Skip to content

Top Navigation

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Special Diets
  • Diabetes
  • Healthy Meal Plans
  • Healthy Eating
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Healthy Cooking
  • Shop
  • News
  • Videos

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Cooking Light Diet
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore EatingWell

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Real Cost of Healthy Food

      Today, more Americans than ever—a staggering 50 million people—are experiencing hunger. EatingWell examines the barriers to getting healthy food and what is being done to help. Read More Next
    • 5 Dinners on a Shoestring Budget

      We break down some common go-to meals, along with cost-conscious homemade options. Read More Next
    • 10 Cheap & Healthy Foods to Buy, According to a Dietitian

      We've compiled a list of 10 cheap and healthy foods to help you keep those grocery bills down. Read More Next
  • Healthy Recipes

    Healthy Recipes

    See All Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Healthy Lunch Recipes
    • Healthy Dinner Recipes
    • Healthy Snack Recipes
    • Healthy Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Salad Recipes
    • Healthy Smoothie Recipes
    • Healthy Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Healthy Slow-Cooker & Crockpot Recipes
    • Healthy Kids Recipes
    • Healthy Holiday Recipes
    • Healthy Vegan Recipes
    • Healthy Vegetarian Recipes
    • Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes
    • Healthy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Healthy Low-Calorie Recipes
    • Healthy Weight Loss & Diet Recipes
    • More Lifestyle Diet Recipes
    • More Health Condition Recipes
    • More Dietary Restriction Recipes
    • More Nutrient Focused Recipes
  • Special Diets

    Special Diets

    See All Special Diets
    • Clean Eating Diet Center
    • Mediterranean Diet Center
    • Low-Carb Diet Center
    • Weight Loss Center
    • Dairy-Free Diet Center
    • Gluten-Free Diet Center
    • High-Fiber Diet Center
    • Vegan Diet Center
    • Vegetarian Diet Center
    • Heart-Healthy Diet Center
    • Cholesterol Diet Center
    • Diabetes Diet Center
    • High Blood Pressure Diet Center
    • Low Sodium Diet Center
    • Healthy Aging Diet Center
    • Pregnancy Diet Center
  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    See All Diabetes
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Diabetes Diet Center
  • Healthy Meal Plans

    Healthy Meal Plans

    See All Healthy Meal Plans
    • Meal Planning 101
    • Dinner Plans
    • Clean Eating Meal Plans
    • Mediterranean Diet Meal Plans
    • Low-Carb Meal Plans
    • Weight-Loss Meal Plans
    • Dairy-Free Meal Plans
    • Gluten-Free Meal Plans
    • High-Fiber Meal Plans
    • Vegan Meal Plans
    • Vegetarian Meal Plans
    • Heart-Healthy Meal Plans
    • Low Cholesterol Meal Plans
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Blood Pressure Meal Plans
    • Low Sodium Meal Plans
    • Anti-Aging Meal Plans
    • Pregnancy Meal Plans
    • Healthy Kids Meal Plans
    • ThePrep
  • Healthy Eating

    Healthy Eating

    See All Healthy Eating
    • Healthy Eating 101
    • Eat More Vegetables
    • 30-Day Challenges
    • Good Food Fast
    • Healthy Eating for Kids
    • Best Healthy Foods
    • Green and Sustainable Eating
    • The Beet
    • Transformed
  • Healthy Lifestyle

    Healthy Lifestyle

    See All Healthy Lifestyle
    • Wine, Beer & Spirits Guide
    • Entertaining
    • EatingWell in Real Life
    • Plant Your Plate
    • Healthy Pets
    • American Food Heroes
    • Future of Food
    • Food with Purpose
    • Obsessed
  • Healthy Cooking

    Healthy Cooking

    See All Healthy Cooking
    • Healthy Cooking How-To's
    • Ask the Test Kitchen
    • Budget Cooking Guide
    • Thrifty
    • Family Heritage Cooking
  • Shop

    Shop

    See All Shop
    • EatingWell Cookbooks & More
    • EatingWell Frozen Meals
  • News
  • Videos

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Cooking Light Diet
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Healthy Recipes Chevron Right
  3. Healthy Cooking Methods & Styles Chevron Right
  4. You Just Got an Air Fryer—Here Are the Recipes You Should Make First

You Just Got an Air Fryer—Here Are the Recipes You Should Make First

Updated December 31, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin

From fried chicken to stuffed peppers, air-fryers are one of our favorite ways to get dinner on the table with ease. Not to mention, you get crispy results with a fraction of the calories you’d find in traditional fried food. From appetizers to main dishes, here are our favorite air-fryer recipes to try with your new kitchen gadget.

Start Slideshow

1 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Turkey Stuffed Peppers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

1 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Pork Chops

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These crispy breaded air-fryer pork chops 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.

2 of 24

3 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These air-fried popcorn shrimp get crispy and crunchy with very little oil. The unique flavors are inspired by Mexican fare, with a smoky, spicy dipping sauce and full-flavored shrimp coating. Look for the smallest shrimp you can find so they will cook evenly.

3 of 24

Advertisement

4 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Air-fried chickpea snacks are intensely flavored and incredibly crunchy. Drying the chickpeas is essential to a good crunch, so don't skip this step. If you have time, leave them out on the counter to dry for an hour or two before frying.

4 of 24

5 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These crispy air-fried chicken nuggets are a quick kid-friendly dinner that parents will love too. The homemade nuggets are healthier than fast-food versions--and more flavorful, thanks to the cornflake coating. You can also cut the chicken into strips for air-fryer chicken tenders. Be sure to cook those 2 to 3 minutes longer, or until done.

