81 Essential Air Fryer Recipes to Make Immediately

updated Jan 5, 2024

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air fryer roasted potatoes tossed with scallions — Credit: Kelli Foster

Countertop air fryers are an increasingly popular kitchen gadget. Air fryers work by circulating super-hot air, which quickly and evenly reaches all the surfaces of the food. In other words, it gives food that crispy-fried texture and golden-brown color without having to actually deep-fry anything.

If you’ve joined the air fryer club and need some ideas for meal essentials, we’ve got you covered. You can make practically anything that you would fry in an air fryer. It’s great at heating frozen foods, but it’s also fantastic for from-scratch foods, like chicken wings, potato chips, donuts, and extra-crisp cookies. Here, we’ve rounded up 81 air fryer recipes to show just how versatile the appliance can be.

Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes

From hard-boiled eggs to crispy bacon, these breakfast staples are the perfect way to start your morning.

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Crispy Air Fryer Bacon

A quick and easy recipe for crispy air fryer bacon.

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Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs

The surprising value of cooking an egg in the air fryer is not having to deal with a big pot of water at all!

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Air Fryer French Toast

Air frying French toast guarantees a crispy exterior and an irresistible, evenly cooked interior.

Air Fryer Appetizer and Snack Recipes

It wouldn’t be a party without appetizers and snacks. Make game-day favorites like chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeño poppers in your air fryer.

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Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Air fryer chicken wings are some of the crispiest, juiciest wings you'll have outside a restaurant, and they take under an hour to cook.

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Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

These air fryer jalapeño poppers scream "perfect game-day snack."

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Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Air fryer mozzarella sticks are made entirely from kitchen staples, meaning you can you can have this crispy, gooey snack anytime you like.

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Air Fryer Blooming Onion

If your Outback go-to is a blooming onion, you'll love this air fryer version.

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Air Fryer Tater Tots

These hot and crispy air fryer tater tots taste just like the ones from your favorite burger joint.

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Air Fryer Pickles

This any-occasion recipe is an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer that's sure to get devoured in record time.

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Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

This plant-based bar-style snack is unbelievably crispy, thanks to one smart step.

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Air Fryer Onion Rings

Onion rings are a classic example of how breading just about anything can transform a few humble ingredients into a fun and impressive side dish or snack.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

These air fryer sweet potato chips deliver everything you love about the deep-fried version, but require way less oil to make.

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Air Fryer Stuffing Hushpuppies

Here's how to use your air fryer to make near-instant 2-ingredient hushpuppies, which are easier and way less messy than traditional deep-fried hushpuppies.

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Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

Turn store-bought tortillas into crispy, restaurant-style chips with an air fryer.

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Air Fryer Falafel

Falafel, even eaten on its own with a simple dipping sauce, is a treat that hits the spot regardless if you're a vegetarian or not.

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Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds

Roasting up a batch of pumpkin seeds is one of the many delights of autumn.

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Air Fryer Chickpeas

There’s a whole wide world out there for chickpeas beyond hummus, and it can start as easily as putting them in your air fryer.

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Crispy Air Fryer Potato Chips

These easy air fryer potato chips are crispy and perfectly salted — not hot oil required.

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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

For the crispiest chicken tenders, look to the air fryer.

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This crispy snack is best served alongside remoulade sauce for dunking.

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Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

Bite-size zucchini batons in a crunchy panko and Parmesan coating and air fried until golden and crisp.

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Frozen Fries in Air Fryer

PSA: Your air fryer is the absolute best way to cook frozen french fries at home.

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Air Fryer Egg Rolls

For delicious and crispy egg rolls, look to the air fryer.

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Air Fryer Mini Calzones

These mini calzones use prepared pizza dough to make delicious pockets filled with cheese and pepperoni that are perfect for parties or after school snacks

Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes

It you need quick and delicious vegetable sides, the air fryer has you covered.

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Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes

Turn to your air fryer for this impossibly crispy and easy side dish.

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Air Fryer Green Beans

Here's how to cook blistered, crisp-tender green beans (fresh or frozen!) in an air fryer.

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Air Fryer Carrots

Slender carrot sticks seasoned with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs air fried until tender and blistered.

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Air Fryer Broccoli

Air-fry slender stalks of broccoli for a tender and crispy-tipped side dish to serve all year long.

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Air Fryer Cauliflower

Tender, golden brown air-fried cauliflower is the perfect side dish for any meal on your plan.

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Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Old Bay seasoning is the star of this crispy air fryer potato wedge recipe.

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Air Fryer Beets

Air frying beets is a quick and easy way to create a nutritious and colorful side dish.

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Quick & Easy Air Fryer Asparagus

Air fryer asparagus comes out perfectly tender and crisp every time, with just the right amount of char at the tips. Plus, it's ready in less than 10 minutes.

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Air Fryer French Fries

An easy way to make crispy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside fries, no deep-frying required.

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Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

All veggies in the air fryer are so good — thanks to the super-hot circulating air, they’re sweeter, crunchier, and more flavorful than roasted vegetables — and Brussels sprouts are no exception.

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Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Thin and crispy Parmesan zucchini slices served with an herb-yogurt sauce is summer's answer to chips and dip.

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Air Fryer Eggplant

There are a bunch of ways you can cook eggplant in the air fryer, but crispy fries are the absolute best.

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Air Fryer Squash

This colorful bowl of veggies is the quintessential summer side.

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Air Fryer Latkes

This super-simple air fryer latkes — made with grated potatoes, onion, matzo meal, and eggs — are just as crispy and delicious as traditional fried latkes.

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Air Fryer Butternut Squash

For crispy and tender butternut squash in a fraction of the time, use your air fryer.

