Our 27 Best Air Fryer Recipes

Air-Fryer Steak — Photo:
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey

Whether you're a new air fryer owner or use it to cook just about everything, you'll appreciate these recipes, which share a taste of the wide variety of dishes you can make with the small appliance. Think gooey, fudgy brownies, miso salmon with baby bok choy, and even bistro-level steak frites and Basque cheesecake. And, of course, air fryers are known for getting food crispy without a lot of oil — try it out on chicken Parmesan, French fries, and these dippable coconut shrimp, and you'll never go back to splattered stovetops and countertops again. Sound good? Read on for even more recipes to make in your air fryer, and start cooking now.

01 of 27

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

If you haven't made Chicken Parmesan in an air fryer yet, consider this your invitation to get started. This recipe yields crispy, juicy chicken and ultra-melty cheese, which beautifully balances the acidity of the tomato sauce. Before the final cook in the air fryer, be sure to line the inside of the basket with aluminum foil, and coat the foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Pair the chicken with a salad, such as a classic Caesar, or go for garlicky broccoli, Broccolini, or broccoli rabe.

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02 of 27

Air Fryer Shrimp Scampi

This shrimp scampi recipe has it all — it's buttery, garlicky, lemony, and gets a hint of heat from crushed red pepper and bright herbal flavor from basil. The air fryer makes it especially easy. Start the sauce in a pan in the air fryer, then add the shrimp and remaining sauce ingredients. Once the shrimp is cooked, just toss it with cooked linguine and you're ready to go. For a deeper, sweet seafood flavor in the sauce, leave the shells on the shrimp. You can also serve the shrimp with crusty bread instead of pasta if you'd prefer.

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03 of 27

Air Fryer Steak Frites

We cracked the code on making steak frites at home. The tender, well-seasoned steak browns on top as it cooks, while the fatty pieces around the edges cook down to be irresistible bites. While the steak rests, cook the fries, then top everything with the herb-packed compound butter.

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04 of 27

Air Fryer Fish Tacos

When you're learning how to use an air fryer, breaded fish inevitably comes up. Here, golden brown panko-breaded cod fillets and a creamy red cabbage slaw are folded into charred corn tortillas in this recipe for Air Fryer Fish Tacos. The slaw gets a pop of acidity from fresh lime juice, as well as savory notes from Mexican-style hot sauce and grated garlic. Meanwhile, cumin and chili powder mixed into the panko means extra flavor in each bite. Adding a little olive oil to the panko mixture helps ensure even browning while air frying. After the cod is breaded and cooked, assembly is a snap. Just grab a charred corn tortilla, add a piece of cod and a squeeze of lime juice, and top with the cabbage. Thinly sliced radishes add a final crunch and bright color.

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05 of 27

Air Fryer Roast Chicken with Rosemary-Orange Sauce

Air Fryer Whole Roast Chicken — Food & Wine / Photo by Stacy Allen / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Tucker Vines

A citrus and herb dry brine gives this whole chicken flavor and helps produces the crispiest skin in the air fryer. Thanks to a dry brine of citrus zest, herbs, and salt, the chicken skin gets nice and crispy.

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06 of 27

Crispy Salt-and-Pepper Air Fryer Tofu with Asparagus

This quick meal features tofu that's crispy around the edges and tender on the inside, coated in a sweet and salty marinade including soy sauce, light brown sugar, and ground Szechuan peppercorns. Garlicky asparagus, which also gets flavor from Chinese five spice and toasted sesame oil, makes a perfect partner. Shaking the tofu in a resealable container with the soy sauce mixture is the best way to ensure that it's evenly coated, and reserving some of the mixture for drizzling on the finished dish adds a double-dose of flavor. Any leftover asparagus and tofu can be reheated in the air fryer.

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07 of 27

Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings with Hot Honey Glaze

Hot, sweet, crispy, and buttery, these wings are certain to become your go-to recipe for parties or any time you want a hearty snack. The wings are tossed with lemon pepper seasoning then cooked until crispy in an air fryer, then coated with a buttery hot honey glaze and served with more of the glaze for dipping. A garnish of cilantro adds color and more brightness to the dish.

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08 of 27

Air Fryer Meatballs

These air fryer meatballs get a touch of heat from Calabrian chiles, and herbal flavor from fresh basil and parsley. Soaking the breadcrumbs in milk before mixing them with the meat helps ensure a tender texture. When forming the meatballs, wet your hands first to prevent sticking. After about 10 minutes in the air fryer, they'll emerge deliciously browned and ready to pair with marinara sauce. We call for store-bought here, but feel free to make your own.

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09 of 27

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs develop a crispy, crackling skin when cooked in the air fryer. Season the thighs evenly with salt, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder, or your own favorite combination of spices.

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10 of 27

Air Fryer Basque Cheesecake

Here, we're using an air fryer to whip up a quick version of a Basque cheesecake. Evenly browned with a creamy, silky, smooth center, this cheesecake boasts just the right amount of sweetness to contrast the bitter burnt top. Drizzling honey on top of the cake after baking adds an extra layer of warm sweetness, making this dessert feel that much more luxurious.

