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  4. 21 Flavorful Air-Fryer Recipes That Prove the Appliance Is Great for Every Meal

21 Flavorful Air-Fryer Recipes That Prove the Appliance Is Great for Every Meal

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By Katlyn Moncada Updated December 17, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Having an air fryer means getting to enjoy more of the crispy foods we love with less guilt. Instead of deep-frying, the air fryer quickly heats to a high temperature and circulates air around foods like "fried" chicken or donuts for pefectly crispy exterior minus the oil. No more deep-fryer smell either! Of all the seemingly endless options for air-fryer recipes, these are the best of the best air-fryer recipes from our Test Kitchen. Now you can use the countertop appliance for every meal.

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Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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One bite of this whole air-fryer chicken and you'll be amazed at how much it tastes like your favorite storebought rotisserie chicken. With only a few ingredients (and zero oil), this air-fryer chicken develops a great flavor that makes a healthy low-carb dinner option.

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Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower

Air Fried Buffalo Cauliflower
Credit: Matthew Clark
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For a healthier take on chicken wings, consider giving cauliflower the usual wing treatment. Use your air fryer to crisp cauliflower then toss in our spicy buffalo sauce. Serve these with some ranch or bleu cheese dressing for a game day snack or party appetizer.

Related: 10 Ways to Make Buffalo Chicken Healthier So You Can Keep Noshing on Game Day

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Air-Fryer White Pizza

white pizza on black background with basil leaves and chile peppers
Credit: Dera Burreson
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Enjoy pizza night at home with this delicious air-fryer recipe. We include an easy DIY pizza crust recipe to make in your food processor, but you could easily use purchased dough to save prep time.

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Food Processor ($60, Target)

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Air-Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers

Air-Fried Greek Turkey Burgers
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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Instead of heading to the drive-thru, make this easy air-fryer recipe that includes Greek-inspired flavors such as oregano and feta for burger night. The use of lean, ground turkey is a healthier alternative to beef and this cooking method will have a lightened air-fryer dinner recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes.

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Air-Fryer Pork Chops with Brussels Sprouts

Air-Fryer Pork Chops with Brussels Sprouts
Credit: Greg DuPree
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No dry and flavorless pork chops here! In this air-fryer dinner recipe, the meat and Brussels sprouts are tossed with a maple and mustard glaze for big flavor and require only 10 minutes to cook to the perfect temperature with juicy results. You'll be making this weeknight meal on repeat.

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Spiced Cider Donuts

Spiced Cider Donuts
Credit: Carson Downing
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Donuts are a perfect treat for breakfast, dessert, or really any time of the day. If you love donuts as much as we do, make these air-fryer donuts for an easy, healthier sweet tooth fix. 

Buy It: Chefman Air Fryer ($120, Target)

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Air-Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce

Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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If you tend to stray away from seafood, we encourage you to try scallops in the air fryer. Topped with zesty lemon and tangy capers, you'll have a fancy dinner for two on the table fast. Be sure to check for doneness of your scallops (thermometer should read 120°F) after about 6 minutes. Overdone scallops take on an unpleasant rubbery texture.

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Air-Fryer Roasted Vegetables

Air Fryer Roasted Veggies with dipping sauces on parchment paper
Credit: Blaine Moats
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This air-fryer vegetable recipe is an excellent way to rid your fridge of any veggies that need to be used up. Use your favorite seasonings and a drizzle of oil to match the flavors on tonight's menu. Try one of the two dipping sauce options to expand on the flavors.

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Air-Fryer Chicken Katsu Sandwiches

Air-Fryer Chicken Katsu Sandwiches
Credit: Carson Downing
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Katsu is a breaded-and-fried cutlet of chicken or pork served with a sweet sauce popular in Japanese cuisine. This Asian-inspired air-fryer recipe features lightly-breaded chicken that cooks in less than 10 minutes. 

Buy It: Kikkoman Katsu Sauce ($2, Walmart) 

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Air-Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
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Instead of taking a bath in a couple inches of oil, this healthy air-fryer recipe is coated in whole wheat panko breadcrumbs and stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar, and chicken before going in the air fryer for a lightened remake. Try lining the basket with parchment paper first in case of cheese or crumb spillage.

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Crispy Tofu "Stir-Fry"

Crispy Tofu Stir-Fry
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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This air-fryer tofu recipe is inspiration to incorporate more meatless recipes into your healthy meal plan. Allow the air fryer to crisp tofu and veggies at the same time for an easy meal that gives comes out with an amazing meat-like texture. Finish the dish with the sweet and spicy sauce made of soy sauce, ginger, and honey. Serve over hot brown rice for a heartier weeknight meal. 

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"Fried" Chicken Thighs

"Fried" Chicken Thighs
Credit: Victor Protasio
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If you want an easy, delicious recipe for dinner (and who doesn't?!), try this quick air-fried chicken recipe that requires only 15 minutes of hands-on time. Hot sauce for dipping optional, but recommended.

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Turkey Stuffed Air-Fryer Peppers

Turkey Stuffed Air-Fried Peppers
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
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A traditional stuffed pepper recipe can take more than an hour to prep and bake before you can eat. This easy air-fryer recipe means you get a healthy dinner prepared in 30 minutes. We used ground turkey instead of the traditional beef and combined it with a mixture of  brown rice, parsley, and marinara. 

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Southern Style "Fried" Catfish

Southern Style "Fried" Catfish and Green Beans
Credit: Greg DuPree
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When serving picky eaters seafood, air-fryer fish recipes like this catfish dinner could be a game changer. While undeniably delicious, cooking fish by deep frying makes naturally healthy fish way less nutritious. Thanks to the air fryer, you can get the best of both worlds with a crunchy Southern-style dish complete with green beans. 

