Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (2024)

The air fryer has become a must-have appliance in many homes. For many cooks — whether they bought it for putting a lighter spin on their favorite fried food, for the ease of air fryer cooking, or they just want to reheat soggy French fries — the air fryer has been life-changing. Scroll through this collection of our most popular air fryer recipes to see how you can use your air fryer for every meal of the day. From an air-fried breakfast frittata to air fryer zucchini chips and air fryer eggplant Parmesan, these recipes are the perfect excuse to eat delicious air-fried food all day long.

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Crumbed Chicken Tenderloins (Air Fried)

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (1)

These four-ingredient chicken tenders are so easy to make in the air fryer. This recipe mixes bread crumbs with olive oil to create the chicken coating, but you could use butter instead — and you can add more spices to the mixture if you like. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

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Air-Fried Crumbed Fish

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If you like breaded and fried fish, you'll want to try this air fryer version. This recipe calls for flounder fillets, but reviewers have also used halibut and cod. Reviewers also suggest seasoning the breading mixture with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to add an extra layer of flavor.

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Air Fryer Potato Wedges

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Making potato wedges just got easier. Season the wedges with paprika, parsley flakes, chili powder, salt, and pepper, and air-fry for 15 minutes. This recipe cooks the potato wedges in batches, but, if you have a larger air fryer, you don't have to. "These were easy and yummy. The recipe worked perfectly exactly as written," says home cook Nancy.

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Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (4)

"Perfectly tender and juicy pork chops are what you'll get in just 10 minutes using your air fryer and basic pantry ingredients. Play around with different crouton flavors for variety," says Allrecipes Allstar France C. Make sure to adjust your cook time depending on how thick the chops are.

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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

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The air fryer gives these chicken thighs a crispy skin with tender, juicy meat on the inside, and all in just 30 minutes! "This recipe is absolutely delicious and so easy to make! I'm new to the air fryer and made this recipe exactly as written. The flavors were so good and the chicken was so moist with a nice crisp on the outside," says reviewer SZYQ1.

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Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (6)

These lemon pepper shrimp are great as an appetizer or main dish served on top of rice or pasta. For extra flavor, reviewers say you can marinate the shrimp in the lemon pepper coating. "I am not a fan of lemon pepper flavored things, but this was amazing! My whole family loved this, including my super picky 11-year-old," says reviewer Sonia.

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Air-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (7)

These sweet potato fries make the best side dish for any meal. Reviewers like to use smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika and extra virgin olive oil instead of canola oil. "Such an easy and satisfying recipe! The one modification I did was to cut the sweet potato, then soak the fries in water for at least 10 minutes, to make them more crispy," says home cook Rich Suchoski.

  • The Best Air Fryers, Tested By Allrecipes

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Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (8)

Need an appetizer for your next get-together? Try these cheesy air-fried zucchini chips. The Parmesan in the breading is the star of the show, but if you want a little zing, you can add cayenne pepper. Reviewers like to serve them with marinara sauce or this Sun-Dried Tomato Dip.

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Air Fryer Breakfast Frittata

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (9)

Yup, you can even make breakfast in the air fryer. All you need is a small cake pan that will fit in your air fryer basket. This frittata contains sausage, Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese, red bell pepper, green onion, and cayenne pepper, but you can use any other ingredients you like. Reviewers like to add jalapeños, bacon, and mushrooms.

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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (10)

Once you try making baked potatoes in your air fryer, you might never go back to oven-baked potatoes again. These potatoes are crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Serve topped with your favorite baked potato toppings, like butter, chives, sour cream, and cheese. "Perfect as written! The shell gets so crispy but the inside is nice and fluffy. My husband said it was the best baked potato he has ever had. He even ate the entire peel which is unlike him," says Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole.

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Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (11)

"These taquitos are air fried, which makes them healthier than deep fried ones. Using shredded rotisserie chicken provides a quick prep but you can always use home-cooked chicken. Serve with sides of sour cream, Mexican tomato sauce, and guacamole, or your choice of sides," says Allrecipes Allstar Yoly. The kids will love these, and you can dress them up with jalapeños or other ingredients to make them a fun meal for adults too.

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Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (12)

This oil-free eggplant Parmesan is delicious topped with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. "These tasted better than eggplant Parmesan that was baked in the oven. The crisp eggplant was very satisfying and overall the entire meal was fresh and delicious," says home cook Chris.

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Cajun Air Fryer Salmon

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Do you like crispy salmon? Try this three-ingredient air-fried Cajun salmon recipe. This method results in a crispy topping while not drying out the salmon. "Full of flavor with a hint of sweetness, this moist and delicious salmon is ready in under 10 minutes! You may want to add salt before serving if you are using an unsalted Cajun seasoning. For best results, use center-cut fillets that are about an inch thick," says recipe contributor France C.

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Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (14)

Pretend you're on a beach somewhere with this coconut shrimp recipe. The recipe provides instructions for a spicy honey-lime dip to serve alongside the shrimp, but you can serve them with any sauces you like. "Quick, easy, and tasty. Did not make any changes and none are needed. The only thing I did differently was to make my own dipping sauce which is a Piña Colada sauce," says reviewer Yoly.

