Easy air fryer recipes are here! If you like quick and simple dinners we have tons to choose from with chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables for you!
Did you just get a hot air machine and now you’re looking for super easy air fryer recipes? Well we are all about simple here on The Typical Mom blog!
- Whether you have a traditional electric air fryer or Ninja Foodi it doesn’t matter. They all work the same (basically).
- The air fryer benefits are so many I cannot list them all. You too will see soon what all the rage is about.
- Start by printing out our free air fryer cooking times chart.
- Then sign up for my free newsletter so you can get new recipes via. email too!
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.
To make frozen food in air fryer like a crunchy batch of tater tots with a soft inside, this is how you do it!
That’s right, we even cook frozen foods in an air fryer because they come out WAY better than in the oven. If you want to try it I would start with a few things you would normally bake, but not anymore!!
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.
- 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. 😉
- 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
- 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.
- Frozen chicken tenders in air fryer are wonderful
- As well as how to cook air fryer corn dogs and frozen mozzarella sticks in an air fryer
I offer up a bunch in my Ninja Foodi cookbook too if you want to print that out.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen french fries
- 1/4 tsp salt
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Pour in one layer of frozen fries ensuring they are overlapping as little as possible.
- Set time to 15 minutes total. Open basket and shake to flip fries over and rotate them every 5 minutes.
- Before cooking for last 5 minutes spray lightly with olive oil spray and sprinkle with salt.
- Enjoy once they're as crispy as you'd like them (timing will vary slightly depending on how thick your fries are but traditional sizes take 15 minutes total for us)
- Frozen pizza in air fryer and chicken nuggets turn out great in just a few minutes
- Want to know how long to cook frozen hamburger in an air fryer? We have that too.
- Frozen chicken wings in air fryer and air fryer frozen chicken breasts are even possible.
- Air fryer frozen shrimp come out SO good with a light coating of parmesan
- Then try cooking frozen fish in air fryer to perfection.
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.
We used to make stuffed bell peppers in the oven but not anymore! After making air fryer stuffed peppers there is no other way.
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
- Frozen burritos in air fryer are great
And my kids’ favorite new snack is this eggplant air fryer recipe!
- Air fryer pigs in a blanket is a quick meal.
- And a air fryer Monte Cristo sandwich is to die for.
- 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.
- Air fryer wings or air fryer marinated chicken with a batch of air fryer potato wedges for dinner is always a winner.
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! 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.
Just a little spray on top at the end makes the outside of everything turn out extra crispy. Just look at these air fryer empanadas.
Here are a few recipes for air fryer that you can throw together and are cheap to make!
- Have you tried ribs in air fryer or chicken kabobs yet?? They’re great with an air fryer tortilla that requires no yeast to make.
- Side dishes like frozen onion rings in air fryer are better than in the oven too.
- This air fryer sausage and potatoes recipe is great with a batch of air fryer vegetables on the side.
We have a lot of air fryer vegetable recipes here. It’s seriously the only way we cook air fryer mushrooms or mixed veggies anymore.
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.
For more air fryer dinner recipes and pairings, here are a few others we love.
- Try our marinated air fryer roast with air fryer red potatoes cooked to a golden brown with dill.
Now if you want a quick snack, we’re all about crispy crunchy air fryer taquitos! My girls can make them on their own and they come out so much better than in the oven or microwave.
- If you have ground beef, make meatballs in air fryer with baked potatoes on the side stuffed with all the things!
- 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.
- 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. Snacks like air fryer chickpeas come out amazing too.
We use veggies 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.
- For breakfast making cinnamon rolls or egg stuffed peppers.
- Air fryer corn goes with just about anything really.
- Or make some air fryer cabbage steaks loaded with flavor.
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.
We’re not done yet though!! We’ve got more to share like how to make chicken fried steak and more.
- Have kids? Make a batch of air fryer hot dogs or air fryer fried chicken.
- Air fryer peppers are great as a side, or throw in beef for fajitas.
- 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.
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.
- Make a batch of coconut shrimp for dinner with air fryer Hasselback potatoes or green beans, and your kids will love it.
- 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.
- The same goes with this easy air fryer pork loin recipe.
- pair it with mashed potatoes and bam!
- Simple air fryer tilapia has just a light breading. With zucchini fries it’s a healthy meal.
- 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.
Air fryer fried shrimp is delicious with Old Bay seasoning which I love. 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!
- This semi homemade air fryer pizza is a favorite.
- Cream cheese stuffed chicken breasts are out of this world with roasted cauliflower.
- 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.
- 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.
- You can find more air fryer air fryer dessert recipes here
- Air fryer donuts are easy with this semi homemade recipe.
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.
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
- or some air fryer low carb recipes are here too
Cookilicious says
Thanks for this roundup. I have bookmarked some to try.
The Typical Mom says
yeah!
Beth says
We just love using our air fryer. We use it every day! I’m going to be trying out a bunch of these!
The Typical Mom says
Oh good!!
Jen says
So many options to try. I am all about those donuts though. Yum! Truly awesome!
The Typical Mom says
Those are on the top of our list too
Alison @foodbymars says
What an amazing list! Wings were the best though
The Typical Mom says
That dry rub is my husband’s claim to fame