Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

Air fryer chicken sausage is an easy way to warm fully cooked chicken sausages and brown the outside until they’re as crisp as you like. With almost no prep, it’s a convenient shortcut for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Cooking chicken sausage in the air fryer also makes it easy to build a complete meal. Serve the sausages with air fryer potato wedges and air fryer green beans, or use them in rice bowls and sandwiches. I’ll share a few more chicken sausage dinner ideas below.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Only two ingredients: All you need is your favorite fully cooked chicken sausage and a little cooking spray.
• No stovetop splatter: The air fryer browns the sausages without needing a skillet or grill.
• Versatile: Enjoy the sausages whole, sliced, or tucked into a sandwich with your favorite toppings.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what to know before getting started:

• Fully cooked chicken sausage: I use refrigerated Aidells garlic and artichoke chicken sausage. You can use another brand or flavor, as long as the package indicates it’s fully cooked.
• Avocado or olive oil spray: A light coating helps the outside brown and crisp.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

Arrange the Sausages

Place the chicken sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray them with oil.

Air Fry Until Browned

Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes. Flip, spray the other side, and continue cooking for 5–6 minutes, until heated through and browned to your liking.

Tips for the Best Results

• Adjust the browning: I prefer a little char on the outside. For a softer casing, start checking the sausages after 8–10 minutes.
• Cook in batches if needed: Leave enough space for hot air to circulate instead of overcrowding the basket.
• Allow for different sizes: Thicker links may need more time, while smaller sausages can warm through sooner.

Easy Chicken Sausage Dinner Ideas

Fully cooked chicken sausage is a convenient starting point when you need dinner without much preparation. Here are four ways to turn it into a meal.

Chicken Sausage Rice Bowls

Slice the warm sausages over cilantro lime rice with my fajita veggies. Finish with a drizzle of Peruvian green sauce, a creamy, slightly spicy topping you can make in a blender.

Chicken Sausage with Cheese Grits

Serve sliced sausage over my cheese grits for a comforting Southern-inspired dinner. The creamy, buttery grits pair nicely with the browned sausage. Add sautéed spinach or your favorite greens to complete the plate.

Chicken Sausage Sandwiches

Tuck the sausages into toasted buns with mustard and sautéed onions. Add my vinegar coleslaw for a crunchy, tangy topping, or serve it on the side.

Low-Carb Chicken Sausage Dinner

Pair the sausages with my buttery cauliflower rice pilaf and canned green beans. Both sides use simple ingredients, making this an easy option when you need dinner without much planning.

What to Serve With Chicken Sausage

Here are two more ways to enjoy these sausages:

• Comfort-food dinner: Pair them with baked macaroni and cheese and roasted green beans for a hearty meal.
• Easy appetizer: Slice the warmed sausages into bite-sized pieces and serve with toothpicks, mustard, or my spicy mayo for dipping.

Storage and Reheating

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days, following any shorter storage guidance on the package.
• Reheat: Warm in the air fryer or microwave until heated through. Avoid overheating to keep the sausages from drying out.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Sausage Recipes

For other ways to prepare sausage, try my air fryer Italian sausages or smoked sausage in the air fryer. Each recipe includes instructions suited to that type of sausage.

If you have fully cooked kielbasa instead, my Air Fryer Kielbasa shows how I slice and brown it in the air fryer.

For a complete stovetop dinner another day, try my cabbage and sausage with smoky sausage and tender, buttery cabbage.