Air Fryer Recipes: Creative, Healthy Meals

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, and for good reason. They can cook a wide variety of foods, from savoury to sweet, and are especially good for creating crispy textures and golden-brown colours without the need for deep-frying. They can be used for anything from breakfast to dessert, and are a healthier alternative to deep-frying as they require a fraction of the oil.

So, what can you make in an air fryer? The options are endless, but here are some ideas to get you started:

- Chicken wings

- French fries

- Potato wedges

- Sweet potato fries

- Meatballs

- Pork chops

- Salmon

- Tofu

- Cookies

- Donuts

Air fryer chicken recipes

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken, with the super-hot air giving food a crispy, fried texture and golden-brown colour without the need for deep-frying. Here are some tasty chicken recipes you can make using an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are a classic air fryer dish. They come out crispy and juicy and take under an hour to cook. You can glaze them in a sticky sauce and serve with jasmine rice for an easy family meal, or serve them as appetisers or snacks with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing and some Frank's hot sauce for dipping.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders are another great option for the air fryer, coming out extra crispy. You can serve them as a healthier alternative to chicken nuggets, or as a main with your favourite dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are often considered more flavourful than chicken breasts, and they work really well in an air fryer. You can marinate them in a maple-buttermilk mixture, or stuff them with turkey and Swiss cheese, bread them, and air-fry for a chicken cordon bleu-style dish.

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a good cut to use in an air fryer. You can thinly slice them, coat them in spices, brown sugar and cornstarch, and air-fry for a juicy, golden finish. Alternatively, you can coat them in a paste made from oil, salt and spices, and cook them in the air fryer for 10 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 4-8 minutes.

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

You can also use chicken drumsticks in the air fryer, coating them in a tasty spice blend and cooking until the skin is crispy.

Air fryer vegetarian recipes

Air fryers are a great way to make delicious vegetarian food with minimal added calories and less cooking time. Here are some fantastic vegetarian recipes you can make using an air fryer:

Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamins and minerals and make for a delicious snack. Air fryer roasted sweet potatoes are easy to make and have a tender interior with a crisp exterior. You can add them to salads and tacos or enjoy them as a healthy snack.

Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a nutritious vegetable, packed with vitamins and fibre. This air fryer recipe gives them a crispy texture on the outside while keeping them tender on the inside. They are perfect as a side dish and can be garnished with roasted peanuts and sesame seeds.

Air Fryer Broccoli

Broccoli is a healthy vegetable that is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. This air fryer recipe takes just 10 minutes to make and results in tender broccoli with roasted edges. It is a perfect side dish that is sure to be loved by the whole family.

Air Fryer French Fries

French fries are a classic snack and can be made healthier using an air fryer. Homemade French fries cooked in an air fryer are a great alternative to deep-fried fries and are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

Air Fryer Cauliflower with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that can be used in various dishes. This recipe involves seasoning cauliflower with spices and serving it with a cilantro yogurt sauce. It is a delicious low-carb side dish or appetizer.

Air Fryer Kale Chips

Kale chips are a healthy and addictive snack that can be made in an air fryer in just a few minutes. They are a great way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of kale, and the air fryer ensures that they stay crispy for days.

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

This vegan snack is perfect as an appetizer or side dish. Cauliflower florets are seasoned and cooked in the air fryer, resulting in a crispy texture. They pair well with your favourite creamy dip.

Air fryer breakfast recipes

Air fryers are a great way to cook a variety of breakfast foods, from sweet to savoury. Here are some ideas for air fryer breakfast recipes to get you started:

