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The Easiest Air Fryer Chicken Sausage You'll Ever Make

Perfectly browned chicken sausage with juicy interiors ready in just 12 minutes using your air fryer. Simple seasoning and minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 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

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • paper towels
  • Medium bowl
  • tongs
  • Instant-read thermometer (for raw sausage)

Method
 

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes. This ensures sausages start cooking immediately for better browning.
  2. Remove sausages from packaging and pat completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This is crucial for good browning.
  3. 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.
  4. Sprinkle garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt over the oiled sausages. Toss or roll until seasonings coat all sides evenly.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

Notes

Storage: Store cooked sausage in airtight container in refrigerator for 4-5 days. Cool completely before refrigerating.
Reheating: Reheat in air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. For microwave, heat in 30-second intervals covered with damp paper towel.
Freezing: Wrap individual sausages in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bag. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator or reheat from frozen at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
Cooking tips: Pat sausages very dry for best browning. Don't pierce casings—this releases juices and causes dryness. Use light oil coating—too much prevents crisping. Don't overcrowd basket—cook in batches for proper air circulation.
Raw vs. cooked: Fully cooked sausage just needs heating and browning (10-12 min). Raw sausage must reach 165°F internal temperature (13-15 min). Check packaging to determine which type you have.
Frozen sausage: Can cook from frozen. Add 3-5 minutes to cooking time and verify internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Variations: Try Italian seasoning, Cajun spices, or everything bagel seasoning. Add vegetables (bell peppers, onions, zucchini, broccoli) halfway through cooking.
Serving ideas: Slice over salads, serve in wraps, pair with roasted potatoes, add to pasta, serve with eggs for breakfast, or use for meal prep with grains and vegetables.
Recipe scales easily as long as sausages fit in single layer. Double batch by cooking in two rounds.