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–+ servings
Air Fryer Italian Sausage Links served on a plate

Air Fryer Italian Sausage Links

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Air fryer Italian sausage links cook quickly at high heat for crispy, caramelized casings while staying juicy inside. This hands-off method requires just 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, making it perfect for easy weeknight meals.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 links Italian sausage mild or hot, fresh with intact casing
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil brush lightly on sausage surface
  • 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder sprinkle after oiling
  • 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper coarse grind preferred
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried Italian herbs optional, skip if sausage is already highly seasoned
  • marinara sauce optional, warm separately for serving
  • bell peppers optional, for serving sautéed alongside

Equipment

  • Air fryer Used to cook the sausage links evenly with circulating heat
  • Instant-read thermometer To check internal temperature of the sausage
  • Tongs To flip sausages halfway through cooking

Method
 

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Pat the sausage links dry with paper towels, then brush lightly with olive oil on all sides.
    4-6 links Italian sausage, 1 tbsp olive oil
  2. Mix garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over the oiled sausages, coating all sides.
    0.5 tsp garlic powder, 0.5 tsp onion powder, 0.25 tsp black pepper, 0.5 tsp dried Italian herbs
  3. Arrange the sausages in the air fryer basket with 1 inch of space between each link. Cook for 7 minutes without opening the basket.
    4-6 links Italian sausage
  4. Flip sausages with tongs and cook for another 5-8 minutes. Check internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer and pull at 160°F.
    4-6 links Italian sausage
  5. Rest sausages on a plate for 3-5 minutes before slicing or serving. The internal temperature will rise to 165°F during resting, and juices will redistribute.
    4-6 links Italian sausage

Notes

  • Do not pierce the sausage casing before or during cooking to prevent juice loss and dryness.
  • Space sausages at least 1 inch apart in the air fryer basket for even browning and airflow circulation.
  • Use basket-style air fryers for the best air circulation and crisping.

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