Savoury Breakfast Recipes

• Hash Browns: The air fryer makes these tasty hash browns delectably crispy all over and frees up the stove for making omelettes or other egg dishes.
• Scotch Eggs: This UK dish consists of hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and deep-fried. In this lighter version, the air fryer is used to create a crisp exterior with crushed cornflakes.
• Sausage Bacon Bites: This easy three-ingredient recipe combines the best of breakfast proteins in one bite! Rolled in brown sugar and air-fried for a crispy bacon exterior with juicy sausage chunks inside.
• Eggs Lorraine: Richly flavoured with sour cream and Swiss cheese, these egg gratins are an air-fryer breakfast win. This recipe foregoes a crust, using smoky Canadian bacon as the base instead.
• Breakfast Cookies: These breakfast treats are packed with fruits, oats, whole wheat flour and zero refined sugar. They’re every bit as nourishing as a bowl of oatmeal, with the added benefit of being a grab-and-go option for busy mornings.
• Ham and Egg Pockets: These breakfast pockets are packed with fluffy scrambled eggs, ham and cheese for a savory breakfast that can be eaten on-the-go or served with fruit salads for an elegant brunch.
• Breakfast Burritos: Scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla. You can cook it all in the air fryer at once.
• Veggie-Packed Crustless Quiche: Whip up a crustless quiche packed with veggies, eggs, and cheese for a savoury and healthy breakfast.
• Air Fryer Frittata: This breakfast frittata is easy to make using a cake pan that fits in the air fryer basket. Switch up the ingredients to suit your taste.
• Air Fryer French Toast: French toast gets an upgrade with this easy air-fryer breakfast treat. Soak pieces of bread in a simple vanilla-infused egg custard, and roll them in crushed cornflakes to make crispy French toast.
• Air Fryer Sausage Patties: These juicy pork sausage rounds are a cinch to make and can be frozen, so you can pop them in the air fryer whenever you need a quick breakfast protein.
• Air Fryer Bacon: The air fryer transforms any type of bacon into crispy perfection.
• Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs: You can easily make hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer without having to deal with a big pot of water.
• Air Fryer Breakfast Tacos: This clever recipe uses silicone ice cube stick moulds to quickly create the components for breakfast tacos in an air fryer.

Sweet Breakfast Recipes

• Air Fryer Apple Fritters: This recipe gives you all the fun and cinnamony goodness of a fritter without the frying. The hot circulated air makes them extra crispy.
• Air Fryer French Toast Cups with Raspberries: Sweet-tart raspberries, dots of cream cheese, and a touch of maple syrup make these pretty little French toast cups irresistible. Baking them in the air fryer ensures that the tops will become crisp, giving way to the luxurious custard layer below.
• Air Fryer Puff Pastry Danishes: Your favourite jam meets cream cheese in this simple but delicious homemade air-fryer Danish recipe.
• Air Fryer Apple Danish: These apple cinnamon crescents are the perfect sweet touch for your next brunch or sit-down breakfast. Each crescent dough triangle can encase a tablespoon of applesauce.
• Air Fryer Pumpkin Biscuits with Spiced Apple Butter: Full of cosy fall flavours, these pumpkin biscuits bake up flaky and crispy in the forced air environment of the air fryer. Spread them with honey cinnamon butter and serve with a cup of mulled apple cider.

Air fryer dessert recipes

Air fryers are a great way to make desserts with a crispy exterior and warm, gooey centres. The best part about making desserts in an air fryer is that you can make individual servings. Here are some mouth-watering air fryer dessert recipes to try:

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are crispy on the outside and perfectly gooey on the inside. You can make just one or two without having to turn on your oven or clean a baking sheet.

Peanut Butter Explosion Cakes

These cakes have a perfectly creamy centre and can be made in your air fryer or an Instant Pot.

Air Fryer Donuts

Skip the pot of hot oil and make these healthier air fryer donuts. They are just as good as baked donuts and can be topped with a cinnamon-sugar mix or your favourite icing.

Air Fryer Bloomin' Apples

Inspired by the popular bloomin' onion, this fun dessert is actually quite easy to make.

Air Fryer S'mores

Make your favourite campfire treat at home and add things like fruit or caramel sauce.

Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

The secret to this recipe is using a can of crescent roll dough. They are ready in a fraction of the time it would take to bake them.

Air Fryer Molten Lava Cake

This decadent dessert has a gooey, rich centre and only requires five ingredients.

Air Fryer Fried Oreos

Enjoy the taste of deep-fried Oreos without the excess oil.

Air Fryer Brownies

Load your warm brownie with ice cream and dig in!

Air Fryer Banana Bread

This easy air fryer banana bread is incredibly moist and ready in under 45 minutes.

Air Fryer Angel Food Cake

This simple and beautiful layered cake is topped with strawberries and cream.

Air Fryer Apple Crisp

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

Air fryer side dishes

Air fryers are a great way to make side dishes, as they are faster and healthier than deep-frying. Here are some ideas for air fryer side dishes:

Vegetables

Air fryers are great for cooking vegetables, as they can add a nice crunch without the need for deep-frying. Some options include:

• Green beans
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Brussels sprouts
• Okra
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Zucchini
• Radishes
• Peas
• Corn on the cob
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes

Breads

You can also use your air fryer to make various types of bread as a side dish, such as:

• Garlic bread
• Biscuits
• Pizza puffs
• Cornbread

Other Sides

In addition to vegetables and breads, you can make a variety of other side dishes in your air fryer, like:

• Chicken wings
• Fish
• Shrimp
• Bacon
• Eggs
• Meatballs
• Tater tots
• Mozzarella sticks
• Egg rolls
• Onion rings
• Avocado fries
• Chips

Frequently asked questions