Got an air fryer but you're not sure what to do with it? If you're seeking easy air fryer recipes that are healthy and delicious, you're in luck!
Because you can air fry just about any type of food, the best choice for easy air fryer recipes is simply a matter of preference.
Air fryers are like countertop convection ovens that cook food to taste like deep-fried foods but in a healthier way.
Air fryers use hot air and little to no oil to fry nutritious foods without the extra calories.
So, rather than traditional frying, try these easy air fryer recipes that are mouth-watering, healthy, and don't take much prep time!
Make sure you're always eating right with our Definitive Guide to Healthy Eating for Women!
How Do Air Fryers Work?
Air fryers cook healthy foods using a heating mechanism and sometimes oil.
Hot air rushes around the food while it's cooking, and rapid air circulation makes food crispy without using excessive oil.
Air fryers differ from each other, depending on the type and model you choose.
Some are basic convection ovens, while others come with extra bells and whistles, including the ability to dehydrate food.
The right choice for you and your family depends on your budget and preferences.
As with any type of kitchen appliance, pros and cons exist for air fryers.
Pros
Air fryers cook food in a healthier way than traditional fryers, as air-fried foods often contain fewer calories.
Many nutritious air fryer recipes are easy to prepare, which makes healthy food prep a breeze!
Cons
Air fryers offer many benefits when eating healthy is your goal, but they have limited capacity so you may have to air fry foods in smaller batches.
Depending on the type of air fryer you get, they often range in price from $100-$200, which isn't necessarily cheap.
What Can I Cook with Air Fryers?
Believe it or not, you can cook a wide assortment of foods in air fryers.
Examples include:
- Pickles
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Corn on the cob
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Bell peppers
- Sweet potatoes
- Other vegetables
- Meats
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Fish
- Seafood
- Eggs
- Falafel
- Egg rolls
- Avocados
- Muffins
- French toast
- Tortellini
Just about any food you can bake or fry, you can also air fry!
Air frying food is a simple process.
Use the following steps as a guide to cooking healthy air-fried foods to perfection!
Place Food in the Air Fryer Basket
The first step in using your air fryer is to place prepped food in the air fryer basket.
Most can hold up to 10 quarts, depending on the make and model of your air fryer.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of oil or cooking spray if you'd like your food to taste crispy.
Avocado oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, extra light olive oil, and numerous other oils are excellent options for air-fried foods.
Set the Air Fryer Temperature
Set your air fryer temperature using an air fryer cooking chart or recipe instructions.
Air Fry Your Food
Use easy air fryer recipes to prepare nutritious meals.
You may have to flip food over during the cooking process to allow it to crisp properly or cook foods in smaller batches.
Clean the Air Fryer
The last step in air-frying is to clean your air fryer, so it's ready for its next use!
10 Easy Air Fryer Recipes!
Friends and family will adore these delicious, easy air fryer recipes that don't take much prep time!
Air Fryer Herb-Roasted Chicken Breast
This flavorful, air fryer-roasted chicken breast recipe makes the perfect main dish when you're tight on time.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4-1 1/2 pounds of chicken breast
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried chives
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a bowl and pour buttermilk over it. Cover it completely.
- Let the chicken sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes (or refrigerate it up to 4 hours).
- In a separate bowl, combine the spices.
- Remove the chicken from the buttermilk and let the excess drip off.
- Place the chicken skin side up in your air fryer.
- Sprinkle it with the seasoning mix and let it stand for 5 minutes.
- Spray the chicken with cooking oil.
- Cook it at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
- Turn up the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the chicken until its internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit and it's golden (30-35 minutes).
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest 10 minutes.
- Slice the meat for serving and enjoy it with friends and family!
Servings: 2
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Kids and adults alike will love this healthier air fryer chicken tenders recipe!
Ingredients
- 12 chicken tenders (about 1 1/4 pounds)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup of seasoned breadcrumbs
- Olive oil spray
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Place the eggs in a bowl.
- Dip the chicken into the egg and then the breadcrumbs. Shake off the excess crumbs.
- Spray both sides of the chicken with oil.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the chicken, in batches, for 5-6 minutes on each side until crispy and golden.
- Serve the chicken strips with lemon wedges and enjoy!
Servings: 4
Air Fryer Basil-Parmesan Crusted Salmon
Try this mouth-watering, easy air fryer recipe to create the perfect basil-Parmesan crusted salmon that melts in your mouth!
Ingredients
- Olive oil spray
- 4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each) with skin removed
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil mayonnaise
- 6 fresh basil leaves, minced
- 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with olive oil.
- Season the salmon with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Mix mayonnaise with 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and basil in a small bowl.
- Spread the mixture over the top of the salmon.
- Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
- Air fry the salmon in batches for about 7 minutes or longer, depending on the thickness of the salmon.
- Let it cool, serve, and enjoy!
