60 Easy and Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

When we think about all of the reasons to love the air fryer, versatility is always at the top of our list. You can use it to make easy appetizers, dinnertime mains, veggies to serve alongside and even chocolate chip cookies for dessert. And, although not everything made in the air fryer is automatically healthy, plenty of your favorites can be made with less fat and oil by utilizing this smart countertop appliance. You’ll be surprised at how many different foods you can make in it. You can’t go wrong with any of the recipes in this roundup but these kid-friendly chicken fingers are a good place to start. They’re a healthier alternative to the ones you order from your local pizzeria—and guaranteed to please young and old alike.

Pomegranate lends its sweet-tart essence and ruby hue to this impressive weeknight dinner or special-occasion main dish in two ways: First, pomegranate molasses is the base of a fruity glaze for the salmon fillets, resulting in perfectly caramelized exteriors. While the fish cooks, we toss together a bold and colorful relish of pomegranate arils, cilantro and spicy serrano chiles to cut through the richness of the salmon. And since it's ready in just about 20 minutes, you'll have plenty of time for your guests or family.

The secret to making air fryer zucchini super crispy is a generous amount of olive oil in the breading. The oil helps to mimic the same crunchy crust you’d get from deep-frying, but without the mess. We like to serve fried zucchini with warm marinara sauce, but these bites would be equally delicious (and a bit more indulgent) dipped in creamy ranch dressing or your favorite aioli.

This clever recipe uses silicone ice cube stick molds to quickly create the components for breakfast tacos in an air fryer. One mold holds corn tortillas in a U-shape so they transform into hard taco shells while they cook. Another mold holds beaten eggs, which cook at the same time as the tortillas. Pop the finished "scrambled" eggs out of the mold, then stuff them into the cheese-filled taco shells. Add some spicy mayo, tomatoes and avocado and the result is an extra-crispy, extra-tasty breakfast treat.

An air fryer practically guarantees crispy, juicy chicken thighs. Seasoned simply with lemon zest, salt and pepper, they make a satisfying meal with an Italian-inspired salsa verde and bright kale salad (that's easy to make ahead). Air fried panko is the final crunchy touch.

Valerie says, "Did you know you can roast a mayonnaise-based potato salad? It sounds crazy, but because the mayonnaise contains oil, it helps the potatoes crisp up when cooked. To make life a little easier, I’m using the air fryer to do all the work!"

You’ll be overcome by nostalgia when you make these pizza bagels. We kept everything we love about the original — toasted chewy bagel, tangy tomato sauce and lots of melty cheese. But we made these entirely in the air fryer, cutting the cooking time by half. Enjoy them as they are, or add your favorite pantry toppings, such as mini sliced pepperoni and roasted red pepper strips.

Forget the frozen fries! These homemade French fries come out perfectly golden and crisp and only use 1 teaspoon of oil...just another reason to love your air fryer.

These deliciously crisp cakes are loaded with sweet crab. Not overmixing and allowing the mixture to rest before cooking helped the crab cakes hold their shape better, as did cooking them in an air fryer. Serve these hearty morsels with creamy chipotle sauce and you'll have a decadent dinner in no time.

If you are looking for a quick and easy appetizer that serves a crowd, this is it! Delicious Swedish meatballs take less than 10 minutes to cook in an air fryer and come out juicy and tender for irresistible party bites.

Bake right on your countertop! Your air fryer can make more than just French fries. These chocolate chip cookies are small, sweet and cakey. Make the dough, roll into balls and freeze—then thaw and air-fry a few as needed for easy after-dinner treats.

The ease and speed of an air fryer makes cooking frozen chicken breasts to golden, juicy perfection a breeze, so you can even prepare them in the morning before work or school. You can cook two at a time — just make sure not to stack them.

Taquitos are the ultimate finger food—mini rolled tacos that are warm, cheesy and super crunchy! An air fryer makes this crowd-pleasing snack (or appetizer) surprisingly easy to cook up at home. We fill them with chunks of chicken and melty Colby Jack, but you can customize the ingredients to please even the pickiest of eaters with different proteins and cheeses. And while you have the air fryer fired up you can make a delicious charred salsa to serve alongside.

Your air fryer can make perfect soft, medium or hard cooked eggs — no boiling water required!

We used an air fryer to turn spareribs into a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Separating the ribs helps them to fit in the fryer, cook quickly and get an even, golden crust all over. Make sure you dip them in the warm barbeque sauce immediately after they are done cooking — they'll absorb more flavor while still hot.

This carnival treat is easy to replicate at home with your air fryer. We doctored up pancake mix to create a sweet batter that gets light, golden and crisp. The key to a perfect coating is to get the batter's consistency right—so adjust as needed with extra mix.

This chicken gets incredibly crunchy, thanks to a light coating of panko and Parmesan and a quick cook in the air fryer! Serve it with charred broccoli and a tangy yogurt sauce for a healthy and complete meal you can throw together any day of the week.