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Air-Fried Mini Italian Meatloaves

Mini Italian Meatloaves Stuffed with Cheese on white rectangular platter with small round dish of chopped basil in foreground
Credit: Brie Passano
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By making miniature meatloaves in the air fryer, they cook more quickly and create individually-portioned servings. This Italian take on the classic meatloaf is stuffed with tiny pearls of fresh mozzarella, which makes them pretty irresistible, if you ask us.

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Air-Fryer Jerk Pork Skewers with Black Bean Mango Salsa

Jerk Pork Skewers Black Bean Mango Salsa
Credit: Greg DuPree
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Jerk seasoning and shredded coconut form the irresistible breading for pork in this tasty air-fryer dinner recipe. A sweet, tangy mango salsa brightens every bite. Don't forget to cut the bamboo sticks to fit your air fryer basket and soak them (to prevent smoking) before assembling.

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Air-Fryer Egg Rolls

Air-Fried Egg Rolls
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
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Crunchy vegetables and pork are wrapped in the most delicious package with these healthy air-fryer egg rolls. Serve them alongside our favorite fried rice (also made healthier thanks to brown rice) or make a batch of these to keep on hand to impress your guests—they won't believe they're not takeout.

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Crispy Air-Fried Popcorn Shrimp

Crispy Air-Fried Popcorn Shrimp
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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Popcorn-style might be one of our favorite ways to enjoy shrimp. The spice-infused crumb coating in this easy air-fryer recipe will make you forget all about the frozen shrimp from a box.

Buy It: Instant Vortex Air Fryer ($100, Bed Bath & Beyond)

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Mexican-Style Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Mexican-Style Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob. In this healthy air-fryer recipe, we spread the golden kernels with lime-infused butter for Mexican-inspired flair. Serve them at your next Cinco de Mayo celebration or backyard cookout.

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Peach Air-Fryer Hand Pies

Peach Air-Fryer Hand Pies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
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Yes, you can make dessert in your air fryer, too. Pie crust cooks up golden and flaky around a warm peach filling to create a hand-held version of peach pie. 

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Air-Fryer General Tso's Chicken

Air-Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
Credit: Greg DuPree
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A classic Chinese takeout dish, General Tso's chicken is known for its crispy chicken covered in a spicy-sweet sauce. We swapped some ingredients for healthier options like low-sodium soy sauce to help control the amount of salt that goes into this air-fryer meal idea. Sprinkle green onions and sesame seeds on top of to make it truly Instagram-ready.

Related: 17 Asian-Inspired Dishes Better Than Takeout

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Air-Fried Flaxseed French Toast Sticks with Berries

Air-Fried Flaxseed French Toast Sticks with Berries
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
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Treat kids (and yourself) to a flavorful breakfast made in your air fryer. These French toast sticks use whole grain bread and flaxseed to make one of our healthiest air-fryer breakfast recipes that's ready to dunk into maple syrup.

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Air-Fried Pickle Chips

Air-Fryer Pickle Chips with dip
Credit: Matthew Clark
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Crisp a batch of "fried" pickles in your air fryer for your next party. The briny dill pickles are coated in a buttermilk mixture (with a hint of heat from Sriracha) before getting breaded in panko. Making enough to serve six, this is one of our best air-fryer recipes for a (smaller) crowd.

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Air-Fried Calzones

Air Fryer Calzones
Credit: Greg DuPree
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Being able to eat your pizza on the go with less mess is one reason the calzone is such a brilliant invention. This air-fryer recipe variation of our favorite stuffed pizzas includes shredded chicken and spinach. After your mozzarella goes in, crimp the dough edges tight so the toppings stay inside the calzone while it's "fried" to perfection. 

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Broccoli and Cheese Air-Fryer Potatoes

Broccoli and Cheese Air-Fried Baked Potatoes
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
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There are few foods as comforting as a hearty stuffed potato. Load your air fryer with potatoes packed with a delicious broccoli and cheese mixture for a vegetarian main course.

Related: Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes Starring Lentils, Beans, and Other Proteins

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 25 Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
    2 of 25 Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower
    3 of 25 Air-Fryer White Pizza
    4 of 25 Air-Fryer Greek Turkey Burgers
    5 of 25 Air-Fryer Pork Chops with Brussels Sprouts
    6 of 25 Spiced Cider Donuts
    7 of 25 Air-Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce
    8 of 25 Air-Fryer Roasted Vegetables
    9 of 25 Air-Fryer Chicken Katsu Sandwiches
    10 of 25 Air-Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
    11 of 25 Crispy Tofu "Stir-Fry"
    12 of 25 "Fried" Chicken Thighs
    13 of 25 Turkey Stuffed Air-Fryer Peppers
    14 of 25 Southern Style "Fried" Catfish
    15 of 25 Air-Fried Mini Italian Meatloaves
    16 of 25 Air-Fryer Jerk Pork Skewers with Black Bean Mango Salsa
    17 of 25 Air-Fryer Egg Rolls
    18 of 25 Crispy Air-Fried Popcorn Shrimp
    19 of 25 Mexican-Style Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
    20 of 25 Peach Air-Fryer Hand Pies
    21 of 25 Air-Fryer General Tso's Chicken
    22 of 25 Air-Fried Flaxseed French Toast Sticks with Berries
    23 of 25 Air-Fried Pickle Chips
    24 of 25 Air-Fried Calzones
    25 of 25 Broccoli and Cheese Air-Fryer Potatoes

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    21 Flavorful Air-Fryer Recipes That Prove the Appliance Is Great for Every Meal
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