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Kitchens & Cooking

What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?

By May 18, 2023No Comments

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. Using circulated hot air to cook food, these wonderful appliances can be used to create crispy and delicious dishes without the oil and calories normally associated with these tasty foods.

However, air fryer recipes extend far beyond the classic deep-fried foods. They can be used to cook a wide range of recipes, from appetisers to main courses, desserts, and even snacks. You may be surprised at just how many different dishes you can make using an air fryer.

So in this blog, we’re exploring the most popular and delicious recipes that can be cooked in an air fryer. Whether you are looking to make crispy chicken wings, kale chips or a sweet treat, an air fryer is the perfect tool for the job. So, let’s dive in and explore the most popular air fryer ideas!

Top 10 Things to Cook in an Air Fryer

The list of air fryer recipes is just about endless, as they’re incredibly versatile kitchen appliances. So we’ve put together a few favourite air fryer recipes based on what’s most frequently searched for, as well as what we’ve repeatedly been told is just to die for! 

Whether you want to simply heat up some frozen food or make a gourmet meal from scratch, these recipes will have you covered. You will also find that we’ve included a few of the deep-fried food favourites, as well as some tasty tofu and kale recipes, so there’s something for everyone!

Without further ado, here are the best air fryer recipes:

Air Fryer Pork Chops

Making pork chops in an air fryer is a great way to get that crispy, delicious texture without using a lot of oil. Here’s how you can air-fry pork chops:

Ingredients:

  • 2 bone-in pork chops
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
  2. Season both sides of the pork chops with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme.
  3. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the pork chops from sticking.
  4. Place the pork chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  5. Cook the pork chops for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. 
  6. Once the pork chops are done, let them rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.

You can serve the pork chops with your favourite side dish, like roast potatoes, vegetables or salad. 

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

While you generally cannot roast a whole chicken in an air fryer, delicious fried chicken is certainly attainable! Here’s a simple recipe to follow to make air fryer wings with crispy skin:

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds of chicken wings
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray
  • Your favourite wing sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Dry the chicken wings with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
  4. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken wings and toss until the wings are evenly coated.
  5. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the chicken wings from sticking.
  6. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  7. Cook the chicken wings for 24-28 minutes, flipping them every 5-7 minutes.

Once the wings have reached crispy perfection, toss them with your favourite wing sauce or serve them plain.

Air Fryer French Fries

Deep-fat frying french fries results in a ton of extra oil and the associated health risks. Air frying french fries is a great way to get crispy and delicious fries without using a lot of oil. Here’s how to go about it:

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 medium potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
  2. Wash and peel the potatoes, then cut them into evenly sized fries.
  3. Pat the fries dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
  4. Drizzle the olive oil over the fries and sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
  5. Toss the fries until they are evenly coated with the seasonings.
  6. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the fries from sticking.
  7. Place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  8. Cook the fries for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking.
  9. Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve them immediately.

If you’re aiming for fewer calories, you can serve these fast food fries with a mix of Greek yoghurt and sriracha or opt for classic ketchup or mayonnaise. 

Air Fryer Salmon

Air-fried salmon is absolutely delicious and so simple to make. Here’s an easy recipe to try: 

Ingredients:

  • 2 salmon fillets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
  2. Brush the salmon fillets with olive oil and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder on both sides.
  3. Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin side down.
  4. Cook the salmon for 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets.
  5. Serve the salmon hot, with a squeeze of lemon juice over the top.

You can serve the salmon with your favourite side dishes, such as roasted vegetables or a salad. You can also have cream cheese on the side, as this is a wonderful combination. 

Air Fryer Crispy Bacon

Air frying bacon is a great way to get deliciously crispy bacon without the mess and hassle of cooking it on a stovetop. Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 slices of bacon
  • Cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
  2. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the bacon from sticking.
  3. Place the bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overlap the slices.
  4. Cook the bacon for 8-10 minutes, flipping it once halfway through. For extra crispy bacon, leave it in an extra 2 minutes.
  5. Once the bacon is crispy and browned to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
  6. Repeat the process with any remaining bacon slices.

