10 Super Easy and Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
If you’re anything like me, you love your air fryer (like actually obsessed with it) and you use it for everything. But if you’re also like me, you can’t cook much because you’re a college student who has no time to do anything fancy. Here are ten easy recipes I use that are both quick and delicious!
1. Chicken Wings
I made chicken wings for my dad in the air fryer and he actually ate all of them and did not share. The air fryer can give them either a breaded or grilled taste depending on which you prefer. All you need is a pound of wings and then a wing sauce of your choosing, such as Frank’s Red Hot. Coat the wings in the sauce and then put them in the air fryer on 400 for around 10 minutes a side. Flip at the 10-minute mark, and continue to flip until the wings get a charred look on the outside. I like to add some sauce after cooking them in the air fryer as well for added flavoring. So good.
2. Fried Pickles
A fried pickle is everything you could potentially dream of and more. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t crave a fried pickle, and the air fryer makes it possible. You need:
- 32 dill pickle slices
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
Once you towel dry the pickle slices, whisk together the flour and salt. In another bowl, whisk eggs, pickle juice, cayenne, and garlic powder. In a third bowl, have your bread crumbs. Then go in order and dip the pickles in each bowl. When you have successfully coated your pickles, throw them in the air fryer at 400 for 10 minutes on each side and enjoy with ranch or any other dipping sauce.
3. Mini Nutella Donut Holes
Yes, really. You can make these decadent treats and even put them in the refrigerator for later. Now that you know you can make these in the air fryer and the initial shock is over, here is the recipe:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tube (16.3 ounces) large refrigerated flaky biscuits (8 count)
- 2/3 cup Nutella
- Confectioners’ sugar
Preheat air fryer to 300°. Whisk egg with water. On a lightly floured surface, roll each biscuit into a 6-in. circle; cut each into 4 wedges. Brush lightly with egg mixture; top each wedge with 1 teaspoon Nutella. Bring up corners over filling; pinch edges firmly to seal. In batches, arrange biscuits in a single layer on a tray in the air fryer. Cook until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Top with some powdered sugar and enjoy!
4. Fried Ravioli
One of my favorite appetizers to make in the air fryer is fried ravioli because it is simple and delicious. I serve these with a side of marinara sauce to dip and it’s incredible every time.
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 package ravioli, cooked
Preheat air fryer to 350°. In a shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and basil. Place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. Dip ravioli in flour to coat both sides; shake off excess. Dip in eggs, then in crumb mixture. In batches, arrange ravioli in a single layer on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook for three to four minutes on each side and enjoy.
5. Coconut Shrimp
I absolutely love to make coconut shrimp in the air fryer and it’s a little bit spicy. You can serve this with a sweet chili sauce or make your own sweet sauce for this island-inspired dinner.
- 1/2 pound uncooked large shrimp
- 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 3 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Dash pepper
- Dash hot sauce
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Preheat air fryer to 375°. In a bowl, toss coconut with bread crumbs. In another bowl, whisk egg whites, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Place flour in a third bowl. Dip shrimp in flour to coat lightly; shake off excess. Dip in egg white mixture, then in coconut mixture, patting to help coating adhere. Cook each side for about five minutes until brown in the air fryer.
6. French Toast Sticks
Yes, it’s possible to make french toast sticks in the air fryer. If you’re in the mood for breakfast and are craving something that mom used to make you in the morning before school, here is the recipe to make in your air fryer today.
- 6 slices thick-sliced bread such as Texas toast
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cut each piece of bread into thirds; place in an ungreased 13×9-in. dish. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour over bread; soak for 2 minutes, turning once. If desired, coat bread with cornflake crumbs on all sides. Place in a greased baking pan and freeze until firm, which is about 45 minutes. Cook at 350 for four minutes on each side or until golden brown.
7. Chicken Fingers
Chicken fingers are a classic food when you don’t know what you really want to eat that day. Like when I go to a restaurant and am not truly in the mood for anything, chicken fingers are my go-to. So naturally, an air fryer recipe was needed.
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup potato sticks, crushed
- 1/2 cup crushed cheese crackers
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh chives
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
Preheat air fryer to 400°. In a bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. In another bowl, whisk butter and sour cream. Dip chicken in butter mixture, then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere. Cook until the coating is golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink, 7-8 minutes on each side.
8. S’mores Crescent Rolls
This recipe does not have many ingredients and is the perfect dessert. If you can use an air fryer to create a warm s’more type dessert, then this is the recipe you will need.
- 1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1/4 cup Nutella, divided
- 2 whole graham crackers, broken up
- 2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup miniature marshmallows
Preheat air fryer to 300°. Unroll crescent dough; separate into 8 triangles. Place 1 teaspoon Nutella at the wide end of each triangle. Sprinkle with graham crackers, chocolate chips, and marshmallows; roll up. In batches, arrange rolls, point side down, in a single layer on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket. Curve to form crescents. Cook until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. In a microwave, warm the remaining Nutella to reach a drizzling consistency; spoon over rolls.
9. Nashville Hot Chicken
If you’re on TikTok and have heard about KFC’s Nashville Hot chicken tenders that are sold out legit everywhere, you can make this air fryer version at home. It is just as yummy and fun to make with your friends.
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice, divided
- 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Cooking spray
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon pickle juice, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Drain, discarding any marinade. Preheat air fryer to 375°. In a bowl, mix flour, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper. In another bowl, whisk egg, buttermilk, and the remaining 1 tablespoon pickle juice and 1 tablespoon hot sauce. Dip chicken in flour to coat both sides; shake off excess. Dip in egg mixture, then again in flour mixture. Cook on five to six minutes each side. Whisk together oil, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and seasonings; pour over hot chicken and toss to coat.
10. Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
If you want a quick and easy dinner that won’t cause you too much fuss, sweet and spicy meatballs are for you. Sticking these in the air fryer gives them a nice crunch on the outside with a soft and flavorful inside that you will obsess over.
- 2/3 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
Preheat air fryer to 380°. In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. In batches, arrange meatballs in a single layer on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket. Cook on each side for 10-15 minutes. For the sauce:
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup orange marmalade
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Combine and cook over medium heat and stir. Pour over meatballs for a delicious sweet and spicy sauce.