The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (2024)

By: Danielle6 CommentsPosted: 07/05/2019Updated: 02/29/2024

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We’re nearing the one year anniversary of owning an air fryer, so I thought I would follow tradition and share how my first few recipes with the air fryer have gone! I’ve had good and bad experiments, a couple occasions of serious smoke, but mostly, just really amazing, perfectly crispy food. From broccoli to shrimp, and apple chips to chimichangas, here are The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer!

The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (1)

Air fryers are officially here to stay. They fill a void that other appliances don’t by turning high calorie, fried food, into easy to make, healthier versions that don’t require multiple cups of oil to make.

Air fryers utilize fast moving hot air (convection) to cook food, much more effectively and more quickly than your normal oven could. Plus, due to the ‘basket’ style of the air fryer, more of your food is exposed to the hot air, thus it gets even more crispy and delicious.

It’s always nice to hear what other people’s first recipes with a new appliance were – the good AND the bad. So I decided to do the same thing I did at the one year anniversary of owning my Instant Pot: share the first recipes I made with my air fryer and how it all went down.

What air fryer brand and model do you have?

About one year ago on Amazon Prime Day, we purchased our very first air fryer. We went with the Philips 2.75 qt Viva Air Fryer (affiliate link!), which has served us well.

2024 UPDATE: I now use a Cosori 5.8 Qt Air Fryer. This air fryer is larger and has a non-stick basket that I love!

The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (2)

Cosori 5.8 Qt Air Fryer

This is my air fryer I use in my kitchen almost every day. I recommend it to all my friends and family!

See it on Amazon

Things to consider when you buy an air fryer:

  • Size: I have a basic 2.75 quart air fryer which can comfortably cook meals for two. We’re very happy with it. However, there’s no way mine could fit a whole chicken or enough food at a time to feed four people. Consider getting the XL size if you want to cook more food at once.
  • Analog vs Digital: Again, my air fryer is super basic and does not have any kind of digital display. I simply set the dial to the (approximate) temperature I want, turn on the timer, and it goes. No presets or different modes. Just one mode: Air fry! Keep in mind digital is probably going to be *slightly* more accurate temperature wise, but it will also probably be more expensive.
  • Wire Basket vs. Non-Stick Coating Basket: The Philips air fryer I own has a wire basket (you can see it pictured below). Other air fryers may have a non-stick coated basket with holes. I can’t directly compare, but I would *guess* the non-stick coating basket is better at not letting liquid and grease drop through to the bottom of the air fryer. 2024 Update: I prefer the nonstick coated basket!

My friend Steph over at Meal Plan Addict has the Power Fryer XL 3.4 Quart Air Fryer (affiliate link!) and she loves it! This air fryer is larger than mine and has a non-stick coated basket instead of a wire basket. Read about why Steph loves her air fryer so much to learn more about another great air fryer option that’s different than mine!

Not all air fryers are the same, so be sure to do your research before buying one randomly off the internet!

What are your favorite air fryer accessories?

I don’t have many air fryer accessories, but here are a few things I’m always using along with my air fryer at any given meal time!

Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray (affiliate link!) – I use this oil spray for 90% of the cooking I do in the air fryer. I get them in bulk from Costco at a very reasonable price! Avocado oil has a high smoke point which is good for air frying. Plus the spray function helps distribute a little bit of oil very rapidly!

The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (3)

OXO 9-Inch Silicone Head Tongs (affiliate link!) – A solid pair of tongs is very necessary for air fryer cooking! These are my favorite and I use them for everything. I especially love the silicone heads so the tongs don’t damage my Dutch oven or non-stick pans. Useful for lots of cooking applications!

WISHLIST: Air Fryer Rack (affiliate link) – This is the rack that fits my Philips Air Fryer and it’s the next accessory I plan to buy! I think it will help boost the capacity and let me air fry more at once. Also, there’s skewers! Buying this ASAP!

The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer

#1 Cheesy Air Fryer Broccoli

This remains my all-time favorite way to cook broccoli and I still make it this way all the time! This recipe is great for ANYONE (vegan, whole30, gluten-free, etc) and it couldn’t be any easier to prepare. Nutritional yeast to the rescue! Tastes like cheese but is completely dairy-free. Thank you Steph for bringing this glorious recipe into my life! Get the recipe for Highly Addictive Air Fryer Broccoli here!

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#2 French Fries (Regular or Sweet Potato)

If you have an air fryer, you must turn potatoes into fries. It’s only logical. The air fryer can do this for you very well. Here’s the recipe I followed straight from Philips brand itself on how to make fries in my air fryer. Works for both regular and sweet potatoes!

