Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 18 Air Fryer Recipes Almost Too Quick-and-Easy to Be True Make that air fryer your new best friend! By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 10, 2024 Close Photo: Greg Dupree Is it possible to fry food using almost no oil, and eat it without needing a nap afterwards? If you've heard anything about the buzziest healthy-cooking appliance, you know the answer is yes. To prove our point, we rounded up our favorite air fryer recipes to back up that claim, and we know you'll want to try at least a few. First, let's cover some air-frying basics. Air Fryer Basics Technically, air fryers are mini convention ovens, which use convection fans to circulate hot air around foods, giving them an irresistible fried-like texture with almost no oil. Air-fried foods—like french fries, chicken wings, and crispy Brussels sprouts—generally don't taste exactly like their deep-fried counterparts, but they have a crispy exterior thanks to the Maillard reaction. We're big fans. The Maillard reaction, named after the French chemist who discovered it in 1912, is what occurs between amino acids and/or proteins and sugars when they're heated and transformed into something more delicious, usually meaning the food has browned or become crispy. There's lots to love about an air fryer, among them is you can easily pull out the fryer basket at any time to check on your food's cooking process. Most foods brown more evenly if you give them a gentle shake at least once during the cooking process. If you're worried about removing stuck-on food, we have tips on how to clean an air fryer, so happy air-frying! Converting a Recipe Intended for the Oven No air fryer recipe? No problem. To convert a favorite roasting or baking recipe for the air fryer, try cooking the dish 25 degrees F less than the recipe calls for. Also, an air fryer needs only a tablespoon or two of oil, so adjust the recipe's amount accordingly. Air fryer models vary in size, shape, and technology, so cooking times and temperatures vary, too. Get in the habit of checking the basket for doneness starting halfway through the cooking process. Sometimes it'll be perfect long before the expected cooking time. Recipes for the Air Fryer Air fryers are so versatile! You can use one for meal prep, or to cook appetizers, sides, main courses, and even desserts. If you're not one to experiment with converting a recipe that calls for a conventional oven, look over these tested recipes: We converted some to air-frying for you, and the rest are tailor-made for an air fryer. 01 of 18 Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas Antonis Achilleos Make a pot-pie-to-go by stuffing a chicken-vegetable filling into an empanada crust that turns perfectly crisp in an air fryer. Instead of using the recipe's oven instructions, cook these in your air fryer at 375 degrees for 12 to 20 minutes, or until the outsides are golden brown and crisp. Get the Recipe 02 of 18 Cheesy Roasted Sweet Potatoes Marcus Nilsson We promise! These air-fried sweet potato fries sprinkled with two kinds of cheese outshine any basic French fry recipe. Instead of baking and broiling, cook these in your air fryer at 400 degrees for 18 to 25 minutes. Give them a toss and a quick check at least once midway through cooking. Get the Recipe 03 of 18 Rosemary Honey Prosciutto Crisps Victor Protasio Give your next charcuterie board an extra punch of flavor with this easy recipe. Instead of an oven, pop slices of prosciutto in your air fryer, 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, and then slather on rosemary-infused honey to add an extra note of sweetness. Get the Recipe 04 of 18 Poached Eggs Vaaseenaa/Getty Images Air fryers are known for making crispy foods, but they work just as beautifully for softer items like poached eggs. This quick-and-easy hack makes creating poached eggs for dishes like Eggs Benedict so much easier. Get the Recipe 05 of 18 Ricotta Meatballs Victor Protasio Doubling down on the cheese, the combo of creamy ricotta and salty pecorino allows these delicious homemade meatballs to walk the line between rich and intensely savory. Instead of pan-frying, keep this dish on the lighter side by air-frying at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Get the Recipe 06 of 18 Baked Eggplant Fries Greg DuPree The key to the coating on these crispy-yet-tender eggplant fries is a dip in frothy egg whites and then panko (Japanese breadcrumbs). Instead of baking, air-fry the eggplant