In less than 10 minutes you can have delicious, juicy and healthy air fryer chicken sausage as a main dish for your dinner! Super easy and quick to make from frozen or fresh with any sausage you prefer - smoked, Italian or apple, it all works!
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One of the best recipes to have in your arsenal is a healthy recipe that works as a great base for lots of other recipes. This easy recipe is just that - healthy and quick that makes a great protein to add to a variety of dishes.
Serve with some sweet potato patties, air-fried breakfast potatoes, or hash browns for an easy breakfast or add to a pasta bowl with some veggies and gnocchi for an easy weeknight meal.
What Makes This Recipe Work
- Versatile! This air fryer chicken sausage is one of the best base recipes for a lean protein that works in bowls, pasta dishes (like this creamy cajun pasta!), breakfast and more.
- Healthy! Made with no pork (heart-healthy!) and naturally low in carbs and keto. You can find many Whole30, paleo or gluten-free chicken sausage choices in the grocery store.
- Quick and easy! No preheat! Makes the perfect quick dinner for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Chicken Sausage: I used fully cooked chicken Italian sausage from Whole Foods. You can select other flavors and brands of sausage available to you including apple, smoked, Applegate, al Fresco, Aidell's, Trader Joe's and more.
Directions for How to Cook This Recipe
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1
Spray basket with coconut oil spray. Add sausage to the basket.
Step 2
Air fry sausages at 370F for 8-10 minutes, flipping once or until browned on the outside and heated through.
Expert Tips
- Cooking time will depend on whether links are fresh or frozen. Start with 8 minutes for fresh and add in up to 4 minutes or more if links are frozen.
- Allow space between links or patties to ensure even cooking and allow sausage to sit for a few minutes after cooking to soak up the juices.
- If using a higher-fat sausage like pork, keep an eye on them while cooking to ensure the meat does not smoke.
- If opting to use fresh, uncooked chicken sausage, be sure to use an instant-read thermometer to ensure sausage is cooked to 165F.
- If you liked the outside casing to be crispy, spray the outsides with a bit of cooking spray or coconut oil spray prior to air frying.
Make Ahead, Storage, Freezer, Serving & Reheating
- Make-Ahead: Make ahead up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for easy meal prep.
- Storage: Store cooked leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Store uncooked sausage in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Serving: Serve in a quesadilla with peppers or veggies, in egg muffins or with eggs and cheese, in gumbo or in a main dish alongside a sweet potato recipe.
- Reheating: Reheat by air frying at 360F until heated through.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Making chicken sausage by air frying is a super quick and easy way to get a delicious and flavorful protein that can be added to many dinner or breakfast recipes.
Yes, when air frying frozen chicken sausage,, add additional time to account for them being frozen, generally 3-4 minutes extra.
Air fry chicken sausages at 370F for uncooked, thawed sausage. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping once.
The links should be cooked to the temperature of 165F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the middle.
Yes, use the crisp function and follow the recipe as written. Any basket style or toaster style model will work.
You can also use a NuWave, Emeril, PowerXL - whichever one you have.
I made this recipe without preheating. If you do decide to preheat, you may want to reduce the cook time so sausages do not overcook.
Related Recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
Equipment
- 1 instant read thermometer
Ingredients
- 4 links chicken sausage
Instructions
- Spray basket with coconut oil spray. Add uncooked sausage to the basket.
- Air fry sausages at 370F for 8-10 minutes, flipping once or until browned on the outside and heated through.
Notes
- Make-Ahead: Make ahead up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for easy meal prep.
- Storage: Store cooked leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Store uncooked sausage in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat by air frying at 360F until heated through.
- Cooking time will depend on whether links are fresh or frozen. Start with 8 minutes for fresh and add in up to 4 minutes or more if links are frozen.
- Allow space between links or patties to ensure even cooking and allow sausage to sit for a few minutes after cooking to soak up the juices.
- If using a higher-fat sausage like pork, keep an eye on the meat as it cooks to ensure the meat does not smoke.
- If opting to use fresh, uncooked chicken sausage, be sure to use an instant-read thermometer to ensure sausage is cooked to 165F.
- If you liked the outside casing to be crispy, spray the outsides with a bit of cooking spray or coconut oil spray prior to air frying.
Want this recipe sent to you?
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