Air Fryer Recipes That You Didn’t Even Know Were Possible

When you think about using an air fryer, you may envision some golden fried chicken or perfect French fries. However, there are plenty of other ways that you can use your air fryer.

While many people limit themselves by only air frying foods that are a bit more “traditional,” the fact remains that there are some air fryer recipes out there that can completely change your cooking game.

Maybe you have an air fryer that you’ve been using to make chicken nuggets and fries. Perhaps you’ve been thinking of getting one, but you’re not sure if they’re versatile enough to warrant the cost and the counter space.

You may even have an air fryer stashed in your pantry that you haven’t been using because you’re just not sure what to do with it. If you’re in any of those positions, there’s some good news. Air fryers are versatile kitchen utensils that you can use to prepare a variety of recipes.

Today, learn more about why you need to start using an air fryer and how many meals you can actually prepare with one. You’ll be looking for ways to clear some counter space so you can put your air fryer to work for you.

Why You Need an Air Fryer

Depending on how many hats you wear, you may not have as much time as you’d like to prepare lunch and dinner for yourself and your loved ones.

Air fryers, much like instant pots, allow you to fix a tasty, hot meal in less time than it would take in a conventional oven or on the stove.

In addition to being faster than several other kitchen accessories, air fryers are also healthier than some of your other options.

For example, if you want to make fried chicken (which is widely considered an air fryer staple) on a stovetop, you’ll use a lot of oil in the recipe.

Instead of relying on unhealthy oils that are loaded with fats, air fryers allow you to get a golden brown coating on your fried chicken by circulating air around it. While you’ll still need to use some oil, it’s a fraction of the amount used in more traditional methods.

Air fryers are great tools for those who want to start eating healthier without giving up some of the fresh delicacies that they love.

Between making healthier options and cutting down on the amount of time that you spend over a hot stove, air fryers are well worth the investment. Now that you know why you need an air fryer, let’s start looking at some foods you can air fry.

Tortilla Chips

Since air fryers don’t require a lot of oil, you can make your own tortilla chips that are healthier than those that you can get at your local Mexican restaurant. Your homemade chips will also be healthier than many of the brands that you get at your grocery store.

All you have to do is cut up some tortillas into smaller pieces, season them with your choice of seasonings, and fry them at 350 degrees for six to eight minutes.

These healthier chips provide you with a great appetizer or finger food for dinner parties, especially if you want to make your own guacamole.

Macaroni and Cheese

If you want to elevate the sides that you serve with a meal, consider air-frying your macaroni and cheese. While this comfort food staple isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for many people when they think of air frying foods, it’s a great “dump and go” recipe option.

Just rinse your pasta in hot water for a couple of minutes to soften it up, pour it into your air fryer basket, and add the cheese of your choice.

If you want to add something extra to your mac and cheese, consider putting some ham or bacon in the mixture.

Frozen Vegetables

You can certainly air fry any type of frozen vegetable, but broccoli is widely considered one of the best options.

One of the original “superfoods,” broccoli has a ton of nutrients and antioxidants in it, which makes it a great food for you to add to your daily diet.

While smothering broccoli with fatty cheese like many people do makes it less healthy, making it in the air fryer allows you to reap all of the benefits without sacrificing any of the flavor. Stir your broccoli in a small amount of olive oil and season as desired.

Put it in the air fryer at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes, and be sure to stir it around the basket every three to four minutes to make sure it cooks evenly.

Reheating Your Leftovers

Admittedly, this isn’t necessarily a recipe, but when discussing surprising foods you can air fry, it’s worth talking about the new lift that these tools can breathe into leftovers.

If you aren’t a huge fan of eating cold Chinese food, pizza, or other leftovers, but you also hate how soggy or “chewy” the microwave can make them, consider using your air fryer to get your leftovers as hot as they were when you ate them the first time, while still providing a good, crisp texture.

You can experiment with different temperatures and times until you find one that works for you.

Lobster Tails

When you’re thinking of elevated recipes, lobster may come to mind. Contrary to what you may have thought, you don’t have to spend a lot of time standing over a pot of boiling water to make some delicious, decadent lobster tails.

All you need is your air fryer. Brush some olive oil on the lobster tail, season with some salt and pepper, and let it cook for five to seven minutes at 380 degrees.

Also, lobster isn’t the only seafood that you can make in the air fryer. Spend some time looking for recipes for shrimp, salmon, and other seafood options.

Soft Boiled Eggs

If you’re not going to use a pot of boiling water for your lobster, you might as well leave the pot in the cabinet when it’s time to make some boiled eggs.

Whether you’re looking for a protein-packed breakfast, or you want something to add to your salad, air frying your eggs is a great option. Most air fryers come with a rack insert, and you’ll need to use it for this recipe.

Preheat the air fryer to 270 degrees and then add your cold eggs to the rack. The size of the egg dictates how long it takes them to cook, so you’ll want to check them every two to three minutes.

Once they’re done, simply put the eggs in a bowl of ice water for about ten minutes and then peel the shells away.

Tacos

It’s Taco Tuesday, regardless of what day of the week it is. All you have to do is take soft taco wraps, spray them with some olive oil, and fold them into the right shape.

You can stand them up against one another in the basket. If you already have your meat of choice prepared, go ahead and add it to the shells to provide some extra crisp.

The temperature and duration of the cooking time depend on the size of your shells and how brown you want them to get.

Steak

We just discussed lobster and other seafood options, but if you want to do a surf-and-turf dinner, you don’t need a grill or a cast iron skillet. Your air fryer can cook a delicious steak, too.

Season or marinade your steak with whatever you like to use, and put the steak in your air fryer. The type and size of steak that you’re cooking will dictate the temperature and time that you need to cook it.

Also, you’ll need to account for how you like your steak prepared.

Enjoy Your Air Fryer Recipes

These recipes are just scratching the surface when it comes to what you can do with your air fryer. There are tons of air fryer recipes online, so you can experiment and find what works for you and your loved ones.

Once you start using your air fryer, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it. Don’t be afraid to make some mistakes.

As is the case with any type of new recipe, there’s a certain amount of trial and error involved. The important thing is that you’re having fun while cooking these delicious meals.