When dinner needs to happen in 15 minutes but you still want something satisfying, air fryer chicken sausage comes through every single time. Just season, toss in the basket, and 12 minutes later you’ve got perfectly browned sausages with juicy interiors and crispy exteriors. No babysitting a skillet, no splattering grease, no complicated techniques—just simple, reliable results that work whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding the whole family.
The air fryer transforms ordinary chicken sausage into something special through its concentrated heat and rapid air circulation. The outside develops a beautiful golden crust while the inside stays moist and flavorful. This method works equally well with fully cooked sausages that just need heating through or raw sausages that need complete cooking. Either way, you get consistent results without heating up your whole kitchen or standing over a stove.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
Ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, this recipe saves you time without sacrificing quality. The air fryer does all the work while you prep sides or set the table. Unlike stovetop cooking where you need to watch and flip constantly, the air fryer only requires one flip halfway through.
The minimal oil coating creates a crispy exterior that rivals traditional frying without the mess or extra calories. Chicken sausage stays juicy because the high heat seals in moisture while the circulating air crisps the outside. The simple seasoning blend enhances the sausage’s natural flavors without overwhelming them.
Cleanup is incredibly easy since nothing sticks to the air fryer basket and there’s no greasy pan to scrub. You can cook multiple batches back-to-back for meal prep without any fuss. At roughly $8 for four servings, this budget-friendly dinner comes together faster than ordering takeout.
Ingredients for The Easiest Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
I use fully cooked chicken sausage most often because it just needs heating and browning, making dinner even faster. Raw sausage works beautifully too with just a few extra minutes of cooking time.
- 4 links chicken sausage (12-14 oz total, fully cooked or raw)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Sausage selection matters: Choose chicken sausages with flavors you enjoy—Italian, apple, spinach and feta, or plain. Fully cooked sausages are labeled as such and typically come precooked, just needing reheating. Raw chicken sausages need thorough cooking to 165°F internal temperature. Both work with this method, just adjust timing accordingly.
Why pat them dry: Excess moisture on the sausage surface creates steam instead of allowing proper browning. Patting thoroughly with paper towels removes packaging liquid and ensures the seasonings stick properly. This simple step makes a noticeable difference in the final crust.
Oil is essential but minimal: A light coating of olive oil helps the seasonings adhere and promotes browning. Too much oil prevents crisping and can cause smoking in the air fryer. One tablespoon is perfect for four sausages—just enough to coat them lightly when tossed.
Simple seasoning works best: Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper complement chicken sausage without competing with any pre-seasoned flavors in the sausage itself. Paprika adds color and subtle smokiness. Feel free to adjust these seasonings or use your favorite spice blend.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
Success comes from proper preheating and not overcrowding the basket. These two steps ensure even cooking and that beautiful golden-brown exterior.
1. Preheat properly. Set your air fryer to 380°F and let it preheat for 3 minutes. This step is important—starting with a hot air fryer means the sausages begin cooking immediately when they hit the basket, promoting better browning and more even cooking throughout.
2. Prepare the sausages. Remove the sausages from their packaging and pat them completely dry with paper towels. This is crucial for achieving good browning. Place the dried sausages in a medium bowl and drizzle the olive oil over them. Use your hands or tongs to roll them around, making sure each sausage gets a light, even coating of oil.
3. Season evenly. Sprinkle the garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt over the oiled sausages. Toss or roll them in the bowl until the seasonings coat all sides evenly. The oil helps the spices stick and creates a flavorful crust as they cook.
4. Arrange in the basket. Place the seasoned sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer with a bit of space between each one. Don’t let them touch or overlap. Proper air circulation is key to even cooking—crowded sausages will steam rather than crisp. If you’re cooking more than four sausages, work in batches rather than stacking them.
5. Cook and flip. Air fry at 380°F for 10-12 minutes for fully cooked sausages, or 13-15 minutes for raw sausages. Set a timer for the halfway point (5-6 minutes for cooked, 6-7 minutes for raw). When the timer goes off, open the basket and use tongs to flip each sausage over. This ensures even browning on all sides. Close the basket and continue cooking for the remaining time.
6. Check for doneness. The sausages should be golden brown on the outside with visible caramelization. For fully cooked sausages, they just need to be heated through and browned. For raw sausages, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part—it should read 165°F with no pink remaining inside. If they need more time, continue cooking in 2-minute increments.
7. Rest before serving. Remove the sausages from the air fryer and let them rest on a plate for 2 minutes before slicing or serving. This brief resting period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making each bite more tender and flavorful. Cutting immediately causes those juices to run out, leaving you with drier sausage.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
These versatile sausages pair with countless sides and can be served whole or sliced depending on your meal.
Roasted Vegetables: Air fry bell peppers, zucchini, and onions alongside the sausages by adding them to the basket during the last 5-6 minutes of cooking. Toss the vegetables with oil and seasoning first. The combination creates a complete one-basket meal.
Crispy Roasted Potatoes: Baby potatoes or potato wedges roasted until golden make a classic pairing. The starchy potatoes balance the protein-rich sausage perfectly. Season them simply with salt, pepper, and herbs.
Fresh Garden Salad: Slice the cooked sausages and arrange them over mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and your favorite dressing. The warm sausage wilts the greens slightly and creates a satisfying dinner salad.
