Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

Easy air fryer recipes for beginners is here! If you like quick and simple dinners we have tons to choose from with chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables for you!

Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

• The air fryer benefits are so many I cannot list them all. You too will see soon what all the rage is about.

Whether you have a Cosori, AirWave or Ninja foodi air fryer and pressure cooker on your countertop it doesn’t matter. They all basically work the same, biggest difference is the size of the basket and how much food you can fit. Larger families should choose a bigger one obviously, but it’s great for serving two people as well.

Any and all of them will cook all the things. From breakfast to lunch, dessert and everything in between you’ll fall in love with it quickly. Even frozen foods in air fryer turn out way better than in the oven and much faster too.

The Foodi you see here has a round shape, others are square. I prefer the latter if you ask me as most foods aren’t round right?? I mean…… By far the easiest thing you could ever start with would be toast in air fryer.

Air Fryer Recipes Simple

From air fryer macaroni and cheese (yes you can) to vegetables, main dishes and more the possibilities are endless I tell you. If you live in the desert it’s great because you don’t have to heat up your entire kitchen to cook dinner. Live where it snows like us? You can still get grilled crispy foods without cooking outside where it’s wet.

If you don’t have one, this is the best air fryer on the market. We share a lot of Cosori air fryer recipes here too.

Only looking for Ninja Foodi air fryer recipes? No problem, all of these will work with that pot too. We aren’t bias to the brand. I have a few of them myself and rotate between them often.

What are the best foods to cook in an air fryer?

Well that would depend on whom you asked really.

In our opinion we air fry everything!! Seriously, you can even make things like air fryer salsa in it. I know, game changer right? Have leftovers? This is the best way to reheat chicken ever to keep it moist.

I will say there is nothing I have tried in it that hasn’t turned out delicious. SO I do it all. I even cook frozen food in air fryer all the time too. For dinner or a side dish like air fryer frozen cauliflower, it’s a true game changer.

• When I figure out the exact time and temperature that is best I share it here with you. BOOKMARK THIS PAGE so you can come back often.

To make frozen foods like a crunchy batch of tater tots they come out soft inside, and restaurant crunchy on the outside. It’s an easy way to make a side dish, same goes with these air fryer hush pupppies and frozen hashbrowns in air fryer.

Simple Air Fryer Recipes

Airfryer Recipes

That’s right, we even cook frozen foods in an air fryer because they come out WAY better than in the oven. Truly if you want your fries to taste and crunch just like at the restaurant this is the way to do just that right at home. It doesn’t matter whether it’s breaded or not everything gets a bit of crunch on the edges or all over.

If you want to try it I would start with a few things you would normally bake, but not anymore!! You will be pleasantly surprised to find out that with LESS time you will get a better result than if you waited 10 minutes for your oven to preheat and twice or three times the bake time.

You can even cook meat from rock hard right out of the freezer too! From pork to beef, and how to cook frozen chicken. My kids are most fond of frozen chicken legs in air fryer with bbq sauce on top! We share mega tips too here like reheating chicken tenders in Air Fryer and how much better it is than the microwave.

Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Get ready for restaurant quality and crispiness foods right at home. All the time!

There are many styles of machines out there. Choose which one is right for you but I will show you the main difference I have found.

1. I would suggest getting one that has a square air fryer basket. You can fit A LOT more in it since most foods aren’t circular. 😉
2. This is the machine I have and like it a lot. With preset buttons, it’s quick and easy to clean too.

I have a Ninja Foodi machine that’s a pressure cooker and air fryer that’s great too.

What frozen foods can you cook in an air fryer?

1. If you don’t want to make homemade french fries, we have directions for frozen french fries in air fryer. These are a game changer. You’ll never bake them again after this.
   1. Frozen chicken tenders in air fryer are wonderful
   2. Use Rhodes rolls to cook this pull apart air fryer garlic bread too!

As well as how to cook air fryer corn dogs and frozen mozzarella sticks in an air fryer the best way ever in your kitchen. We share all the things you need to know for success here.

I offer up a bunch in my Ninja Foodi cookbook too if you want to print that out.

