These air fryer chicken sausages are done in 10 minutes - crispy outside, juicy inside. After testing every method and a dozen brands, this is the only guide you need for precooked, frozen, and uncooked sausages.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Air Fryer Chicken Sausages
- 🕒 Ready In: 10 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 2-3 (4-6 sausages total)
- 🍽 Calories: ~240 per serving (2 sausages)
- 💪 Protein: ~26g per serving (2 sausages)
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Chicken sausage links, avocado or olive oil spray
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, keto-friendly
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: The fastest, crispiest way to cook chicken sausage - works with precooked, frozen, and uncooked links in 10 minutes or less.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
This is genuinely the recipe I make more than anything else on this site. It's on our table at least three times a week - sliced into eggs on Monday, tucked into a bun on Wednesday, served with roasted veggies on Friday.
Most air fryer chicken sausage recipes tell you to cook at 400°F for 10 minutes and call it done. But that temperature causes thinner sausages to burst before the inside is properly heated. After testing every major brand, I landed on 360°F as the sweet spot - crispy skin, juicy center, no splitting.
I've also tested this with precooked, frozen, and uncooked sausages from Bilinski's, Applegate, Trader Joe's, and Amylu - and each one has slightly different timing. If you love my air fryer chicken thighs or air fryer home fries, you already know how good this method is. I'm sharing exactly what works for each sausage type so you never end up with a dry or undercooked one again.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Best Chicken Sausage Brands for the Air Fryer
- Easy Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Sausages (Step-by-Step)
- Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Time & Temperature Guide
- Expert Tips
- What to Serve with Chicken Sausages
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage & Meal Prep Tips
- More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Done in 10 minutes - faster than the stovetop or oven with zero babysitting
- Works with any sausage - precooked, frozen, uncooked, patties, or links
- High protein, low carb - ~26g protein per serving, naturally gluten-free and dairy-free
- Easy cleanup - no pans, no grease splatter, no mess
Ingredients You'll Need
- Chicken sausage links - I use precooked links for this recipe. My go-to brands are Bilinski's and Applegate because they use clean, simple ingredients with no fillers or preservatives. Trader Joe's Garlic Herb and Amylu are also excellent. Any flavor works - Italian, maple apple, spicy herb, or Mexican-style.
- Avocado or olive oil spray - A quick spritz before cooking is the difference between a sausage that steams and one that gets genuinely crispy. I prefer avocado oil spray for its high smoke point, but olive oil spray works perfectly too.
Scroll to recipe card for quantities!
Best Chicken Sausage Brands for the Air Fryer
After testing over a dozen brands, these are my honest picks:
- Bilinski's - My top pick. Clean ingredients, no fillers, and the casing crisps beautifully at 360°F.
- Applegate - Best widely available option. Found at most grocery stores and holds up perfectly in the air fryer.
- Trader Joe's Garlic Herb - Best budget pick. Incredibly flavorful and done in exactly 8 minutes.
- Aidells - Best for flavor variety. The chicken and apple sausage is their standout - slightly thicker links, so give them the full 10 minutes.
Easy Substitutions & Variations
- Frozen sausage - No thawing needed. Add 2-3 extra minutes and check for doneness at the 10-minute mark.
- Uncooked sausage - Poke 3-4 small holes with a knife before air frying to prevent bursting. Cook for 12-15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Turkey sausage - Works exactly the same way and is slightly leaner than chicken.
- Pork or beef sausage - Richer flavor, same method. Adjust time slightly for thicker links.
- Sausage patties - Use the exact same temperature and time. No adjustments needed.
- Vegan or plant-based sausage - Works great in the air fryer at the same temperature. Cook time is usually 8-10 minutes, but check your specific brand as plant-based casings can vary.
- No oil - You can skip the spray entirely. The sausages won't stick, but the exterior won't get quite as crispy.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Sausages (Step-by-Step)
- Step 1: Arrange the sausages in a single layer in your preheated 360°F air fryer basket, then lightly spray with oil.
- Step 2: Air-fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until browned and crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Air Fryer Chicken Sausage Time & Temperature Guide
All sausages cook at 360°F. Always verify the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Precooked links - 8-10 minutes, flip halfway, check at 6 min
- Uncooked links - 12-15 minutes, poke 3-4 holes first
- Frozen links - 10-13 minutes, no thawing needed
- Sausage patties - 8-10 minutes, flip halfway
- Thick/jumbo links - 13-15 minutes, check at 10 min
Expert Tips
- 360°F is the sweet spot - Higher temperatures cause the casing to split before the inside heats through. I tested 400°F and lost three Bilinski's links to bursting before I dropped the temp.
- Check at 6 minutes - Every air fryer runs differently. Thinner links like Amylu can be done in 7 minutes, while thicker Applegate links require the full 10 minutes.
- Let them rest - Two minutes off the heat keeps the juices inside instead of all over your cutting board.
What to Serve with Chicken Sausages
The beauty of chicken sausage is that it works for any meal. Here's exactly how I serve them:
- For Breakfast: Pair with scrambled eggs with cottage cheese, avocado, and crispy air fryer home fries for the easiest high-protein breakfast.
- For Lunch: Slice and toss into an orzo pesto salad or grain bowl for instant protein without any extra cooking.
- For Dinner: Serve alongside roasted vegetables, healthy alfredo pasta, or a simple kale crunch salad for a fast weeknight meal.
- For Meal Prep: Cook a full batch on Sunday and slice into portions. They reheat perfectly in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes and stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Precooked chicken sausages take 8-10 minutes at 360°F, flipping halfway. Uncooked sausages need 12-15 minutes, and frozen sausages need 10-13 minutes. Always verify the internal temperature reaches 165°F regardless of cook time.
360°F is the sweet spot. Higher temperatures, like 400°F, can cause the casing to split before the inside heats through properly.
Yes. Poke 3-4 small holes with a sharp knife before cooking to prevent bursting. Cook at 360°F for 12-15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Yes - no thawing needed. Cook straight from frozen at 360°F for 10-13 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Most chicken sausages are naturally gluten-free, but always check the label. Bilinski's, Applegate, and Amylu are all certified gluten-free.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips
- Storing: Let the sausages cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. They keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Cooked sausages freeze well for up to 3 months. Let them cool, place in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer bag.
- Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. This is the only method I recommend - the microwave works in a pinch, but kills the crispy exterior.
- Meal Prep: Cook a full package on Sunday and use it throughout the week. Sliced cold into salads, reheated with eggs in the morning, or tossed with roasted veggies for dinner - they hold up better than almost any other protein I meal prep with.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You'll Love
If you loved these crispy air fryer chicken sausages, here are a few more recipes to try next:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Sausages
Ingredients
- 4 - 6 chicken sausage links or patties, precooked or uncooked (any flavor)
- Avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F.
- Arrange sausages in a single layer in the basket - do not overlap. For uncooked sausages, poke 3-4 small holes with a sharp knife before placing in the basket.
- Spray lightly with avocado or olive oil cooking spray.
- Cook (precooked): Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until browned and slightly crisp. Check at 6 minutes as air fryers vary.
- Cook (uncooked): Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Cook (frozen): Air fry for 10-13 minutes, flipping halfway, until internal temperature reaches 165°F. No thawing needed.
- Rest for 2 minutes before serving.
Hannah says
So good! I love this recipe.
Andy says
Love this recipe! Much easier than the stove top.
Alyssa says
SO good and really easy to make. I cut them up and added them to a greek salad. It was easy and added a lot of flavor without having to cook raw chicken breast. I will make these again for sure. Thank you!