18 Recipes to Try Right After You Get an Air Fryer (2024)

Since the rise of the air fryer among home cooks some years ago, this popular kitchen appliance shows no sign of slowing down. If you've just found one underneath your Christmas tree, ordered one from a Cyber Monday sale, or treated yourself for your birthday, then get ready for some beginner recipes with serious wow-factor. Once you get the hang of how to use an air fryer, it will open up your kitchen to a whole new realm of recipes. These easy air fryer recipes for beginners will quickly become your favorite go-to meals.

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Air Fryer Breakfast Frittata

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This is a light and customizable beginner air fryer option for on-the-go eaters. Load your frittata with whatever makes you happy, be it a bouquet of herbs or ham and cheese.

  • How to Use Your Air Fryer

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Scotch Eggs

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If savory is what you crave early the morning, these Scotch eggs will hit the spot. "You get all the deliciousness without the mess and added fat of deep frying," says recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar France C. "They make the perfect breakfast or snack, especially when served with the chutney dipping sauce."

  • 14 Amazing Breakfast Foods To Make in the Air Fryer

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Orange Pecan French Toast

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Try this comforting, sticky classic that cooks perfectly in an air fryer. "Great recipe, " says RUMARTIN. "Tasted just like warm pecan rolls, but much easier to make!"

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Crumbed Chicken Tenderloin

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This top-rated chicken dish only takes four ingredients and 30 minutes, so it's the perfect beginner air fryer recipe. Have delicious nugget-style tenders ready almost as soon as the craving hits.

  • 21 Top-Rated Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

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Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots

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Recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Yoly describes her dish as "tender and roasted carrots cooked in the air fryer that can be on your table in less than half an hour." The carrots are tossed in butter, orange zest, and hot honey.

  • 16 Quick-and-Easy Side Dish Recipes for the Air Fryer

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Cajun Salmon

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Make a flavorful and nutrient rich meal that's also unbelievably easy. A bit of brown sugar and a powerful spice blend make this salmon anything but ordinary.

  • 22 Best Air Fryer Seafood Recipes

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Pecan-Crusted Pork Chops

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"This keto-friendly recipe comes together in a snap," says recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Bibi. "In addition, using the air fryer makes easy work of these tasty pork chops. The chops make great leftovers too!"

  • 9 Air Fryer Pork Chop Recipes

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Eggplant Parmesan

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The well-seasoned eggplant is breaded with Parmesan cheese and a host of spices to create a crispy, classic Italian dish all thanks to the air fryer.

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Spicy Green Beans

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Like to get your greens in with a kick? Red pepper, soy sauce, and vinegar create perfect balance in this side dish. An easy way to please everyone at the dinner table.

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Cinnamon and Sugar Doughnuts

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Start the day on a sweet note. This traditionally deep-fried food gets a lighter spin without sacrificing its trademark tenderness and flavor.

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Roasted Okra

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"With okra growing in the garden, we have made this over and over, " says reviewer WhiteCoatSyndrome. "Simple and quick—glad it was submitted. No changes to the original recipe. "

  • How to Air Fry Every Vegetable (at Least the Ones You'd Want to)

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Mini Cheese and Sausage Stuffed Peppers

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This appetizer boasts an impressive display with an equally wonderful flavor. Sweet peppers are filled with a mouthwatering mixture of cream cheese, Italian sausage, and chives.

  • 18 Addictive Appetizers for the Air Fryer

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Fried Pickles

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Here's a state fair staple made in the comfort of your home. Get the snap and vinegary punch of fried pickles anytime you like with this straightforward recipe.

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Rib-Eye Steak

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A rib-eye comparable to restaurant offerings. A simple marinade makes for a big, juicy result in this recipe. Perfect for days unsuitable for grilling, this tender meat is a delicious air fryer option.

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Roasted Bananas

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All you'll need to make this treat are bananas and cooking spray. The fruit caramelizes in the air fryer in under 10 minutes for a healthy dessert option. Reviewers recommend a dusting of cinnamon to seal the deal.

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Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

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A baked spud can go with almost any meal, so this recipe is a good one to keep handy. Rub the outside of the potatoes with oil, salt and black pepper, garlic powder, and parsley. Let the air fryer do the rest of the work.

