Making turkey sausage in the air fryer is a quicker, easier healthier way to cook turkey sausage, with less mess! They are healthier than a traditional pork sausage and even healthier when they are cooked in the air fryer because excess fat drains off and is deposited in the bottom of the drawers, below the crisper plates, and not reabsorbed back into the sausages.
The great thing about the air fryer is that you can cook a lot at once (I cooked 24 in my Ninja Foodi Dual drawer) and there is very little mess. That makes it so much better than cooking sausages in a frying pan!
Turkey sausages are ideal for breakfast any time of the year and go great with eggs of course, but are the perfect pairing with my Mexican Sheet Pan Eggs and Old Fashioned Fruit Salad, as well as many other breakfast and brunch recipes.
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I love my turkey sausage, but I love it even more when it's fast and easy! And for several years, I bought Costco's pre-cooked turkey sausages. All I had to do was heat them in the microwave, boil some eggs and I had a quick meal!
That was until they stopped carrying them... So I had to come up with a solution in order to have my beloved turkey sausages. Enter my air fryer..... I cooked up a bunch of turkey sausages, then put them in the freezer for quick and easy breakfasts.
🥘Ingredient Notes
You only need 2 simple ingredients:
- Turkey breakfast Sausage- you can use any brand of turkey sausages or use chicken sausages (directions are the same) or use different kinds of sausages.* I love maple-flavored turkey sausages, so that's what I use, but you could just add a little maple syrup to your sausages and enjoy them that way!
- Spray cooking oil ( I use canola or avocado oil ) due to both oils having a higher smoke point. *You can read about smoke point here, if you're not familiar with it. The best oil to use in an air fryer is avocado or canola, as they have a high smoking point. Also, it's important to use a non- propellant spray (see Top Tip) And you can learn more about the best types of oil to use in your air fryer HERE!
*See printable recipe card for quantities
🔪How to Cook Turkey Sausages in the Air Fryer
Simply follow these easy steps:
- Step 1: Spray the bottom of your clean air fryer basket or drawer with a little oil (propellant free) *I use about 2 pumps
- Step 2: Add thawed uncooked sausages on top of the grill in a single layer (do not stack, although it's okay if they touch)
- *See NOTES in recipe card if you are cooking from frozen
- Step 3: Spray 3-4 pumps of oil, making sure to cover all the turkey breakfast sausage links *This is critical if you want them to brown and have crispy skin *Spray the same amount in 2nd drawer if you're using a dual air fryer
- Step 4: Set to air fry at 350 degrees f (176 degrees c) *If you are using both drawers, set to match cook
- Step 5: Set the air fryer for about 12 minutes (check and turn or shake at 5-6 minutes). They may need a couple of minutes longer. *This time could vary, depending on the type of air fryer you have and if you are using thicker sausages, they will take a little longer.* They are ready when the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) on a meat thermometer.
- Step 6: Remove sausages onto a plate lined with paper towel.
- Step 7: Pat with more paper towel to remove excess oil. * I do this because I want less oil and I'm freezing them, but it's not necessary. It will also make them look 'less plump' and shrivel a bit
Hint: Since cooking time can very, depending on the model of air fryer you own, the best way to check for doneness is with internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Expert Tips
- Spray your turkey sausages (and anything you put in the air fryer) with a light spray of cooking oil. Do NOT use an aerosol cooking spray with propellants (like Pam). Oil with propellants can cause damage to the surface of your air fryer and cause the coating to flake off and potentially onto your food. *The label will tell you whether it has propellants or not
- I recommend you invest in some silicone tongs. They won't damage the inside of your air fryer like metal ones will.
- Internal temperature is the best way to check for doneness. I recommend everyone own an instant-read thermometer. You can use it for everything (pie, bread etc) not just meat!
🍳 What to Serve with Air Fried Turkey Sausage
If you're looking for traditional, I recommend serving these Old Fashioned Pancakes with these turkey sausages. Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole is great pairing if you're having a special occasion breakfast and either this Weight Watchers Crustless Quiche or this Roasted Red Pepper Egg White Bites recipe is ideal if you're looking to keep it light.
You can also use air fryer turkey sausages in my Award-Winning Maple Sausage Brunch Bites (shown below)
🌡️How to Store Air Fried Turkey Breakfast Sausages
Store leftover sausage in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Or cool and freeze in an airtight container or Ziplock freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Reheat: heat from frozen in microwave for 30-50 seconds, depending on power of your microwave.
👪Serving Size
Of course, serving size will depend on the size of your air fryer, but I could fit 24 servings (2 packages of 12) in my 2 drawer 8 quart Ninja Foodi.
🔢WW Points
Turkey sausage are Weight Watchers friendly @ 3 WW points for 2 sausages on my plan. This is the same as the Costco (Smokey River brand).
❔ Recipe FAQ's
Sausages take anywhere from 10-15 minutes to cook in an air fryer.
Yes, you can, but it will take a little longer to cook them than fresh sausage (about 10 minutes longer). *See NOTES in recipe card for directions
Yes, you should spray them with a light spray of oil (with non-propellants), as this helps make them a little crispier and brown, and prevents them from shriveling up. Turkey sausage has only ⅓ of the fat of a pork sausage, so they need that oil to cook properly in the air fryer.
Your air fryer should be set at 350 degrees F/176 degrees C to cook turkey sausages.
So, if you're looking for a quick, easy, and healthy way to make turkey sausage, the air fryer is the answer!
More Air Fryer Recipes
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📋 Air Fryer Turkey Sausage Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 turkey sausages
- spray oil * I use canola (no propellants)
Instructions
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket or drawer with a little oil (propellant free)
- Add uncooked sausages on top of the grill in a single layer (do not stack, although it's okay if they touch)
- Spray 3-4 pumps of oil, making sure to cover all the sausages *Spray the same amount in 2nd drawer if you're using a dual air fryer *Spraying them with oil is critical if you want them to brown
- Air fry on 350 degrees f (176 degrees c)
- Set the air fryer for about 12 - 14 minutes (check on them and turn or shake at 5-6 minutes). * 14 minutes was perfect for me
- They will be done when they are lightly browned and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C)
- Remove sausages to a plate lined with paper towel.
- Pat dry to remove excess oil with another paper towel. * I do this because I want less oil and I'm freezing them, but it's not necessary. It will also make them look 'less plump' and shrivel a bit
- Serve and enjoy! * You can also cool and freeze (see Storage)
Notes
- Spray your turkey sausages (and anything you put in the air fryer) with a light spray of cooking oil. Do NOT use an aerosol cooking spray with propellants (like Pam). Oil with propellants can cause damage to the surface of your air fryer and cause the coating to flake off and potentially onto your food. *The label will tell you whether it has propellants or not
- I recommend you invest in some silicone tongs. They won't damage the inside of your air fryer like metal ones will.
- Internal temperature is the best way to check for doneness. I recommend everyone own an instant-read thermometer. You can use it for everything (pie, bread etc) not just meat!
- Place grill base in basket or drawer. Spray bottom of air fryer with oil.
- Add frozen sausages.
- Spray top of sausages with oil (2-3 sprays of non-propellant oil)
- Cook for 10 minutes on 350 degrees F, then shake or turn (if you have drawer type air fryer, you can drain the water that's accumulated under the grill)
- Cook for 10 additional minutes (20 minutes in total).
Terri Gilson
Making turkey sausages in the air fryer is so quick and easy and they taste amazing! I've made them this way for countless guests and they love them. The best part is you don't heat up your house during warm weather. They can also be made ahead and frozen for quick weekdays breakfasts!