20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (2024)

by Farwin Simaak.

Did you get a new Air fryer or dusting the old one? Here are 20+ Air Fryer recipes for beginners that you can make right away. They're so easy to cook and so delicious.

20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (1)

What is an Air Fryer?

Air Fryer is a small countertop appliance that's like a convection oven. It works by pushing hot air around the food.

It's a simple and healthy way to cook food. The circulating hot air makes the food crispy just like deep frying with a lot less oil. I love that I don't have to worry about all the fat and extra calories that come from "frying" food.

The food gets cooked fast due to the small size of the Air fryer, unlike the oven. It doesn't need much space and there are several sizes to choose from that fit your counter space.

It can be intimidating at first just like any new appliance, but the Air fryer is really easy to use. I did a lot of experimenting and tried new recipes. I know I had so much fun cooking with it. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Air Fryer Tips For Beginners

1. Safety

Before you begin, read the manufacturer's instructions for your appliance. Remember, Air fryers can get hot so leave enough room around the Air fryer on the countertop.

2. Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheating the air fryer makes cooking fast. It helps caramelize, sear, and make the food crispy. I have better results preheating the Air fryer than not. Preheat according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Grease the basket

I like to grease the basket so that everything comes out golden brown. It also helps the non-stick coating last longer and food doesn't stick to the basket and comes out easily every time!

But, Do Not use aerosol spray's like PAM which can chip the coating. Use a brush to rub oil or invest in an oil mister.

4. Don't overcrowd the basket

Air fryers cook by circulating hot air around the food. If the basket is overcrowded, food won't get crispy on all sides because there won't be space for the hot air to move around.

Don't overcrowd the basket and place the food in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed.

5. Shake or turn halfway through cooking

If you shake the basket or turn the food during cooking, it will help even cooking on all sides.

6. Use an Instant Read Thermometer

When cooking chicken or meat, use an instant-read thermometer to take the guesswork out and cook food to perfection.

20 Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners

I have listed 20 beginner Air fryer recipes here you can try. Everything from chicken, meat, seafood, and snacks.

They are super easy, but packed full of flavor and hopefully make you fall in love with your Air Fryer!

For the full collection of recipes, check out my Air Fryer Recipes page.

Join my Facebook group Tasty Air Fryer Recipes to ask questions and share your recipes!

Best Air Fryer Chicken Breast Without Breading

This Air Fryer Chicken Breast With No Breading is so juicy, tender and full of flavor. This perfectly seasoned, delicious chicken breast is so easy, versatile and your whole family will love it!

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20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (2)

Best Air Fryer Chicken Legs

These Best Air Fryer Chicken Legs make a quick and easy weeknight dinner! They are juicy and crispy. Tossed in seasonings and mayonnaise, they're full of flavor and absolutely delicious!

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Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Air Fryer Frozen French Fries makes crispy fries and is a great appetizer or a side dish! It's way better than deep frying and takes less time than baking in the oven!

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Frozen Pizza In Air Fryer

Air Fryer Frozen Pizza is a quick and easy meal that you can make any time with your favorite brand of pizza! When you don't have time to make pizza from scratch but you absolutely need to have pizza, Air fryer frozen pizza is the way to go!

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Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe Without Breading

The crispy Air fryer cauliflower with no breading is easy and quick to make! Served with a dipping sauce it's so delicious you'll be going for seconds! With a few simple ingredients you"ll have an amazing side dish!

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Perfect Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli

Make crispy yet tender broccoli in the air fryer with one little trick! They are crunchy on the out side and tender on the inside. A quick and healthy side dish the whole family will love!

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20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (7)

Air Fryer Shrimp

This perfect Air fryer shrimp recipe is cooked in 10 minutes and is tender, juicy and delicious! They are also perfectly seasoned . Serve them with a side dish for an easy dinner!