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Air Fryer Ravioli

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This 5-star fried creation takes just minutes to create rich Italian flavor. You're sure to love the crisp, golden exterior and creamy spinach filling.

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Air Fryer Lobster Tails with Lemon-Garlic Butter

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"For any fairly experienced lobster chef, this is so simple and so delicious," shares reviewer Bob. "Anyone can do it, just cut the shell in the manner explained."

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More Inspiration

18 Recipes to Try Right After You Get an Air Fryer (19)

Try one of Our Best Air Fryer Main Dishes for Dinner. Plus, explore our entire collection of Air Fryer Recipes.

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18 Recipes to Try Right After You Get an Air Fryer (2024)

FAQs

What is the first thing to cook in a new air fryer? ›

Brussels sprouts are the best place to start your air-fried vegetable journey. They crisp up beautifully and take no time at all. If you're making these for a crowd, we suggest frying them up in batches as overcrowding the basket can lead to soggy results.

What to try first in an air fryer? ›

18 Recipes to Try Right After You Get an Air Fryer
  1. 02 of 19. Scotch Eggs. View Recipe. ...
  2. 05 of 19. Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots. View Recipe. ...
  3. 08 of 19. Eggplant Parmesan. View Recipe. ...
  4. 11 of 19. Roasted Okra. View Recipe. ...
  5. 14 of 19. Rib-Eye Steak. View Recipe. ...
  6. 17 of 19. Air Fryer Ravioli. View Recipe.
Nov 29, 2023

What to do after buying air fryer? ›

Unpacking and setup. Firstly, remove all packaging materials and accessories from the air fryer. Next, wash the cooking basket and tray in warm, soapy water and dry them thoroughly. Once the cooking basket and tray have been cleaned, reassemble them and insert them back into the air fryer.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

And because they also use little to no oil compared to other traditional cooking methods, they're also seen as a healthy alternative. But now, shoppers have been ditching their air fryers in favour of a different gadget that's said to be even cheaper - and even healthier - when it comes to preparing meals.

What are the top 10 foods to cook in an air fryer? ›

Start air frying these 13 foods and watch your cooking time drop and your satisfaction in healthy meals skyrocket!
  • Chicken Breasts. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

What is the most popular thing to air fry? ›

French fries are arguably the most popular thing to cook in an air fryer. Air fryers use a fraction of the oil as deep-frying, and making French fries in one results in an appreciably crisp exterior and fluffy inside without the greasiness.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

What I wish I knew before I get an air fryer? ›

6 things I wish I'd known before I bought an air fryer
  • Air fryers do not fry. Deep fried foods: not like air fried ones. ...
  • The air fryer parts you use most are easy to clean but the outer parts… not so much. ...
  • There's a war going on in the air fryer community! ...
  • Air fryers can be quite large.

Is there a negative to using air fryer? ›

Air fryer health risks

Studies show that using an air fryer can increase the levels of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) in fish. COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions.

What size air fryer for 2 people? ›

Capacity guidelines for air fryers
CapacityNo. of portionsSuitable for
1 l - 2 l1 - 22 people
3 l - 4 l3 - 44 people
5 l or more5 - 66 people

Can you put raw meat in an airfryer? ›

It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

Why should you never cook bacon in your air fryer? ›

Bacon is a high-fat food and releases a lot of grease as it cooks, which can coat the bottom and inside of your air fryer (and isn't fun to scrub out). Too much grease can also start smoking in the fryer, which is never what you want to see when you're cooking.

What is the best meat to cook in the air fryer? ›

As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

Do you have to clean a new air fryer before using it? ›

Should I clean my air fryer before its first use? If you're using a new air fryer for the first time, you may notice that it has a bit of a smell straight out of the box. This is normal, but you'll want to take care of that before you start cooking.

How long to heat air fryer before first use? ›

"We recommend using a three-minute preheat for most models," says Shah. For larger and oven-style air fryers, preheat for five minutes. Once the preheat timer has elapsed, add the food in a single layer (handling the basket carefully since it will be hot) and cook according to the recipe.

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