Air Fryer Italian Sausage
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This air fryer Italian sausage recipe yields juicy, perfectly cooked sausages served over a bed of caramelized peppers and onions. It’s a failproof, hearty dish you can make any night of the week.
I think (know) my air fryer might be the hardest working appliance in my kitchen, and these air fryer Italian sausages prove why. They became a weeknight staple when I wanted the same juicy, browned results as pan-frying, but without the cleanup that oil splatter provided.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, I took inspiration from my air fryer brats and air fryer sausage links, and found that cooking the sausages right over a bed of peppers and onions not only kept them juicy, but gave me a built-in side dish, too.
The air fryer cooks them evenly every time: crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and so, so much flavor. We love piling them into toasted rolls with mustard or marinara, but honestly, there have been many times I eat them straight from then basket.
What readers are saying
★★★★★ – “This air fryer Italian sausage turns out so good, especially with the peppers and onions. We served this in hoagie rolls!” – Julie
Key Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients that go into air frying Italian sausage. The full printable list with measurements are in the recipe card.
- Mild Italian sausage. I always prefer to get my Italian pork sausage straight from the butcher as opposed to pre-packaged sausages. I find they’re fresher, juicier, and the seasoning is generally higher quality. If you’re using frozen sausages, let them thaw overnight.
- Bell peppers. I used tri-color peppers, but you could use any color you want. Red peppers are the sweetest, which I find complements the savory sausages nicely.
- Onions. I prefer sweet white onions or yellow onions. Red onions also work, but they have a milder flavor.
- Olive oil. Sausage is naturally oily, but I do like to add a touch of oil to ensure the veggies caramelize evenly.
How to make Italian sausages in the air fryer
Step 1- Prep. Add the sliced veggies to a bowl.
Step 2- Combine the oil and seasonings and toss to coat.
Step 3- Assemble. Add the veggies to the basket and place the sausages on top.
Step 4- Air fry. Air fry the sausages until they’re fully cooked (flipping periodically). Then, serve them warm.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Adjust the cooking time. The sausages I used were about 1.5 inches thick. If you’re using thicker sausages, increase the air frying time by 1-2 minutes, and vice versa.
- Use a digital meat thermometer. As per the FDA, the internal temperature should read 165°F. If you rest them for a few minutes before serving, feel free to take them out at 160°F.
- Keep them in a single layer. If there’s any overlap, the sausages may not fully cook on the inside or become crispy on the outside. This may mean you’ll have to cook in batches, but it’s worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, I’ve often used frozen Italian sausage in the air fryer. I do recommend thawing it first, as it yields naturally juicier sausage.
Flipping the Italian sausage several times during the air frying process ensures that all sides cook evenly. Please stick to my tested cooking time.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Air Fryer Italian Sausage
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage 3-5 links
- 2 bell peppers sliced
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.
- In a large bowl, add the sliced bell peppers and sliced onions and mix with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Transfer the peppers and onions to the air fryer basket, place the Italian sausage on top, and air fry for eight minutes, rotating the sausage several times throughout. You can also check the doneness by using a meat thermometer and making sure the internal temperature is 165F.
- Remove the Italian sausage, peppers, and onions from the air fryer basket and serve immediately.
Notes
- Add some heat. When I want to bring on the heat, I’ll use hot Italian sausage links or toss the veggies in a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Use different kinds of sausages. Italian sausages are generally made from pork, but if that’s not your jam, I’ve also had luck with chicken sausage and turkey sausage. Just remember you’ll need to cook them to 165F.
- Extra spices. Depending on how flavorful my sausages are, sometimes I like to add an extra pinch of garlic powder, paprika, oregano, or even some fennel salt.
- Garnish. Top the cooked sausages with fresh herbs like parsley or basil for a brighter flavor.
Favorite way to cook Italian sausage now. No mess, no fuss.
Such an easy one-pan (one air fryer) meal. The italian sausage was so juicy!
It really does taste so good!
This air fryer Italian sausage turns out so good, especially with the peppers and onions. We served this in hoagie rolls!