Creative Air Fryer Recipes You Need To Try

Air fryers are a popular kitchen gadget, and for good reason. They can cook a wide variety of foods, from frozen snacks to complete meals, and they do it quickly and with less fat and oil than other cooking methods. You can make anything from chicken wings and French fries to chocolate chip cookies and hard-boiled eggs. They're also great for reheating leftovers, especially pizza, which comes out crispy and fresh-tasting. If you're short on time or looking for an easy way to cook a meal, an air fryer might be the appliance for you.

Meat and fish

Air fryers are a great way to cook meat and fish, achieving a crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and moist. Here are some ideas for what you can cook:

Fish

Air fryers are perfect for cooking fish fillets, especially white fish such as cod, tilapia, haddock, pollock, catfish, hake, halibut, or whiting. The air fryer method gives you a crispy, golden exterior while keeping the fish soft and flaky inside.

To prepare, coat the fillets in a breading of your choice—this could be flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs, or cornmeal with spices—and cook in the air fryer for around 10-15 minutes at 200°C (390-400°F). You can also experiment with gluten-free or keto breading options.

Serve your air-fried fish with tartar sauce, hot sauce, or lemon wedges, and sides like potato wedges, fries, or coleslaw.

Meat

The air fryer is a versatile tool for cooking various meats, from chicken to steak and everything in between.

Chicken

Air fryers are excellent for cooking chicken wings, thighs, and drumsticks, giving them a crispy skin without the need for deep-frying. You can also cook chicken breasts, skewers, and Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlets in the air fryer.

Beef

For beef, the air fryer is perfect for cooking a juicy steak without the need for a grill. You can also cook a beef joint in the air fryer, adjusting the cooking time to your desired doneness. The air fryer is also great for dishes like crispy chilli beef and beef and broccoli.

Pork

Try cooking pork chops in the air fryer for a seared finish with minimal effort. You can also make sticky pork and rice noodle lettuce wraps, or go for a Korean-inspired pork tenderloin served in lettuce wraps or over rice or grains.

Sausages

Sausages cook quickly and easily in the air fryer without the need for additional oil.

Bacon

Cooking bacon in an air fryer achieves a crispy texture with less fat than traditional frying methods.

Turkey

You can also cook turkey in the air fryer, such as a turkey crown, which frees up oven space and speeds up the cooking process.

Vegetables

Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, offering a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a variety of veggies with minimal oil. The air fryer's convection cooking method produces a crispy finish similar to roasting, but with a faster cooking time and a crispier exterior.

Choosing Your Vegetables

You can cook almost any vegetable in an air fryer. The exception is leafy greens, which are too light to weigh themselves down and will not cook evenly. For other types of vegetables, you can use any combination of veggies you like, including bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, and more.

Seasoning and Oil

Seasoning your vegetables is essential for adding flavour. Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and minced garlic are a great combination. You can also experiment with other seasonings like Cajun seasoning, Greek seasoning, or crushed red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.

A small amount of oil is necessary to prevent burning and promote even cooking. Extra virgin olive oil is a good choice due to its flavour and high smoke point, but you can also use avocado or coconut oil. Go light on the oil, as too much will result in oversaturation and prevent your veggies from crisping up.

Cooking Instructions

First, preheat your air fryer to 360-400°F (180-204°C). While it's warming up, chop your chosen vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure they cook through. Place the veggies in a large bowl, drizzle with oil, and add your chosen seasonings. Toss to coat the vegetables evenly.

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 in batches to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowding will cause the vegetables to steam instead of browning.

Cook the vegetables for 10-15 minutes for tender veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, asparagus, and onions, and 20-30 minutes for firmer veggies like root vegetables and winter squash. Shake the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.

Finally, season to taste and serve immediately. You can also add some grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled goat cheese or feta for an extra touch of flavour.

