Air fryer egg & bacon croissants

The air fryer breakfast upgrade 

We love an air fryer in this house. I mean, I love it so much I wrote a full bloomin’ Sunday Times bestselling cookbook about it. That’s commitment. You can check out my book, Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook here. I obviously had to plug it, right! 

But back to the recipe! If you’re after a quick brekky that gives Pret vibes without the need to remortgage, then these speedy air fryer egg & bacon croissants are exactly what you need in your life. They’ve got a solid protein hit to keep you going all the way til lunch and they feel that little bit more exciting than your everyday bacon butty.

And yes, I bought the croissants. Because who is laminating dough at 7am? Not me. Although I absolutely do enjoy a homemade croissant and a big high five to anyone who makes them from scratch, but this recipe is for speed and ease. 

Why you need an air fryer in your life

So let’s start with less washing up, big plus right there. Instead of boiling eggs in one pan, frying bacon in another and heating croissants in the over, we’re doing it all in one place. There’s also less faffing around and less need to be hovering around multiple pots. 

You can pop everything in, let it crack on, and use that time to make a cup of tea, stick a wash on or scroll through Poppy Cooks latest posts…

It might take a minute or two longer than aggressively frying everything at once, but it’s far less hands-on.

If you’re after even more delicious air fryer recipes, you can buy my book, Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook which has all the staple recipes and incredible dinners, desserts and snacks for air fryer success. 

The flavours going on with this baby

Streaky bacon may be the standout ingredient here, but let’s not forget about the other lovely flavours packed into this croissant. To balance out that salty flavour, we’ve added a kick of Tabasco and wholegrain mustard, mayo for the creaminess and some rocket and chives that illusion of health. We love a light sprinkling of greenery. 

FAQs

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

So this kinda goes against all the benefits I mentioned earlier, but if you love the recipe and don’t mind the extra pans, you can fry bacon in a pan til crispy, hard-boil your eggs, then warm croissants in the oven. 

Can I use sausages instead of bacon?

Absolutely. Chipolatas work super well and you can just cook them fully first (about 8–10 minutes in the air fryer depending on size), then slice them lengthways so they sit snugly in the croissant without rolling out the sides. 

You could also use veggie sausages or even a bit of smoked salmon if you’re feeling boujee. 

What else would make a great breakfast croissant?

If you’ve bought a big pack (because we love efficiency), mix it up across the week:

• Scrambled egg, cheddar and crispy hash brown

• Sausage, caramelised onions and tomato sauce

• Bacon, brie and cranberry

• Spinach, mushroom and feta

• Ham and gruyère with Dijon mustard

Can I prep these ahead?

You can cook the bacon in advance and reheat it quickly in the air fryer but this dish is best assembled fresh on the day. The croissants can go soggy if assembled too early so try avoid this if possible. They’re delicious cold too.

How do I stop the croissant going too crispy?

Pop it in for just the last 1–2 minutes of cooking to warm through, rather than the full time. Some air fryers can be super powerful, so keep an eye on it!