21 Of The Easiest (And Most Delicious) Air Fryer Recipes Of All Time (2024)

    If your Air Fryer isn't already your favorite appliance, it's about to be.

    by Hannah LoewentheilBuzzFeed Staff
    21 Of The Easiest (And Most Delicious) Air Fryer Recipes Of All Time (2)

    BuzzFeed

    Maybe you're thinking about buying an Air Fryer. Or maybe you already own one and use it all the time!

    Whatever the case, here are some incredibly easy Airfryer recipes you should try — including dinners, desserts, snacks, and more. Given all of the Air Fryer options out there, it's never been simpler to make a delicious meal in a hurry.

    The Typical Mom / Via temeculablogs.com, The Tyipcal Mom

    The Air Fryer is hands-down the best way to prepare all your favorite crispy frozen foods or snacks — including fish sticks. Serve them with fries à la fish and chips or toss them into tortillas with some slaw and avocado for the easiest tacos ever.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Fish Sticks

    Eazy Peazy Mealz / Via eazypeazymealz.com

    All you need are four ingredients to make this easy but fancy-tasting dish: cornstarch, egg whites, coconut flakes, and shrimp. Just dip the shrimp in the cornstarch, then the egg, then the coconut, and air fry until crisp. Serve with dipping sauce or on top of a salad.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

    Recipes From A Pantry / Via recipesfromapantry.com, Recipes From a Pantry / Via recipesfromapantry.com

    Of course, if you're not a fan of chicken you can replace it with whatever you have on hand like shrimp, ground beef, avocado, or even canned black beans.

    Recipe: 4-Ingredient Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla

    Project Meal Plans / Via projectmealplan.com, Project Meal Plan / Via projectmealplan.com

    If you have a bag of Trader Joe's orange chicken in your freezer, this is the ultimate way to prepare it. Toss it into your air fryer, then add some broccoli florets, and air fry until golden and crispy. Transfer the chicken and broccoli to a mixing bowl to coat with the sauce and serve over rice.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken and Broccoli

    Table For Two Blog / Via tablefortwoblog.com

    You can make this with just about any frozen gnocchi — potato, sweet potato, cauliflower, kale, you name it. Cooking it in the air fryer makes the outside perfectly crispy. Serve it with romesco, marinara, or pesto or toss it in your favorite pasta sauce.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi

    Cooks Well With Others / Via cookswellwithothers.com

    Start with English muffins sliced in half and top them with your favorite pizza toppings. Pop them into the air fryer for just a few minutes until the cheese is melty and you have an easy, family-friendly meal.

    Recipe: Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas

    Skinny Southern Kitchen / Via skinnysouthernrecipes.com, Skinny Southern Recipes / Via skinnysouthernrecipes.com

    This recipe requires about 15 minutes of active cooking, which mainly includes slicing bell peppers and browning some ground beef in a skillet. Then, stuff the peppers with the ground beef mixture and some seasoning, top them with shredded cheese, and cook in the air fryer until melted.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Peppers

    Project Meal Plan / Via projectmealplan.com

    Pick your favorite bag of frozen chicken nuggets (tenders work, too!) and air fry them for about 15 minutes. Serve with ketchup, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or whatever dipping sauce you like best.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

    Upstate Ramblings / Via upstateramblings.com

    While traditionally a side dish, there is nothing wrong with eating a twice-baked potato for dinner. First bake the potatoes in the oven, then fill them with a mixture of sour cream, cheddar, and bacon bits, and air fry until creamy and tender.