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20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (8)

Spicy Air Fryer Salmon (10 Minutes)

Tender and flakey on the inside, spicy and crispy outside, this is the best Air fryer salmon recipe and it's ready within 10 minutes! Pair it with your favorite side for a hearty and delicious meal!

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20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (9)

Quick and Easy Asparagus In Air Fryer

These quick and easy asparagus in Air fryer needs only 4 ingredients and less than 10 minutes for a tender, crispy, and a delicious side dish!

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Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Spicy Mayo Sauce

Crispy on the edges and tender on the inside, these Air fryer Brussels sprouts are the best with a spicy mayo sauce. They are so easy to make and great for the holiday table or any day of the week!

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Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites With Garlic Butter

Quick and easy, Air fryer Garlic Steak Bites are juicy and so full of flavor. Serve them for dinner as a main dish or as an appetizer!

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Air Fryer Nachos With Ground Beef

These loaded Air Fryer Nachos, piled with ground beef and yummy toppings is the ultimate appetizer, snack or a quick meal. This easy, cheesy goodness is quick and will be on the table in just 5 minutes!

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Air Fryer Roasted Nut Mix {Sweet and Spicy}

Sweet and spicy Air fryer roasted nut mix is a great appetizer or snack that's so addictive and healthy. You can bottle this in a jar or wrap in a little bag to make cute food gifts.

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Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers is an easy and delicious snack recipe you can make anytime in your air fryer. With a creamy stuffing and crispy coating it's sure to be a favorite.

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Air Fryer Crispy Roast Potatoes

These Air Fryer Roast Potatoes are the best! They are crispy and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside and so addictive. Such an easy and healthy side dish or snack!

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Best Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe

Baked to a crispy perfection these air fryer baked potatoes are the best! They have a crispy skin and a fluffy interior perfect for just salt and butter or loaded up with your favorite toppings!

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Air Fryer Blueberry Scones

These delicious blueberry scones can be made in the Air fryer in just 10 minutes for breakfast or snack. They are soft, full of blueberries and tastes amazing! They are great with a dollop of whipped cream or on their own with a cup of tea!

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Air Fryer Everything Bagels With Herbed Cream Cheese

These easy Air Fryer Everything Bagels are made in just 15 minutes with greek yogurt and no yeast. They're healthy, better than store-bought. They're soft, chewy, and served with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon, absolutely delicious!

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Air Fryer Apple Crisp For Two

The perfect Fall dessert, this Air Fryer Apple Crisp For Two combines tender apples laced with spices, with a crunchy topping. This classic dessert made in the Air fryer is easy, quick and insanely delicious!

20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (20)

Easy Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas (With Chocolate)

Air Fryer caramelized bananas with chocolate and a crunchy cinnamon topping makes the plain Air fryer bananas a fancy dessert! This easy dessert can be made in 10 minutes and one your whole family will love. Serve with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of Dulce de leche for an awesome dessert!

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20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (21)

Recipe

Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners

20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (22)

Did you get a new Air fryer or dusting the old one? Here are 20 Air Fryer recipes for beginners that you can make right away. They're so easy to cook and so delicious.

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Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frozen French fries 16 oz
  • olive oil spray
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper, paprika optional

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer at 400F for 5 minutes. Brush the air fryer with oil or lightly spray with an oil mister.

  • Spray the frozen fries with olive oil or your preferred oil lightly. Season with salt, black pepper and paprika.

  • Place french fries in the Air fryer basket. Make sure you don't completely fill the air fryer basket if you're doing a big batch. Fill up to half the basket.

  • Air fry at 400F for approximately 12 to 15 minutes or until crispy shaking the basket halfway through. You can cook for an additional 1 or 2 minutes or until you like them.

  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce or as a side dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 295 kcalTotal Carbs: 34 gProtein: 3 gFat: 17 gSaturated Fat: 5 gSodium: 556 mgFiber: 5 gVitamin C: 7 mgCalcium: 10 mgIron: 1 mgNet Carbs: 29 g

Tried this recipe?If you like this recipe, I’d love if you can give me a rating and comment! Share this with your family and friends!

