This air fryer canadian bacon is one of the easiest breakfast sides you’ll ever make. It takes about 5 minutes, and the result is so much better than just heating it up in a pan.
The secret here is a simple maple-dijon glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer. It adds a sweet, tangy, slightly spicy flavor that takes regular canadian bacon to a whole new level.
You only need a handful of ingredients and barely any prep time. Mix the glaze, brush it on, and let the air fryer do the rest.
Serve it alongside scrambled eggs, stack it on a breakfast sandwich, or just eat it straight off the plate. It’s that good.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfectly Caramelized Edges – The maple-dijon glaze gets beautifully sticky and caramelized in the air fryer in a way a regular pan just cannot match.
Ready in Under 10 Minutes – From start to finish this recipe takes about 6 minutes of cook time so breakfast is on the table fast.
Sweet and Savory Flavor Combo – The maple syrup and dijon mustard create an irresistible sweet-tangy glaze with a little kick from the cayenne.
Ingredients
- 8 slices Canadian Bacon (about 1/4 inch thick)
- 2 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
- Cooking Spray
How To Make
Step 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until smooth and well combined.
Step 2
Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Step 3
Arrange the canadian bacon slices in a single layer in the basket. If your air fryer is smaller, work in batches rather than stacking the slices. Brush the tops of each slice generously with about half of the maple-dijon glaze.
Step 4
Air fry for 3 minutes, then flip each slice and brush with the remaining glaze. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are beautifully caramelized and lightly crisped.
Step 5
Remove and serve right away while the glaze is still warm and sticky. These are perfect alongside eggs, layered on a breakfast sandwich, or stacked on a toasted English muffin with a fried egg on top.
Tips
Pat the Canadian Bacon Dry First
Before you brush on the glaze, use a paper towel to pat each slice dry. Canadian bacon has some moisture on the surface from the packaging, and that moisture will stop the glaze from sticking properly.
Dry slices also crisp up way better in the air fryer. If there’s too much moisture, you’ll get steamed edges instead of that nice caramelized look you’re going for.
Don’t Skip the Preheating
Let your air fryer run at 370°F for about 3 minutes before you put the bacon in. If you skip this, the cook time won’t be accurate and the glaze won’t start caramelizing right away when the slices hit the basket.
Starting in a hot basket is what gives you those slightly crispy edges from the very first minute. A cold start leads to uneven cooking and a glaze that just kind of sits there instead of getting sticky and golden.
Mix the Glaze Until It’s Completely Smooth
The dijon mustard and maple syrup don’t blend together easily – you really need to whisk them for a good 30 seconds until there are no mustard clumps left. If the glaze isn’t smooth, some slices will get a big hit of mustard while others just taste sweet.
A fork works fine for this if you don’t have a small whisk. Just make sure the vinegar is fully mixed in too, because it tends to separate and sit at the bottom of the bowl.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Perfect Bacon
- Air Fryer Egg Bites
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- Air Fryer Pancakes
- Air Fryer Breakfast Egg Rolls
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip the glaze and just air fry the Canadian bacon plain?
Absolutely, you can air fry Canadian bacon with no glaze at all and it will still turn out great. Plain slices get nicely warmed through with lightly crispy edges in about the same cook time.
That said, the maple-dijon glaze is what really makes this recipe special. It adds a sweet and tangy flavor that takes basic Canadian bacon to the next level, so it is worth trying at least once.
Air Fryer Canadian Bacon
- 8 slices Canadian Bacon
- 2 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 pinch Cayenne Pepper
- Cooking Spray
- In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange the canadian bacon slices in a single layer in the basket. If your air fryer is smaller, work in batches rather than stacking the slices. Brush the tops of each slice generously with about half of the maple-dijon glaze.
- Air fry for 3 minutes, then flip each slice and brush with the remaining glaze. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are beautifully caramelized and lightly crisped.
- Remove and serve right away while the glaze is still warm and sticky. These are perfect alongside eggs, layered on a breakfast sandwich, or stacked on a toasted English muffin with a fried egg on top.