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11 of 27

Air Fryer Pork Chops With Maple-Soy Glaze

Brushing these pork chops with a maple syrup-soy sauce mixture before cooking them in the air fryer results in some delicious charring around the edges. You'll need to cook the pork chops in two batches, so be sure to keep your oven on 200°F so you can keep the first two chops warm while the remaining two are in the air fryer. The pork chops also get a light coating of maple-soy glaze before going in the oven, which has an extra punch of flavor thanks to rice vinegar and Sriracha. Homemade, vibrant pickled red onions top the finished chops — but use store-bought if you'd like to save time. Serve the pork chops over a bed of creamy polenta or mashed potatoes, and top with the remaining glaze and the pickled onions.

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12 of 27

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Air-frying chicken gives you the ease of cooking something in the oven but with the speed of sautéing. Use this chicken in tacos, soup, salads, pasta, or rice.

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13 of 27

Air Fryer Bacon

Fried bacon on a plate. — Vitalii Rud / Getty Images

Our new favorite way to cook bacon is in the air fryer. With this method, there’s far less mess and no grease splatters canvasing your cooktop. Plus, the bacon gets evenly crispy and perfectly cooked through every time.

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14 of 27

Miso Air Fryer Salmon With Baby Bok Choy

Cooking salmon in the air fryer allows the miso marinade to form a salty-sweet crust on the surface of each fillet. While the salmon rests, quickly cook the bok choy in the air fryer. The edges of the leaves will char a bit, creating a savory contrast to the ginger, soy, and sesame oil sauce that goes on top.

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15 of 27

Air Fryer Baked Potato

Skip heating the oven (and your kitchen) to cook these potatoes, then top each one off with a pat of butter, dollop of sour cream, and sprinkle of chives for an easy side.

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16 of 27

Bacon-Wrapped Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Cooking this pork tenderloin in the air fryer results in perfectly juicy, tender meat that's nicely flavored with fresh thyme and garlic. For ultra-crispy bacon on the exterior, make sure to use regular-cut bacon instead of thick-cut. If the tenderloin has tapered ends, tuck them under for an even thickness. While the pork rests, air-fry sliced vegetables and fennel to round out the meal.

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17 of 27

Air Fryer Brownies

With the help of an air fryer, these gooey, fudgy brownies — baked in ramekins and reminiscent of a molten chocolate cake — are less than an hour away. Adding espresso powder to the batter helps bring out the chocolate flavor, as does the crunchy sea salt garnish at the end. Serve them on their own, or with your favorite ice cream. Better yet, top them with berries, whipped cream, chopped nuts, or caramel sauce to make a brownie sundae.

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18 of 27

Air Fryer Fried Chicken with Hot Honey

Frying chicken in an air fryer is low-fuss and yields wonderfully crispy results. Start with a hot sauce-buttermilk soak, and then coat the chicken thighs with a well-seasoned flour mixture. After a dip in beaten eggs and a final coating in the flour, the air fryer will take it from there. The finished chicken gets an extra level of pleasure from hot honey that's flavored with guajillo chile and apple cider vinegar. Any leftovers will be equally delicious served for lunch the next day.

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19 of 27

Blueberry Almond Yogurt Toast

Yogurt toast is sometimes called custard toast, which offers a clue to how the simple mixture of yogurt, egg and syrup baked on top of a piece of toast beautifully mimics the texture and flavor of French toast or even a cheese Danish. It comes together in just a few minutes, making it an option even on busy mornings.

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20 of 27

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are the perfect partner for a burger or sandwich but making them in the oven often leaves you with a slightly limp fry. Good thing the air fryer is here as it makes crispy fries without having to deep-fry them.

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21 of 27

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Coconut shrimp are well suited to all sorts of dipping sauces, but we keep it simple here and use Thai sweet chili sauce spruced up with a little chopped fresh cilantro. Using an air fryer instead of frying in oil on the stovetop means crispy shrimp without any splatters to clean up afterwards. Serve the shrimp as an appetizer, or turn them into dinner along with rice and baby bok choy sautéed in toasted sesame oil and fresh ginger.

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22 of 27

Air-Fried Buffalo Wings

Cook these classic Buffalo wings in an air fryer or on the stove, then toss them in a buttery hot sauce and serve with creamy blue cheese sauce.

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23 of 27

Air Fryer Burrata

Coat cream-filled burrata with breadcrumbs and then bake it in the air fryer until it is crispy on the outside, and melty inside. Serve it with pesto and toasted bread, or your favorite crackers.

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24 of 27

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

These super crispy brussels sprouts with a balsamic dressing and crunchy hazelnuts are a crowd-pleasing side dish.

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25 of 27

Air Fryer French Fries

You can make crispy, restaurant-worthy fries at home with nothing more than russet potatoes, salt, and a couple of tablespoons of oil in an air fryer.

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26 of 27

Air Fryer Chickpeas

These crispy chickpeas are a satisfying and savory protein-rich snack on their own, but they’re also a welcome topper to green salads, yogurt, and grain salads.

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27 of 27

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

This recipe also keeps the turkey moist and tender thanks to a combination of dry brining and an herb-garlic compound butter that's rubbed under the skin. The drippings left behind in the air fryer basket have an important role, too, as they're saved to be transformed into gravy on the stovetop.

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