Air Fryer Magic: Turn Your Appliance Into A Culinary Wizard

Air fryers are a versatile kitchen appliance that can cook a variety of dishes from breakfast to dinner, snacks to desserts. They are a healthier alternative to deep-fried food as they use 95% less oil and deliver crispy results. Air fryers are also energy-efficient, saving up to 80% more energy than electric ovens. They are perfect for quick, easy meals as they heat up in seconds and are ideal for cooking frozen food. Hayley Dean, author of the book How to Make Anything in an Air Fryer, shares 100 quick, easy, and delicious recipes in her book. From honey garlic chicken to air fryer banana halves, there is something for everyone.

Breakfasts and brunches

The air fryer is a great way to make a variety of breakfast and brunch dishes, from sweet to savoury options. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Sweet Options

• French toast sticks or cups: Cut bread into fingers or use Texas toast for the sticks, and soak them in a French toast egg mixture before coating with crushed cornflakes or cereal flakes. Air fry until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
• Cinnamon rolls: Use homemade or premade pastry dough. Roll out the dough, brush with butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Form the rolls and let them rise, then air fry for a decadent breakfast treat.
• Doughnuts: Air-fried doughnuts are less messy than deep-fried ones and can be just as tasty. Use canned biscuit dough or make your own dough, and fry until golden. For a sweet glaze, dip the doughnuts in a mixture of powdered sugar, water or milk.
• Apple fritters: A sweet and fruity breakfast option. Mix apples, cinnamon, sugar, and butter, and air fry for a delicious autumnal treat.
• Pop-tarts: Use pre-made pie crusts, strawberry jam, and a sweet glaze for a golden, flaky breakfast.
• Banana bread: The air fryer produces an insanely soft and fluffy banana bread in under 45 minutes. Use over-ripe bananas for extra flavour and moisture.

Savoury Options

• Hash browns: A classic breakfast side dish, the air fryer produces perfectly crispy and fluffy hash browns with minimal oil.
• Breakfast burritos: Scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla. Avoid adding wet ingredients like salsa before cooking to ensure the burritos stay crispy.
• Bacon: The air fryer is a perfect match for bacon, as it limits splatter and makes the bacon nice and crispy. Use a wire rack for even crispier results.
• Sausage patties: Cook these straight from frozen in the air fryer for a juicy and tender breakfast protein.
• Mini frittatas: Whisk eggs and add diced peppers and your favourite toppings, such as cheese or bacon bits. Pour into cupcake papers and air fry for a quick and protein-packed breakfast.
• Breakfast potatoes or home fries: Season chopped potatoes with herbs and spices, then air fry for a tasty and crispy breakfast side.
• Scrambled eggs: Make perfect scrambled eggs in your air fryer with minimal effort.
• Poached eggs: Cook perfectly runny poached eggs in the air fryer every time.
• Fried eggs: Enjoy crispy edges and runny yolks without the excess oil by frying your eggs in the air fryer.

There are endless possibilities for breakfast and brunch in the air fryer, so get creative and enjoy!

Speedy lunches

Air fryers are a great way to make speedy lunches with minimal prep and cleanup. Here are some ideas for quick and easy meals that you can make in your air fryer:

Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic, and the air fryer gives them a perfect crispiness. You can use a variety of cheeses, such as American, cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss, and add extras like ham, bacon, or sliced apples. Simply butter the outside of the sandwich, place it in the air fryer, and cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Hot Dogs

Air fryer hot dogs are a quick and easy option. Try Hebrew National hot dogs at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes, adding the buns in the last 4 minutes. You can top them with horseradish and kimchi for a unique twist.

Frozen Foods

The air fryer is perfect for heating up frozen convenience foods like corn dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets, or mozzarella sticks. You can also air fry frozen vegetables, either as a side dish or added to a meal.

Chicken Tenders

Bagged chicken tenders are a great option for a speedy lunch. You can air fry them and serve them on a salad for a crispy chicken salad with minimal effort.

Baked Potatoes

Pierce a potato with a fork several times, then microwave it for 5 minutes. Add oil and salt, and air fry for a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. You can top it with black beans, sausage, or other proteins.

Roasted Vegetables

Cut your favourite vegetables into similar sizes, toss them in oil and seasonings, and air fry until crispy. This is a great side dish or addition to any meal.

Salmon

Salmon fillets cook beautifully in the air fryer. You can coat them in herb seasoning and serve with greens and grains for a delicious and healthy lunch.

Pork Chops

The air fryer is a great way to cook pork chops, sealing in moisture and preventing them from drying out. Season them with paprika, mustard, onion powder, and Parmesan, then air fry for a juicy and flavourful meal.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eggs are a breeze to make in the air fryer. You can cook them and use them for breakfast, salads, or sandwiches.

French Fries

You can make crispy French fries in your air fryer with minimal oil. Cut potatoes into thin slices, soak them in ice water for 15 minutes, then air fry until crispy.