You may not have thought to make a frittata in your air fryer, but you can! You'll get a gorgeous brown crust with a creamy interior—and clever use of a cake pan makes it a cinch to unmold. We used Havarti for its mild flavor and superior melting qualities, but substitute another good melting cheese such as Cheddar, jack or fontina if you like. Serve the frittata warm or at room temperature.

Making fried chicken in an air fryer is a revelation. You can achieve a crispy crust and juicy interior without all the steps of deep-frying. A soak in seasoned buttermilk adds extra flavor—as little as 1 hour will make a difference, but overnight is even better. Because of the capacity of a standard air fryer, we cook the chicken in batches. You can rewarm the first batch in a 250-degree oven for 10 minutes if you'd like to serve it all hot at once.

Mushrooms stuffed with garlicky, cheesy breadcrumbs make a perfect appetizer for parties and gatherings. Best of all, there's no need for pots, pans or an oven!

Serve these crispy shrimp with our spicy remoulade, or substitute any of your favorite condiments for dipping.

Made with a thin apple slicer and a melon baller, these cutie flower-shaped potatoes — perfect for kids — cook entirely in the air fryer until they’re tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. For best results, use potatoes that are similar in size, at least 1 1/4 inches wide. Once they’re done cooking, fill each flower with ranch dressing and a cherry tomato half. Or mix things up and add a different dip, like hummus or guacamole.

Skip the deep-fryer and forget soggy oven chicken wings. The air fryer offers the best of both worlds for crispy wings without extra fat!

This pillowy New Orleans classic is easy to make at home in your air fryer and uses far less oil than the original. As a bonus, you can use the same sweet yeasted dough to make air fryer doughnuts — just cut into rings and air fry at the same temperature as the beignets. Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar or a quick glaze.

Get the crispiest sprouts possible -- without using a lot of oil.

This easy ham is perfect for Easter dinner, but why wait for a holiday? The brown sugar glaze--made savory-sweet with apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard and allspice-- takes just a few minutes to mix up. And cooking a spiral cut ham in an air fryer produces a delectable, caramelized exterior. Some would say that the leftovers are the best part!

Want homemade biscuits, but it’s too hot for baking or you don’t have room in the oven for one more thing? These simple, classic ones cook to flaky perfection in your air fryer--no oven (or pan) needed. Try them with the easy honey butter for a perfect pairing.

The high heat of an air fryer quickly caramelizes vegetables, giving this creamy soup deep flavor. The addition of a few dried spices adds warmth and seasoning. Drizzle the finished soup with creme fraiche or plain yogurt and sprinkle with pepitas and chopped chives for a delicious vegetarian meal that’s particularly weeknight-friendly.

Sweet, earthy beets and crispy, salty potatoes come together in this easy air-fryer chip medley that's inspired by the favorite store-bought variety. It will take a couple batches to complete, but the final result is a super satisfying snack you can enjoy any time of the day.

Shrimp scampi is a classic for good reason. Fresh shrimp, cooked until tender in garlic butter and served over pasta--what more does one need? Perhaps a dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup!

If you've ever had arancini in a restaurant, you know how incredibly delicious they are. Here the round balls of risotto and cheese are rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs and air fried to crispy perfection for an easier, lighter spin on the classic. We even put a cube of mozzarella inside each one, for a melty, gooey surprise.

Air fryers aren't just for French fries, and this recipe showcases their versatility with a stir-fry-like dish that uses just a fraction of the typical amount of oil. Cleanup is a breeze since any splatters are kept in the fryer, and everything is cooked in about 30 minutes. The tofu is crispy on the outside and tender and soft on the inside, perfect for soaking up the warming chili sauce. Serve over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.

The perfect one-pot meal: Salmon is brushed with a simple teriyaki glaze and cooked to perfection atop broccoli florets. And thanks to the air fryer, it's ready in a snap, with no lingering fishy smell.

Cooked carrots are given a major upgrade with this quick air fryer recipe. Cayenne pepper, black pepper and chili powder give these carrots a little heat, while brown sugar and butter mix to create a sweet caramel flavor. In 10 minutes, you’ll have an impressive side that would have taken 45 minutes in the oven!

We tried all sorts of ways to make bread if you are without an oven — and this was one of our favorites. The crust emerges golden and crisp and the interior is light and airy.

No need to stand over a screaming hot wok to get perfect fried rice — the air fryer gives you exceptionally crispy fried rice without heating up your kitchen. This simple recipe adds just enough flavor and nuance to the dish, without a million ingredients and prep dishes.

The air fryer makes a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. The circulating hot air not only toasts the bread to crisp golden-brown goodness, it also melts the cheese from the crust all the way to the center of the sandwich. This recipe offers numerous options for cheese and bread, making it easy to create your own version of the ultimate grilled cheese.

It's hard to resist this quick, oil-free version of the family favorite.