5 of 24

6 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Broccoli & Cheese Baked Potatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This side dish gives you the best of two potato favorites. Tender baked potato halves are topped with a creamy Cheddar cheese and broccoli filling, then they're air-fried to create crispy skins. Air fryers require a lot less oil than deep fryers, which leaves room for an extra sprinkle of cheese.

6 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These super-crispy and browned air-fryer Brussels sprouts with sweet onions and salty bacon--all amped up with bright lemon juice--are sure to be a hit, whether you serve them for a weeknight side dish or as part of your holiday spread for Thanksgiving. This recipe makes enough to serve eight but is easily halved, though once you taste it you may well want a double serving. And if you prefer a vegetarian side, simply omit the bacon.

7 of 24

8 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Buffalo Wings

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

8 of 24

9 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Zucchini Fries

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These crunchy, crispy zucchini fries turn very tender in the air fryer and have a delicate natural sweetness from the cooking process. The simple dipping sauce is very tomato forward, with just enough acid from the vinegar and mayonnaise to add incredible tang.

9 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer “Fried” Chicken Thighs

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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 24

11 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Salmon Cakes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These air-fried salmon patties are reminiscent of classic salmon croquettes, crispy on the outside and pillowy tender on the inside. Look for canned or jarred salmon that has less than 50 milligrams of sodium per serving, and don't be afraid of varieties that have bones. They're easy to remove.

11 of 24

12 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Crispy Air-Fryer French Fries

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Get crispy, crunchy fries with much less oil than deep frying requires with these air-fried spuds. For the best texture, keep each fry as evenly sized as possible. Try a mandoline to make quick work of equal fries if your knife work could use some help.

12 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Falafel

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Making falafel in the air fryer is practically foolproof. Just combine all your ingredients in a food processor, form into patties and drop in the air fryer. The countertop appliance is like a mini convection oven, so the falafel will cook up quickly and with way less oil than if you pan-fried them. Serve them with tahini sauce for dipping.

13 of 24

14 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Kale Chips

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Homemade kale chips are incredibly easy to make. Thanks to the air fryer, fresh kale leaves turn extra crispy in under 15 minutes with much less fat than some store-bought options. Warning: These will go fast!

14 of 24

15 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Salmon with Horseradish Rub

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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.

15 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Chicken Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

An air fryer is a great way to enjoy chicken Parmesan with much less oil. A 5- or 6-quart air fryer fits two chicken breasts perfectly to get that signature crispy crust. (A smaller air fryer will work too, but you may have to overlap the breasts a little.)

16 of 24

17 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Potato Wedges

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Get perfectly cooked potato wedges in your air fryer! A hint of Parmesan cheese and rosemary along with olive oil add a crispy flavorful crust. Dip them in ketchup or your favorite creamy sauce for serving.

17 of 24

18 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These crispy air-fryer mozzarella sticks taste like your favorite mozzarella sticks without the fuss of frying and with much less oil thanks to the magic of your air fryer. The crust is crispy and the cheese inside is ooey-gooey—perfect for dipping in marinara.

18 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These crispy air-fryer zucchini chips are delicious paired with the creamy dill dipping sauce--or any sauce you have on hand. And the best part? The air fryer delivers a crispy crunch without having to pile on the oil like traditional fryers do.

19 of 24

20 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Air-fried sweet potato fries are crispy, tender and delicately sweet. They're also made with less fat than traditional fries, so they're a healthier option when you're craving crunchy spuds. If the cinnamon-pepper spice is too intense, try thyme, oregano, paprika or garlic instead.

20 of 24

21 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Cauliflower

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

An air fryer delivers nutty roasted cauliflower with a nice hit of zippy lemon flavor and a hint of coriander in this easy side dish that's perfect for most any meal.

21 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Crispy Air-Fryer Pickle Chips

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Use your air fryer to make these crispy, salty pickle chips for game day! The air fryer gives you a crispy crust, using much less oil than a traditional fryer. Enjoy these addictive little snacks on their own or with our Southern smoky, creamy dipping sauce.

22 of 24

23 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

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 (see associated recipe).

23 of 24

24 of 24

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes fry to a crispy crunch in the air fryer. These homemade chips also use much less oil, which cuts down on calories and fat. They're a naturally sweet side for sandwiches, burgers, wraps and more.

24 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 24 Air-Fryer Turkey Stuffed Peppers
2 of 24 Air-Fryer Pork Chops
3 of 24 Air-Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
4 of 24 Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas
5 of 24 Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets
6 of 24 Air-Fryer Broccoli & Cheese Baked Potatoes
7 of 24 Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts
8 of 24 Air-Fryer Buffalo Wings
9 of 24 Air-Fryer Zucchini Fries
10 of 24 Air-Fryer “Fried” Chicken Thighs
11 of 24 Air-Fryer Salmon Cakes
12 of 24 Crispy Air-Fryer French Fries
13 of 24 Air-Fryer Falafel
14 of 24 Air-Fryer Kale Chips
15 of 24 Air-Fryer Salmon with Horseradish Rub
16 of 24 Air-Fryer Chicken Parmesan
17 of 24 Air-Fryer Potato Wedges
18 of 24 Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
19 of 24 Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips
20 of 24 Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
21 of 24 Air-Fryer Cauliflower
22 of 24 Crispy Air-Fryer Pickle Chips
23 of 24 Air-Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers
24 of 24 Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
EatingWell

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing
  • Recipe Index
  • Jobs

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
© 2021 EatingWell.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. EatingWell may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. All Right Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com

View image

You Just Got an Air Fryer—Here Are the Recipes You Should Make First
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.