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Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Breast

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (15)

By cooking your chicken 20 minutes in the air fryer, you'll get the perfect blackened crust every time — without a cast-iron skillet. Serve with your favorite sides, like an air-fried baked potato or a salad. "This was the best chicken I've ever made. Usually chicken breasts get dried out and tough, but this was definitely not. The spice rub is flavorful and, yes, spicy. But the chicken! It was juicy and tender and perfectly done. Wonderful," says home cook peloni.

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Basic Air Fryer Hot Dogs

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This might just be your new favorite way to prepare hot dogs. "Perfectly crisp hot dogs and toasted buns made in minutes with the help of your air fryer. Top with ketchup, mustard, relish, chili, or condiments of choice," says recipe creator Soup Loving Nicole.

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Air Fryer Scotch Eggs

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Love Scotch eggs, but not the added fat and time it takes to make them? Make this air-fried version instead. "They make the perfect breakfast or snack, especially when served with the chutney dipping sauce. Cook the eggs to your liking; either hard-boiled or slightly soft, you can't go wrong," says recipe contributor France C.

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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (18)

Brussel sprouts just got a time-saving upgrade. Try this side dish in the air fryer and it'll be ready in just 15 minutes. "Sweet and tart balsamic vinegar pairs well with the bitterness of Brussels sprouts; the bacon adds a smokey flavor. After 10 minutes, there's still some bite to the sprouts; add a few more minutes for a softer texture, if desired," says Allrecipes Allstar Bren.

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Air Fryer Ranch Pork Chops

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A two-ingredient pork chop dinner? You've got to try it! Season the chops with your favorite ranch mix to switch up the flavors. "Delicious! Juicy and flavorful — a hit with the whole family," says reviewer MissRhythm.

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Air Fryer French Fries

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Chef John's technique gives you the best-tasting French fries in the air fryer. Soak your potatoes in water for five minutes and wait until after the fries are cooked before adding salt. Serve with honey mustard, spicy ketchup, or garlic aioli — Chef John likes to mix the three together to create the perfect dipping sauce.

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More Inspiration

Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (21)

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Our 20 Best Air Fryer Recipes Give You Permission to Eat "Fried" Food All Day Long (2024)

FAQs

What is the 10 20 rule for air fryers? ›

Converting from oven to airfryer

The general rule is to reduce the temperature by 10ºC, and cook for 20 percent less time. bakes in a 200ºC oven for 15-20 minutes. To make the tofu in your aifryer, set the temperature to 190ºC and bake for 12-15 minutes.

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 is the most popular food cooked in an air fryer? ›

Insider asked chefs to share their favorite things to make in an air fryer. Their favorite dishes to make in this appliance include gnocchi, chicken, and crunchy chickpeas. It's also possible to make flavorful steak, bacon, and chicken nuggets in an air fryer.

What is the 20 20 rule for air fryers? ›

The golden rules of Christmas air frying

“If you are using recipes that are for conventional ovens, you will generally want to reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the heat by 20C (that's from the fan temperature) to account for the air fryer's efficiency.”

Does the air fryer count as fried food? ›

Despite the name, air fryers do not actually fry foods. They work similarly to a convection oven. Air fryers can be used to prepare foods that are typically fried like French fries or tater tots as well as other foods like chicken breasts and asparagus. How do Air Fried Foods Compare to Deep Fried Foods?

Why is Airfryer not healthy? ›

Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

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

Why is air fried food not healthy? ›

In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.

What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer? ›

Make homemade sweetcorn and spring onion fritters in the air fryer for easy, energy-efficient cooking. These would be perfect as a veggie lunch, starter or side.

What meat is best in Airfryer? ›

As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

What is the best thing to fry in an air fryer? ›

How to Cook and Season the Best Air-Fryer Foods With Ease
  • Chicken Breasts. Everyone has cooked or eaten a rubbery, dried-out chicken breast and there's just nothing about that experience that you want to repeat. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

What are the disadvantages of the Ninja air fryer? ›

It's worth noting that air fryers don't actually fry food, which requires submerging food in hot oil. Air fryers use hot air circulation to mimic frying food. There are some downsides to air fryers. They're bulky, can be difficult to clean, and have limited cooking capacity.

What do 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.

Do air fryers use a lot of electricity? ›

Do air fryers use a lot of electricity? Air fryers don't use a lot of electricity, with most requiring between 800 and 1800 watts (W) to run, though some large models need more. Air fryers also use less electricity than electric ovens, which typically use around 2,200 W to 5,000 W, and therefore cost more to run.

Can I 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 is the general rule for cooking in the air fryer? ›

When taking a recipe from oven to air fryer, the general rule is to reduce the temperature by 20ºC – 30ºC, and cook for 20% less time.

How do I calculate cooking times for an air fryer? ›

To cook fresh food in an air fryer, Jenny suggests subtracting 20°C from the typical oven temperature and reducing the oven cooking time by 20-25%. For example, if the oven instruction calls for cooking at 180°C for 25 minutes, set your air fryer to 160°C for 20 minutes.

Can tin foil go in an 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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