A little bit of patience is required when making these chips. You might be tempted to skip salting the zucchini, but since this process draws out excess moisture and helps to crisp up the chips—it’s vital. The second important step is to pat away all of that excess moisture and make sure the zucchini rounds are as dry as possible before air frying. Taking the time to do this will ensure the chips come out crispy and delicious—no breading needed.

Gnocchi in an air fryer? This recipe will make you a believer! After testing several methods, we found that cooking the gnocchi first resulted in the soft pillowy centers we expect from gnocchi, while still giving the exterior a nice golden crunch. Paired with roasted squash, toasted walnuts, brown butter and sage, this dish is cold weather comfort at its best.

That thicker cuts, like sirloin, are best in an air fryer — they turn nice and browned on the outside without overcooking.

Baking banana bread is much quicker in an air fryer, thanks to the convection-like heat and the need for less batter. Make this round loaf your everyday breakfast go-to: The wheat germ adds a little extra fiber and whole-grain toastiness to your morning.

Get crispy, crunchy, county-fair-worthy fried pickles with barely any oil.

You can make crispy tofu without a cauldron of bubbling oil. Turns out, an air fryer does a stellar job of cooking up cubes of marinated tofu into perfectly browned and crispy bites. Toss them into stir fries, noodle dishes and salads, or eat them as a protein-packed snack with a simple dipping sauce such as the one here.

We love the air fryer for all sorts of items, but we love it best for cooking a whole chicken. The skin renders and gets perfectly crispy while the inside stays incredibly moist and flavorful.

Homemade gluten-free croutons add a crunchy layer to salads and soups and are surprisingly easy to make. Grab your favorite supermarket gluten-free bread, toss with oil and some common pantry spices, then air fry until golden and crisp.

Want to get a turkey breast on the table in less than an hour, without heating up the house? Cook it in an air fryer. Guaranteed golden, crispy skin and no brining required.

In Korea there are many versions of tong sam gyup goo yi (literally "whole pork belly"), a favorite ingredient that is often grilled, roasted in the oven or fried on the stovetop. Here it is cooked in an air fryer, which is gaining in popularity there, for an easier, splatter-free alternative to traditional versions; it also makes clean-up a breeze. The pork belly is just as browned and crispy on the outside while the interior stays tender and juicy. This update also gets a spicy kick from a streamlined gochujang sauce made with pantry staples. Brush it on in the last few minutes of cooking to create a gorgeous, caramelized coating. Kabocha squash, air fried with the pork belly, rounds out the meal.

These air-fryer coconut shrimp are the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Serve with a sweet chile sauce, for dipping.

These crunchy air-fryer potato chips are a salty, satisfying snack that’s a cinch to cook up. A mandoline makes fast work of slicing the potatoes paper thin. Rinsing the sliced potatoes before cooking will remove most of the natural starch and prevent the chips from sticking together — don't skip this step.

Thanks to the air fryer, not only does puff pastry get perfectly golden brown and flakey, the overall cook time is a fraction of what it would take in a standard oven. Layered with pesto, sundried tomatoes and marinated artichoke hearts, this crowd-pleaser is loaded with flavor and festive charm.

This version of bulgogi is made with a no-fuss sweet and salty marinade and cooked to perfection in your air fryer, for an ideal weeknight meal. The recipe calls for zucchini but you can make it your own by using other vegetables — like mushrooms and onions! — to switch it up.

Homemade croutons are incredibly simple and quick to make, thanks to the air fryer! We added a touch of dried oregano and granulated garlic for a boost of flavor to complement a variety of salads, soups and other dishes. Feel free to remove the oil and seasonings altogether and follow the same method to dry out bread for stuffing, dressing, bread pudding and more--in less than half the time it would take with an oven.

The air fryer is a fantastic way to cook bite-sized egg casseroles, which are made even better topped with crispy hash browns.

You can have crispy, salty pumpkin seeds ready in just 30 minutes thanks to the air fryer. They are delicious plain, but also great with your favorite seasonings. Toss the seeds with a generous coating of ranch seasoning, chili powder or sumac, for instance, just before air frying them.

PSA: You can and should be cooking refrigerated biscuit dough in your air fryer. It’s ready in 10 minutes and the result is much lighter and flakier than the oven-baked version. While you’re at it, put beaten eggs and ham into silicone baking cups and air fry them at the same time. Layer with the biscuits, top with hot sauce, and just like that, you’ll have rich, savory restaurant-worthy egg sandwiches.

Pizza rolls are a decadent, heart-warming treat, perfect as a fun dinner or game-day snack. This loaded version cooks quickly in an air fryer and is then served with warm marinara sauce for dipping. Use this method with any of your favorite pizza toppings.

As much as we love them, the classic fried blooming onion has two major flaws—they are impossible to fully coat in batter and their core often doesn’t get fully cooked. These easy petals solve both problems by separating the pieces before "frying."

These sticky, flavorful wings are sure to be a hit at your next party. Garnish with scallions and toasted sesame seeds to complement the sweet and tangy glaze.