Ella Walter
Air fryers are a great way to cook food quickly while cutting back on fat. They are perfect for cooking for two people, and there are many recipes to choose from. For example, you can cook chicken, carrot fries, hot dogs, pizzas, fish, and even lobster tails in an air fryer. The size of the air fryer you need depends on how much food you will be cooking at once and how many servings you want to make. A 2 qt air fryer is on the smaller side and may only be big enough for some side dishes or one serving of fries. However, with a 2 qt air fryer, you can still cook a variety of foods, such as chicken breasts or thighs, fish fillets, or smaller batches of fries.
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What You'll Learn
Chicken breasts, thighs, and nuggets
Chicken Breasts
For juicy and tender chicken breasts, preheat your air fryer if it has that function. In a small bowl, combine salt, spices, and oil to create a paste. Coat the chicken breasts with the paste. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook at 370°F for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 4-8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Tent the chicken with foil and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Chicken Thighs
For chicken thighs, season the chicken with the juice of half a lemon, and add spices such as salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. You can also add dried herbs such as herbs de Provence. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and place the seasoned chicken thighs in the basket. Air fry for about 12 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Chicken Nuggets
To make chicken nuggets, cut a chicken breast into 3/4-inch pieces. You should get around 20-24 nuggets, depending on the size of the breast. Sprinkle salt over the chicken pieces, followed by flour, and toss to coat evenly. In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs with garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Add cooking oil to the breadcrumbs and stir until evenly coated. Dip the chicken pieces in buttermilk, then coat them with the breadcrumb mixture. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and place the nuggets in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the nuggets from the air fryer and let them cool for 3-5 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
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Carrot fries
Air fryers are a great way to cook a variety of foods, including chicken breasts and vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, eggplant, zucchini, and potatoes. One popular option is carrot fries, which are a healthy, guilt-free alternative to traditional French fries. Here is a recipe for carrot fries that can be made in a 2 qt air fryer:
Ingredients:
- Carrots
- Cornstarch
- Olive oil
- Spices (e.g. onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper)
- Optional: Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, or other herbs and spices
Instructions:
- Preheat your 2 qt air fryer to 400°F.
- Peel and cut the carrots into ¼-½ inch thick sticks. Try to keep the carrot sticks around the same size so they cook evenly.
- Place the carrot sticks in a large mixing bowl and dust with cornstarch. Stir to ensure the carrots are evenly coated.
- Add olive oil and your desired spices to the bowl and toss everything together to coat the carrots.
- Place the carrot sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this can prevent the carrot fries from crisping up. You may need to cook the carrot fries in batches.
- Air fry for 12-20 minutes, shaking the basket a few times during cooking to ensure even airflow and crisping.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
These carrot fries are best enjoyed fresh, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, simply place the carrot fries back in the air fryer at 400°F for 5-7 minutes.
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Lobster tails with lemon-garlic butter sauce
Ingredients
- Lobster tails
- Butter
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh lemon wedges to serve
Instructions
- Butterfly the lobster tails by cutting the top hard shell lengthwise through the centre with kitchen shears. Do not cut all the way through the bottom of the shell.
- Spread the shells apart and gently pull the meat from the inside of the shell. Place the meat on top of the shell.
- Clean and devein the lobster, removing any visible dirt.
- Prepare the garlic butter mixture by melting butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Coat both sides of the lobster with the lemon-garlic butter sauce.
- Preheat the air fryer by adding liquid (such as wine, chicken stock, or juice) to the bottom of the drawer and heating for 5 minutes. This creates a moist environment to prevent the lobster from drying out.
- Transfer the lobster tails to the air fryer basket and cook at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes, brushing with more butter halfway through. For lobster tails over 6 ounces, add an extra minute or two.
- Serve with fresh lemon wedges and a side of the reserved lemon-garlic butter sauce for dipping.
This recipe can be adapted for frozen lobster tails, but be sure to thaw them before cooking. You can also cook this dish in the oven by broiling the lobster tails on a baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, basting halfway through.
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Hot dogs
To cook hot dogs in an air fryer, first preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the hot dogs inside the air fryer in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching, and cook for 3-6 minutes. If you are cooking from frozen, you may need to add a couple of minutes to this time. You can also wrap the hot dogs in bacon before cooking, but this will also increase the cooking time.
Once the hot dogs are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and place them in buns. Put the hot dogs back into the air fryer and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the buns are toasted. You can also add cheese to the hot dogs before this second round of cooking, to allow the cheese to melt.
Finally, serve the hot dogs with your favourite toppings and condiments. Some popular options include ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles, sauerkraut, and chilli.
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Portobello pizzas
Ingredients:
- Portobello mushrooms (fresh, large)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Tomato sauce/pizza sauce
- Italian seasoning
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional toppings: pepperoni, olives, oregano, basil, etc.
Method:
Start by prepping the mushrooms. Remove the stems, keeping the gills intact. Brush the gill side of the mushrooms with olive oil. Place the mushrooms in the air fryer basket with the gill side down and cook at 400°F for about 9 minutes. This step ensures that the mushrooms release some of their water content, preventing a soggy pizza base.
After 9 minutes, remove the basket and flip the mushrooms so they are gill-side up. Season with salt and pepper, then spread tomato sauce over each mushroom. Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top of the sauce. Now, it's time for the cheese! Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over each mushroom, adding any other desired toppings like pepperoni, olives, or fresh herbs.
Place the basket back in the air fryer and cook for another 3 minutes at 400°F, or until the cheese is melted and any meat toppings are cooked. Keep an eye on your pizzas, as cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model. Enjoy the rich, earthy flavours of your Portobello pizzas!
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Frequently asked questions
A 2 qt air fryer is perfect for cooking a single meal for two people. You could try air fryer mushroom pizzas, chicken breasts, or tilapia fillets.
Portobello mushroom pizzas are a great vegetarian option to cook in a 2 qt air fryer. You can also cook carrot fries, eggplant Parmesan rounds, or any other vegetable of your choice.
Yes, you can cook meat in a 2 qt air fryer. Lobster tails, chicken thighs, and rib-eye steaks are all great options.
