33 Tasty Air-Fryer Recipes That Showcase the Appliance's Versatility
Having an air fryer means getting to enjoy more of the crispy foods we love with less guilt. Instead of deep-frying, the air fryer quickly heats to a high temperature and circulates air around foods like "fried" chicken or donuts for perfectly crispy exterior minus the oil. No more deep-fryer smell either! Of all the seemingly endless options for air-fryer recipes, these are the best of the best air-fryer recipes from our Test Kitchen. Now you can use the countertop appliance for every meal.
Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
One bite of this whole air-fryer chicken and you'll be amazed at how much it tastes like your favorite storebought rotisserie chicken. With only a few ingredients (and zero oil), this air-fryer chicken develops a great flavor that makes a healthy low-carb dinner option.
Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower
For a healthier take on chicken wings, consider giving cauliflower the usual wing treatment. Use your air fryer to crisp cauliflower then toss in our spicy buffalo sauce. Serve these with some ranch or bleu cheese dressing for a game day snack or party appetizer.
Air-Fryer White Pizza
Enjoy pizza night at home with this delicious air-fryer recipe. We include an easy DIY pizza crust recipe to make in your food processor, but you could easily use purchased dough to save prep time.
Air-Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers
Instead of heading to the drive-thru, make this easy air-fryer recipe that includes Greek-inspired flavors such as oregano and feta for burger night. The use of lean, ground turkey is a healthier alternative to beef and this cooking method will have a lightened air-fryer dinner recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Air-Fryer Pork Chops with Brussels Sprouts
No dry and flavorless pork chops here! In this air-fryer dinner recipe, the meat and Brussels sprouts are tossed with a maple and mustard glaze for big flavor and require only 10 minutes to cook to the perfect temperature with juicy results. You'll be making this weeknight meal on repeat.
Air-Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce
If you tend to stray away from seafood, we encourage you to try scallops in the air fryer. Topped with zesty lemon and tangy capers, you'll have a fancy dinner for two on the table fast. Be sure to check for doneness of your scallops (thermometer should read 120°F) after about 6 minutes. Overdone scallops take on an unpleasant rubbery texture.
Air-Fryer Roasted Vegetables
This air-fryer vegetable recipe is an excellent way to rid your fridge of any veggies that need to be used up. Use your favorite seasonings and a drizzle of oil to match the flavors on tonight's menu. Try one of the two dipping sauce options to expand on the flavors.
Air-Fryer Chicken Katsu Sandwiches
Katsu is a breaded-and-fried cutlet of chicken or pork served with a sweet sauce popular in Japanese cuisine. This Asian-inspired air-fryer recipe features lightly-breaded chicken that cooks in less than 10 minutes.
Crispy Tofu "Stir-Fry"
This air-fryer tofu recipe is inspiration to incorporate more meatless recipes into your healthy meal plan. Allow the air fryer to crisp tofu and veggies at the same time for an easy meal that gives comes out with an amazing meat-like texture. Finish the dish with the sweet and spicy sauce made of soy sauce, ginger, and honey. Serve over hot brown rice for a heartier weeknight meal.
Lemon-Pepper Air-Fryer Shrimp and Veggies
Air fryer shrimp recipes don't get easier than this! In just 20 minutes, you'll have a healthy, veggie-filled dinner that's drenched with citrusy seasoning. A squeeze for fresh lemon juice at the end is the perfect finish.
Air-Fried Mini Italian Meatloaves
By making miniature meatloaves in the air fryer, they cook more quickly and create individually-portioned servings. This Italian take on the classic meatloaf is stuffed with tiny pearls of fresh mozzarella, which makes them pretty irresistible, if you ask us.
Air-Fryer Jerk Pork Skewers with Black Bean Mango Salsa
Jerk seasoning and shredded coconut form the irresistible breading for pork in this tasty air-fryer dinner recipe. A sweet, tangy mango salsa brightens every bite. Don't forget to cut the bamboo sticks to fit your air fryer basket and soak them (to prevent smoking) before assembling.
Mexican-Style Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob. In this healthy air-fryer recipe, we spread the golden kernels with lime-infused butter for Mexican-inspired flair. Serve them at your next Cinco de Mayo celebration or backyard cookout.
Air-Fryer Breakfast Burritos
Meet your go-to weekday breakfast. Fill a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, cheese, and avocado slices. A quick trip to your favorite air fryer melts the cheese and heats everything through. Prep a bunch ahead of time and you'll always have a quick, healthy breakfast that's ready in minutes.
Air-Fried Flaxseed French Toast Sticks with Berries
Treat kids (and yourself) to a flavorful breakfast made in your air fryer. These French toast sticks use whole grain bread and flaxseed to make one of our healthiest air-fryer breakfast recipes that's ready to dunk into maple syrup.
Air-Fried Pickle Chips
Crisp a batch of "fried" pickles in your air fryer for your next party. The briny dill pickles are coated in a buttermilk mixture (with a hint of heat from Sriracha) before getting breaded in panko. Making enough to serve six, this is one of our best air-fryer recipes for a (smaller) crowd.
Air-Fried Calzones
Being able to eat your pizza on the go with less mess is one reason the calzone is such a brilliant invention. This air-fryer recipe variation of our favorite stuffed pizzas includes shredded chicken and spinach. After your mozzarella goes in, crimp the dough edges tight so the toppings stay inside the calzone while it's "fried" to perfection.
Air-Fryer Shrimp "Boil"
Skip the boiling water on the stove and whip up a Cajun feast in your air fryer. The key to making this healthy air fryer recipe is to add the ingredients at different stages. After the shrimp and veggies are air fried, drizzle them with butter, Cajun seasoning, and fresh lemon.
Air-Fryer Flank Steak and Fennel
It takes just a handful of ingredients and your air fryer to create a steakhouse-worthy dinner. A rub made with black pepper and lemon zest infuses each bite with fresh, zesty flavor. Finish the air fryer steak recipe with a sprinkle of fennel fronds and more cracked black pepper.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast with Herb Butter
Free up valuable oven space during the Thanksgiving rush by cooking a turkey breast in the air fryer. Before adding the breast to the air fryer basket, we're spreading herb-flavored butter under the skin. The finished turkey is crisp and juicy.
Air Fryer Filet Mignon
If you've never cooked filet mignon in the air fryer, consider this your sign to try it. As one BHG home cook shared, "I was surprised by how easy and good this was. It is a great way to cook filet mignon when grilling is not possible."
Air-Fryer Chicken Wings
We can't decide which part of this air fryer recipe we love most. For some of our recipe testers, it's the ultra-crispy skin. For others, it's the sticky-sweet honey and soy glaze. Either way, this air fryer appetizer idea is delicious.
Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
Roasting pumpkin seeds in the oven is a fall tradition we look forward to every year. This year, try tossing the seeds in the air fryer instead. They're crunchy, perfectly spiced, and this cooking method is almost totally hands-off.
Air-Fryer Snickerdoodles
If you love cookies that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, this is the next air fryer recipe you should try. After just 6-8 minutes of cook time, these cinnamon-spiced snickerdoodles are ready to enjoy with a glass of milk.
Honey-Roasted Air-Fryer Butternut Squash
After cooking honey-coated butternut squash cubes in the air fryer, we're tossing them with dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese. It's an easy fall side dish that pairs well with turkey or ham.
Air Fryer Vegetarian Dressing
Once you try our technique for toasting bread cubes in the air fryer, you'll realize how much quicker and easier it is than oven-drying. Use them to make homemade stuffing like we did here or as homemade croutons on salads.
Chocolate Hazelnut Air-Fryer Turnovers
You're just 20 minutes away from these luscious chocolate turnovers. Stuff frozen puff pastry with chocolate hazelnut spread and toasted hazelnuts. A sprinkle of powdered sugar once they're out of the air fryer adds the perfect finish.
Pretzel-Crusted Air-Fryer Crab Cakes
Skip the breadcrumbs in this crab cake recipe and swap in crushed pretzels instead. Once the crab cake mixture is assembled, roll the crab cakes in more crushed pretzels for crunch. Serve the cakes with a homemade mustard dip.
Air-Fryer Banana Bread
For flavor and crunch, we're topping this air fryer banana bread recipe with toasted walnuts. Once the bread is air-fried, cool it for at least 15 minutes before serving. This helps ensure the slices are clean and even.
Air-Fryer Avocado Fries
The secret to making good avocado fries is choosing avocados that are just barely ripe, so they hold their shape during the cooking process. Serve the finished fries with a spicy sriracha mayo.
Air-Fried Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Strips
Nashville chicken is an addictive blend of sweet and spicy flavors. This air fryer chicken recipe comes out crispy and golden before being coated with a brown sugar and chili powder mixture. Serve with white bread and plenty of sliced dill pickles.
Crab Rangoon Roll-Ups
Spread tortillas with a mixture of cream cheese, imitation crab, and green onions before air-frying them to create the ultimate at-home appetizer. Each bite is equal parts crunchy and creamy. Dip the roll-ups in sweet chili sauce.
Air-Fried Sweet Potato Tots
With just 20 minutes of hands on time, this air fryer side dish is so much better than store bought. Air fry the sweet potato tots until fully cooked and lightly browned. Serve them with your favorite dippers.