14 Low-Calorie, High-Protein Air-Fryer Dinners

Air-Fryer Chicken Cutlets — Photo: Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely / Ali Ramee

These healthy and delicious recipes are lower in calories and deliver at least 15 grams of protein per serving for extra staying power. Pair one of these delicious main dishes with a high-fiber side, and you'll have a light but satisfying meal to help you reach your weight loss goals. Recipes like our Pork Schnitzel with Creamy Dill Sauce and Air-Fryer Chicken Cutlets are healthy reasons to fire up your air fryer.

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Pork Schnitzel with Creamy Dill Sauce

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Pounding pork chops before breading and pan-frying is the signature method to getting crisp yet tender German schnitzel. Using an air fryer works well, too, and cuts back on calories.

02 of 14

Air-Fryer Turkey Stuffed Peppers

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Stuffed peppers are a classic family meal—and they're fun to eat, too. Instead of roasting the sweet peppers in the oven, use an air fryer to get them crisp-tender but not soggy.

03 of 14

Air-Fryer Salmon

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In this simple air-fryer salmon recipe, the garlic gets crispy on the top while the Aleppo pepper and coriander bring an earthy flavor to the fish, which remains delicately cooked in the middle.

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Air-Fryer Buffalo Wings

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A sports bar favorite comes home with these deliciously crispy chicken wings, which require just 10 minutes of active prep time, thanks to the air fryer. In fact, one of EatingWell's recipe testers declared this air-fryer Buffalo wing recipe "a reason to buy an air fryer." Add a spicy sauce, carrot sticks, celery sticks and ranch dressing for dipping, and you have a healthy take on wings that's sure to score.

05 of 14

Air-Fryer Chicken Cutlets

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Cooking chicken cutlets in an air fryer creates a crunchy, golden-brown exterior while eliminating excess oil. Serve the crispy cutlets with a side salad.

06 of 14

Air-Fryer Pork Chops

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If you're looking for simple low-calorie, high-protein meals, these crispy breaded air-fryer pork chops are an excellent option. They don't require a lot of oil to create a deep-fried crispy crust. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or alongside roasted veggies. Want to double the recipe? Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook the pork chops in batches, but that's easy to do.

07 of 14

Cornflake Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets

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These crispy air-fried chicken nuggets are a quick, kid-friendly dinner that parents will love too.

08 of 14

Air-Fryer Spinach & Feta Turkey Burgers

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Sharp raw garlic, fresh herbs and tangy feta cheese superbly flavor these turkey burgers. Since the patties are air-fried with very little oil, there's room to add a bit of olive oil to the meat to keep the patties from drying out. Serve with air-fried zucchini fries.

09 of 14

Air-Fryer 'Fried' Chicken Thighs

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Air fryers need a lot less oil to create a deep-fried, crispy crust. Here, chicken thighs are marinated in buttermilk and dredged in a simple breadcrumb coating. With the help of a little cooking spray, they cook up nice and crispy with a lot less fat. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or slice them up to top a salad.

10 of 14

Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

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Replicate the flavor, lovely burnished skin and moist texture of a classic rotisserie chicken with this easy recipe for cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer. With just a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes of active time, you get a roast chicken with lemon and herbs that's a remarkable doppelgänger for a deli chicken right after it comes out of the rotisserie. Serve this air-fryer rotisserie chicken with your favorite veggie sides for a healthy weeknight dinner or weekend supper. And if you're hosting a dinner party, cooking your main course in the air fryer is also a great way to free up oven space for casseroles, rolls and other dishes.

11 of 14

Air-Fryer Fish Sticks

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Essentially a mini convection oven, an air fryer circulates hot air all around these breaded fish sticks for a perfectly crisp exterior in minutes. This recipe can easily be doubled with an extra-large air fryer or made in batches in a regular-size one.

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Air-Fryer Tuna Patties

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These bright and savory air-fryer tuna patties won't disappoint for a quick lunch or dinner. They hold their shape nicely while cooking, with a tender middle and a crispy crust on the outside. Peppery arugula and a lemony mayonnaise sauce round out the meal.

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Air-Fryer Salmon with Horseradish Rub

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A crust of fresh horseradish, parsley and capers turns delicately crispy on this air-fried salmon. It's an impressive dinner that's also super simple to make. If you can't find fresh horseradish, use a high-quality prepared product. Be sure to drain and squeeze it to remove as much moisture as possible.

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Air-Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

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These air-fried popcorn shrimp get crispy and crunchy with very little oil. We pair it with a smoky, spicy dipping sauce for a tasty snack you'll want to make again and again.

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