Can you cook sausage patties in air fryer? Yes! Learn how to cook raw sausage patties in the air fryer and get my delicious homemade pork sausage recipe. Making homemade air fryer sausage patties is easy- no meat grinder required! You get cooking tips for air frying AND for cooking on the stovetop. Serve these pork sausage patties with eggs and fruit for the best breakfast around!
What comes to mind when you think of a healthy breakfast? Does it surprise you that I would consider this sausage patties air fryer recipe to be nutritious? (Especially so when served with eggs and fruit.)
Cereals, muffins, toaster pastries, and other grain-based foods are very popular breakfast foods in the U.S. Even when these foods are whole grain, they are often high in added sugar and low in protein. I’d argue that pork, eggs, and fruit are more nutrient-dense, more filling, and (IMVHO) more delicious than most cereals and muffins.
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are great. However, there’s no need to be afraid of fresh pork sausage; plants are not the only healthy food option around!
Nourishing and delicious animal-based foods can help you power up your plate. They can be an important source of high-quality protein, vitamin B12, and highly bioavailable minerals (such as zinc and iron).
The main downside of pork sausage (for some) is the fat content. If you are trying to eat a lower fat diet, air fried foods can help!
When you air fry sausage, a lot of fat drips away while cooking. You can either discard the pork fat or save it for cooking. I’ll discuss the benefits of cooking with pork fat from your air fried pork sausage below!
Jump to:
- 📋 What are the calories, net carbs, and protein?
- ⭐ Benefits
- 🥓 Should you save sausage grease?
- 🥘 Ingredients
- 🍽 Equipment
- 🔪 How to Air Fry Sausage Patties
- ⏲️ Cooking Time and Temperature
- ️👪 How to Use Leftover Sausage Patties
- 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
- FAQs
- 👩🏻🍳 Other Homemade Sausage Recipes
- The Disclaimer…
- 📖 Recipe
📋 What are the calories, net carbs, and protein?
One air fryer sausage patty provides 252 calories, 3.7 grams net carbs, and 25.2 grams protein. This does not include cooking losses (i.e., fat lost during air frying, making a lower fat sausage). It also does not include anything that you serve with the sausage (such as eggs or fruit).
⭐ Benefits
Why make homemade pork sausage in an air fryer? Isn’t it so much easier to buy some premade sausage from the store?
It’s true that store-bought sausage is the easier option. However, here are some benefits of DIY sausage cooked in an air fryer:
- Fresh: If you want to swap out some of the processed meat in your diet for fresh meat, try this recipe. Though it is higher in calories than a couple of strips of bacon, you get more filling protein.
- Cooks quickly: Whether you’re having homemade sausage or pork sausage from the store, your air fryer cooks it fast.
- Cooks well: Both air frying and the stove top can give you moist sausage with crisp brown edges. So delicious!
- Lower fat: Air fryers are pretty much designed to take high fat foods and make them lower in fat. Do you love fatty foods (like sausage) but need to lower saturated fat in your diet? An air fryer may be a good investment.
- No unwanted additives: It’s a bummer, but most store-bought breakfast sausage counts as an ultra-processed food. Making your own sausage instead may help improve the overall quality of your diet. This, in turn, may make it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight.
🥓 Should you save sausage grease?
This is a bit of a strange topic for a dietitian to bring up, but I DO save the grease from air frying sausage. (For the record, my lipid panel always looks FABULOUS.)
If you are looking to reduce your saturated fat to bring down your LDL, this won’t be the best option for you. For others, using a little pork fat (leftover from cooking sausage or bacon) offers several advantages:
- Less food waste: It’s obvious, but using the animal fat prevents it from being thrown out.
- Money-saving: There’s no need to buy a bottle of cooking oil if you use the fat you already have. (Also not purchasing the bottle of oil saves on plastic and other environmental costs of manufacturing the product.)
- More aligned with the aim to eat whole foods: Health messaging often encourages the consumption of whole plant foods. Aiming for similar goals with animal-based foods is probably not a bad idea either.
- Lower in saturated fat than certain options: It may come as a surprise that the pork fat is lower in saturated fat than certain plant-based fats (like coconut oil). The option that is lowest in saturated fat would be a small spritz of cooking oil spray.
- Better cooking results: Cooking eggs in a little pork fat leaves the eggs with lovely lacy brown edges. I have a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, but my eggs still stick to the pan without using a little cooking spray or added oil. Pork grease gives the best results.
- Most delicious option: This one is entirely subjective, but I would argue that the pork fat wins on taste compared to vegetable oils.
🥘 Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make air fryer pork sausage:
- Ground pork
- Dried sage
- Dried thyme
- Crushed fennel seeds (critical for that breakfast sausage flavor!)
- Dried parsley
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Dry rolled oatmeal
- Large egg
The rolled oatmeal and egg act as binders in this recipe. If you want gluten free air fryer pork sausage, make sure the oats you use are certified gluten-free.
You don’t need cooking oil spray because ground pork naturally contains so much fat. Trust me- your sausage patties won’t stick to the air fryer!
To round out the meal, I’d also make sure to have the following items on hand:
- Eggs
- Fresh peaches, strawberries, or your favorite fruits
🍽 Equipment
If you’ll be cooking the sausages using the stovetop method, you’ll need a cast-iron skillet and meat thermometer. The skillet can be used to cook both sausage and eggs.
To air fry pork sausages, you’ll need an air fryer (surprise! Jk) and a meat thermometer. A skillet is still nice to have on hand for cooking eggs.
This air fryer recipe was developed using a 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven. However, you can use whatever air fryer you have to cook sausage. The Ninja Foodi, Cosori, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, Power Air Fryer, etc. can be used.
My air fryer oven comes with two trays, but I only use one tray for this recipe. This recipe is great for smaller fryers with air fryer baskets.
As always, keep a close eye on the food the first time you try an air fryer recipe. Cooking times can vary slightly between air fryer brands. You may need to make adjustments to the cooking time depending on which air fryer you use.
🔪 How to Air Fry Sausage Patties
To make air fryer breakfast sausage patties, start by combining all of the pork sausage ingredients with clean hands. When the mixture is uniform, divide it into four equal pieces and shape it into patties. Each patty should be 3-3½ inches in diameter and ½-inch thick.
You could also shape the mixture into sausage links, if you’d prefer. (Keep in mind that the cooking times will change if you do this.)
Believe it or not, you’re already ready to cook! The next section will have air fryer directions, followed by stove top directions.
⏲️ Cooking Time and Temperature
How long do sausage patties go in an air fryer? Not long at all! You will be cooking the patties for a total of 12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Preheat the air fryer at 375F for 5 minutes. Carefully put the sausage patties on a hot air fryer tray. Place the tray in the top rack position of the air fryer oven (closest to the heating element).
The patties should be in a single layer and should not be touching. It’s important that air can circulate freely to properly cook the patties.
Air fry the patties at 375F for 7 minutes. Then flip the patties over and cook an additional 5 minutes at 375F.
Check to ensure the sausage patties reached a minimum internal temperature of 160F with a meat thermometer. If they have not, you should air fry them longer until they do.
If cooking on the stovetop, start by heating a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Put the patties in a single layer in a skillet. Leave space between the patties to prevent them from sticking together.
Brown the patties for 4-5 minutes per side. Press down on the patties a bit with a spatula when you flip them for more even cooking. The patties are done when they have an internal temperature of at least 160F.
Plate the cooked sausage patties. You can fry the eggs with the pork grease left in the skillet. (Use the pork fat left in the air fryer if you air fried sausage patties.)
Plate your fried eggs and add some fruit on the side. Enjoy!
️👪 How to Use Leftover Sausage Patties
What do you do with sausage patty leftovers? Your leftover air fried sausage patties will keep for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Try crumbling them up and using them in one of these delicious recipes:
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
- One Pot Sausage and Bean Soup
- Lasagne con Zucchine (Lasagna with Zucchini)
Reheating sausage patties in the air fryer (patties that have been fully cooked and refrigerated) is easy. Preheat the air fryer by setting it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Then put the patties in a single layer on the top tray and air fry at 350F for 3-5 minutes.
Leftover air fryer sausage patties should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer to ensure they are done.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 2 recipe (transition or weight maintenance). Protein, fiber, and water are the food factors that help keep people full. I need to have all three components to keep me satiated. That means you’ll usually see a source of protein plus fruit/veg (for the fiber and water) in my meals.
Just sausage and eggs would typically not cut it for me for a filling meal. Neither would fruit without the protein, though fruit is fine to hold me over for a snack.
Some people report that their experience is different. For example, they’d find sausage and eggs filling without fruit.
Explore the sort of meals that help keep you full at a calorie deficit if you are aiming for fat loss. Calories aren’t the only important thing for weight loss. It’s also critical to find a dietary pattern of whole foods that you find satisfying and enjoyable enough to stick to.
Do you find high fat meats and dairy to be more filling than low-fat? (I don’t.) Do you find higher volume meals, filled with low-cal veggies and fruits to be satiating? (I do.)
Your answers may be different than mine, and that is OK. Modify your meals in ways that feel satisfying and enjoyable to you.
If you find meals that are higher in protein and fat to be more satiating, this may be a level 1 recipe for you. It may support your weight loss goals if eating meals like this makes it less likely you’ll snack or overeat later.