Servings: 4
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers with Zucchini
Consider this air fryer turkey burger recipe in place of traditional hamburgers or hot dogs!
Ingredients
- 6 ounces of grated zucchini
- 1 pound of lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup of seasoned whole-grain breadcrumbs
- 1 clove of grated garlic
- 1 tablespoon of grated red onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Squeeze moisture from the zucchini using paper towels.
- Combine the zucchini, ground turkey, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the burgers, in batches, for 10 minutes (turning halfway through) or until the burgers are browned and cooked in the center.
- Serve and enjoy!
Servings: 5 burgers
Air-Fryer Corn on the Cob
Believe it or not, you can even air fry corn on the cob!
Your kids and spouse will love this flavorful, easy air-fryer recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 ears of corn on the cob, cleaned
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil or oil spray
- 2 tablespoons of butter for spreading (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the ends of the ears of corn to fit in your air-fryer basket, or cut the corn in half.
- Coat all sides of the corn with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Season the corn with salt and pepper.
- Airy fry the corn at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-16 minutes (flip it over halfway through).
- Cook the corn until the kernels are tender and lightly browned (cooking times vary based on the size of the corn).
- Add butter if desired, serve, and enjoy!
Servings: 2
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Air-Fryer Zucchini
Try this air-fried zucchini recipe that's loaded with nutrients and flavor!
Ingredients
- 6-7 cups of zucchini (about 6 small or 3 large zucchini), sliced into half-moons.
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 2 lemon slices (or 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium-sized bowl, toss the zucchini in olive oil until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle it with salt on both sides (you can also season zucchini with Italian seasoning, herbs de Provence, all-purpose spice blend, or Greek seasoning).
- Place the zucchini in an air fryer and cook for 18-22 minutes, tossing it every 4 minutes until it reaches a preferred level of doneness.
- Squeeze lemon juice over the zucchini, add more salt if needed, serve, and enjoy!
Servings: 4
Air Fryer Eggplant
Consider this satiating, air fryer eggplant recipe as a main course or side dish!
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant or two small
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese grated
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs beaten
- ¼ cup flour
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Slice the eggplant into 1/3-inch slices. Sprinkle with salt and let it sit for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
- Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of water in another bowl.
- Rinse the eggplant and pat it dry.
- Dip the eggplant into the flour, the egg, and finally the bread crumb mixture.
- Spray each side of the eggplant with cooking spray.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the eggplant in your air fryer and cook it for 5 minutes.
- Flip over the eggplant and cook it for an additional 5-7 minutes or until crispy and tender.
- Serve the eggplant with your favorite dipping sauce if desired and enjoy!
Servings: 4
Air Fryer Eggs
As an easy air fryer recipe, consider air-frying eggs rather than hard-boiling them!
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Everything bagel seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Place the eggs in your air fryer basket and cook them at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-17 minutes.
- Run the eggs under cold water, peel them, serve, and enjoy!
Servings: 4 eggs
Air Fryer French Toast
Rather than traditional French toast, consider this flavorful, easy air fryer recipe for French toast instead!
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons of milk or half and half
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 loaf of brioche bread, cut into 8 slices
Instructions
- Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a bowl and whisk to combine completely. Set the mixture aside.
- Place the whisked egg mixture and bread side by side.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray.
- Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture to coat both sides.
- Lift the bread out of the mixture and place it in your air fryer basket. Repeat with the remaining bread slices.
- Cook the French toast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Flip it over and cook for 3-4 more minutes.
- Remove the French toast from your air fryer and cook the remaining bread slices.
- Serve French toast with fruit or other toppings of your choice and enjoy!
Servings: 8 slices
Air Fryer Avocado Egg Rolls
Choose this crispy air fryer avocado egg roll recipe as an appetizer or main dish for you and your family!
Egg Roll Ingredients
- 3 medium avocados, cubed
- Juice from 1-2 small limes
- 1/4 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), drained
- 2/3 cup of diced red onion
- 1/3 cup of chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 10 egg roll wrappers
- A small bowl of water
- Olive or canola oil spray
Dipping Sauce (Optional) Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon of chili sauce
- A few dashes of sriracha
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, lime juice, onion, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Stir to combine.
- Place egg roll wrappers on a clean surface.
- Spoon 1/4-cup of the mixture into the bottom of each egg roll wrapper.
- Dip your finger in a bowl of water and run it along the wrapper edges.
- Place the wrapper around the filling and roll it into a tight cylinder.
- Repeat with the remaining filling and wrappers.
- Spray all sides of the egg rolls with oil.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the egg rolls in batches for 6 minutes (turning them over halfway through) or until they turn golden brown.
- Combine the ingredients for the dipping sauce and serve it with avocado egg rolls if you'd like!
Servings: 10 egg rolls
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*Please know that weight loss results & health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on easy air fryer recipes.
