes longer. Just stop the air fryer after five minutes and separate the sausages from each other, then continue air frying.
  • For even easier cleanup, you can place a piece of parchment paper underneath to catch falling grease.

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 69mg | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg