Air Fryer Recipes: Delicious, Quick Meals

Air fryers are a versatile kitchen appliance that can cook a wide range of dishes, from savoury to sweet, and everything in between. They are perfect for those who love deep-fried foods but want to avoid the mess and excessive oil involved in traditional frying methods. With an air fryer, you can enjoy your favourite crispy treats with less guilt!

Air fryers work by circulating super-hot air, giving food a crispy, golden-brown texture and colour. They are ideal for cooking frozen foods and can also be used to make dishes from scratch. Here are some mouth-watering ideas for what to make in your air fryer:

Breakfast

- Omelettes

- Muffins

- Avocado toast

- Sausage

- Bacon

- Pancakes

- Hard-boiled eggs

- French toast

Appetizers and Snacks

- Mozzarella sticks

- Jalapeño poppers

- Chicken wings

- Onion rings

- Tater tots

- Mini calzones

- Tortilla chips

- Potato chips

- Sweet potato chips

- Zucchini fries

- Tofu

Main Dishes

- Chicken drumsticks

- Pork chops

- Steak

- Salmon

- Chicken sandwiches

- Hamburgers

- Meatballs

- Shrimp

- Pizza

- Tofu nuggets

- Grilled cheese

Desserts

- Chocolate chip cookies

- Cinnamon rolls

- Donuts

- Churro bites

- Apple cider donuts

- Fried Oreos

- Banana halves with cinnamon, honey and raisins

- 'Smores

Breakfast foods

Air fryers are a great way to make a variety of breakfast foods with minimal grease and mess. Here are some breakfast ideas you can make using an air fryer:

Bacon and Eggs

A classic breakfast combination, bacon and eggs are a great option to make in an air fryer. The air fryer limits the splatter of grease from the bacon and makes it crispy. You can cook eggs in a variety of ways in an air fryer, such as fried, poached, or hard-boiled.

Hash Browns

Hash browns are a popular breakfast side dish and can be made crispy and fluffy using an air fryer with minimal oil. You can also add ingredients like bell peppers, jalapenos, and Tex-Mex seasoning to give them a tasty twist.

French Toast

French toast is another breakfast favourite that can be easily made in an air fryer. Cut the bread into sticks or slices and soak them in a French toast egg mixture before coating them in crushed cornflakes or cereal flakes for a crunchy texture. Serve with maple syrup, fruit, or yogurt.

Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast burritos are a portable and convenient breakfast option. Fill flour tortillas with scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, and other ingredients of your choice. Avoid adding wet ingredients like salsa before cooking to maintain the crispiness of the burrito.

Cinnamon Rolls

You can make decadent cinnamon rolls using an air fryer. Simply roll out the dough, brush it with butter, sprinkle cinnamon sugar, and let the rolls rise before popping them into the air fryer. Finish them off with a sweet glaze or cream cheese frosting.

Other Ideas

• Doughnuts
• Breakfast pizzas
• Frittatas
• Avocado toast
• Granola
• Muffins
• Pancakes
• Steak and eggs
• Crab cakes
• Sausage patties

Vegetables

Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, offering a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a wide variety of veggies with minimal oil. Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of your air fryer when cooking vegetables:

Choosing Vegetables:

You can cook a wide range of vegetables in your air fryer, including bell peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes. Leafy greens like spinach and kale are not recommended as they can burn quickly and don't get the crispy texture that other veggies achieve.

Preparation and Seasoning:

Cut your chosen vegetables into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. For firmer vegetables like carrots, aim for small pieces to ensure they cook through. You can use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil to coat your veggies before cooking; just a light coating will do, as too much oil will prevent crisping.

For seasoning, you can keep it simple with salt and pepper, or try Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, or a combination thereof. You can also experiment with Cajun seasoning, Greek seasoning, or smoked paprika for a unique twist.

Cooking:

Preheat your air fryer to between 360-400°F. Place the veggies in the air fryer basket in a single layer; you may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook for 8-15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until tender and browned.

Serving:

Air fryer vegetables make a great side dish, and you can serve them with your favorite protein for a balanced meal. They also work well in salads, grain bowls, or as a stir-fry. For a simple yet delicious option, serve them with a squeeze of lemon juice and some grated Parmesan cheese.

Tips:

• Give the air fryer basket a shake halfway through cooking to prevent sticking.
• Avoid overcrowding the basket to ensure even cooking and crisping.
• Go light on the oil; a little goes a long way, and too much will prevent crisping.
• Cut vegetables into small, even pieces to ensure even cooking.

So, get creative and experiment with different vegetables and seasonings to find your favorite air fryer veggie combinations!

Meat and fish

Air fryers are a great way to cook meat and fish, producing a crispy, golden exterior and a juicy, tender interior.

Meat

Beef is a popular choice for air frying. Tender cuts such as Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin, and Tri-Tip perform best in the air fryer. Ground beef can also be cooked in an air fryer, but it is recommended to use beef that is no leaner than 90% as the fat drains away during cooking. To cook, preheat the air fryer on the meat setting for 3 minutes, then crumble in the ground beef and cook for 5 minutes. Stir and crumble to your desired consistency, then cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Steak is also a good option for the air fryer. Choose a steak with a minimum thickness of 1 inch and season with salt and pepper or a dry rub. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the steak in the fryer and cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Fish

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook fish, producing a crispy exterior and a soft, flaky interior. Any firm, mild white fish works well, including haddock, pollock, cod, halibut, flounder, and whiting. For thinner fish, simply adjust the cooking time.

To cook, pat the fish dry and season with salt and pepper. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the fish in the basket. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the fish is golden and flakes easily with a fork.

For an extra crispy texture, coat the fish in a breadcrumb mixture before cooking. Combine dry breadcrumbs with spices such as paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder. Coat the fish fillets in the mixture, then cook in the air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Serve your air-fried meat or fish with a side of roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a salad for a delicious and healthy meal.

Snacks

Air fryers are incredibly versatile and can be used to make a wide range of snacks, from savoury to sweet. Here are some snack ideas to get you started:

Savoury Snacks

• Chicken wings
• Mozzarella sticks
• Onion rings
• Tater tots
• Chicken tenders
• Mini calzones
• Tortilla chips
• Potato chips
• Sweet potato chips
• Zucchini fries
• Tofu
• Pumpkin seeds
• Chickpeas
• Egg rolls
• Falafel
• Stuffing hushpuppies
• Buffalo cauliflower
• Jalapeño poppers
• Zucchini chips
• Parmesan zucchini slices
• Brussels sprouts
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Baked potatoes
• French fries
• Sweet potato fries
• Potato wedges
• Cauliflower
• Butternut squash
• Asparagus
• Potato skins
• Avocado fries
• Spinach, roasted red pepper, and goat cheese omelette
• Crab cakes
• Hot pockets
• Toasted ravioli
• Loaded zucchini skins
• Stuffed Tuscan mushrooms
• Air fryer drumsticks
• Meatballs
• Tofu nuggets
• Grilled cheese sandwiches
• Fish and chips
• Taquitos
• Cornish hen
• Hamburgers
• Hot dogs
• Pizza
• Nachos
• Breaded chicken
• Chicken parm
• Chicken tenders
• Hot fries chicken tenders
• Chicken drumsticks
• Chicken sandwiches
• Chicken katsu
• Crispy potatoes
• Garbanzo beans
• Spring rolls
• Chicken legs
• Tortilla pizzas
• Sub sandwiches
• Baked fish
• Sausages
• Steak
• Shrimp
• Scallops
• Chicken thighs
• Mahi mahi
• Boiled eggs
• Baby potatoes
• Fried potatoes
• Yams
• Meatloaf
• Fried chicken
• Pork chops
• Tilapia
• Bratwurst
• Cornish game hens
• Chicken goujons
• Breaded or battered vegetables
• Chicken breasts
• Pork tenderloin
• Greek chicken and potatoes
• Fried shrimp
• Salmon teriyaki
• Crispy tofu bites

Sweet Snacks

• Chocolate chip cookies
• Cinnamon rolls
• Donuts
• Honey toast
• Churro bites
• Apple cider donuts
• Fried Oreos
• Apple chips
• Beignets
• Banana halves with cinnamon, honey and raisins
• Banana chips
• Fruit crisps
• Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies
• S'mores
• Oatmeal with bananas, cinnamon, eggs, milk and chocolate
• Croissants
• Pain au chocolat
• Cakes
• Brownies
• Pies

Desserts

Air fryers are a great way to make desserts, especially if you're cooking for one and don't want to heat up the whole oven. Here are some dessert ideas to make in your air fryer:

Cookies

Air fryers are great for making cookies, including chocolate chip, peanut butter chocolate chip, and Halloween chocolate chip. You can also make cinnamon rolls, which start with a tube of crescent roll dough and are ready in a fraction of the time.

Donuts

You can make easy donuts with canned biscuit dough. Slice the dough into rounds and cut out the centers, then top with a cinnamon-sugar mix or your favorite icing. You can also make apple cider donuts with apple cider and baking ingredients.

Fried Oreos

Wrap Oreos in crescent roll dough and bake in the air fryer. These are best eaten fresh.

Churro Bites

Make churros in your air fryer by frying pâte à choux batter, which can be baked or fried. Serve with a chocolate dipping sauce.

Bananas

Air fry bananas, studded with cinnamon, honey, and raisins, and serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt or ice cream. You can also make banana chips or other fruit crisps if your air fryer has a dehydrate function.

S'mores

Make a classic dessert with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. You can also try other toppings like caramel or sliced fruit.

Frequently asked questions