Healthy Recipes Nutrient-Focused Diets Healthy High-Protein Recipes 20 Low-Carb, High-Protein Recipes to Make in Your Air Fryer By Danielle DeAngelis Danielle DeAngelis Instagram Twitter Website Danielle DeAngelis is a rising journalist and current Fellow for EatingWell.com. Through her previous experiences as a news writer, she has focused on covering sustainability and human interest stories. Her passions of reading, writing and eating local all guide her in her position at EatingWell. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 5, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Instagram Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, has been with EatingWell for three years and works as the associate nutrition editor for the brand. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jacob Fox All you need is an air fryer to whip up one of these tasty and nutritious dinner mains. With at least 15 grams of protein and no more than 14 grams of carbohydrates per serving, you can enjoy a light yet satisfying dish that has the same crispy appeal as traditional fried food. Recipes like our Air-Fryer Tuna Patties and Air-Fryer Steak & Pepper Cabbage Rolls are delicious and healthy choices for dinner tonight. 01 of 20 Air-Fryer Tuna Patties View Recipe Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless 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. 02 of 20 Air-Fryer Pork Tenderloin View Recipe This air-fryer pork tenderloin is tender and full of flavor from the sweet and tangy rub. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cut the tenderloin in half before cooking. 03 of 20 Air-Fryer Salmon View Recipe Caitlin Bensel In this simple air-fryer salmon recipe, the garlic gets crispy on the top while the Aleppo pepper and coriander bring earthy flavor to the fish, which remains delicately cooked in the middle. 04 of 20 Air-Fryer Chicken Breast View Recipe Jacob Fox This air-fryer chicken breast recipe is sure to become your new favorite way to cook chicken! Brining helps the breasts stay moist while a simple combo of seasonings allows you to pair them with just about anything. Or slice and store them for later to add to a salad or sandwich. 05 of 20 Air-Fryer Pistachio-Crusted Sea Bass View Recipe Sea bass fillets are crusted in pistachios and panko for a nutty, crunchy exterior in this healthy air-fryer recipe. We use sea bass here, but any other firm white fish like halibut would work just as well. Serve with grains and a side salad. 06 of 20 Air-Fryer Steak & Pepper Cabbage Rolls View Recipe Photographer: Brie Passano, Food Stylist: Greg Luna Steak and bell peppers are rolled in cabbage leaves for a filling main dish. Use the outermost cabbage leaves, which are larger and will encase the filling better. For smoky flavor, use a poblano instead of a bell pepper. 07 of 20 Air-Fryer Turkey Breast View Recipe Jason Donnelly Rosemary and garlic flavor this juicy air-fryer turkey breast. Putting the sliced garlic under the skin adds flavor to the meat and prevents the garlic from burning. Enjoy this simple recipe with a side of roasted veggies and mashed potatoes. 08 of 20 Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken-Stuffed Tomatoes View Recipe Photographer: Brie Passano, Food Stylist: Greg Luna We took all the flavors and ingredients of Buffalo wings—spicy hot sauce, tangy blue cheese and shredded chicken—and stuffed them into a tomato for a filling main dish. Serve these tomatoes with celery sticks and carrot sticks. 09 of 20 Air-Fryer Tuna Steak View Recipe Jacob Fox This air-fryer tuna steak is coated in sesame seeds and drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce. You can cook the tuna steaks all the way through, or if you prefer a pink center, opt for sushi-grade tuna and cook them for less time. These easy air-fryer tuna steaks would pair beautifully with spicy greens. 10 of 20 Air-Fryer Tilapia View Recipe Jacob Fox This quick and simple air-fryer tilapia recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. The tilapia is moist and flaky and gets brightened up with lemon zest and fresh herbs. 11 of 20 Air-Fryer Drumsticks View Recipe Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall These simple air-fryer drumsticks are sweet and savory with a subtly smoky flavor from smoked paprika. Lime zest adds bright flavor. These drumsticks pair well with just about anything, from a simple green salad to roasted sweet potatoes. 12 of 20 Air-Fryer Meatballs View Recipe Jacob Fox These air-fryer meatballs cook quickly and stay juicy in the air fryer. Seasoned simply with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese and paired with your favorite marinara sauce, they make the perfect weeknight meal. 13 of 20 Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken View Recipe Antonis Achilleos 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 doppelganger 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 free up oven space for casseroles, rolls and other dishes. 14 of 20 Air-Fryer Salmon with Horseradish Rub View Recipe 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 20 Air-Fryer Buffalo Wings View Recipe A sports bar favorite comes home with these deliciously crispy chicken wings in the air fryer, which require just 10 minutes of active prep time. 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. 16 of 20 Air-Fryer Meatloaf View Recipe Jacob Fox Air-fryer meatloaf is perfect for those who like a crispy outside and tender juicy inside. This air-fryer meatloaf recipe has the classic flavors of Worcestershire sauce and onion, with a ketchup coating on top. 17 of 20 Air-Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast View Recipe Jason Donnelly These air-fryer breaded chicken breasts use a mixture of Dijon mustard and oil to help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken. Keeping the chicken breasts at least 1/2 inch apart helps keep them crispy. If your air fryer is too small to cook all four chicken breasts at the same time, you can cook them in two batches. Serve these flavorful air-fried chicken breasts over salad or with your favorite dipping sauce. 18 of 20 Air-Fryer Shrimp View Recipe Jacob Fox This ultra-quick air-fryer shrimp recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner—or add it to pasta or use as a salad topper. More crushed red pepper sprinkled on after cooking adds a kick. 19 of 20 Air-Fryer Stuffed Chiles with Pork View Recipe Photographer: Brie Passano, Food Stylist: Greg Luna These hearty stuffed chiles are packed with a savory filling made from pork, zucchini and black beans. Once stuffed, the chiles are delicate, so use caution when transferring to the air-fryer basket. A crumble of cotija cheese finishes these chiles for a satisfying main dish. 20 of 20 Air-Fryer Chicken Cutlets View Recipe Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely / Ali Ramee 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit