Air fryer ideas for fast and nutritious meals, midweek dinners, and easy breakfasts. These quick dishes range from fish fillets to chicken wings, kale chips to baby potatoes.

It’s simple to understand why the air fryer has become one of the most popular kitchen equipment in contemporary houses. Air fryers are considerably safer and healthier than conventional frying techniques since they cook with circulating air rather than pools of boiling oil. The best part? They can make any deep-fried food speedier.

These top air fryer recipes will get you cooking, whether you want a quick weeknight supper concept or a healthy rendition of a breakfast staple.

Trying to stay low-carb? For more inspiration, see our greatest keto air fryer recipes.

Cajun Catfish

Catfish fillets perform well in the air fryer. Catfish has solid meat that absorbs spice and marinades well and is less flaky than other varieties of white fish.

Our air fryer catfish recipe cooks the fillets in a buttermilk and cajun seasoning batter, which gives it a rich and creamy texture with a touch of spice. The best part is that it just takes 15 minutes to prepare, making it a quick nutritious meal for busy weeknights. To get the finest results, soak it in buttermilk for a few hours before cooking to really bring out the creamy texture.

Baby Potatoes

For a quick and simple side dish for your dinner table, look no further than tiny potatoes. These air fryer baby potatoes are crispy on the exterior and tender on the inside, and they only take 20 minutes to prepare. For added taste, they’re sprinkled with parsley and crushed pepper.

Italian Sausage

Air fried sausage exemplifies how a change in cooking techniques may result in healthier cuisine. This air fryer Italian sausage recipe eliminates the oil, grease, and scorch marks associated with pan-fried pork, resulting in a more uniformly cooked and lighter meal.

Pancakes

Why should air fryer recipes just be used for dinner? Instead of using the waffle iron, try creating morning pancakes in the fryer. While they may be baked as muffins, we favor the classic flat version since it provides more surface space for toppings.

This air fryer pancakes recipe is simple. All it takes is a basic pancake batter and five minutes in the fryer, followed by fruit toppings or syrup (sugar-free if desired). If you like your batter to be particularly fluffy, use ordinary milk for the buttermilk. Easy.

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

This is a wonderfully simple approach to encourage your kids, or anybody, to eat their vegetables. Crispy on the exterior, soft on the inside, and seasoned with salt and vinegar, these brussel sprouts are a guilt-free snack.

Parmesan Dill Fried Pickle Chips

These fried pickle chips are covered in breadcrumbs and parmesan, producing crispy, cheesy pickles that are a healthy way to fulfill anyone’s salty need. All you have to do is take sliced pickles, combine them with the other ingredients, and cook them in the air fryer for 10 minutes.

Who knew veggies could be made to taste like potato chips without the fat?

3-Ingredient Fried Catfish

If you’re in the mood for seafood, this is the dish for you. Because the air fryer does not emit any fishy odors, there is no reason not to attempt this recipe.

These fried catfish fillets with fish fry coating and parsley are a light, low-calorie supper.

Bang Bang Panko Breaded Fried Shrimp

Because they can be cooked without breading, these breaded shrimp are ideal for anybody looking to reduce both fat and carbohydrates. One serving contains 40 grams of protein and 1 gram of fat.

Because the shrimp are coated in eggs and flour, they crisp up quickly and are a great go-to dinner when you want something crispy yet healthful. They’re also served with the ideal bang bang sauce.

Jalapeno Poppers

This dish is for all of you gluten-free individuals out there. These jalapeño poppers are spicy, delicious, and full of flavor.

This dish may be turned vegan by using dairy-free cream cheese and simply doubled to preserve for later.

Extra Crispy Chicken Wings

It’s difficult to find someone who doesn’t like crispy chicken wings. This recipe provides a low-fat version of a famous American favorite.

These crispy wings are seasoned with salt, olive oil, and lemon pepper and are high in taste rather than fat.

Kale Chips

Looking for a healthy alternative to store-bought kale chips? These are for you. Not only are these kale chips low in fat, but you can personalize them with your favorite spices and sauces by cooking them at home.

Avocado Fries with Lime Dipping Sauce

If you’re seeking for another reason to consume avocado, this dish is for you. The sauce is created with yogurt, lime juice, and mayonnaise, while the avocado fries are breadcrumb-coated and simply need a few squirts of olive oil.

Crispy Roasted Broccoli

Looking for a quick and tasty way to get your veggies? These crispy broccoli florets are simple to make and need just a few ingredients.

These florets are crispy and full of Indian-inspired flavor after being marinated in chickpea masala.

Sriracha-Honey Chicken Wings

These sweet and spicy sriracha and honey-flavored wings will satisfy both your sweet and spicy appetites. You just need honey, soy sauce, butter, and a few seasonings to trick anybody into believing these wings were deep-fried.

Keto & Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

These cauliflower wings, another vegan classic, have a great buffalo sauce taste without the need of any oil or beef.

You can make these cauliflower florets crisp up like fried chicken by combining flour, oil, salt, and buffalo sauce.

Chicken Tenders

Preparing chicken tenders in an air fryer allows you to obtain all of the crispy wonderful taste that makes chicken tenders so popular while using less oil and bad substances than conventional frying techniques. Air fryer chicken tenders are deliciously crispy and go well with any dipping sauce.

At the grocery store, you may get pre-cut, breaded chicken tenders. Alternatively, cut chicken breasts into strips to create your own chicken tenders. Dip the tenders in the eggs, then in the bread crumbs and spice mixture. Cook for seven to eight minutes in an air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep the tenders crispy, work in batches and maintain them in a single layer.

Roast Chicken

An air fryer is so flexible that it may even be used to roast a bird. Roasting a chicken in an air fryer is simpler and quicker than roasting it in the oven. Cleaning up is also less of a chore. Enjoy rotisserie chicken without having to turn on your oven or travel to the grocery store.

In the air fryer, you may cook a full fowl. Season the chicken with paprika, salt, and garlic powder to taste. Place it in the air fryer basket, breast-side down, and cook for 50 minutes at 360°F, then turn and cook for another 10 minutes. Before serving, use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked (165 degrees Fahrenheit). You can find the recipe here.

Fried Chicken

Air-fried chicken is healthier than deep-fried chicken. The air fryer crisps up chicken skin without drying out the meat or removing its taste. Furthermore, this procedure is significantly simpler than using a deep fryer.

To make this healthier version of fried chicken, soak each piece in buttermilk before dipping it in flour. Avoid making the coating too thick, since this makes it difficult for the air fryer to cook the chicken. Then, put a single layer of chicken in the air fryer and cook for 12 to 14 minutes on each side at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chicken Thighs

This dish for chicken thighs completes the collection of fantastic air fryer chicken recipes. The air fryer cooks the meat rapidly, making it ideal for a quick meal, and the cleaning is minimal.

Marinate the chicken thighs in a dry rub of salt, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and onion powder before frying. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and spray with nonstick frying spray. Cook the chicken thighs in a single layer in the basket for 10 to 12 minutes on each side.

Veggie Fajitas

The air fryer may also be used to prepare vegetable-based recipes. Cooking veggies in the air fryer allows them to keep their taste and become quite crispy without being soaked in fat or oil. These wonderfully crisp vegetables may be used in a variety of dishes, including these vegetarian fajitas.

The first step is to cut your vegetables into strips (we recommend mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers). Marinate the veggies in fajita sauce, which may be purchased or made at home by blending sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, cumin, coriander, and paprika. Cook for 15 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit before serving on tortillas.You can find the recipe here.

Turkey Croquettes

These croquettes are an excellent way to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers or any time you have an abundance of turkey flesh on hand. The taste is delicious, and the surface of the croquettes crisps up well without needing too much fat.

Combine mashed potatoes and finely diced cooked turkey breast with shredded cheese, herbs like rosemary and sage, and shallots to create turkey croquettes. Form the mixture into balls, then coat with an egg wash and bread crumbs. Cook for four to five minutes on each side at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a delightful comfort dish, but many traditional recipes take a long time to prepare and bake. This air fryer version is fast to prepare and ready to serve in minutes.

Ground beef is the most frequent filling for stuffed peppers, but you may use whatever filling you choose. Begin by browning the ground beef and other filling ingredients in a pan. Hollow out bell peppers by removing the tops. Stuff the peppers with the filling and bake at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries contain all of the salty enjoyment of conventional fries, but they are healthier and have a more nuanced taste due to the sweetness of the potatoes. Making them in an air fryer makes them even healthier.

Prepare the sweet potatoes by slicing them into matchsticks and sprinkling them with olive oil, flaky salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. Preheat an air fryer to 380°F and cook the fries for 12 minutes, or until crispy. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding, which causes the fries to get soggy. Get the whole recipe here.

Salmon

An air fryer is so flexible that it may even be used to cook crispy seafood like salmon. Salmon browns beautifully in the air fryer without losing any of its taste or softness.

Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika season the salmon fillets. Cook for approximately seven minutes in an air fryer set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Thicker fillets will need more cooking time.