Admittedly, when my husband and I got our first air fryer, we weren’t exactly quick about trying it out.
We kept with our normal cooking routines for most of what we drummed up in the kitchen, leaving the air fryer to take the spotlight for easy quick snacks and melts we knew air fryers were suppose to be good for.
When we did begin experimenting with more complex cooking tasks in our nifty little new appliance, we got delicious results on those attempts.
One thing led to another, and before we knew it, we were cooking full meals in the thing!
And let me tell you…you can indeed cook a nice steak in the air fryer and the results will impress you.
We have now made anything from sandwich melts and pizzas, to entire steak dinners and desserts. This small counter top appliance is quite the convenient, and well used little gem in our household.
The best part is…cooking with the air fryer is healthier than a typical fry on the stove with oil, situation. And you don’t sacrifice flavor using the air fryer method!
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Easy Recipes For Beginners
If you are new to the Air Fryer Owners Club, welcome! The recipes we included in this list, are easy to follow even if you’ve just taken your air fryer out of the box.
Even if you’ve had your air fryer for a while, you will love these recipes. All of them are quick and never fail to produce mouth watering results.
Some of these recipes may even surprise you, as I for one, didn’t realize just what this little appliance could do!
When I put together this list, I wanted to give recipe samples for all meals of the day. So, you will find below categories for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and everything in between.
You will surely feel inspired to get that air fryer heating up in no time, to see what yours can do. 😉
A Few Quick Notes
- Temperatures and settings do vary from model to model. Be sure to read your manual for specific temperature guidance.
- Fly away cheese in an actual thing with an air fryer. Pay attention to these tips on how to prevent learning that lesson the hard way!
- Be sure to preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding food, to allow for consistent cooking all the way through.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Your food needs breathing room for the best results.
- Flip food half way through for even cooking (unless otherwise noted in the recipe, of course.)
- Add a light coating of oil to prevent sticking, and enhance crisp.
- Clean your air fryer components regularly, for best results.
Breakfast & Brunch
1. Air Fryer Loaded Breakfast Burrito
I’m a big fan of breakfast burritos, so learning how to make them easily in our fryer, was a game changer around here.
These yummy grab and go bites have all of the ingredients you would want in a satisfying breakfast…sausage, bacon, potatoes, onion, peppers, cheese, eggs, and seasoning.
They are easy to prepare and can be made and frozen ahead of time for those busy weekdays.
2. Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
When you’re in the mood for a sweeter start to the day, these french toast sticks will do the trick every time.
I am a huge fan of french toast, but I don’t always have the time to stand at the stove to make it. This is an easy alternative, perfect for on-the-go, and can even be made/frozen ahead of time! Winner!
3. Easy Air Fryer Home Fries
Home Fries are always a yummy addition to breakfast, especially when they are these flavorful potatoes.
Sprinkled with olive oil, garlic, onion powder, and paprika, these potato bites can be cooked with just a few minutes of time.
They come out nice and tender in the center, with the perfect crisp on the outside, as you would expect in good home fries. Yummy and easy!
4. Easy Air Fryer Bacon
Can it get any easier to cook bacon? Nah..don’t think so.
Following this recipe, your bacon will come out nice and crispy every time. And you don’t have to overheat the house with the stove top or oven!
5. Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
Oh yeah… we have made these beauties in our air fryer a few times over. We don’t mind making them in the oven, but it sure does cut down on the clean up when we make them in the air fryer.
Yet another sweet treat to start your day off, with very little effort or time.
6. Breakfast Sausage Links
As with the bacon, breakfast sausage becomes far easier to cook, when doing it in the air fryer. You don’t have to stand over it and babysit like you would when cooking the sausage on the stove.
It comes out evenly browned and absolutely delicious every time!
7. Perfect Air Fryer Sunny Side Up Fried Eggs
And when you’re craving a little comfort food in the morning (like over easy eggs), but are short on time, this air fryer recipe is the way to go.
With just 5 minutes of time and a couple of small tins, you can start your day off right with eggs that are perfectly cooked with a nice runny yoke you would get from a stove top frying pan method.
Mmm..mmm..good!
8. Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Looking for a breakfast option that satisfies your sweet tooth and can be grabbed on the way out the door? These quick and easy apple fritters are perfect for the job!
With just a few ingredients and 10 minutes in the air fryer, you can have delicious bites on those busy weekdays, with no effort at all.
Yes please!
Grab The Full Version of our new cookbook, “Crostini, Canapés, & Toasts” Here!
Lunch
1. Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich {Copycat Recipe}
I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who doesn’t like the chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A. They really do know what they are doing with that sandwich.
