Best Air Fryer Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook a whole meal together in an air fryer? ›

A whole roast chicken with roast potatoes and vegetables all cooked in the air fryer! All done in less than 90 minutes. This is a great way to make a simple roast dinner with minimal washing up!

Insider asked chefs to share their favorite things to make in an air fryer. Their favorite dishes to make in this appliance include gnocchi, chicken, and crunchy chickpeas. It's also possible to make flavorful steak, bacon, and chicken nuggets in an air fryer.

Whenever we test out a new air fryer, French fries are the very first recipe we make. Homemade French fries won't feel like so much of a chore with this machine and might actually become a regular occurance once you get the hang of it.

Multiple cooking zones

Simply put, these air fryers have different compartments, so you can cook two delicious dishes at once - ideal for a complete meal. Some have two layers, while others have both a pot and a removable basket (ideal for chips).

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.

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.

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.

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? ›

Place it in the fryer basket and preheat it for 5 minutes at 400°F (204 °C). Crack an egg to a small cup and slide the egg to the hot pan. Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 3 minutes for a sunny side over easy fried egg. If you prefer a fried egg with medium egg yolk, add 1 more minute to the cooking time.

Using the air fryer with grains that are already cooked is no problem, but steer clear of firing up the appliance for uncooked grains, including rice, quinoa, and pasta. Air fryers are designed to cook dry foods, and rice and other grains need to be cooked in water.

The experts advised avoiding putting wet batter or liquid mixtures directly into the air fryer as this can drip down onto the heating element which can cause “smoking, splattering, and potential damage”.

A dual basket air fryer opens up a whole host of recipe possibilities and allows you to cook multiple items and portions at a time, so you don't need to keep the first batch warm while the second cooks. Many dual basket air fryers are designed to time the two baskets to finish cooking simultaneously, if needed.

Even if you aren't using your air fryer to cook any of the foods listed above, you still need to be mindful of how you use your machine. Klein tells me, “For the best results, no matter what the food, be sure to arrange in a single, even layer.

Can you cook meat and vegetables in the air fryer at the same time? It is possible to cook both the meat and vegetables at the same time as the air fryer. Air Fryer Glazed Chicken and Vegetables is made in the air fryer all in one dish in about 25 minutes.