Our Favorite Air Fryer Recipes & Tips – tips to learn how to use your new air fryer; plus 16 easy recipes! Learn what you can cook in the air fryer, how to convert conventional oven recipes for the air fryer, what oil to use, and more. Try out some of our favorite recipes. We’ve got something for everyone – appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.
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Pin This RecipeEasy Air Fryer Recipes
Did you get a new air fryer for Christmas? I got an air fryer a couple of years ago and absolutely LOVE it! I actually love it so much that I have two. We use our air fryers several times a week. We love to cook french fries, chicken tenders, frozen snacks, burgers, pizza, and steaks. It makes the BEST french fries and pizza rolls! SO crispy!
The air fryer is also great for reheating takeout food and leftover pizza. One of the places we get takeout from is about 20 minutes from the house. I will throw the fries in the air fryer when we get home and in just a few minutes they are warm and crispy. Just like when you get them in the restaurant! I also reheat Chicken Legs’ leftover wings – pop them in the air fryer at 350ºF for 6 or 7 minutes – perfection!
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is basically a countertop convection oven. It circulates air around the food for faster cooking. The rapidly circulating air makes the food crispy, much like deep frying but without the need for oil. You also don’t need to preheat the air fryer, making cooking in the air fryer much faster than cooking in the oven. The air fryer is also SUPER easy to clean up. You can put the cooking basket in the dishwasher.
What Can I Cook in the Air Fryer
- If you can cook it in the oven, you can cook it in the air fryer. Wet batters do not work in the air fryer. For example, you couldn’t do a tempura batter in the air fryer.
- How to Convert Oven Baking Times to the Air Fryer: To convert a traditional oven-cooked recipe to the air-fryer reduce the suggested temperature by 25°F and then cut the cooking time by 20%. Just use the pause button on your machine to occasionally check the doneness and flip for balanced crispness on all sides.
Recommended Air Fryers
What Air Fryer do you recommend? I have the Philips XXL Air Fryer. It is larger and can cook an entire meal at once. The basket in the Philips XXL Air Fryer measures 9x9x3 inches.
The Philips air fryer is expensive. Here are some other recommended air fryers that are more affordable:
- Dash Express Digital Tasti-Crisp Nonstick Air Fryer – https://www.target.com/p/dash-express-digital-tasti-crisp-nonstick-air-fryer/
- Chefman 8qt Digital Air Fryer – https://www.target.com/p/chefman-8qt-digital-air-fryer-silver/
- Gourmia 5qt 12-Function Guided Cook Digital Air Fryer – https://www.target.com/p/gourmia-5qt-12-function-guided-cook-digital-air-fryer-black/
- Cosori Pro XLS II Smart 5.8qt Digital Air Fryer – https://www.target.com/p/cosori-pro-xls-ii-smart-5-8qt-digital-air-fryer/
Air Fryer Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to preheat the air fryer? I never preheat my air fryer. You can preheat it for a few minutes if you prefer, but I don’t think it is necessary.
- When cooking french fries or wings, I like to shake the basket a few times during the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
- Can I use Pam Cooking Spray in the air fryer? It is not recommended to use canned cooking spray with the air fryer. Most cans of cooking spray have propellants in them. The propellants will damage your basket and start to erode the nonstick coating on the air fryer basket. I suggest using an oil mister. I like this one from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oB6Z2J . Don’t over do it with the oil. I onlly spritz things like freshly breaded chicken or frozen mozzarella sticks. I don’t use oil on frozen french fries, frozen chicken, steaks or burgers.
- Do I need to line the air fryer basket? I’ve never lined my basket with anything. I don’t want to block the air from circulating around the food.
- How often do I clean the air fryer? I clean the basket after each use. The Philips air fryer makes cleanup so easy. Everything goes straight into the dishwasher.
Keep reading to get our favorite recipes to make in the air fryer. All of the recipes were made in a Philips XL or Philips XXL basket air fryer. If you are using a different type of air fryer cooking times may vary.
Click on the photo or recipe titles to go to the page with the recipe.
Steph
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Hi Steph!
Love LOVE your recipes, website and especially the fact that you, too, are an orange cat Meowmy just like I am! Question: Our new stove has all sorts of fancy settings including an air fryer. Is this the same as your counter top air fryer?
From what I’ve read, NO. The range air fryer mode won’t cook the same as a countertop air fryer. Check your manual for tips on using the air fryer mode.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I received an Air Fryer for Christmas (I think my daughter bought it for me so she could use it). I have been searching for good recipes that normal, every-day people eat without much success! I was so excited to see this in my inbox this morning! I cannot wait to try the rotisserie chicken in the air fryer!!!
Can you use tinfoil in the air fryer for reheating pizza 🍕 if you don’t want the cheese to get everywhere??
I reheat pizza in the air fryer all the time. I have never lined my air fryer. I have the basket style air fryer that is listed in the post.
There are air fryer sheets made/cut out of parchment paper. Find them on Amazon to get your correct size and shape.
Hello Steph,
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your recipes. I look forward to seeing them n my inbox!
Thank you!
can you prepare a picnic ham in the air fryer?
Sure! If you can cook it in the oven, you can most likely cook it in the air fryer.