Our problem is we always end up in the area of a Chick-fil-A on the one day a week they are closed!
I love the fact that we can make an awesome copycat version of the sandwich right at home, any day of the week. Yum!
2. Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla
My son is a huge fan of chicken quesadillas, as am I.
I have made these quesadillas in the air fryer, as well as on the stove top. Both cooking methods produce the same delicious outcome.
I do still make them on the stove top if the air fryer is being used for something else. Either way, this recipe is super easy to follow and the perfect option for a quick lunch.
3. Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Poke Bowl
Mmm…I love a yummy fish poke any day of the week…salmon or tuna!
This particular recipe is super easy to make.
Prepare the rice and edamame ahead of time, and this dish comes together within minutes.
Refreshing, delicious, and a wonderful change up to the typical lunch sandwich or salad.
Yum!
4. Air Fryer Turkey & Cheese Croissant Sandwich
Fresh deli turkey, melted provolone, avocado, and tomato stuffed between two perfectly toasted croissant halves…what more could you want in a tasty lunch idea?
Quick, easy, and delicious!
5. Air Fryer Personal Cheese Pizza
We make personal pizzas for our son on a fairly regular basis. It’s the perfect after school snack, without taking any real time.
It involves virtually no clean up and it doesn’t distract from other things you might be trying to get done around the house.
Not to mention… this is by far, one of the best personal pizza recipe I’ve come across.
6. Air Fryer Cheeseburgers
We have made cheeseburgers in the air fryer on a handful of occasions within the short time we have owned one.
In fact, I just had one for lunch today!
They always come out juicy and it’s a wonderful alternative for those days you don’t feel like firing up the grill.
Appetizers
1. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Crab stuffed mushrooms are one of my favorite meals of all time.
Why do I say meal, as opposed to appetizer?
Because, I have literally had a plate of these babies for dinner before and loved every single bite. (No, I did not share.)
The fact that we can make them in the air fryer with less clean up, takes this dish up yet another notch in my book. Delicious!
2. Red Lobster (Copycat) Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Ah, yes…Red Lobster cheddar biscuits. Is there actually anyone on earth, who isn’t addicted to these guys?
Probably not.
This recipe is super easy, requires no real clean up, and the results are exactly as you would expect…Yummy!
3. Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Buffalo cauliflower bites have become quite the thing in recent years. I have noticed it popping up more and more, on restaurant menus.
This air fryer recipe is easy to follow and the result, so satisfying.
Perfect for a snack or lunch any day of the week! There are only a few ingredients and they come out nice and crisp every time.
Yummy goodness and healthy! (kind of 😉)
4. Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are always a yummy treat, and this easy recipe does not disappoint. The pickles comes out tender in the center, with the perfect crunch on the outside.
Serve with a side of bang bang sauce or sriracha mayo, and enjoy. Yum!
5. Easy Delicious Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Oh My, Chicken Wings!
These little guys are absolutely delicious and come out juicy every time.
The recipe is super easy to follow and the clean up is minimal. We have cooked them this way, as well as barbecue style before.
Neither version is to be passed by!
6. Air Fryer Meatballs
These air fryer meatballs take no time to cook and come out perfect every time. They can even be pre-cooked and frozen for later, which is what we have done from time to time.
Whenever we have wanted pasta and meatballs, or even a gooey meatball sandwich, the work is practically done already.
Delicious!
Grab The Full Version of our new cookbook, “Crostini, Canapés, & Toasts” Here!
Main Dinner Course
1. Air Fryer Meatloaf
While my meatloaf recipe is slightly different than this one, the outcome is still the same.
The meatloaf comes out nice and juicy without being overcooked, and the clean up is virtually non existent!
I love the fact that I can make the main part of dinner right in the air fryer with less time. Awesome!
2. Easy Unbreaded Pork Chops (Bone-in or Boneless)
When you’re not in the mood for breading and you’re just looking for a nice dry rub pork chop, this is a yummy alternative recipe.
These chops take no time at all to cook and they come out moist every time. Perfect for even the busy weeknight!
3. Parmesan Crusted Chicken
This chicken recipe is ridiculously good.
It requires virtually no prep, and comes out tender and juicy every time.
It takes only 30 minutes from start to finish, and the clean up is minimal.
Serve with mashed potatoes and a bit of squash…mmm…good.
4. Air Fryer White Fish (Cod, Tilapia)
These homemade fish filet are exactly what you would expect from a fish and chip basket out at a restaurant.
The fish comes out perfectly tender and flaky on the inside, with a nice crunch on the outside.
It takes virtually no time to prepare and satisfies your seafood craving in a pinch. Yum!
