Air fryer chicken sausage is about as easy as dinner gets. In roughly 10 minutes the links pick up a golden, lightly crisp outside while staying juicy in the middle, and there is almost nothing to clean up afterward. It is faster than the stovetop, easier than the oven, and gives better browning without standing over a pan.
The one thing to check before you start is whether your sausage is precooked or raw, because that decides the time. Most store links are precooked, so you are really just warming them through and crisping the outside. Raw links need longer and a thermometer. I cover both below, plus a one-basket version with peppers and onions that turns this into a full meal. New to the basket? Start with how to bake in an air fryer.
Quick answer: Air fry precooked chicken sausage at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and heated through. For raw links, cook 12 to 14 minutes and check the centre reaches 165°F (74°C). Leave space between the links so they crisp instead of steam.
Which chicken sausage should you buy?
Almost any brand and flavour works, so this comes down to one label check. Most chicken sausage sold in stores is fully precooked, which means you are warming it and crisping the outside, not cooking it from raw. Read the package: if it says fully cooked, use the precooked times below. If you are buying raw links from a butcher counter, treat them like the raw row in the chart and use a thermometer.
Flavours like garlic herb, chicken apple, and Italian-style all behave the same way in the basket, so pick whatever you like. Popular brands include Aidells, Applegate, and Amylu, but a store brand works just as well.
Ingredients for air fryer chicken sausage
- 4 chicken sausage links (precooked or raw)
- Olive oil or avocado oil spray (optional)
How to cook chicken sausage in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes. A hot basket gives a better sear from the start.
- Place the sausages in a single layer with space between them so the hot air can circulate. Spray lightly with oil if you want a little extra browning, though most links have enough fat without it.
- Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes for precooked links.
- Flip the sausages halfway through so both sides brown evenly.
- For raw sausage, cook 12 to 14 minutes and check that the centre reaches 165°F (74°C) with a meat thermometer.
- Rest for a minute, then serve. They keep browning slightly off the heat.
You can find the full printable chicken sausage recipe in the card below.
Air fryer chicken sausage time and temperature chart
| Type of chicken sausage | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Precooked links | 375°F (190°C) | 8 to 10 min |
| Chicken apple sausage | 375°F (190°C) | 8 to 10 min |
| Raw links | 375°F (190°C) | 12 to 14 min, to 165°F inside |
| Frozen precooked | 375°F (190°C) | 10 to 12 min |
| Frozen raw | 375°F (190°C) | 14 to 16 min, to 165°F inside |
To turn any oven sausage recipe into a basket setting, our air fryer calculator handles the conversion, and the times and temperatures chart covers the rest of your cooking.
Make it a full meal: sausage, peppers and onions
For dinner in one go, slice the sausage into 1/2 inch rounds and toss them with sliced bell peppers and onion, a little oil, and a pinch of paprika and garlic powder. Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes, shaking halfway, until the edges char and the vegetables soften. Because precooked sausage only needs warming, it finishes right as the veg turns tender. Serve it over rice, in a bun, or on its own. Add a crispy potato side like air fryer tater tots to round it out.
Never overbake again
Get our one-page times & temps cheat sheet, plus a new tested recipe each week.
No spam · unsubscribe anytime
Tips for juicy, crispy sausage
- Do not overcrowd. Packed links steam instead of crisp. Cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Go light on oil, or skip it. Most chicken sausage has enough fat already, so a spray only adds browning.
- Flip halfway so both sides take on even colour.
- Use a thermometer for raw links. They should reach 165°F (74°C) in the centre. Colour alone is not doneness.
- Do not pierce the casing. Piercing lets the juices out and dries the sausage.
- Keep the heat around 375 to 380°F. Much hotter and the casing can split before the inside is hot. More on preventing burning.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Cooking too hot. Above 400°F the casing can split before the centre heats. Stay around 375°F.
- Forgetting to flip. One side browns far more than the other.
- Not adding time for frozen. Frozen links need a few extra minutes, raw frozen even more.
- Skipping the thermometer on raw sausage. A golden outside does not guarantee a cooked centre.
What to serve with air fryer chicken sausage
These links slot into almost any meal of the day. A few easy pairings:
- Breakfast with air fryer hash browns and scrambled eggs.
- A crispy potato side like tater tots or sweet potato fries.
- Peppers and onions in the same basket, over rice or in a bun.
- Roasted broccoli, a Caesar salad, or a simple rice bowl.
For a bigger spread, add crispy frozen chicken wings or a piece of air fryer frozen salmon.
Storage, reheating and freezing
Storage: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating: warm them in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 4 minutes, until heated through.
Freezing: cooked chicken sausage freezes for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Frequently asked questions
QCan I cook frozen chicken sausage in the air fryer?
Yes, and you do not need to thaw it first. Add 2 to 4 minutes to the cook time. Frozen precooked links take about 10 to 12 minutes, and frozen raw links about 14 to 16 minutes, cooked to 165°F (74°C) inside.
QDo I need oil?
No. Most chicken sausage has enough fat to crisp on its own. A light spray of oil mainly helps with browning, so use it only if you want a deeper colour.
QWhat temperature should chicken sausage reach?
Raw chicken sausage should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the centre. Precooked links only need warming through, but the same temperature is a safe target.
QCan I cook chicken apple sausage the same way?
Yes. Most chicken apple sausage is precooked, so it cooks in 8 to 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C), just like other precooked flavours.
QIs air frying healthier than pan frying?
Generally yes, because little to no extra oil is needed. The air fryer crisps the outside using the fat already in the sausage, so you avoid the added oil a pan usually calls for.
QHow do I keep the casing from splitting?
Keep the heat around 375 to 380°F and avoid piercing the links. Cooking too hot heats the outside faster than the inside, which builds pressure and splits the casing. A steady, moderate temperature browns evenly without bursting.
If you make these, let me know how they turned out in the comments. Want more quick wins from the basket? Try our crispy air fryer potato chips as a side, or browse all of our air fryer dinner recipes.
You can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more easy air fryer recipes.
Made this? Rate the recipe