You can serve the crispy bacon with your favourite breakfast foods or use it as a topping for salads or sandwiches. 

Air Fryer Steak

Air frying is a great way to cook steak, as it produces a crispy exterior while keeping the interior tender and juicy. Here’s how to air fry a steak:

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 steaks (ribeye, sirloin, or filet mignon are good choices)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil or cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.
  2. Season the steak generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
  3. Lightly coat the steak with olive oil or cooking spray.
  4. Place the steak in the air fryer basket, making sure it is not touching any of the sides.
  5. Air fry the steak for 8-10 minutes for medium-rare doneness, flipping it halfway through cooking.
  6. Let the steak rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Note: Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your steak, your air fryer model and your preferred level of cooked, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Air Fryer Kale Chips

Air-fried kale chips are a nutritious and delicious snack that’s quick and easy to make. Here’s how to make these homemade chips in an air fryer so that they still have their minerals and vitamins:

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch of kale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C.
  2. Wash the kale and dry it thoroughly. Remove the leaves from the tough stems and tear them into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Place the kale pieces in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
  4. Sprinkle the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder over the kale and toss until the kale is evenly coated with the seasonings.
  5. Place the kale in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  6. Cook the kale for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket every 2-3 minutes to ensure even cooking.
  7. Once the kale is crispy and lightly browned, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately.

You can store any leftover chips in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.

Air Fried Tofu

Air frying tofu is a great way to get flavourful, crispy tofu without using a lot of oil. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

  • 1 block of firm or extra-firm tofu
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C.
  2. Drain the tofu and wrap it in a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Place something heavy on top of it to press out the excess liquid for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Cut the tofu into cubes or strips.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic powder, and ground ginger to create a marinade.
  5. Place the tofu cubes or strips in the marinade and toss until they are evenly coated.
  6. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the tofu from sticking.
  7. Place the tofu in the basket in a single layer.
  8. Cook the tofu for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking.
  9. Once the tofu is crispy and golden brown, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately.

You can serve the air-fried tofu with rice, noodles, or your favourite stir-fried vegetables. 

Air Fryer Cheese Toastie

A melted cheese toastie is the perfect option for an air fryer main meal or snack. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • 1-2 slices of cheese
  • Butter (optional)
  • Cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C.
  2. If desired, butter one side of each slice of bread.
  3. Place the cheese slices on the non-buttered side of one slice of bread.
  4. Top the cheese with the other slice of bread, with the buttered side facing outwards.
  5. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the sandwich from sticking.
  6. Place the sandwich in the basket.
  7. Cook the sandwich for 5-6 minutes, flipping it once halfway through cooking.
  8. Once the sandwich is crispy and the cheese is melted, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately.

You can also add other fillings, such as ham or tomato, to your cheese toastie before air frying it. 

Air Fryer Doughnuts

It’s not all savoury when it comes to air fryer foods – even dessert can be made with this nifty appliance! Air frying is a quick and easy way to make delicious doughnuts at home without having to deep-fry them. Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of refrigerated biscuit dough
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2-3 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C.
  2. Remove the biscuits from the can and use a biscuit cutter or a small round cookie cutter to cut out a hole in the centre of each biscuit.
  3. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
  4. Arrange the biscuits in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching.
  5. Air fry the biscuits for 5 minutes, then flip them over and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes or until they are golden brown.
  6. While the biscuits are air frying, mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
  7. Brush the melted butter on both sides of each biscuit and then dip each one into the cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure to coat both sides.
  8. Serve the air fryer doughnuts warm.

You can also fill the centre of the doughnuts with jam or Nutella before air frying them. 

Conclusion on Air Fryer Recipe Ideas

Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances that can be used to cook a wide variety of tasty, healthy meals. From crispy kale to perfectly cooked salmon, air fryers can be used to prepare many of your favourite foods with less oil and in less time than traditional cooking methods. 

So whether you’re looking to eat healthier, save time in the kitchen, or just try something new, an air fryer is a great investment that will provide endless possibilities for cooking delicious meals. With these air fryer ideas, you can make delicious meals and snacks that your family and friends will love. So, fire up your air fryer and enjoy these delicious and healthy recipes!