    Recipe: Twice Baked Potatoes With Cheddar Cheese and Bacon

    Slimming Eats / Via slimmingeats.com

    This veggie-packed "pizza" is made by air frying sweet potato disks, then topping them with sauce, cheese, and fresh basil. It's a great finger food for kids and adults alike.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Pizza Slices

    Moms Dish / Via momsdish.com, Mom's Dish / Via momsdish.com

    It's not like grilled cheese is difficult to make on the stovetop, but this air fryer recipe takes this classic, comforting sandwich to the next level. Say hello to golden brown bread and gooey, melty cheese.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

    Eazy Peazy Meals / Via eazypeazymealz.com

    You can use either ramekins or silicone cupcake molds to make these air fried egg cups. Just place beaten eggs plus cheese and veggies into a cooking vessel and pop them into the air fryer. In about 15 minutes, you'll have fluffy baked eggs.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Baked Egg Cups

    Berry Maple / Via berrymaple.com

    This method works with any kind of fresh or frozen meatballs. Serve them however you like best — with pasta, in sliders, on a bed of rice, or on top of a big salad.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Meatballs

    skinnycomfort.com, Skinny Comfort / Via skinnycomfort.com

    Forget about making dough from scratch and waiting for it to rise. If you start with store bought biscuit dough, all you need to do is shape it, air fry it, and top it with icing or cinnamon and sugar.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

    Brooklyn Active Mama / Via brooklynactivemama.com

    Start with string cheese and dredge each piece into egg, flour, and a mixture of breadcrumbs and seasoning. Once each cheese stick is coated, cook them in the air fryer until golden brown and crispy all around.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

    Tasty Air Fryer Recipes / Via tastyairfryerrecipes.com

    Grab a bag of your favorite grocery store ravioli, dredge each piece in beaten egg and bread crumbs — with seasoning and Parmesan — then air fry until the outside is toasted and the inside is soft and the cheese melted.

    Recipe: Air Fried Toasted Ravioli

    Tasty Air Fryer Recipes / Via tastyairfryerrecipes.com

    A real toss-and-go recipe, all you need to do is dice some potatoes, slice a sweet onion, and chop some sausage links. Air fry everything for 15 minutes. Once cooked, toss the sausage and veggies in honey mustard and enjoy.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Sausage and Potatoes

    Momma Fit Lyndsey / Via mommafitlyndsey.com

    If you start with shredded rotisserie chicken, these homemade taquitos can be on the dinner table in just minutes. Serve them with your favorite dips like sour cream and guacamole.

    Recipe: Homemade Chicken Taquitos

    The Typical Mom / Via temeculablogs.com

    All you need are two ingredients and 10 minutes to make this seriously satisfying recipe. Eat them as is, or slice the crescent roll wrapped hot dogs into little pigs in a blanket.

    Recipe: Jumbo Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

    Sustainable Cooks / Via sustainablecooks.com

    The next time you're about to order take-out, try whipping up frozen dumplings in your Air Fryer instead. Paired with a drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil or some sriracha, they taste restaurant-quality.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Pot Stickers

    Recipes From a Pantry / Via recipesfromapantry.com

    Whether you're looking for a quick meal for the kids or a brunch-worthy dish, these air fried French toast sticks won't disappoint. All you need is bread or challah, egg, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. You can even make the French toast sticks ahead of time and freeze them for later.

    Recipe: Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

    21 Of The Easiest (And Most Delicious) Air Fryer Recipes Of All Time (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the easiest thing to cook in an air fryer? ›

    Air-fryer recipes for beginners
    • Air-fryer roasted canned potatoes. ...
    • Air-fryer tofu (popcorn nuggets) ...
    • Air-fryer chips. ...
    • Air-fryer chicken thighs. ...
    • Air-fryer sweet potato fries. ...
    • Air-fryer sausages. ...
    • Air-fryer halloumi. ...
    • Air-fryer steak. Use your air-fryer to cook steak and you won't look back.

    What is the most popular thing to make in an air fryer? ›

    French fries are arguably the most popular thing to cook in an air fryer. Air fryers use a fraction of the oil as deep-frying, and making French fries in one results in an appreciably crisp exterior and fluffy inside without the greasiness.