FAQs
Yes, you can cook frozen sausage patties (like Jimmy Dean, Bob Evans, or Johnsonville sausage patties) in the air fryer. Precooked sausage patties from the store are thinner than these homemade sausage patties, and air frying times are different. Try cooking them at 350F for 8-10 minutes. Check to ensure they’ve reached a minimum safe internal temperature of 165F before enjoying.
Though you could cook this homemade sausage in the microwave, I don’t recommend it. Though it’s possible to cook sausage to a minimum safe internal temperature of 160F in the microwave, it won’t brown. If you like your sausage browned on the outside and moist in the middle, stick to using the air fryer or stovetop.
To make these air fryer sausage patties keto, try swapping out the oatmeal for almond flour or low-carb bread crumbs. I tried making the sausage without the oats and thought the patties were too dense. You may need to use a smaller volume of almond flour for binding compared to the larger rolled oatmeal flakes.
Vegan and vegetarian meat analogues often contain less oil than their meat counterparts. Therefore, you may get better results by misting them with cooking oil before air frying. This may help them crisp up and brown a little better on the outside.
👩🏻🍳 Other Homemade Sausage Recipes
Want more recipes for making sausage? I love making homemade sausage and hope that this air fryer sausage patties recipe piqued your interest in the topic!
If you enjoyed this recipe, why not take things to the next level and make sausage with a meat grinder? You can use whatever cuts of meat or types of meat you want with a meat grinder.
Make a leaner sausage with a combination of chicken and pork. Your fresh sausage will be way tastier than anything you can find in the store. Here are some recipes for sausage to try:
- Fennel Sausage (Italian Sausage Meat Grinder Recipe)
- Homemade Sausage with Chicken, Feta, and Sun-dried Tomatoes
- Chicken Bratwurst with Pork
- Chorizo Recipe (Fresh, Homemade Mexican Chorizo Sausage)
P.S. The fennel sausage is SUPER in this Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers recipe. You are welcome. 🙂
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Sausage Patties in Air Fryer Recipe
Ingredients
For the pork sausage:
- 1 lb. ground pork (454 grams)
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup rolled oatmeal
- 1 large egg
Other ingredients needed:
- 8 large eggs
- 4 medium peaches, sliced (or strawberries, or other fruit)
Instructions
- Combine all of the pork sausage ingredients with clean hands.
- When the mixture is uniform, divide it into four even pieces.
- Shape each of the pieces into a large round patty.
To Air Fry Sausage Patties:
- Preheat the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Carefully put the sausage patties on a hot air fryer tray. Place the tray in the top rack position of the air fryer oven (closest to the heating element).
- Air fry the patties at 375°F (190°C) for 7 minutes. Then flip the patties over and cook an additional 5 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
- Check to ensure the sausage patties reached a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) with a meat thermometer. If they have not, cook them longer until they do.
To Cook Sausage Patties on Stovetop:
- If cooking on the stovetop, heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Brown the patties for 4-5 minutes per side. No added oil is needed!
- Press down on the patties a bit with the spatula when you flip them for more even cooking. The patties are done when they have an internal temperature of at least 160°F (71°C).
To Serve:
- Plate the cooked sausage patties. Add the sliced peaches or other fruits to the plates as well.
- Fry the 8 eggs in the cast iron skillet, using the pork fat left in the skillet or the air fryer. You may want to set aside some of the pork fat, since you will likely need to cook the eggs in several batches.
- Plate the cooked eggs. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
This is a level 2 recipe (transition or weight maintenance). Protein, fiber, and water are the food factors that help keep people full. I need to have all three components to keep me satiated. That means you’ll usually see a source of protein plus fruit/veg (for the fiber and water) in my meals. Just sausage and eggs would typically not cut it for me for a filling meal. Neither would fruit without the protein, though fruit is fine to hold me over for a snack. Some people report that their experience is different. For example, they’d find sausage and eggs filling without fruit. Explore the sort of meals that help keep you full at a calorie deficit if you are aiming for fat loss. Calories aren’t the only important thing for weight loss. It’s also critical to find a dietary pattern of whole foods that you find satisfying and enjoyable enough to stick to. Do you find high fat meats and dairy to be more filling than low-fat? (I don’t.) Do you find higher volume meals, filled with low-cal veggies and fruits to be satiating? (I do.) Your answers may be different than mine, and that is OK. Modify your meals in ways that feel satisfying and enjoyable to you! If you find meals that are higher in protein and fat to be more satiating, this may be a level 1 recipe for you. It may support your weight loss goals if eating meals like this makes it less likely you’ll snack or overeat later. Nutrition information is for one serving of the pork breakfast sausage only, without the eggs and fruit.
Nutrition
This recipe has been updated from 2019 with air fryer directions, new photos, a recipe video, and more nutrition information. (Whew!) Enjoy!
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