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Crispy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer makes baked potatoes that are fluffy and tender on the inside and shatteringly crisp on the outside.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy-on-the-outside, soft-and-creamy-on-the-inside air fryer sweet potato fries.

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Air Fryer Mushrooms

Bite-sized garlic-butter mushrooms are savory with crispy edges, all thanks to the air fryer.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato

Even better than the air fryer recipe are the many toppings you can experiement with.

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Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Cooking corn in the air fryer results in the most tender-crisp kernel with some lightly charred edges in every sweet bite.

Air Fryer Main Dish Recipes

Classic main dishes like meatloaf, fried chicken, and steak are easy to make in your air fryer. Give your stovetop a break with these tasty dinner recipes.

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Air Fryer Meatloaf

This classic savory mix of onion, garlic, Worcestershire, and beef is air fried until juicy in the middle with delightfully crispy crust.

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Air Fryer Fried Chicken

The air fryer yields flawless buttermilk fried chicken — crunchy skin, a cracker-crisp coating, and juicy, tender meat.

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Air Fryer Steak

Air frying combines the ease of baking with all the deliciousness of pan-searing. The hot, circulating air quickly browns the outside of the steak, resulting in golden-brown edges that mimic a hard sear.

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Air Fryer Tilapia

Crispy air fryer Parmesan- and panko-crusted tilapia is perfect for busy weeknights.

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Air Fryer Taquitos

Crispy tortillas rolled around a creamy chicken filling.

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Air Fryer Chicken Breast

The air fryer is your answer for always juicy, always tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

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Air Fryer Brats

Making golden and juicy bratwurst doesn't get any easier thanks to the air fryer.

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Air Fryer Miso-Ginger Salmon

An easy miso ginger marinade adds a ton of flavor to your weeknight salmon dinner.

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Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich

This DIY crunchy, spicy, juicy fried chicken sandwich tastes even better than the deep-fried fast-food versions.

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Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash Parm

Warm, cheesy, perfectly al dente spaghetti squash made at turbo speed in the air fryer.

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Air Fryer Hamburgers

Skip the hassle of the grill and make an extra-juicy hamburger right in the air fryer.

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Air Fryer Pizza

The air fryer comes in handy when everyone wants a different pizza topping.

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Air Fryer Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

Thanks to the air fryer, you can leave the oven off and dig into tender, flaky salmon and super-crispy brussels sprouts in a fraction of the time.

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Air Fryer Fried Shrimp

Here's how you can create crispy, crunchy shrimp at home with your air fryer — no hot oil required!

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Air Fryer Meatballs

These quick and easy air fryer meatballs are as moist and flavorful as they come, thanks to a combination of ground meat and the addition of ricotta.

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Air Fryer Hot Dogs

Hot dogs get super plump and juicy in the air fryer and snap when you bite into them. Here's how to do it.

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Air Fryer Greek Chicken and Potatoes

Garlic, lemon, dill, and oregano add tons of flavor to a simple chicken and potatoes dinner, and, thanks to the air fryer, everything's crispy-crunchy.

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Fish and chips aka the epitome of the pub-food experience.

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Air Fryer Pork Chops

Thanks to the convection heat of the air fryer, these breaded pork chops cook up crisp and juicy every time.

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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Air fried parmesan-breaded chicken breasts smothered in mozzarella and served with tangy marinara.

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Air Fryer Scallops

Plump sea scallops in a lemon-dill marinade are an easy weeknight win with the air fryer.

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Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

The best part about these crispy chicken drumsticks is the creamy raita dip.

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Perfect Air Fryer Salmon

These salmon fillets cook up perfectly on all sides in minutes, and the resulting salmon is crisp on the outside and juicy and flaky on the inside.

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Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets with Smoky Broccoli

This easy family dinner is the ultimate choice for Meatless Monday. Serve the nuggets with ketchup for the kids and sweet chili sauce for the adults.

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Air Fryer Herbed Turkey Breast with Gravy Go to Recipe

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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

The air fryer is the answer for always crispy, always gooey grilled cheese sandwiches. Here's how to make them.

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Air Fryer Cornish Hen

A perfect Thanksgiving substitute for turkey for one or two.

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Air Fryer Mojo Pork Tenderloin

No slow cooker? No problem! Give this weeknight-friendly version of lechón asado a try.

Air Fryer Dessert Recipes

Don’t forget dessert! The air fryer does that too. If you haven’t made dessert in your air fryer yet, give these recipes a try.

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Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thanks to the high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer, these chocolate chip cookies are crispy on the outside and perfectly gooey on the inside.

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Easy Air Fryer Donuts

When it comes to desserts, it doesn’t get much easier than these donuts. They have a super smart-shortcut: Take canned biscuit dough, slice it into rounds, and cut the center out. Top them with a cinnamon-sugar mix or your favorite icing, and voilà!

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The air fryer is one of the best tools to make this easy, yet impressive dessert toast. Finish the freshly baked, hot honey toast with scoops of ice cream and a drizzle of honey.

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Air Fryer Churro Bites with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Because the classically fried dessert is made with a pâte à choux batter that can either be baked or fried, it’s perfectly suited to the air-fryer.

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Air Fryer Apple Cider Donuts

These super-delicious cakey donuts are an autumn New England treat — but you can enjoy them any time of year, and anywhere you are. All you need is a little apple cider, and some baking ingredients. One bite and you’re strolling through an orchard, picking apples!

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The best, easiest way to get your fried Oreo fix at home.

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Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls

These air fryer cinnamon rolls, which start with a tube of crescent roll dough, are ready in a fraction of the time.

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Air Fryer Apple Chips

The air fryer is the secret to the crispiest apple chips. Tossing the apple slices in cinnamon and nutmeg before frying them gives them warmly spiced flavor (and makes the kitchen smell delicious).

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Air Fryer Beignets Go to Recipe

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