Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Sausages
Air fryer bacon-wrapped sausages come out with crisp, golden bacon and juicy chipolatas in 15 minutes at 180°C. They are the British pigs in blankets, so they suit a weekday supper with mash as well as a Christmas table. The basket takes six at a time, so the recipe makes two batches of six and serves four people, three each.
- Total
- 45 min
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 33 min
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 470kcal
Getting the texture of air fryer bacon-wrapped sausages right
Streaky bacon is the right choice because its fat renders and crisps quickly while the sausage cooks inside. Back bacon is leaner and tends to turn leathery. Chipolatas are thin enough to cook through in the time it takes the bacon to brown. Use fat, plain pork sausages for the best result and avoid very thick ones, which would need a lot longer.
Air fryers work best when the food is in one layer, so do not stack them. Six fit comfortably in a standard basket, which is why the recipe is cooked in two rounds.
Air fryer bacon-wrapped sausages: the method
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Wrap the sausages Lay a bacon rasher on the board and stretch it by running the back of a knife along it. Wrap it around a chipolata in a tight spiral, overlapping the edges slightly, and finish with the end tucked underneath. Repeat with the rest and grind a little black pepper over them.
- Preheat and load Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for . Put 6 wrapped sausages in the basket in one layer, seam-side down, with a small gap between each.
- Cook and turn Cook for , then turn the sausages with tongs. Cook for another , brush with half the maple syrup and cook for more, until the bacon is crisp and browned. The sausages are done when they are steaming hot all the way through, with no pink and clear juices, or 75°C on a thermometer.
- Rest and repeat Move the first batch to a plate lined with kitchen paper, loosely covered with foil to keep it hot. Pour off the fat from the drawer, then cook the second batch in the same way. Let the sausages stand for before serving.
Oven method and what to serve with them
No air fryer? Put the wrapped sausages on a baking tray in an oven heated to 200°C (180°C fan), gas 6, and roast for 25–30 minutes, turning once, until the bacon is crisp and the sausages are cooked through with no pink.
Serve them with mash and onion gravy for supper, or as a party snack with a pot of mustard for dipping. For a plainer version without the bacon, try air fryer sausages, and for another bacon-wrapped side, see bacon-wrapped asparagus.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Sausages
- The bacon unwinds while cooking.
- Stretch the rashers before wrapping, overlap them slightly, and put the sausages in the basket with the tucked end underneath. Do not move them until the first turn at 8 minutes, when the bacon has set.
- The bacon is crisp but the sausage is pale or pink inside.
- Thick sausages need longer than chipolatas. Cook them for 20–22 minutes in total and check that the middle reaches 75°C. Do not serve them until there is no pink.
- The maple syrup burns and the air fryer smokes.
- Sugar scorches at this temperature, so brush the syrup on only for the last 3 minutes. If smoke still comes from the drawer, bacon fat is overheating there: pour it off between batches and wipe the drawer.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Sausages
How long do you cook bacon-wrapped sausages in the air fryer?
Cook them for 15 minutes at 180°C, turning once after 8 minutes. That is for six chipolatas in a single layer, so allow 15 minutes for each batch.
Are these the same as pigs in blankets?
Yes. Pigs in blankets are chipolata sausages wrapped in streaky bacon, and the air fryer cooks them well at Christmas, freeing up the oven. Cook them in batches and keep the first one warm under foil.
Can you cook them from frozen?
It is better to thaw them in the fridge overnight first. Frozen wrapped sausages cook unevenly, with the bacon browning long before the middle is hot.
Can you wrap the sausages in advance?
Yes. Wrap them up to 24 hours ahead, cover them and keep them in the fridge. Cook them straight from the fridge and add a minute or two if the basket is full.
How did you like the recipe?
4.8 / 5 · 20 ratings