Sautéed Peppers and Onions: Classic Italian-style peppers and onions cooked until soft and slightly caramelized complement any sausage variety. Serve everything in hoagie rolls for easy sausage sandwiches.
Rice or Quinoa: A simple side of rice pilaf or quinoa provides a neutral base that soaks up the sausage’s flavorful juices. Add some sautéed vegetables to make it more substantial.
Breakfast Plate: Slice the sausages and serve alongside scrambled eggs, toast, and hash browns for a protein-packed breakfast or brunch. This works especially well with maple or apple chicken sausage.
Pasta: Slice the sausages and toss with pasta, marinara sauce, and Parmesan for a quick dinner. The sausage adds protein and flavor without requiring a separate sauce preparation.
Pro Tips & Variations
Don’t pierce the sausages: Avoid the temptation to poke holes in the sausage casings. Piercing allows the flavorful juices to escape during cooking, resulting in dry, less flavorful sausage. The casings are meant to keep everything sealed inside.
Adjust temperature for different results: For extra crispy sausages, increase the temperature to 400°F and watch closely to prevent burning. For gentler cooking that prioritizes juiciness over crust, reduce to 360°F and add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
Add vegetables for a complete meal: Toss cut vegetables like bell peppers, onions, broccoli florets, or zucchini chunks with oil and seasoning. Add them to the air fryer basket halfway through cooking the sausages so they don’t overcook. Everything finishes together for an easy one-basket dinner.
Experiment with seasonings: Try Italian seasoning blend, Cajun spices, or everything bagel seasoning instead of the garlic-paprika combination. Match your seasonings to the sausage flavor—fennel seeds with Italian sausage, cumin with chorizo-style sausage.
Cook from frozen: You can air fry frozen chicken sausages without thawing. Add 3-5 minutes to the cooking time and check the internal temperature carefully to ensure they reach 165°F throughout.
Make meal prep easy: Cook a batch of sausages on Sunday, let them cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container. They stay fresh for 4-5 days and can be quickly reheated, sliced for salads, or added to grain bowls throughout the week.
Try different chicken sausage varieties: Apple chicken sausage pairs beautifully with roasted sweet potatoes. Spinach and feta sausage works well sliced over pasta. Sun-dried tomato sausage is perfect for Italian-style meals.
Create sausage and veggie skewers: Cut sausages into chunks and thread onto skewers with vegetables. Air fry the assembled skewers for easy handling and impressive presentation.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Store cooked chicken sausage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Let them cool completely before refrigerating to prevent condensation that can make them soggy.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes until warmed through. This method maintains the crispy exterior better than microwaving. You can reheat them whole or slice them first depending on how you plan to serve them.
For microwave reheating, place sausages on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals until warm. The texture won’t be quite as crispy but it works for quick lunches.
Cooked chicken sausage freezes well for up to 2 months. Wrap individual sausages in plastic wrap, then place them all in a freezer bag with the air pressed out. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, or reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
Common Questions
What’s the difference between fully cooked and raw chicken sausage? Fully cooked sausage has been precooked during manufacturing and just needs reheating to safe serving temperature. Raw sausage must be cooked thoroughly to 165°F internal temperature. Check your packaging—it will clearly state if the sausage is fully cooked or raw.
Can I cook chicken sausage and pork sausage together? Yes, but they may have slightly different cooking times. Pork sausage often needs a bit longer than chicken. Check each type with a thermometer to ensure both reach proper internal temperature before serving.
Why are my sausages dry? Overcooking is the most common cause. Use a thermometer to check doneness rather than relying solely on time. Also make sure you’re using a light coating of oil and letting them rest after cooking to redistribute juices.
Do I need to use oil? While you can technically cook sausages without oil, a small amount helps with browning and prevents sticking. It also helps seasonings adhere. Just one tablespoon for four sausages is plenty—you’re not deep frying.
How do I know when they’re done? For fully cooked sausages, they just need to be hot throughout and golden brown outside. For raw sausages, use an instant-read thermometer—the internal temperature should reach 165°F. The sausages should be firm to the touch and show no pink inside when cut.
This air fryer chicken sausage recipe proves that quick weeknight dinners don’t have to be complicated or boring. With just a handful of seasonings and 12 minutes of cooking time, you get juicy, flavorful sausages with a perfect crispy exterior.
The Easiest Air Fryer Chicken Sausage You’ll Ever Make
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes. This ensures sausages start cooking immediately for better browning.
- Remove sausages from packaging and pat completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This is crucial for good browning.
- Place dried sausages in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Roll or toss to coat each sausage evenly with a light coating of oil.
- Sprinkle garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt over the oiled sausages. Toss or roll until seasonings coat all sides evenly.
- Arrange seasoned sausages in the air fryer basket in a single layer with space between each one. Don’t let them touch or overlap. Cook in batches if necessary rather than crowding.
- Air fry at 380°F for 10-12 minutes for fully cooked sausages, or 13-15 minutes for raw sausages. At the halfway point, open the basket and use tongs to flip each sausage over for even browning. Continue cooking for remaining time.
- Check for doneness. Sausages should be golden brown outside. For fully cooked sausages, they just need to be heated through. For raw sausages, insert instant-read thermometer into thickest part—it should read 165°F with no pink remaining. If needed, continue cooking in 2-minute increments.
- Remove sausages from air fryer and let rest on a plate for 2 minutes before slicing or serving. This allows juices to redistribute for more tender, flavorful bites.