Snacks

Air fryers are a great way to make crispy, crunchy snacks with much less oil and fat than traditional frying methods. Here are some snack ideas for your air fryer:

Savoury Snacks

• Crispy Chickpeas: These intensely flavoured and crunchy snacks are perfect for topping on salads, soups or grain bowls. You can also toss them with hot popcorn for a protein-packed movie snack.
• Zucchini Chips: These chips are delicious on their own or with a creamy dill dipping sauce.
• Onion Rings: A healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried onion rings. Serve with a creamy dipping sauce.
• Avocado Fries: Crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Try serving with salsa, pico de gallo or spicy ranch dressing.
• Mozzarella Sticks: Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, these are a favourite for both kids and adults.
• Potato Chips: Enjoy warm, crispy, crunchy chips baked from scratch. For extra crunch, slice the potatoes as thinly as possible and pat them dry to remove excess moisture.
• Sweet Potato Chips: A healthier option than traditional fries, these are crispy, tender and delicately sweet.
• Chicken Wings: Air fryers are perfect for making chicken wings that are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Try making them with a Buffalo sauce, lemon pepper seasoning or BBQ sauce.
• Pickles: Crunchy on the outside and hot and juicy on the inside, these are a unique snack that's ready in less than 20 minutes.
• Broccoli Ranch Tots: A healthier take on the classic tater tot, with a crispy exterior and a fibre-rich interior.
• Tater Tots: The air fryer makes these extra crispy and they're completely gluten and added-fat-free!
• Ravioli: Like a more sophisticated version of mozzarella sticks, these are crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside.
• Jalapeño Poppers: The perfect party snack, with a creamy filling that tempers the heat from the pepper and Buffalo sauce.
• Curly Fries: Make restaurant-worthy curly fries at home with the help of a spiralizer and an air fryer. The outside gets crispy while the inside stays creamy. Serve with a scallion-cream cheese-yogurt dip.
• Green Bean Fries: These come with a zesty dipping sauce flavoured with harissa paste and roasted red peppers.
• Plantains: Sweet and salty, with a deliciously crispy crust.
• Blooming Onion: A traditional blooming onion recipe made in the air fryer. It's crispy and fun as a pull-apart shared snack.
• Egg Rolls: Try making these with a filling of carrots, celery, cabbage and crispy pork, or experiment with other fillings.
• Everything Bagel Avocado Fries: Combining the flavours of a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese and avocado toast.
• Potstickers: A quicker alternative to making dumplings from scratch.
• Cumin Spiced Chicken Meatballs: These meatballs have a spicy mayo that takes them over the top.
• Cauliflower Tots: These cheesy tots might even be better than potato tots!
• Corn on the Cob: Try a Greek-inspired version with Greek yogurt, feta, oregano, red onion and basil.
• Drumsticks: Inspired by Chinese dishes, these chicken drumsticks are marinated in soy sauce and Coke, then cooked in the air fryer.
• Chicken Tenders: Crispy tenders coated in airy, crispy panko breadcrumbs.
• Cinnamon Sugar Dessert Fries: Sweet potato fries that make the perfect appetizer at any party.

Sweet Snacks

• GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: These cookies only have six ingredients (plus a pinch of salt) and are perfect for snacking and packing in lunch boxes.
• Apple Chips: When you're in the mood for a sweet snack, try these cinnamon-ginger apple chips. Dip them into honey or vanilla-flavoured yogurt.
• Baked Apples: Try "baking" apples in your air fryer for a sweet and healthy snack.

Breakfast

Air fryers are a great way to make breakfast, as they cut down the cooking time by more than half compared to using an oven or pan. They are also a healthier option, as they require little to no oil, resulting in less greasy food. Here are some breakfast ideas you can make using an air fryer:

Savoury Breakfast Ideas

Bacon

The air fryer is an excellent way to cook bacon, as it contains the splatter and makes the bacon nice and crispy. Place the bacon on a flat tray or a wire rack to allow the excess fat to drip away. You can also cook turkey bacon in the air fryer for a healthier alternative.

