the best air fryer meals to have

7 Top Meals You Can Prepare Using an Air Fryer

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What is the next step after your brand-new air fryer is unpacked and ready to use? Start cooking in it!

The best thing about air fryers is that you can cook nearly anything in them. If you’re wondering what to cook, you’ve come to the right place!

We’ve rounded up our favorite tried and tested recipes that always turn out finger-lickin’ good. Be it a breakfast menu or dessert; each recipe is the healthier version of what you could have cooked in your regular oven. All these recipes are easy to cook and require minimal prep time.

What are you waiting for? Choose a recipe and put your air fryer to work!

Pizza

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 1 loaf of frozen bread dough, thawed
  • 1-1/3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/2-pound sausage, cooked and drained
  • 1 small green pepper, sliced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Crushed red pepper flakes, as per taste

Method

  1. Flour the surface and roll and stretch your dough into four 4-inch circles.
  2. Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
  4. Roll and stretch each dough circle into a 6-in. circle and place 1 of the flattened circle in a lightly greased air fryer.
  5. Spread 1/4 cup pizza sauce, 1/3 cup cheese, 1/3 cup sausage, 1/4th of the green pepper rings, and a pinch of oregano onto the crust.
  6. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until the crust gets golden brown. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top when ready.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to make more pizzas with the leftover ingredients.

Ginger & Soy Salmon Fillets with Broccoli

Ingredients

  • 2 skin-on salmon fillets (6 ounces each)
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/4 tsp cornstarch
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as per taste
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 scallion, thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2-inch piece ginger, grated
  • Cooked white rice, as per serving size

Method

  1. Put 1 tbsp of oil in a bowl and add broccoli. Toss until broccoli gets fully coated.
  2. Add salt and pepper as per your desired flavor.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a 3.5-quart air fryer.
  4. Mix the ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
  5. Take a basting brush and spread the remaining 1 tbsp oil onto the salmon fillets. Do the same with the sauce mix you prepared earlier.
  6. Put the salmon flesh-side down over the broccoli.
  7. Cook at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until the broccoli gets tender and the salmon is fully cooked. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your fillets.
  8. Once done, transfer to your serving plates. Sprinkle the scallion slices on top and serve with boiled rice.

Roast Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 small chicken
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon
  • fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage
  • 1 garlic bulb, cut in half
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as per taste

Method

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 370° F and spray nonstick cooking spray to fully coat the basket.
  2. Baste the outer skin of the chicken with olive oil.  
  3. Sprinkle 1 tbsp salt and grinds of pepper on and inside the chicken. Insert herbs, garlic, and lemon into the cavity.
  4. Put the chicken into the basket, ensuring the breast-side faces upwards but does not touch the topmost surface of the fryer.
  5. Roast the chicken until golden and crispy. When cooked at 165° F, It can take between 50 to 60 minutes.

Chicken Legs

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken drumsticks
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ginger powder
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • ½ cup teriyaki sauce
  • 1 tsp ground Paprika
  • ¼ tsp sesame seeds
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • ½ tsp ground Cayenne
  • 1 ½ tsp chicken bouillon

Method

  1. Wash, drain, and dry the chicken pieces.
  2. Add the spices into a bowl, mix well and add oil to the same bowl.
  3. Coat the chicken legs with the spices and oil blend until fully covered.
  4. Marinate for 15 to 20 mins or longer.
  5. Transfer the drumsticks to the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Change sides after 10 to 12 minutes.
  6. When done, pull the chicken pieces out and brush them with teriyaki sauce on all sides.
  7. Cook for 2-3 minutes again. Check the cooking thermometer; when the internal temperature reads at least 165°F, they are ready.

Steak with Garlic-Herb Butter

Ingredients

  • One 1-pound sirloin steak, 1 inch thick, thawed
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 small clove garlic, finely grated
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as per taste

Method

  1. Season the steak on both sides with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper.
  2. Preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
  3. Place the steak in the air fryer basket and cook until medium or as per your desired doneness. For reference, for medium-rare, it will take about 10 minutes, 12 minutes for medium, and 14 minutes for well done.
  4. Remove the steak from the air fryer and transfer it to a cutting board. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
  5. Mash and combine butter, parsley, garlic, chives, and red pepper in a bowl.
  6. Slice the steak into 1/4-inch-thick pieces and top with the freshly prepared garlic-herb butter.

French Fries

Ingredients

  • 3 potatoes, medium-sized
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp, olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, as per taste
  • Garlic powder, a pinch
  • Salt, for sprinkling on top

Method

  1. Preheat the air fryer at 375° F.
  2. Slice the potatoes into long medium-thick strips.
  3. Toss them in a bowl and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil. Shake till fully coated.
  4. Place the slices into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  5. Cook for 12-13 minutes to make them golden and crispy.
  6. Remove from the basket and sprinkle some sea salt on top.
  7. Serve immediately.

Chocolate-Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3.4 oz. instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 cup chopped nuts
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Method

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 325°.
  2. Put butter and sugars in a large bowl and beat for 5-7 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add in eggs and vanilla.
  4. Whisk together oats, dry pudding mix, flour, baking soda, and salt in another bowl.  Slowly beat it into the butter and sugar mixture.
  5. When consistency becomes smooth, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.
  6. Use a tbsp to drop equal-sized dollops onto the baking sheet—Cook in batches.
  7. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until color changes to light brown. Place on wire racks to cool.

Final Thoughts

Cook times vary between brands of air fryers, so try experimenting with cooking times initially. In one or two attempts, you’ll get to know how long it takes for your air fryer to cook the food as per your liking!