Pork, Bacon & Sausage
Air Fryer Italian Sausage (with Peppers and Onions)
Juicy air fryer Italian sausage at 370°F: 12–16 minutes for raw links, turned halfway, to 160°F. Mild, sweet or hot, plus frozen and sausage with peppers.
Quick answer
Cook raw Italian sausage links in the air fryer at 370°F190°C for 12–16 minutes, turning them halfway, until the inside reaches 160°F71°C. Mild, sweet and hot Italian sausage all take the same time. Frozen links take 18–22 minutes at 370°F190°C, with no need to thaw. Don't prick the casings, or the juices will run out.
- Time
- 12–16 min (raw links)
- Flip
- Yes, halfway
- Done when
- 160°F71°C inside
Italian Sausage and Peppers air fryer times
| What you're cooking | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian sausage links, raw (mild, sweet or hot) | 370°F190°C | 12–16 min | Turn halfway |
| Thick Italian sausage links, about 1¼ inch | 360°F180°C | 15–18 min | Lower heat so the casings don't split |
| Frozen raw Italian sausage links | 370°F190°C | 18–22 min | Separate them after 5 minutes |
| Italian sausage with peppers and onions | 370°F190°C | 16–18 min | Add the vegetables after 6 minutes |
| Italian sausage, sliced into coins (raw) | 380°F195°C | 8–10 min | Shake halfway |
| Italian sausage patties, raw | 380°F195°C | 10–12 min | Flip halfway |
| Chicken or turkey Italian sausage, raw | 370°F190°C | 10–14 min | 165°F inside |
| Precooked Italian sausage | 370°F190°C | 6–8 min | Until hot and browned |
| Reheating cooked Italian sausage | 350°F175°C | 3–5 min | Until hot through |
Times are for a preheated 5–6 quart basket air fryer with food in a single layer. Oven-style and very large air fryers can run 1–3 minutes slower. Always check doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
Italian sausage is one of the easiest dinners you can make in the air fryer. The casings brown and blister all over, the inside stays juicy, and there’s no grease splattering across the stove. Add peppers and onions to the basket halfway through, and you have sausage and peppers in under 20 minutes.
How to cook Italian sausage in the air fryer
- Preheat to 370°F190°C.
- Lay the links in a single layer, with space between them. Don’t prick the casings.
- Air fry for 12–16 minutes, turning them with tongs halfway.
- Check the temperature: 160°F71°C in the center for pork sausage, 165°F74°C for chicken or turkey.
- Rest for 2 minutes, then serve.
How long to cook Italian sausage in the air fryer
At 370°F190°C, turned halfway:
- Regular raw links: 12–16 minutes
- Thick links, about 1¼ inch: 15–18 minutes at 360°F180°C
- Frozen raw links: 18–22 minutes
- Precooked links: 6–8 minutes, just to heat and brown
Fresh Italian sausage from the butcher counter is often thicker than packaged links, so start checking at the low end of the time and use a thermometer.
Mild, sweet or hot?
They all cook the same way. Sweet and mild Italian sausage are seasoned with fennel and garlic, and hot Italian sausage adds red pepper flakes. Chicken and turkey Italian sausage are leaner and cook a little faster, in 10–14 minutes, but they need to reach 165°F74°C.
Frozen Italian sausage
You can cook raw Italian sausage straight from the freezer. Air fry at 370°F190°C for 18–22 minutes. If the links are frozen together, pull them apart with tongs after about 5 minutes, then turn them halfway through. Precooked frozen sausage only needs about 8–10 minutes.
Sausage and peppers
The recipe below cooks everything in one basket. The sausages get a 6-minute head start, then the peppers and onions go in around them for the last 10–12 minutes. Serve it in toasted hoagie rolls, over pasta with marinara, or with crispy red potatoes.
Sliced Italian sausage
For pasta, soups or a quick skillet-style dinner, slice raw links into ½-inch coins and air fry at 380°F195°C for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway. The cut sides brown well. Sliced sausage is done when there’s no pink inside.
Tips for juicy Italian sausage
- Don’t prick the casings. That’s where the juices escape.
- Leave space between the links. Crowded sausages steam instead of browning.
- Turn them with tongs, not a fork.
- Use a thermometer. It’s the only sure way to know the center has reached 160°F71°C.
For breakfast links, brats, kielbasa and other kinds, see our guide to air fryer sausage.
What to serve with Italian sausage
Try it with diced potatoes, red potatoes, garlic parmesan green beans, pasta with marinara, or a simple green salad.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate cooked Italian sausage for 3–4 days, or freeze it for 1–2 months. Reheat at 350°F175°C for 3–5 minutes, until hot through. See our reheating guide.
Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Total
- 28 min
- Air fryer
- 370°F190°C
- Makes
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 420 per serving, pork Italian sausage, without rolls
Ingredients
- 5 raw Italian sausage links (about 1¼ lb), mild, sweet or hot
- 2 bell peppers, any color, cut into ½-inch strips
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Hoagie rolls, pasta or rice, to serve (optional)
Instructions
Tap a step to check it off.
- Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F190°C for 3 minutes.
- Start the sausage. Lay the sausages in the basket in a single layer, with space between them. Don't prick the casings. Air fry for 6 minutes.
- Season the vegetables. While the sausage cooks, toss the peppers and onion with the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Add the vegetables. Turn the sausages with tongs, then scatter the peppers and onion around them. Air fry another 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket once, until the vegetables are tender and charred at the edges.
- Check the temperature. The sausages are done when they're browned all over and an instant-read thermometer reads 160°F71°C in the center.
- Serve. Rest the sausages for 2 minutes. Serve whole in rolls with the peppers and onions, or slice them over pasta or rice.
Notes
- In a smaller 3–4 qt air fryer, cook the vegetables in a second batch, or use 3–4 sausages.
- Chicken or turkey Italian sausage is leaner and needs to reach 165°F74°C. Start checking at 10 minutes.
- Empty any fat from the drawer between batches so it doesn't smoke.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from typical ingredient values and will vary by brand and portion.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook Italian sausage in the air fryer?
Raw Italian sausage links take 12–16 minutes at 370°F190°C, turned halfway. Thick links about 1¼ inches across take 15–18 minutes at 360°F180°C, and frozen links take 18–22 minutes at 370°F190°C. They're done at 160°F71°C inside.
What temperature do you air fry Italian sausage at?
370°F190°C. It's hot enough to brown the casings but gentle enough that they don't split before the middle cooks. Use 360°F180°C for very thick links, and 380°F195°C for sliced coins or patties.
How do you know when Italian sausage is done?
The USDA recommends cooking ground pork sausage to 160°F71°C, and chicken or turkey sausage to 165°F74°C. Check with an instant-read thermometer pushed into the end of the sausage. The center should be firm, with no pink, and the juices should run clear.
Can you cook frozen Italian sausage in the air fryer?
Yes. There's no need to thaw it. Cook frozen raw links at 370°F190°C for 18–22 minutes. If they're frozen together, pull them apart after 5 minutes, then turn them halfway through.
Should you poke holes in Italian sausage before cooking?
No. Pricking the casings lets the fat and juices run out, which makes the sausage drier. The air fryer cooks them evenly without splitting at 370°F190°C.
Do hot and mild Italian sausage cook differently?
No. Mild, sweet and hot Italian sausage are the same except for the seasoning, so they take the same 12–16 minutes. Go by the thickness of the links instead.
Can you cook Italian sausage and peppers together in the air fryer?
Yes. Start the sausages for 6 minutes on their own, then add peppers and onions tossed in a little oil and cook everything for another 10–12 minutes. The vegetables soak up flavor from the sausage.
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