Sausage

Cooking sausages in an air fryer helps achieve crispier and less greasy results. Place the sausages in a perforated or mesh basket to allow the fat to drip away, helping them crisp up. You can also add a light spray of oil to plant-based sausages before air frying.

Hash Browns

The air fryer is a great way to make hash browns, as it gives them a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior with less grease. You can also make sweet potato hash by shredding your sweet potatoes and air frying them.

Eggs

The air fryer is a versatile tool for cooking eggs. You can make fried eggs, poached eggs, soft-boiled eggs, and even hard-boiled eggs. It is also a great way to make mini frittatas or egg cups by filling cupcake liners with whisked eggs and your desired toppings.

Crab Cakes

Crab cakes can be messy to pan-fry, but the air fryer makes the process much cleaner. Assemble your crab cakes with mustard, Old Bay seasoning, chives, and Saltine cracker crumbs, then air fry until golden. Serve with hollandaise sauce and poached eggs for a luxurious breakfast.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast pizza made in your air fryer. Top a flaky crust with sausage, eggs, and cheese for a hearty morning meal.

Sweet Breakfast Ideas

French Toast

French toast is a breakfast classic, and the air fryer gives it a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Cut the bread into sticks or slices, soak them in an egg mixture, coat them in crushed cornflakes or cereal flakes, and air fry until crispy. Serve with maple syrup, fruit compote, or yogurt and berries.

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a sweet and decadent breakfast treat. You can make them in your air fryer by rolling out the dough, brushing it with butter, sprinkling cinnamon sugar, and air frying until cooked through. Finish them off with a sweet glaze or cream cheese frosting.

Doughnuts

Air-fried doughnuts are a mess-free alternative to deep-fried ones. You can use canned biscuit dough or make your own dough from scratch. Air fry until golden, then dip them in a glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and extracts.

Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are a sweet and fruity breakfast option. Combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and butter, and air fry until cooked through. Top with a cinnamon glaze for an extra indulgent treat.

Banana Bread

Air fryer banana bread is incredibly soft, fluffy, and moist. Use overripe bananas for a more intense banana flavor and added moisture.

Granola

Making your own granola ensures that it is nutritious and free from added sugars. Air fry a mixture of nuts, seeds, honey, and coconut oil for a healthy and substantial pre-workout snack.

Pop-Tarts

Make your own pop-tarts at home using pre-made pie crusts, strawberry jam, and a sweet glaze. The air fryer will give them a golden and crispy exterior while keeping the filling warm and gooey.

Dessert

Air fryers are incredibly versatile and can be used to make a wide range of desserts, from cookies and brownies to more complex treats like apple fritters and beignets. Here are some mouth-watering dessert ideas you can make with your air fryer:

Cookies and Bakes

Air fryers are perfect for making individual cookies or small batches. You can make classic chocolate chip cookies, or get creative with peanut butter explosion cakes, Oreo cookies, and giant pan cookies. For something fruity, try banana bread or blueberry hand pies.

Sweet Treats

If you're craving something sweet and crispy, air fryers are perfect for making churros. You can also make cinnamon sugar dessert fries, apple fritters, or even apple pie twists. For a real treat, make some air fryer brownies or lava cakes, and top them with a scoop of ice cream.

Fruit-Based Desserts

Air fryers are excellent for roasting fruit. Try making roasted pineapple with cinnamon, or air fryer s'mores with fruit and caramel sauce. You can also make Bloomin' Apples, which are a fun and fancy-looking dessert inspired by the Bloomin' Onion.

Breakfast-Desserts

Why wait until after dinner to indulge? Air fryers are great for making quick and easy breakfast treats like cinnamon rolls, banana pancake dippers, and French toast sticks.

So, there you have it! A variety of dessert ideas you can make with your air fryer. With its help, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without turning on your oven or making a big mess.

Frequently asked questions