Air Fryer Magic: The Ultimate Guide To Frying Perfection

The air fryer cookbook, How to Make Anything in an Air Fryer by Hayley Dean, is a comprehensive guide to cooking with an air fryer. It features 100 quick, easy, and tasty recipes, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. The book caters to those looking to save time and money, as well as those seeking culinary inspiration. With UK measurements and photography throughout, it is an accessible guide for air fryer enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Breakfasts and brunches

With an air fryer, you can make a wide variety of breakfast and brunch dishes, from sweet to savoury, in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Here are some ideas to get you started:

French Toast

French toast is a breakfast classic, and with an air fryer, you can achieve that perfect crisp exterior and fluffy interior in under 10 minutes. For an extra indulgent treat, try French toast sticks, which are amazing for dunking in maple syrup.

Hash Browns

The air fryer is perfect for achieving crispy, golden hash browns without the grease. Simply cut up some potatoes, add your favourite seasonings, and let the air fryer work its magic while you get ready for your day.

Eggs

The air fryer is a great way to cook eggs, whether you like them fried, boiled, or as part of a dish like an egg roll or breakfast pizza. For a tasty and convenient breakfast on the go, try making Scotch eggs, which are hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and air-fried to perfection.

Bacon

Cooking bacon in an air fryer is faster than using an oven and perfect for small batches. You'll get perfectly crispy bacon with a lot less grease. For a sweet and savoury treat, try bacon-wrapped avocados, which are a great side dish to serve with eggs and pancakes.

Breakfast Sweets

The air fryer is also great for baking, allowing you to make treats like cinnamon rolls, banana bread, muffins, and even doughnuts with a fraction of the oil. For a fun breakfast dessert, try making churros or apple fritters, which are like donut holes with a crispy, sugary coating.

Speedy lunches

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

Air fryer grilled cheese is a quick and easy option for lunch. To make it, butter one side of each slice of bread and place a piece of cheese on the non-buttered side. Close the sandwich and cook in the air fryer for 6 to 8 minutes at 340 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping it halfway through. You can also add some cooked protein like ham or bacon, or fresh ingredients like spinach or avocado.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs cooked in an air fryer are a speedy and succulent option for lunch. Simply cook the chicken thighs in the air fryer until the skin is crispy and the meat is juicy. You can also add a spicy coating to give it an extra kick.

Air Fryer Fish Tacos

For a quick and easy lunch, try making fish tacos in your air fryer. Bread some tilapia fillets or other white fish and air-fry them until crispy. Serve in corn tortillas with a creamy white sauce and your favorite toppings.

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

For a vegetarian option, try making buffalo cauliflower in your air fryer. This recipe is a plant-based take on General Tso's chicken and can be served as a snack or side dish. The cauliflower bites cook up fast in the air fryer, making them a great option for a speedy lunch.

Air Fryer Pork Chops

Pork chops can be dry and chewy when overcooked, but the air fryer helps to seal in moisture and protect against overcooking. Simply season and bread your pork chops and cook them in the air fryer for a juicy and flavorful lunch option.

Healthy dinners

Air fryers are a great way to make healthy dinners. They use less oil than deep-frying, so you can enjoy your favourite crispy treats without the guilt! Here are some ideas for healthy dinners from the book "How to Make Anything in an Air Fryer" by Hayley Dean:

• Chicken skewers with satay peanut sauce
• Tuna crunch wrap
• Air fryer chicken thighs
• Salmon fillets with herb seasoning and greens
• Air fryer beef joint
• Air fryer red potatoes with rosemary
• Air fryer roasted green beans
• Air fryer cumin carrots
• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer fish and chips

There are plenty of other healthy dinner options in the book, as well as breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. You can also find air fryer recipes online, such as on the BBC Good Food and Taste of Home websites.

Sweet treats

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Air fryer chocolate chip cookies are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. They take less than 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Brownies

Air fryer brownies are perfect if you don't want to heat up the whole oven or make a large batch. You can also add instant coffee or espresso for a deeper chocolate flavour.

Air Fryer Churros

Air fryer churros are crispy and golden, coated in cinnamon sugar, and dipped in chocolate sauce. They are a fun treat without the oil!

Air Fryer Banana Bread

This spin on the classic delivers moist banana bread thanks to the air fryer's intense heat and air circulation. You can also add pumpkin pie spice, chocolate chips, or different nuts to the batter.

Air Fryer Apple Crisp

A not-too-sweet oat streusel topping is tucked into a cored apple in this healthy air fryer dessert. It takes just 15 minutes for the apple to become tender and the filling to crisp up.

Air Fryer Cheesecake

Air fryer cheesecakes are creamy desserts that make two ramekin cheesecakes without preheating the oven. Serve them with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are like pastries or donuts but can be made with a simple batter instead of yeast. They are sweet and cinnamony and very easy to make.