Easy Air Fryer Meals

We will show you how easy frozen french fries in air fryer are to make below. They pair great with our air fryer chicken leg quarters. We love a duo of air fryer carrot fries with chicken too.

Want to make something your kids will love? Try a homemade hot pocket with any ingredients you like. Our air fryer chicken cordon bleu is one of our favorite air fryer snacks served with turnip fries air fryer style. For a high protein option you can give our air fryer edamame a whirl.

What can you cook in an air fryer

Frozen pizza in air fryer and chicken nuggets turn out great in just a few minutes. Your kiddos will love both of those for sure.

1. Want to know how long to cook frozen hamburger in an air fryer? We have that too.
2. Frozen chicken wings in air fryer and air fryer frozen chicken breasts are even possible.
   1. Try cooking frozen fish in air fryer to perfection.

Have fresh meat? Buy half a cow like we do at the beginning of each year. Here’s a roundup of air fryer beef recipes to refer to.

Now let’s talk about air fryer fish recipes! You can start with something easy like already made, packaged, and you cook it at home. Something like frozen popcorn shrimp in air fryer is the easiest. WAY better than baked in the oven they get super crispy in just a few minutes.

Our buttery air fryer scallops and air fryer fish tacos are to die for y’all. If you want more finger foods try these air fryer stuffed mushrooms.

Air fryer frozen shrimp come out great with a light coating of parmesan on top and air fryer roasted potatoes. Light without any real breading, seafood in air fryer really turns out amazing. Then try our air fryer bang bang shrimp.

What can I make with my air fryer?

You can make the “regular” things like wings and frozen items. Well the question I throw back is, what can’t you make in it? I really haven’t found anything, really. Even our tofu air fryer recipe rocks.

We used to make stuffed bell peppers in the oven but not anymore! After making air fryer stuffed peppers there is no other way.

Easy Things to Make in Air Fryer

It has given me the ability to cook a lot healthier, and homemade meals on a more regular basis. Now I might make a meal in a few batches like:

• I often make our air fryer chicken thighs with a killer dry rub recipe + a few slices of buttered air fryer bread or air fryer zoodles.
• For a light breading option our air fryer chicken katsu is killer.
• Frozen burritos in air fryer are great for fast, but if you want healthy give air fryer acorn squash or air fryer pumpkin a whirl.

And my kids’ favorite new snacks are air fryer cauliflower wings and this eggplant air fryer recipe! WE have made homemade mozzarella sticks air fryer style too which were yummy with marinara.

Best Foods for Air Fryer

Healthy Air Fryer Meals

• Air fryer pigs in a blanket is a quick meal. For a healthier choice, give air fryer jicama fries a whirl. 
  • And a air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich with air fryer frozen waffle fries are to die for.

The real game changer for us was when we figured out how to make air fryer ground beef!! Then used it to make ground beef egg rolls. I mean, air fryer popcorn chicken was a win but this could be used for a multitude of recipes.

Throw it into a pot of spaghetti or make our favorite chili mac recipe. For a quick meal or fun appetizer, make air fryer oysters that taste like they were deep fried.

You can even cook frozen salmon in air fryer that comes out perfectly. Served with frozen okra in air fryer it’s a healthy complete meal.

The grease drains away so it’s super lean, then throw it into spaghetti or make taco meat out of it. Or use it to make a batch of air fryer won tons!

Air Fryer Meals

• If it’s breakfast or we want something light for lunch I might make air fryer breakfast potatoes. You could add some air fryer SPAM in the mix with air fryer hash browns too.
  • Love fish? Try our air fryer calamari too sometime.

For something really easy just throw in a frozen pot pie in air fryer and enjoy in under 20 minutes. Or make a few frozen pierogies in air fryer with chicken.

We’ve made an air fryer chimichanga with shredded chicken or pulled pork inside before. Boy were those good. For an Asian twist try air fryer sesame chicken that is rich with bold flavors.

Looking for SPICY? Try hot wings in air fryer with this homemade sauce. If you are anti bones and want to try to make something like Wings N Things or Hooters offers, try air fryer boneless wings.

Air fryer wings or air fryer marinated chicken with a batch of air fryer potato wedges for dinner is always a winner. You can make 1-2 air fryer bbq chicken breasts too with your favorite sauce.

We share here how to cook whole chicken wings in air fryer AND how to reheat chicken wings in air fryer too. If you have leftovers this comes in really handy!

If you need instructions for air fryer gluten free chicken wings we make those with Panko GF as well. Want a flour alternative so it crunches like KFC? Use our fried chicken in air fryer without flour recipe.

Is air fryer healthier than oven?

I wouldn’t say there is much more of a benefit between these two devices, but your finger food will get crispier this way! AND with things like air fryer frozen bacon the grease drains away from your food! From cheese sticks to air fryer tuna patties and everything in between this can do it all I tell you.

If you’re comparing a deep fryer to this though there is a BIG guilt free health difference!

• The benefit is you’ll get that same fried food crispiness with NO oil needed (other than maybe a spritz on the top).
• This is my favorite olive oil spray I use for almost all of these healthy air fryer recipes.
• For things such as air fryer sausage patties it IS much healthier because the grease drains away as it cooks.
• Appetizers made like air fryer crab cakes that would normally be deep fried take on way less fat and calories this way.

You can air fry any and all vegetables you want. This method makes them tender but with a little crisp on the edges which we love cauliflower steaks air fryer style is a game changer.

Tasty air fryer recipes

Have you tried ribs in air fryer or chicken kabobs yet?? They’re great paired with air fryer butternut squash cubes.

Are air fryers safe?

I don’t see it any different than any other small kitchen appliance like a slow cooker or Instant Pot really.

It’s a lot safer than a deep fryer for sure without any worry of spilling or splashing. AND if there are only a few of you, it’s great for cooking holiday meals.

• You can even cook from frozen too!! We make air fryer frozen chicken thighs all the time and you’d never know they were rock hard minutes before.
• Don’t want the extra calories on the outside? Try one of our air fryer chicken recipes no breading instead.
• I share how to cook chicken in an air fryer here and all kinds of beef like air fryer rump roast too.

Let’s talk holidays and what to do if you only have 2 or 3 of you at home. NO need to cook an entire bird. Instead try air fryer turkey wings or a breast. Pair it with a salad with air fryer croutons on top and dinner is served.

Like this air fryer turkey breast or a KFC copycat air fryer fried chicken breast! If you make frozen dinners like air fryer orange chicken, it’s way better than in the oven.

Quick Air Fryer Recipes

For more air fryer dinner recipes and pairings like air fryer tuna steak and veggies, here are a few others we love. You can make a one pot meal like our air fryer shrimp boil where you need NO side dishes to it. A complete meal in itself.

• Try our marinated air fryer roast or air fryer pork roast with air fryer red potatoes cooked to a golden brown with dill.
  • Or with a serving of air fryer potatoes and onions
• My kids love chicken cutlets in air fryer because they can be hand held and super tender. Add some air fryer roasted garlic on top as a pop of flavor or just bread. Served with air fryer biscuits, they’re great.

Air fryer beef can be cooked to tender, and so good. We did this with air fryer brisket with a dry rub that is sweet and savory. So great for dinner.

Now want to make something that the kiddos will get a kick out of? Know how they love Flamin chips? Well use those and make a batch of air fryer Dorito wings some night!

Cosori Recipes

This brand is one of my favorites because of the shape of the basket. Nice and large, square and dishwasher safe too.

• Or serve them with air fryer fish and air fryer beets for a healthy meal.
• For a really cheap and quick dinner, try air fryer cube steak with some air fryer sweet potato cubes.

Time for breakfast for dinner? Try air fryer pancakes some time. Regular is always good with syrup, but you can make another version, our air fryer cauliflower pancakes as a side dish too.

Now if you want a quick snack, we’re all about crispy crunchy air fryer taquitos! Those were ready made and from frozen. If you want to make more of a homemade version, give our air fryer tacos a whirl some night.

My girls can make them on their own and they come out so much better than in the oven or microwave. They will even make air fryer eggplant parm in slices for some fun finger foods.

What Meals Can I Make with an Air Fryer

If you have ground beef, make meatballs in air fryer with baked potatoes on the side stuffed with all the things! With any leftover potatoes, scoop out the middles and mash. Then store in the fridge and make air fryer potato pancakes the next day.

• Or keep things simple and make air fryer egg rolls with an array of dipping sauces on the side.
• Spring rolls are really a complete meal if you add chicken or pork inside.
• Air fryer teriyaki chicken is beyond amazing but air fryer potato skins are better for an appetizer
• And air fryer cornish hens really rock, next to our favorite air fryer tri tip or ribeye in air fryer recipes.

There are lots of different steak recipes because we cook a lot of beef. You can use the same dry rub to make air fryer flank steak and all other sorts of things.

Let’s talk chicken a bit here. You could make chicken fries in air fryer for a snack or a fun dinner idea. My girls love trying different sauces but air fryer bbq chicken wings would be their fave.

We love air fryer fried chicken thighs, that aren’t really fried but taste like they were. For a low carb choice, try our air fryer chicken tenders no breading recipe with air fryer brussel sprouts.

Is air fryer useful for vegetarians?

I think everyone needs one really. We eat meat but do cook vegetables in it quite often because they come out tender on the inside but crispy on the outside like air fryer fried potatoes.

Snacks like air fryer chickpeas come out amazing and you can just add veggies to our air fryer quiche recipe for a meal. We love air fryer cheese curds with marinara too.

• Try something new some time with air fryer latkes! You might call them potato pancakes but these are a bit different and crispier.

We use veggies like air fryer artichoke as a side dish usually. If I just want something light I have been known to eat just a plate of spicy air fryer zucchini chips.

You can serve those with air fryer turkey legs or just about anything really. Our air fryer spinach chips or buttered versions are great choices.

100 Air Fryer Recipes

Frozen meatballs in air fryer smothered in bbq sauce is a fun appetizer, or throw them into spaghetti for dinner. That is right, you can cook right out of the freezer to tender and delicious. Even veggies work well as we show in this post on how to cook frozen asparagus in air fryer.

Sometimes when I want to make the kids something fun after school, air fryer spam fries are it. If I think all they’ve been eating all day is junk I’ve gotten them to love fish. I know, strange but true. If you give our air fryer tuna melt a whirl you might fall in love too though.

What is the difference between an air fryer and a toaster oven?

Air fryers have a single fan and heating element on top of the oven. Some toaster ovens may have an air fryer function but usually have heating elements on the top and the bottom.

We do have one which we tried for a while but ended up breaking down and buying a standard machine.

It works better. Some multi function machines work well, I don’t think this combo is quite as good. I suggest buying JUST an air fryer machine vs. a crisplid too. The biggest difference with the new lids are that it’s a small area to “fry” so you can’t cook a lot and with things like air fryer frozen sausage you won’t get it as browned.

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Recipes

We’re not done yet though, and it doesn’t matter what brand is on the outside of your hot air machine. We have many more EASY instructions for all types of food too. Things like cooking Italian sausage air fryer style is one we use often on busy days. Pair with some veggies and dinner is served.

We’ve got more to share like how to make chicken fried steak and more. If finger food isn’t your fancy and you actually want to have a “fancy dinner” I understand. Maybe a few air fryer lamb chops are more your style.

• Have kids? Make a batch of air fryer hot dogs or air fryer fried chicken.
• Mine love healthy like air fryer apples or air fryer apple chips.
• Then go on with some air fryer zucchini bread and air fryer banana bread too.
• Air fryer peppers are great as a side, or throw air fryer onions in with beef for fajitas.

Pizza rolls in the air fryer are OH MY goodness better than any other method out there. When it comes to anything frozen you’ll be surprised at how good it does turn out. Even frozen hot dogs in air fryer turn out tender but with crisp on the outside. Perfection I tell you.

AirFryer Meals

If you haven’t made air fryer bacon yet I highly suggest you do. It’s much better than it laying in it’s own grease as it drops away thru the holes.

• Or spring for some air fryer pork belly.
• If you want to sort of bake or use another method other than deep frying, you can. We did this with our homemade naan recipe.
• Breaded pork chops in air fryer are amazing with gravy on top.

For a snack, brunch or appetizer I would give our air fryer calamari bites a whirl. Just grab some rings frozen and they’re super easy to coat and cook.

An easy lunch is to throw in a few frozen chicken patties in air fryer. They’re tender on the inside but crispy on the outside.

• Make a batch of coconut shrimp for dinner with air fryer Hasselback potatoes or green beans, and your kids will love it.
• If all you can find is frozen when it comes to vegetables, no problem. We share how to cook them, like air fryer frozen asparagus and more on our site.
• You’ll love our air fryer lemon pepper chicken wings too.

If you love all things seafood, I would make our air fryer fish and chips. You can use frozen fillets, stick, tater tots or fries. OR use fresh for our air fryer fish nuggets. You can make actual chips with noodles too with this pasta chips air fryer recipe here.

Try crispy chicken legs in air fryer with broccoli in air fryer or sweet potatoes for the win

• When people come over I have made this air fryer baked brie which is so amazing I cannot even tell you.

Many times when my kids want a quick snack, it’s homemade beef jerky, grilled cheese or air fryer quesadillas for the win.

Best air fryer recipes

You can just add some salt and pepper, or our homemade dry rub to this salmon in the air fryer and it comes out perfect every time.

Wash fresh kale and throw them in with some seasonings for the best kale chips in the world.

• If you haven’t tried air fryer okra, that’s a winner too
• Wrap bacon around an air fryer steak and WOW!
• Even toasted pumpkin seeds turn out crunchier in this magic basket!

And making a whole chicken in an air fryer has never been easier. Way better than rotisserie.

Then let’s move on to something like air fryer chicken parmesan. It is simple and gets that crunch on the outside you love. If you use our kitchen hack to make Air Fryer Chicken Wings baking powder you’ll never go back.

Air fryer fried shrimp is delicious with Old Bay seasoning which I love. If you love spicy, give air fryer firecracker chicken a whirl. Paired with fried ravioli without any oil is great.

• Zucchini boats can be made with cheese or meat. Either way it is simple to make and really cheap too.
  • Make air fryer hard boiled eggs and make egg salad for lunch.
• An easy way to make air fryer fajitas is to just toss in with seasonings and cook!

Want to make the unusual amazing? Give our air fryer chicken gizzards a whirl. Never know what to do with that stuff in the bag you pull out of a whole chicken? Now you do!

• This semi homemade air fryer pizza is a favorite with a fast cook time. My kids will even make frozen crab cakes in air fryer after school which are delicious.
  • you can also make it as an air fryer hot pocket which is fun for the kids to eat
• Cream cheese stuffed chicken breasts are out of this world with roasted cauliflower.
• I love air fryer filet mignon with our dry rub

Our air fryer pork chop recipe with air fryer pickles is amazing.

You can read our article about Ninja air fryer recipes if you have that specific machine. Many are listed here though.

Can you make dessert in an air fryer?

YES!! This gooey air fryer cake is a great example of perfection. OR make a small batch of air fryer cookies after dinner.

Want a small batch of air fryer cupcakes? You can make just 6 at a time or all 18 and never have to heat up your oven.

Air fryer monkey bread could be dessert or breakfast! And during the Fall you’ve gotta’ try our air fryer pumpkin pie or air fryer pumpkin bread recipes you see here.

But wait, there is more….

We’ve even made the best apple crisp in this handy machine.

• Stuff our 2 ingredient bagels with strawberry cream cheese for a morning treat.
• Make semi-homemade air fryer dumplings with apple pie filling! Or use fresh fruit and make some air fryer peaches for dessert some night.
• Air fryer gingerbread cookies are the bomb
• You can find more air fryer air fryer dessert recipes like air fryer brownies and more here
• Homemade air fryer apple fritters are fun to make with your kids.

Air fryer donuts are easy with this semi homemade recipe, or use refrigerated biscuits to make biscuit donuts.

Looking for an easy and healthy snack? Try our sweet potato chips air fryer recipe. Or throw in a few air fryer frozen egg rolls some day.

We love potstickers in air fryer too.

Air fryer recipes

• Here are air fryer breakfast recipes
• Air fryer appetizers are handy to have on hand
• For a healthy angle, our list of air fryer fish recipes has been popular
  • or some air fryer low carb recipes are here too