5. Air Fryer Sirloin Steak
We cook steak in the sir fryer quite often actually. I am not even joking…it comes out moist and perfect every time.
You wouldn’t necessarily consider cooking steak in the air fryer, but it really does produce great results. This particular recipe is a good one to follow for beginners especially.
Air fryer steak is very easy to prepare and the clean up of course, is minimal.
6. Air Fryer Sausage w/ Peppers & Onions
When I’m looking to change things up a bit, Italian sausage often comes to mind, especially when it’s accompanied with green peppers and onions. Yum!
This recipe is super easy and quick to put on the table.
Maybe even add some yummy pasta sauce and serve over white rice…the best!
Sides
1. Air Fryer Squash (or Zucchini)
We have squash and zucchini quite often in this house. It is by far, the most popular side for dinner around here.
I love the fact that it can be easily cooked in the air fryer, and I don’t have to stand over the stove, babysitting it.
It finishes nice and brown, and just as delicious as it would be, having been cooked on the stove top.
And it tastes absolutely delicious every single time.
2. Crispy Potato Wedges / French Fries
Mmm..home made french fries, perfectly seasoned and super easy to make in the air fryer.
Need I say more?
We often buy frozen fries from the store, and let me tell you…the air fryer makes them so much better!
3. Garlic Parmesan Broccoli
This is another go-to in our home. We have cooked broccoli in the air fryer, with and without the parmesan cheese, plenty of times.
It always comes out tender with just the perfect amount of crisp.
Yummy side for any dinner entree.
4. Easy Air Fryer Asparagus
This air fryer recipe takes asparagus to a whole other level. The parmesan cheese adds just the right touch of flavor and the air fryer adds just the right tenderness aspect.
Yummy side for dinner any night of the week!
5. Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
For those of us who love our sweet potatoes, this recipe is is a keeper.
With just a few ingredients for seasoning and a few minutes of time, you can have potato bites that are tender on the inside, and perfectly crisp on the outside.
Yum every time!
6. Air Fryer Street Corn (On The Cob)
I fell in love with street corn the moment I tried it several years ago. This recipe takes it to a new level all together. It comes out perfectly cooked every time and the flavor is spot on.
I can not wait until our local sweet corn season gets here!
Desserts
1. Cinnamon Apple Dumplings
Cinnamon apple dumplings are an addiction of mine, especially during the fall. Holy Batman are they delicious!
The idea that we can easily make them using the air fryer, goes beyond my comprehension.
Quick, yummy goodness every time.
2. Easy Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cookies do not go to waste in our house. This air fryer recipe for chocolate chip cookies, makes it easier to keep a steady supply around.
They come out soft and delicious, just like they are suppose to.
3. Easy Air Fryer Personal Cheesecakes
We tend to go the oven route with most of our cakes. However, on the occasion we are only looking for a smaller portion, this air fryer recipe comes in quite handy.
This cheesecake comes out creamy and the bake time is a fraction of what it would require for a full size cheesecake.
Great recipe!
4. Easy Air Fryer Fudgy Brownies
Mmm…gooey, fudge like brownies. The idea that we can easily make these delicious brownies in the air fryer, is quite exciting.
No need for the heat from the oven…just pop your brownie mixture into the air fryer and they are ready to be eaten in no time!
5. Air Fryer Cannoli
If you’re anything like me, you will never pass up a chance to indulge in yummy cannoli.
And with this recipe at hand, there’s no reason for you to ever have to!
Gone are the days of having to travel 20 minutes to the nearest Italian bakery for this creamy, decadent dessert.
Yum!
6. Air Fryer Churros
Churros are just one of those yummy snacks you treat yourself to, whenever you go to a fair or other outdoor event through the warmer months of the year.
Being able to make them right at home any time you want, is an even bigger treat!
This air fryer recipe is easy to follow and will more than satisfy any sweet tooth around.
Final Thoughts
Well, this little list should be a good start for any beginner, or even for those of you who just need a little inspiration!
(I will of course add to the list as I come up with more Air Fryer recipes.)
What are your favorite air fryer recipes? Let us know in the comments!
Until next time, happy frying 😉
Air fryer bacon is my favorite way to cook bacon now! They get crispy, it’s easy to clean, and the smell doesn’t hang in the house as long. Thanks for sharing all of these helpful recipes!
I think the best bacon I’ve ever had was the batch I cooked in the air fryer recently. It came out perfect! Thanks for reading!
Wow, air fryers are so versatile. I cook a lot at home, so thank you for the recipes!
We use ours every single day for certain things and it makes life so much easier! Love the sandwich melts we get from it!