Air-Fryer Recipes: Delicious, Quick Meals And Snacks

Deep-fried food is a delicious treat, but what can you make in a fryer besides the usual chips and chicken? There are plenty of options, from savoury to sweet, and from snacks to full meals. You can fry up some vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, zucchini, artichokes, or broccoli. For a more substantial meal, you could try a classic fish and chips, or get creative with a deep-fried turkey, or Hawaiian fried chicken. If you're looking for a snack, you could try some spring rolls, Scotch eggs, or arancini bites. And for dessert, there's always the classic doughnut, or you could go for something more unusual like deep-fried Mars bars.

Things to Make in a Fryer

Sweet treats

Doughnuts

A classic sweet treat to make in a fryer is doughnuts. You can make a variety of different doughnuts, from Spanish-style doughnuts served with a thick, indulgent homemade dark chocolate sauce to apple cider glazed doughnuts or even raspberry jam doughnut muffins. If you're feeling adventurous, you could try making bite-sized toffee apple doughnuts or homemade glazed ring doughnuts topped with a simple icing sugar glaze.

Churros

For a popular Spanish street food option, you can make chocolate churros with a chocolate and salted caramel sauce for dipping.

Mars Bars

For a rich, indulgent treat, you can deep-fry Mars Bars. They can be served with ice cream to balance out the sweetness, and you can even sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar on the outside for added flavour.

Bananas

Try coating bananas in a thin, delicate shell of caramel for a dessert inspired by Beijing’s China Club restaurant.

Ginger Cookies

Ginger cookies dipped in honey (Yak Kwa) are another sweet treat you can make in a fryer.

Fried chicken

Ingredients

• Chicken (a whole bird or individual pieces)
• Buttermilk (for tenderness and flavour)
• Cornstarch (for extra crunch)
• Flour (for coating)
• Eggs (for batter)
• Oil (peanut, canola, or vegetable oil are recommended)
• Seasonings (garlic, onion, salt, pepper, paprika, poultry seasoning)

Method

• Prepare the chicken by cutting a whole bird into pieces or purchasing individual pieces.
• Create a marinade with buttermilk, hot sauce, and seasonings.
• Soak the chicken in the marinade for at least two hours or overnight for maximum tenderness and flavour.
• Combine flour, cornstarch, and seasonings in a separate bowl.
• Dip the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, ensuring they are well coated.
• Shake off any excess flour and let the chicken sit for a few minutes until the coating looks pasty.
• Preheat the fryer to 325-350°F.
• Carefully place a few pieces of chicken at a time into the fryer to avoid overcrowding.
• Fry until golden brown, turning the pieces every few minutes.
• The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This should take around 12-14 minutes for dark meat and 8-10 minutes for white meat.
• Place the fried chicken on a paper towel-lined tray and sprinkle with flaked salt.

Tips

• For food safety, ensure the chicken is cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
• To maintain crispiness, let the fried chicken cool completely before storing it in an airtight container.
• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days and reheated in an oven or air fryer.

Enjoy your homemade fried chicken!

Savoury snacks

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is a classic dish that can be made in a variety of ways. For a Southern twist, try using buttermilk batter for a golden, seasoned crust. Alternatively, for Hawaiian fried chicken, coat the chicken in mochiko, a sweet rice flour, before frying. Or, for an extra-crispy crust, use Japanese potato starch, like they do at Ethel's Grill in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Chips

For a healthier option, try making zucchini chips, or opt for a classic like potato chips. You can even make your own beer-battered zucchini chips or zucchini coins, which go great with a cold beer or cider and a generous sprinkling of sea salt flakes and lemon juice.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that can be battered and fried in many different ways. For a vegan-friendly option, try making crispy, spicy Korean fried cauliflower. Or, for something more indulgent, try beer-battered cauliflower bites, which make the perfect finger food.

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a humble vegetable that can be transformed into an unforgettable dish when fried. Try coating them in a flour and egg batter, then frying and bathing them in lemon juice for a crunchy, tangy side or snack.

Olives

For a substantial snack, try stuffing Castelvetrano olives with a simple beef and pork filling, then dredging them in breadcrumbs and crisping them up in the deep fryer.

Scotch Eggs

A scotch egg is a hard-boiled egg encased in sausage and breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. For an extra special touch, add a layer of bacon to this traditional English recipe.

Seafood

Tips for Frying Seafood:

• Choose the right oil: Consider the smoke point and flavour of the oil. Canola, peanut, vegetable, or sunflower oil are recommended due to their high smoke points and neutral flavours.
• Set the right temperature: Heat the oil between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an oil thermometer to monitor the temperature.
• Avoid overcrowding the fryer: Cooking in batches is important to maintain the oil temperature and prevent greasiness.
• Drain excess oil properly: Use a wire cooling rack or paper towels to remove excess oil from the seafood after frying.

Fried Calamari

• Buy fresh or frozen squid from your local fish market or grocery store.
• Prepare the squid by cutting off any extremely long tentacles and slicing the bodies into 3/4-inch thick rings.
• Make a batter with flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and soda water.
• Dip the squid pieces into the batter and fry until golden brown.
• Season with salt and parsley, and serve with lemon wedges and mayo for dipping.

Southern-Fried Shrimp

• Marinate shrimp in a mixture of milk, oregano, paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper (optional: cayenne for spice).
• Create a breading station with flour and the spice mixture in separate bowls.
• Coat the shrimp in flour, then the spice mixture.
• Fry the shrimp for around four minutes and serve with dipping sauces like honey mustard or sriracha mayo.

Fish and Chips

• Prepare your favourite white fish (e.g. cod) and make a beer batter with flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, pepper, sparkling water, and beer.
• Let the batter sit for 30 minutes, then dip the fish fillets in plain flour before coating them in the batter.
• Fry the fish for around eight minutes and serve with your choice of chips.

Fish Tacos

• Coat your choice of white fish (e.g. catfish) in a batter of flour, salt, baking powder, hot sauce, and a little club soda.
• Dip the fish in panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture.
• Fry the fish for a few minutes on each side and serve in soft corn tortillas with toppings like cilantro, chipotle mayo, and coleslaw.

Air Fryer Fish

• Use a firm, mild white fish such as haddock, pollock, cod, halibut, flounder, whiting, or walleye.
• Cut the fish into strips or fillets, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
• Set up three shallow bowls with flour, beaten egg, and panko breadcrumbs. Add seasoning like Old Bay to the panko.
• Coat the fish in flour, then egg, and finally panko, pressing to coat evenly.
• Place the fish in the air fryer basket and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
• Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the fish is golden and flakes easily with a fork.
• Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

Vegetables

Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, offering a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a colourful medley of veggies with minimal effort.

Air Fryer Vegetables

You can use any combination of vegetables you like, but it is recommended to avoid tough root vegetables like beets or sweet potatoes, as these require a longer cooking time. Here are some vegetables you can use:

• Zucchini or yellow squash
• Bell peppers
• Mushrooms
• Onion
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Asparagus
• Green beans

Seasoning

A variety of seasonings can be used to add flavour to your vegetables. Here are some options:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Paprika
• Onion powder
• Parmesan cheese
• Spicy seasonings like sriracha sauce or hot honey

Cooking Instructions

First, chop the vegetables and place them in a large bowl. Add your chosen oil, seasonings, and spices, and toss to coat the veggies. You can also add some grated parmesan cheese at this stage if desired.

Next, arrange the vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the vegetables in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Set the air fryer to 375-400°F and cook the vegetables for 7-15 minutes, or until tender and browned. Toss the vegetables halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.

Finally, season to taste and serve. You can add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or an extra sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.

Tips

• Ensure the vegetables are cut into small, evenly sized pieces to promote even cooking.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent the vegetables from steaming instead of browning.
• For crispier vegetables, drain any excess water from the bottom of the basket during cooking.
• You can also cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer, which is a convenient and quick option.

Frequently asked questions