I’ve loved smoked sausage on the grill since I was a kid, but grilling is just so dependent on the weather. Instead of ending up in disappointment, I’ve started to make smoked sausage in the air fryer instead. You get the same beautiful caramelization with little effort, rain or shine!
Smoked sausage is such a versatile option. You can slice it into segments and put it on a hot dog bun, or cut it into chunks and add barbecue sauce and toothpicks for an appetizer.
It’s also great sliced into medallions, which I’m doing and pairing with potatoes, peppers, and onions to complete the meal. You can also add it into other dishes, like gumbo, pasta, or quesadillas!
You’ll find that smoked sausage is pretty similar to Air Fryer Kielbasa, but it has a different ratio of meats and seasonings, as well as a finer grind that I actually prefer.
No matter which way you slice it (pun definitely intended!) your air fryer cooks smoked sausage up in under 10 minutes! That’s easy enough for a weeknight meal, and incredibly tasty to boot.
Dress it up any way you like, add your favorite sides, and enjoy!
What You’ll Need: Ingredients
14 Ounces smoked sausage, any brand
With Potatoes Option
2 Cups frozen potatoes with peppers & onions (O’Brien style)
Ingredient Notes and Variations
Any brand of smoked sausage works great. Some popular options are Johnsonville, Eckrich, and Hillshire Farm
For a variation with barbecue sauce, toss your sausage with about 2 Tbsp of your favorite barbecue sauce before cooking
You can also use plain potatoes of any style, or just peppers and onions which you can add on top of a smoked sausage sandwich
How to Cook Smoked Sausage in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
If desired, slice the smoked sausage into chunks or medallions (mine are ½” thick medallions)
Place the sausage into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (some overlap is alright)
Cook on the air fry setting for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, pausing halfway through to stir or shake the basket, until desired level of external browning is reached
Serve with your favorite sides or sauces
What to Serve With Smoked Sausage
French fries
Mashed potatoes
Roasted potatoes
Potato salad
Blooming onion
Mac and cheese
Cheese dip
Onion rings
Cornbread
Polenta
Fried pickles
Brussels sprouts
Green beans
Sauerkraut
Baked beans
Coleslaw
Peppers and onions
Applesauce
Ketchup
Barbecue sauce
There are so many great dishes to serve with smoked sausage! There are plenty of different vegetables and starches that make great pairings, to easily complete your meal.
How Long Do You Cook Smoked Link Sausage in the Air Fryer?
You cook smoked link sausage in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes on average. The time will vary based on the thickness of the links, your specific air fryer, and desired level of browning.
Start with the lowest time, then add additional time in small increments until it reaches the shade you’d like.
How Do You Know When Sausage is Done in an Air Fryer?
Uncooked sausage is done in an air fryer when the internal temperature reaches 160°F, or 165°F if it contains poultry. Fully cooked sausage is done when it is heated through and browned to your liking.
The best way to check is an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the sausage.
How to Air Fry Johnsonville Smoked Sausage?
Air fry Johnsonville smoked sausage for 6-8 minutes at a temperature of 375°F – 400°F until heated through.
Additional time may be added in small increments if more caramelization is desired.
How Do You Cook Eckrich Smoked Sausage in the Air Fryer?
Cook Eckrich smoked sausage in the air fryer for about 8 minutes at 400°F, or until heated through and browned to your liking.
Flip the sausages halfway through cooking for more even heating and browning.
How Long to Cook Hillshire Smoked Sausage in an Air Fryer?
Hillshire Farms smoked sausage should cook for 8-10 minutes on average in an air fryer.
This works for both sections as well as the full ring of smoked sausage.
How Long to Cook Fully Cooked Smoked Sausage in an Air Fryer?
Fully cooked smoked sausage should cook for 6-8 minutes on average. A few extra minutes may be added for additional browning.
Since the sausage is fully cooked, you’re only looking to reheat it during this process.
What Temperature to Cook Smoked Sausage in an Air Fryer?
Cook smoked sausage in an air fryer anywhere from 375°F – 400°F. Cooking on a lower temperature will require 1-2 minutes of additional cooking time generally.
Choose whatever setting your air fryer has available, or adjust as needed based on other foods being cooked simultaneously.
Recipe Pro Tips
If you are making potatoes along with your smoked sausage, season them as desired and add them to the air fryer first. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring once, before adding the sausage and then continue with the remaining recipe steps
For fresh peppers and onions, you’ll want to cook them for about 5 minutes before adding your sausage and continuing
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover smoked sausage in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Smoked sausage is best frozen before cooking, and stored for up to 3 months
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through
This delicious smoked sausage in the air fryer will be one of your new favorite dinners! It cooks up in under 10 minutes, and pairs well with a variety of sides and sauces so you can make it your own.
You can also add it to other dishes for an easy protein option. Gumbo, pasta dishes, casseroles, and quesadillas are just some of my favorite uses.
The air fryer does such a great job of delivering perfectly caramelized edges, whether you choose to cook a whole sausage, links, chunks, or slices. No more needing to tend the grill, allowing you to enjoy your sausages all year round!
Smoked Sausage in the Air Fryer (Eckrich)
Smoked sausage in the air fryer is an incredibly easy preparation method that delivers perfectly caramelized meat in 10 minutes or less. Pair with sides for a complete meal!
If desired, slice the smoked sausage into chunks or medallions (mine are ½” thick medallions)
14 Ounces smoked sausage
Place the sausage into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (some overlap is alright)
Cook on the air fry setting for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, pausing halfway through to stir or shake the basket, until desired level of external browning is reached
Serve with your favorite sides or sauces
Notes
Any brand of smoked sausage works great. Some popular options are Johnsonville, Eckrich, and Hillshire Farm
For a variation with barbecue sauce, toss your sausage with about 2 Tbsp of your favorite barbecue sauce before cooking
You can also use potatoes of any style, or just peppers and onions which you can add on top of a smoked sausage sandwich. I like to throw in about 2 cups of frozen potatoes O’Brien, which include peppers and onions
If you are making potatoes along with your smoked sausage, season them as desired and add them to the air fryer first. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring once, before adding the sausage and then continue with the remaining recipe steps
For fresh peppers and onions, you’ll want to cook them for about 5 minutes before adding your sausage and continuing
Store leftover smoked sausage in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Smoked sausage is best frozen before cooking, and stored for up to 3 months
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