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

  • Air Fryer Biscuits
  • Air Fryer Pancakes
  • Air Fryer Super Bowl Recipes
  • Air Fryer Mahi Mahi

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jacqueline says

    This look awesome. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply

    • Farwin says

      You're welcome Jacqueline! I'm glad it's helpful.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer? ›

Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances that can be used to cook a variety of foods quickly and easily. If you're using an air fryer for the first time, it's best to start with something simple, like French fries, chicken wings or vegetables.

What is the easiest thing to cook in an air fryer? ›

Here are all our favourite easy air fryer recipe ideas, from simple scones to the best crispy homemade potatoes.
  • 10Air fryer Caramello danish. ...
  • 11Crispy air fryer Italian frittole. ...
  • 12Air fryer Crunchy Nut French toast. ...
  • 13Air fryer chicken satay. ...
  • 14Air fryer coccoli. ...
  • 15Air fryer little potato pancakes.

What is the 20 20 rule for air fryers? ›

The golden rules of Christmas air frying

“If you are using recipes that are for conventional ovens, you will generally want to reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the heat by 20C (that's from the fan temperature) to account for the air fryer's efficiency.”

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy.

What are the top 10 foods to cook in an air fryer? ›

Start air frying these 13 foods and watch your cooking time drop and your satisfaction in healthy meals skyrocket!
  • Chicken Breasts. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

What is the most popular thing to make in an air fryer? ›

French fries are arguably the most popular thing to cook in an air fryer. Air fryers use a fraction of the oil as deep-frying, and making French fries in one results in an appreciably crisp exterior and fluffy inside without the greasiness.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

What I wish I knew before I get an air fryer? ›

6 things I wish I'd known before I bought an air fryer
  • Air fryers do not fry. Deep fried foods: not like air fried ones. ...
  • The air fryer parts you use most are easy to clean but the outer parts… not so much. ...
  • There's a war going on in the air fryer community! ...
  • Air fryers can be quite large.

What size air fryer for a 2 person family? ›

Capacity guidelines for air fryers
CapacityNo. of portionsSuitable for
1 l - 2 l1 - 22 people
3 l - 4 l3 - 44 people
5 l or more5 - 66 people

How many foods can you cook in an air fryer at the same time? ›

Multiple cooking zones

Simply put, these air fryers have different compartments, so you can cook two delicious dishes at once - ideal for a complete meal. Some have two layers, while others have both a pot and a removable basket (ideal for chips).

What ruins an air fryer? ›

Putting a damp basket back into the air fryer can cause damage, such as affecting the time it takes for your air fryer to heat up or damaging the internal components. It is no secret that water and electricity do not go hand-in-hand.

Can you put raw meat in Airfryer? ›

It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

Why is air fried food unhealthy? ›

Air fryer health risks

COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions. You may have also heard about polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogens that are produced as fumes when foods are cooked at a high temperature.

Do you put oil on food before Airfryer? ›

While you would typically add oil to a pan before adding your food, the case is not the same when using an air fryer. In a bowl, toss your food in a few teaspoons of vegetable oil or olive oil along with your seasoning before putting it in the air fryer. This method works best for cooking fresh meats and vegetables.

Do air fryers need to heat up first? ›

Yes, you'll need to give your air fryer a chance to warm up before use. The good news is, unlike a traditional oven or hob, it only takes minutes! Preheating times will vary depending on the model of your air fryer, the temperature you're cooking at and the programme you want to use.

Do you put oil in the bottom of an air fryer? ›

While your Philips Airfryer does not require oil to cook and fry the food, adding oil directly to fresh ingredients when preparing them, such as freshly peeled potatoes or chicken, can create a crispy layer and improve the overall taste of your dish. Note: never pour oil into the pan of the airfryer.

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