at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until evenly browned and crisp. Shake the fryer basket halfway through cooking. Get the Recipe 07 of 18 Graham-Crusted Chicken Tenders Caitlin Bensel This recipe appeals to all ages because adults are allowed to love crunchy chicken tenders, too. Instead of baking, try air-frying at 400 degrees for 16 to 18 minutes, making sure to shake halfway through. Get the Recipe 08 of 18 Roasted Cod With Kale Salad Gentl & Hyers Here's one incredibly easy way to cook fish fillets: Season with salt and pepper, top with crispy panko breadcrumbs and aromatic garlic, and then, instead of roasting, air-fry at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. This recipe pairs the fillets with sautéed kale and fresh-sliced tomatoes. Get the Recipe 09 of 18 Garlic-Roasted Potatoes Greg DuPree Care to cut your potato cooking time in half? Instead of roasting, toss these garlicky spuds into your air fryer basket at 350 degrees for 18 to 25 minutes. Just make sure to give them a shake halfway through to ensure even browning. Get the Recipe 10 of 18 Easy Pork Dumplings Greg DuPree Instead of pan-frying, try making these better-than-takeout pork dumplings in an air fryer. Cook at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they're lightly browned and crispy, turning halfway through. Get the Recipe 11 of 18 Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders Greg DuPree Cooking chicken strips in the oven or air fryer, instead of the deep fryer, gives this finger food staple a healthy twist. What's more, panko breadcrumbs create an extra crispy exterior that doesn't get soggy when sitting out. To air-fry, cook breaded strips at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking halfway through. Get the Recipe 12 of 18 Crispy Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta and Lemon Anna Williams We couldn't round up air fryer recipes without including a little browned Brussels sprouts number. This delicious side dish packs an umami-rich punch thanks to pancetta, which also helps the Brussels caramelize. Instead of roasting, air-fry at 375 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes, and be sure to shake halfway through to help them brown evenly. Get the Recipe 13 of 18 Cornmeal-Crusted Mozzarella Sticks Greg DuPree These crispy, melty mozzarella sticks were made for air-frying. Keep the deep fryer unplugged and air-fry at 400 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the outside is nicely crisp. Shake the fryer basket halfway through. Get the Recipe 14 of 18 Roasted Zucchini Brett Stevens/Getty Images With just two ingredients—zucchini and olive oil—you can have this healthy, seasonal side dish on the table in less than 15 minutes. Instead of baking, air-fry the diced zucchini at 350 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes, tossing halfway through. For extra flavor, finish with fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese, or toasted bread crumbs. Get the Recipe 15 of 18 Trader Joe's Appetizers traderjoes.com Our Trader Joe's experts discovered a way to make an air fryer your most valuable party accessory. Just spray oil in the basket, place four to six TJ's frozen appetizers inside—leaving space in between to get nice and crispy—and set it to 400 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes, pausing halfway to give them a shake, and party on! Get the Recipe 16 of 18 Deviled Eggs Aniko Hobel/Getty Images Step away from the stove! You can make hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer, although they take slightly longer to cook than in boiling water. While the cooked eggs cool in an ice bath, use our guide for making filling, or your favorite recipe. Get the Recipe 17 of 18 Jammy Hand Pies Fred Hardy If you thought you couldn't cook a fruit pie in the air fryer, this recipe proves you wrong. Air-frying gives these single-serving pastries a deliciously crispy crust. They look cumbersome to make, but the recipe eases your burden with a shortcut of ready-made piecrust. Get the Recipe 18 of 18 Air-Fried Gochujang-Maple Cauliflower Bites GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING BY EMILY NABORS HALL, PROP STYLING BY CLAIRE SPOLLEN If you're looking to spice up your air frying game, this vegetarian recipe is the way to go. The bulk of time for this recipe is spent whisking together ingredients for the sauces, but each batch cooks in the air fryer at 400 degrees for just 8 to 10 minutes. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit