Easy, Air-Fried Treats: Quick And Simple Recipes

Air fryers are a great addition to your kitchen, offering a healthier and more convenient way to prepare your favourite meals. They can cook a wide range of dishes, from appetizers to main courses and even desserts.

If you're looking for easy meals to make in your air fryer, here are some ideas to get you started:

- Chicken tenders or chicken strips

- French fries

- Salmon

- Chicken breast

- Vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, and potatoes

- Meatballs

- Shrimp

- Bacon

- Pizza

- Cookies

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken wings
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tbsp neutral oil (avocado, canola, or vegetable oil)

Method:

• Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
• In a bowl, season the chicken wings with salt, white pepper, baking powder, and neutral oil. Mix until the wings are evenly coated.
• Place the chicken wings in the air fryer in a single layer and air fry for 10 minutes at 400°F.
• Flip the chicken wings and air fry again for 8-12 minutes at 400°F, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
• Serve with your favorite wing sauce or enjoy as is!

Tips:

• Ensure the wings are as dry as possible before seasoning. This will help the skin puff up and blister during air frying.
• The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the wings. If the skin isn't crispy enough, add a few more minutes until it reaches your desired level of crispness.
• To ensure doneness, use a thermometer probe to make sure the internal temperature of the wings reaches at least 165°F.

Air Fryer Fish and Chips

Ingredients:

• Fish fillets (haddock or cod)
• Flour
• Egg
• Cornflakes/breadcrumbs
• Potatoes
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Tartar sauce (optional)
• Lemon wedges (optional)

Method:

• Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices, then cut into sticks of the same thickness.
• Soak the potato sticks in a bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes, changing the water if soaking for longer.
• Dry the potatoes thoroughly with a towel.
• Place the potato sticks in the air fryer basket, spray generously with cooking oil and cook at 400°F for 7 minutes. Toss, then cook for another 7-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then cover with foil to keep warm.
• Pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel.
• Prepare three bowls for dredging: one with flour and seasonings (paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper), one with beaten egg, and one with breadcrumbs/cornflakes.
• Dip the fish fillets in the flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs/cornflakes. Spray both sides with oil.
• Place the fish in the air fryer basket, ensuring the pieces do not overlap.
• Cook at 390-400°F for 10-12 minutes, spraying the fish again halfway through. Check that the fish is cooked to your liking by testing with a fork.
• Serve immediately with the fries, tartar sauce and lemon wedges, if desired.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders
• Olive oil
• Smoked paprika
• Onion and garlic powder
• Dried thyme, oregano, and basil
• Eggs
• Breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels, then place them in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat completely.
• Mix the seasonings together in a small bowl, then sprinkle evenly over the chicken tenders.
• Air fry the chicken tenders for 10-12 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cooking time, until they are cooked through and golden.
• Serve with lemon wedges, or a dipping sauce such as ranch, BBQ sauce, or honey mustard.

Tips

• Place the tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer to allow them to cook evenly. If needed, cook in batches.
• Always let the air fryer preheat before adding the chicken tenders.
• To reheat, place in a preheated air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes.

Air Fryer French Fries

Ingredients:

• 2-3 medium-sized russet potatoes
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional spices: onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, chili powder, cumin, ranch seasoning, Cajun seasoning, rosemary, thyme, etc.

Method:

Preheat your air fryer to between 375-400°F (190-200°C).

Slice the potatoes into fries of roughly equal size, about 1/4-inch thick. It is recommended that you don't peel the potatoes as the skin helps them crisp up nicely.

Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for about an hour. This helps to remove excess starch so that the fries will be crispier.

Drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel. The drier they are, the crispier they will be.

Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, as well as any other desired spices.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other. You will likely need to cook them in batches.

Air fry for 12-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until crispy and golden brown. The timing will depend on your air fryer, so keep an eye on them and adjust as needed.

Once all batches are cooked, put them all back into the air fryer together (you don't need to worry about a single layer this time) and cook for another 1-2 minutes to warm them up and make them extra crispy.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, mustard, mayo, chipotle sauce, or garlic aioli.

Tips:

• Work in batches to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow hot air to come into contact with all sides of the fries.
• Check your first batch at the 12-minute mark and adjust timing as needed.
• Taste a fry from each batch to ensure it is tender on the inside and crispy on the outside before moving on to the next batch.
• Toss them all in together at the end to ensure they are all warm and crispy.
• Experiment with different types of potatoes and spices to find your perfect fry.

Air Fryer Meatloaf

Ingredients:

For the meatloaf:

• Ground beef (lean)
• Milk
• Egg
• Bread (torn into small pieces)
• Onion powder
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt
• Dry ground mustard
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• BBQ sauce

For the glaze:

• Ketchup
• BBQ sauce

Method:

Firstly, combine all the ingredients for the meatloaf in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix until combined, but be careful not to overwork the meat.

Next, spray your air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Shape the meat into a loaf, at an angle, in the air fryer basket. Ensure the loaf isn't too thick, or it won't cook through.

Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes. While the meatloaf is cooking, prepare the glaze by mixing ketchup and BBQ sauce in a small bowl.

After 15 minutes, brush the glaze onto the loaf. Air fry for another 10 minutes at 350°F. The meatloaf is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.

Let the meatloaf rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving with leftover glaze.

Tips:

• You don't need to preheat the air fryer.
• Use olive oil spray to prevent the air fryer basket from gunking up over time.
• Lean meat is important to reduce grease.
• You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or freeze for up to three months.

Frequently asked questions