    What tastes best cooked in an air fryer? ›

    Veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms & onions, and cauliflower all turn out incredible in the air fryer. You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken… even steak.

    What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

    Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
    • Wet Batters. ...
    • Cheesy Items. ...
    • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
    • Baked Goods. ...
    • Greens. ...
    • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
    • Too Much of Anything.
    Apr 14, 2023

    What are the top 10 foods to cook in an air fryer? ›

    Start air frying these 13 foods and watch your cooking time drop and your satisfaction in healthy meals skyrocket!
    • Chicken Breasts. ...
    • Tofu. ...
    • Zoodles. ...
    • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
    • Salmon (chopped) ...
    • Chickpeas. ...
    • Personal Pizzas. ...
    • Frozen Cauliflower.
    Feb 18, 2020

    Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

    And because they also use little to no oil compared to other traditional cooking methods, they're also seen as a healthy alternative. But now, shoppers have been ditching their air fryers in favour of a different gadget that's said to be even cheaper - and even healthier - when it comes to preparing meals.

    What Cannot be fried in an air fryer? ›

    8 Things You Probably Shouldn't Cook in an Air Fryer
    • Battered foods. Avoid placing wet batter in the air fryer. ...
    • Fresh greens. Leafy greens like spinach will cook unevenly because the machine uses high-speed air. ...
    • Whole roasts. ...
    • Cheese. ...
    • Raw grains. ...
    • Hamburgers. ...
    • Toast. ...
    • Popcorn.
    Mar 11, 2024

    Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

    Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

    What I wish I knew before I get an air fryer? ›

    6 things I wish I'd known before I bought an air fryer
    • Air fryers do not fry. Deep fried foods: not like air fried ones. ...
    • The air fryer parts you use most are easy to clean but the outer parts… not so much. ...
    • There's a war going on in the air fryer community! ...
    • Air fryers can be quite large.

    What is the secret to cooking in air fryer? ›

    Cook food in a single layer, in batches

    The air fryer is all about — well — air. Meaning, you need to allow for good airflow to create all the browning and crisping the appliance was designed for. As such, you don't want to crowd the food in the basket too much, leaving space for the air to circulate.

    Can you put raw meat in Airfryer? ›

    It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

    Why shouldn t you cook hamburgers in an air fryer? ›

    While an air fryer can technically take a burger patty from raw to cooked, the exterior won't brown as quickly as it would on, say, a grill, which means medium-rare (and even medium) burgers are out of the question. You also won't get that irresistible char.

    What ruins an air fryer? ›

    The experts advised avoiding putting wet batter or liquid mixtures directly into the air fryer as this can drip down onto the heating element which can cause “smoking, splattering, and potential damage”.

    Can you cook raw pasta in air fryer? ›

    It is possible to cook pasta in an air fryer, and “pasta bakes that just need the baking part should be fine”, says Ailsa Burt. “But I wouldn't use an air fryer to cook pasta dishes with lots of sauce.”

    How do you air fry for beginners? ›

    How to Use an Air Fry Oven
    1. SET UP YOUR AIR FRYER. Before you dive into your first recipe, take a few minutes to properly prepare your air fryer for use. ...
    2. PREPARE FOOD. ...
    3. SELECT SETTINGS. ...
    4. PREHEAT. ...
    5. SELECT AIR FRYER COOKING TIME. ...
    6. SHAKE OR FLIP FOOD. ...
    7. REMOVE FOOD. ...
    8. CLEAN YOUR AIR FRYER OVEN.

    What can you cook in an air fryer and not cook it? ›

    Though certain foods become crispy and juicy in an air fryer, others can get messy or dry. Pros recommended using an air fryer when preparing frozen food, cookies, and bacon. Avoid putting overseasoned food, wet batters, and cheese in your air fryer — they can make a mess.

    Can you put tin foil in air fryer? ›

    The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil along with parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. Just remember that if it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work just fine in an air fryer.

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