Healthy dinners

Air fryers are a great way to cook healthy dinners with minimal oil and less mess. Here are some ideas for healthy dinners that you can make in an air fryer:

Vegetables and Sides

• Brussels sprouts: Air-fry these to get a nice crisp bite. You can toss them in a maple-sriracha glaze for added flavour.
• Broccoli: Air fry with mushrooms and onions for a tasty side dish.
• Potatoes: Try air fryer French fries, potato wedges, or sweet potato fries. You can also make air fryer hash browns or potato chips.
• Carrots: Try air fryer carrots with marinated feta.
• Green beans: Try air fryer roasted green beans or frozen green beans.
• Mushrooms: Air fry with balsamic vinegar for a delicious side dish.
• Butternut squash: Make crispy butternut squash fries or delicata squash.
• Asparagus: Air fryer asparagus is a great, healthy, vegan, and low-carb side dish.
• Avocado: Make avocado fries or avocado toast.
• Beets: Wrap in tin foil and pop them in the air fryer.
• Zucchini: Make zucchini skins, zucchini chips, or zucchini fries.
• Cauliflower: Try air fryer cauliflower tacos or cauliflower rice.
• Corn on the cob: Make cilantro-lime corn on the cob.
• Eggplant: Make eggplant sticks.

Proteins

• Chicken: Air fry chicken breasts, chicken tenders, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken Parmesan, chicken sandwiches, chicken fajitas, chicken cutlets, chicken wings, chicken taquitos, chicken tikka, or chicken meatballs.
• Pork: Try air fryer pork tenderloin, pork chops, or pork schnitzel.
• Fish: Air fry salmon, cod, crab cakes, shrimp, or fish sticks.
• Turkey: Make air fryer turkey bacon, turkey meatballs, or turkey croquettes.
• Tofu: Try air fryer tofu steaks or crispy tofu.
• Eggs: Air fry hard-boiled eggs.

Full Meals

• Falafel: Make falafel bites or a falafel salad.
• Pizza: Personal pizzas cook well in the air fryer.
• Tacos: Try cauliflower tacos, shrimp tacos, or popcorn shrimp tacos.
• Flatbreads: Make salmon flatbreads or chicken flatbreads.
• Soup: Try air fryer butternut squash soup.
• Rice: Make fried rice using day-old rice or packaged cooked rice.
• Noodles: Try peanut sauce soba with tofu.
• Sandwiches: Make a Green Goddess sandwich with air-fried hard-boiled eggs, or a chicken sandwich with Sriracha mayo.
• Burgers: Air fry black bean burgers or chicken burgers.

Desserts

• Fruit: Air fry apples or peaches.
• Cookies: Make peanut butter chocolate chip cookies or breakfast cookies.

Sweet treats

Air fryers are a great way to make desserts without deep-frying them. Here are some sweet treats you can make:

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you've ever wanted to bake just one or two cookies but didn't want to turn on your oven, the air fryer is perfect. You can satisfy your craving without overheating your kitchen or making a big mess.

Peanut Butter Explosion Cakese

These cakes are so rich and creamy. You can make them in your air fryer or your Instant Pot.

Air Fryer Donuts

Skip the pot of hot oil and make these healthier air fryer donuts. If you've ever had a baked donut, brace yourself: these are SO good.

Air Fryer Bloomin' Apples

This dessert is inspired by the ever-popular bloomin' onion. Though they look fancy and complicated, they're actually quite easy to make.

Air Fryer S'mores

You can make s'mores without a campfire. And when you make them at home, you can add things like fruit or caramel sauce.

Banana Pancake Dippers

For best results, use a thick pancake batter. This recipe is perfect for coating the bananas and comes out super fluffy.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

The secret to this recipe is a can of crescent dough. Cinnamon rolls couldn't be easier.

Air Fryer Molten Lava Cake

The centre of this cake is decadent, gooey, and warm. And with only 5 ingredients!

Crustless Air Fryer Cheesecake

This cheesecake is low-carb-friendly because it uses zero-calorie sweetener and no crust. And where a regular cheesecake could take an hour, this one only takes 10 minutes!

Air Fryer Fried Oreos

You can make this state fair favourite without all the grease. Using crescent rolls is the perfect way to get a fantastic tender coating.

Air Fryer Caramel Apple S'mores

Your s'mores have been waiting for the addition of fruit and caramel. These taste like a slice of pie!

Air Fryer Vegan Beignets

These will make you feel like you're at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, but they're vegan and made with full-fat coconut milk.

Air Fryer Blueberry Hand Pies

If you use pre-made pie dough, these come together very fast.

Air Fryer Spiced Apples

These spicy apples are gluten-free and the perfect base for crisps, pies, or just a dollop of ice cream.

Air Fryer Apple Crisp

Enjoy the taste of fall all year round with this easy dessert. Perfectly roasted apples and a golden-brown streusel topping are ready in just 30 minutes.

Air Fryer Baked Apples

Baked apples are a fabulous dessert, and with the oat topping, it’s like a self-contained apple crisp.

Air Fryer Bread Pudding

If you have some leftover bread, you can make this soft, sweet, and incredibly delicious dessert.

Air Fryer Cheesecake Chimichangas

A quick cheesecake mix and fresh fruit, jam, Nutella, or even pie filling—you can whip it up in no time!

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

The air fryer is perfect for this recipe. Unless you’re making enough for a crowd, using the air fryer will save you from having to turn on the big oven for just one little skillet.

Air Fryer Apple Chips

Use a mandolin if you have one, or be sure to cut your slices thin.

Air Fryer Banana Chips

Banana chips are sweet, a little salty, and deliciously spiced. Choose firm, yellow fruit for this – not soft like you would for banana bread.

Air Fryer Strawberry Pop-Tarts

Making your own pop-tarts is such a fun way to spend an afternoon, and you can go crazy with those fillings!

Air Fryer Pineapple

Draw out the yummy tropical taste of fresh pineapple with a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon. The sugars caramelize in the air fryer, leaving the fruit soft and scrumptious.

Air Fryer Blueberry Muffins

You don’t need a cupcake tin for these muffins. Just use a batch of paper liners that don’t need a tray to keep their shape.

Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are like donuts but can be made with a simple batter instead of yeast. That means no resting or proofing, and you can make and eat them right away.

Snacks

Air fryers are a great way to make snacks healthier, as they use a fraction of the oil of conventional frying. They're also a convenient way to make crispy snacks without the mess of deep frying. Here are some snack ideas you can make in your air fryer:

Savoury Snacks

• Mozzarella sticks
• Mac and cheese balls
• Pizza pockets
• Potato chips
• Zucchini fries
• Sweet potato chips
• Avocado fries
• Mozzarella balls
• Falafels
• Samosas
• Chicken tenders
• Pigs in a blanket
• Chicken wings
• Crab cakes
• Egg rolls
• Tater tots
• Pickles
• Onion rings
• Mini pretzel dogs
• Taquitos
• Potato skins
• Popcorn
• Popcorn shrimp
• Green bean fries
• Waffle fries
• Chicken fries
• Bacon-wrapped asparagus
• Calamari
• Quinoa arancini
• Mini chimichangas
• Crab Rangoon
• Wonton mozzarella sticks
• Air fryer nuts and bolts
• Ham and cheese croquettes
• Brazilian cheese bread puffs
• Lemonade scones
• Honey mustard haloumi crunchers
• Feta nuggets
• Pizza puffs
• Brie and potato hand pies
• Buffalo cauliflower bites
• Air fryer asparagus fries with lemon aioli
• Air fryer churros
• Air fryer angel food cake churro bites
• Air fryer blooming onion
• Air fryer tortilla chips
• Air fryer lemon pepper wings
• Air fryer cheese curds
• Air fryer garlic knots
• Air fryer zucchini chips
• Air fryer blooming onion
• Air fryer pigs in a blanket
• Air fryer French bread pizza
• Air fryer garlic bread
• Air fryer shishito peppers
• Air fryer loaded tater tots
• Air fryer coconut shrimp
• Air fryer mozzarella sticks
• Air fryer spring rolls
• Air fryer pretzel bites
• Air fryer stuffed mushrooms
• Air fryer carrot fries
• Air fryer garlic fries
• Air fryer tortilla chips
• Air fryer seasoned pretzels
• Air fryer roasted edamame
• Air fryer tater tots
• Air fryer pickles
• Air fryer onion rings
• Air fryer loaded tater tots
• Air fryer coconut shrimp
• Air fryer mozzarella sticks
• Air fryer spring rolls
• Air fryer pretzel bites
• Air fryer stuffed mushrooms
• Air fryer carrot fries
• Air fryer garlic fries
• Air fryer tortilla chips
• Air fryer seasoned pretzels
• Air fryer roasted edamame
• Air fryer potato chips
• Air fryer coconut shrimp
• Air fryer mozzarella balls
• Air fryer baked brie
• Air fryer falafels
• Air fryer egg rolls
• Air fryer mac and cheese bites
• Air fryer samosa pinwheels
• Air fryer mashed potato balls
• Air fryer Korean-style BBQ chicken wings
• Air fryer butternut squash falafel
• Air fryer crispy tofu buffalo bites
• Air fryer shishito peppers with lemon aioli
• Air fryer paneer 65

Sweet Snacks

• Churros
• Angel food cake churro bites
• Sweet potato fries
• Cinnamon-dusted apple chips
• Peanut butter cookies
• Angel food cake
• Cinnamon sugar dessert fries

Drinks

Lemonade

Frequently asked questions