Air Fryer Chilli: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Yes, you can make chilli in an air fryer. It's a quick, easy, and delicious way to make a warming family meal when you're short on time. You can make a chilli con carne in an air fryer, which is a spicy mix of ground beef and kidney beans. It's simple to prepare and can be served in many different ways.

Air fryer chilli con carne

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Garlic puree (or 2 cloves of crushed fresh garlic)
• Red chilli puree (optional)
• Minced beef (preferably with a higher fat content)
• Beef stock (400ml made with one stock cube)
• Red wine (optional)
• Tinned chopped tomatoes
• Henderson's Relish (optional)
• Ground cumin
• Chilli powder
• Smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper
• Tomato puree
• Kidney beans (400g, drained)
• Rice, sour cream, or other sides of your choice

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 180 degrees Celsius.
• In a silicone basket or heatproof dish that fits your air fryer, add a tablespoon of olive oil, red onion, red pepper, garlic, and chilli. Stir to combine.
• Place the dish in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the minced beef to the dish, breaking it apart with a fork and stirring well to combine with the onions and peppers.
• Return the dish to the air fryer and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring halfway through. If the mince isn't browned after this time, continue cooking, stirring every 2 minutes, until it is.
• To the dish, add the red wine (if using), half of the beef stock, chopped tomatoes, Henderson's Relish (if using), cumin, chilli powder, paprika, cinnamon, salt and pepper, and tomato puree. Stir well to combine.
• Return the dish to the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes.
• Drain the kidney beans and add them to the dish, along with the remaining beef stock. Stir well.
• Return the dish to the air fryer for another 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes.
• Check that the chilli is piping hot before serving. If it isn't quite hot enough, stir and air fry for an additional 5 minutes.

Remember to stir regularly and ensure there's enough liquid to prevent the top from drying out. You can add a cup of water if needed. Also, be careful when stirring in the kidney beans to prevent them from exploding. But even if they do, they're still edible!

This air fryer chilli con carne is perfect served with rice or sour cream. You can also serve it with baked potatoes, pasta, wraps, tortilla chips, or salad. Enjoy!

Crispy chilli beef

Ingredients

• Beef strips (use a tender cut like sirloin, rump, or skirt steak)
• Cornflour/cornstarch
• Egg
• Vegetable oil
• Sweet chilli sauce
• Tomato ketchup
• Rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Light soy sauce
• Sriracha sauce or hot sauce
• Garlic
• Red pepper/bell pepper
• Sesame seeds
• Spring onions/green onions

Method

Firstly, slice your chosen cut of beef into thin, uniform strips. Put the strips in a bowl and add an egg, ensuring all the beef strips are coated. Next, add the cornflour. You can either mix the beef strips and cornflour together with your hands, or dip a few pieces of beef into the cornflour at a time. Spray the strips with oil, or brush them with vegetable oil.

Preheat your air fryer to around 200°C (400°F). Spray the air fryer basket with oil, or line it with baking paper or foil. Place the coated beef strips in a single layer in the basket, and cook for 5-6 minutes. Then, turn the strips over and cook for another 5-6 minutes until crispy.

While the beef is cooking, make the sauce. Combine sweet chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, sriracha sauce, and minced garlic in a saucepan. Stir well, then add the sliced red peppers/bell peppers and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Once the beef strips are crispy, add them to the pan with the sauce and red peppers/bell peppers. Stir until each strip is coated. Sprinkle sesame seeds and spring onions/green onions over the top before serving.

Tips

• This recipe is best served immediately, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and heated in the air fryer two days later.
• You can also freeze the crispy chilli beef for up to three months and reheat in the air fryer for around 8 minutes.
• This dish is versatile and can be served with plain steamed rice, egg-fried rice, or noodles.

Chilli cheese nuggets

Ingredients

• Frozen chilli cheese nuggets
• Vegetable oil or olive oil (optional)
• Dipping sauces (optional)

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
• (Optional) Brush the frozen chilli cheese nuggets with oil.
• Place the nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
• Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
• Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.

Tips

• Don't defrost the chilli cheese nuggets, cook them straight from frozen.
• Cook the nuggets in a single layer for an even cook. If making a large batch, cook them in batches.
• Don't overcook the nuggets to avoid the cheese leaking out.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• To reheat, preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) and cook for 2 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Ingredients for air fryer chilli

Air fryer chilli is a quick, easy, and delicious meal that can be prepared with a variety of ingredients. Here is a list of ingredients that you can use to make chilli in your air fryer:

Meat

For the meat, you can use minced beef, which is typically lean to prevent excess fat from sitting in your air fryer. However, a higher fat content can also work well, as it will cook better.

Vegetables

For vegetables, you can use onions, red peppers, and carrots. Chop the vegetables into small pieces to ensure even cooking. You can also add garlic, either in the form of fresh cloves or garlic puree.

Beans

An essential ingredient in chilli con carne is kidney beans. Use a 400g tin of drained kidney beans, or substitute them with another type of bean, such as baked beans or black beans, if you prefer.

Spices and Seasonings

Spices and seasonings are what give your chilli its unique flavour. You can use ground coriander, ground cumin, paprika, ground turmeric, chilli flakes or chilli powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika. Adjust the amount of chilli to your preferred level of spiciness. Don't forget to add salt and pepper to taste.

Liquids

To add moisture and flavour to your chilli, you'll need some liquids. These can include beef stock, red wine (optional), tinned chopped tomatoes, and tomato puree. You can also add a splash of Henderson's Relish, but this is optional and may be skipped if unavailable.

Cooking Oil

A small amount of cooking oil, such as olive oil, is necessary to prevent the ingredients from sticking and burning.

Optional Ingredients

Depending on your taste preferences, you can also include Worcestershire sauce, frozen chopped coriander, grated cheese, chopped jalapenos, and pitta bread.

Reheating chilli in an air fryer

Place the chilli in the fryer basket, ensuring that it is in an even layer. If you are reheating a large amount of chilli, consider doing so in batches to ensure even heating. Reheat for 10-15 minutes, depending on the quantity. You may need to stir the chilli or add a small amount of water to prevent it from drying out.

Check that the chilli is piping hot before serving. If it is not quite hot enough, return it to the air fryer and cook in 2-minute intervals until it reaches the desired temperature.

Storing leftover chilli:

Leftover chilli can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days or frozen for up to two months. Ensure it is placed in a clean, cool container and covered or sealed before refrigerating or freezing. To thaw frozen chilli, place it in the fridge overnight and then reheat it as described above.

Frequently asked questions