Air Fryer Baked Apples

Baked apples are a fabulous dessert, and with an oat topping, it's like a self-contained apple crisp. You can also cut the back a little to create a flat surface and sprinkle with brown sugar before cooking.

Air Fryer Bread Pudding

This rich, chocolatey dessert is a thrifty way to use up day-old bread. An easy-to-make custard and chopped chocolate make it especially noteworthy. Serve it warm with whipped cream.

Air Fryer Blueberry Hand Pies

These blueberry hand pies have a flaky pie crust and a delicious, juicy filling. They are the perfect dessert because they're ready in under 15 minutes from start to finish.

Air Fryer Chocolate Donut Holes

These homemade chocolate donut holes are delicious and easy to make thanks to the air fryer. They taste just like store-bought ones and are coated with a perfectly sweet glaze.

Air Fryer S'mores

You'll get your gooey marshmallow and melted chocolate without the mess. After a few minutes, the marshmallow will start to turn golden, and when you place the chocolate on top, the residual heat will melt it.

Air Fryer Apple Pies

These simple pies only require four ingredients and 10-15 minutes of prep. Use store-bought pie dough and apple pie filling to keep things quick. You can also swap out the apples for any pie filling you like.

Air Fryer Apple Fries

These are a great little snack. The sugar and graham cracker crust is ideal, and it's like eating apple crisp without the hassle.

Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

This classic flourless peanut butter cookie recipe is one of the easiest desserts you can make. You'll need just peanut butter, sugar, and eggs.

Air Fryer Lemon Oreos

Use your air fryer to get the crisp, sweet fun of deep-fried Oreos from the state fair without a deep fryer. This easy recipe uses pancake mix, lemon yogurt, and milk to make a zingy batter for lemon Oreos.

Air Fryer Cookie Pie

Like a giant toffee chocolate chip cookie, this cookie pie can be baked in an 8-inch cake pan in the air fryer. It has two layers of toffee cookie and a melty layer of Nutella in the middle.

Air Fryer Apple Danish

These mini pastries taste just like cinnamon apple Danishes from the bakery. Canned crescent rolls stand in for the usual puff pastry, so they're a snap to roll up. Air-fry these in batches with plenty of room for air circulation and even browning.

Air Fryer Doughnuts

These doughnuts are done in less time than it takes to brew a pot of coffee. Just cut biscuit dough into rounds and air-fry. Brush with vanilla-spiked melted butter and coat in cinnamon sugar.

Air Fryer Yorkshire Pudding Wraps with Roast Beef

This recipe is by Hayley Dean, the creator of @hayleys.world, who has turned her lifelong love of cooking into an online platform.

Snacks

Air Fryer Mozzarella Chips

Coat string cheese in cornflakes, panko breadcrumbs, and serve with a creamy avocado dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Croquettes

Make these Japanese-inspired snacks with panko breadcrumbs and serve with tangy tonkatsu sauce.

Air Fryer Nuts and Bolts

A slightly sweet and spicy mix of Nutri-grain, pretzels, and nuts drizzled with honey.

Air Fryer Lemonade Scones

Add lemonade to your scone mix for a tangy twist. Best served warm with a hearty soup.

Air Fryer Honey Mustard Haloumi Crunchers

Coat sticks of haloumi in a crispy mustard-flavoured panko crumb and serve with honey mustard mayo.

Air Fryer Feta Nuggets

Serve these panko-crusted feta bites with a spicy BBQ sauce for a meat-free snack.

Air Fryer Pizza Pockets

Make pizza pockets in an air fryer for a perfect after-school snack.

Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese Bites

Forget deep-frying. Air fry these cauliflower bites with smoky seasoning for a perfect snack or side dish.

Air Fryer Brazilian Cheese Bread Puffs

Also known as pao de queijo, this gluten-free snack is extra crunchy on the outside and chewy and soft on the inside.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Make these in an air fryer for an extra crispy texture. Dust with cinnamon and brown sugar for an extra sweet treat.

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

A healthier alternative to Buffalo wings, coat the florets in Buffalo sauce and dip into blue cheese dressing.

Air Fryer Crunchy Chili-Spiced Chickpeas

Delicious as a crunchy topper for salads, soups, or grain bowls. Toss with hot popcorn for a movie snack.

Air Fryer Pickles

Drain off any excess liquid and pat the pickles dry before cooking for extra crispy fried pickles.

Air Fryer Broccoli Ranch Tots

A healthier take on the classic tater tot, swap potatoes for broccoli and air fry for a less oily package.

Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins

A fresh twist on potato skins, stuff zucchini skins with cheddar, tomato, and avocado.

Air Fryer Everything Bagel Avocado Fries

Combine two iconic breakfasts: toast avocado in the air fryer and serve on a bagel with cream cheese.

Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

A Greek-inspired version of elote or Mexican street corn, use Greek yogurt and feta instead of cotija to keep the toppings in place.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Glaze the drumsticks and return them to the air fryer for a sticky finish.

Frequently asked questions