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#3 Stuffed Pizza Chicken

I love pizza anything, so when I saw this combo I had to try! With this recipe, you can prep the stuffed chicken ahead and save cooking time by using the air fryer instead of the oven. Such a creative use of the air fryer. Get the recipe for Stuffed Pizza Chicken here!

#4 Crispy Green Beans

I experimented. I failed. Again, and again, and couple more times after that. They’re not all winners, people! I tried to make them crispy with a coating, I tried to make them crispy without a coating, I tried to just cook them with zero expectations. Nothing really worked, so I gave it up. Sorry guys. Maybe next time. No link or picture for this one!

#5 Chimichangas

After those failed green beans, I got back on track with my air fryer experiments quickly after a single round of chimichangas! These are a go to in my household. Leftover chicken, or any cooked meat, mixed up with some refried beans, salsa and cheese. Wrap it up burrito style, spray with the avocado oil spray, and you’ve got crispy crunchy chimichanga goodness! Get the recipe for Air Fryer Chimichangas here – also includes a video!

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#6 Ten Different Foods from Trader Joe’s

This recipe is actually TEN recipes smashed into one article. If you like Trader Joe’s, you should probably go ahead and take a look at this one! I spent literal months testing various foods from Trader Joe’s in my air fryer. The results were magical.

This includes: Mandarin Orange Chicken, Mini Bambino Pizzas, Hash Brown Patties, Garlic Fries, Chicken Nuggets, and more! Read 10 Trader Joe’s Foods That Are Perfect for Your Air Fryer here!

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#7 Bacon Chicken Bites

Sadly, this was a bit of an air fryer fail for me. However, I DO think this is one of those recipes that would work better with the non-stick coated air fryer pan rather than mine, which is more of a wire basket. The bacon produced a lot of grease that quickly fell down into the bottom of the air fryer and turned to smoke. It was a lot and I ended up having to cook these guys in the oven. Still super delicious though!

The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (8)

#8 Smashed Potatoes

My husband invented this while I was out of town. He took baby creamer potatoes and boiled them until just tender, then carefully smashed them on a cutting board. Next, they went into the air fryer with some avocado spray oil and guess what? A total of 16-18 minutes later, he had crispy smashed potatoes cooked in the air fryer. Delicious! No specific recipe link here, but some pictures to prove it!

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#9 Boneless Buffalo Wings

You guys know I love my buffalo chicken, so I naturally had to try this recipe from Kelly at Eat the Gains. The air fryer is perfect for this kind of recipe, because I truly don’t think you could get this kind of result in the oven. Love these wings for a main dish but I would also serve them as an appetizer! Get the recipe for Boneless Buffalo Wings here.

#10 Apple Chips

This one took me a while to nail, but I did it. I love making apple chips at home because I can use my own seasoning blends (obsessed with Apple Pie Spice from Primal Palate), and eat the apple chips fresh! Something about turning a big apple into a pile of apple chips in your own kitchen is just pretty cool. All made possible with the air fryer. Get the recipe for Apple Chips in Your Air Fryer here.

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#11 Anything in an egg roll or wonton wrapper

Do yourself a favor: Buy some egg roll or wonton wrappers, make some delicious filling (sweet or savory!), spray with avocado oil spray, and watch some magic happen. We’ve tried air fryer egg rolls with leftover egg roll in a bowl mixture, and it was divine (makes sense, right?). More egg roll fillings I want to try in the air fryer: Breakfast (eggs/cheese), chocolate/s’mores, avocado + chicken, taco filling etc.

Set your air fryer to the 390F or 400F setting, air fry following the package directions of the wrappers, and watch them carefully the first time you try it.

#12 Roasted Garlic

One day I wondered: How can I roast a single head of garlic without heating up the entire oven/house? Solution: Air fryer. It’s quicker than using the oven, easy enough for beginners, and tastes just as good. The only question I have is – do we still call it ‘roasted’ garlic?? Check out the directions for How to Roast Garlic in an Air Fryer here!

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#13 Air Fryer Shrimp

Normally, this kind of recipe would take like a pound of oil, a huge mess, and possibly 1-2 smoke alarms! But not in the air fryer. I love this recipe because the shrimp are shockingly crispy – they honestly taste like they’re from a restaurant. Plus that sauce. OMG. Get the recipe for Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp here!

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#14 Asian Beef & Veggies

This recipe surprised me! I wasn’t sure how something with a saucy marinade would work in my air fryer, but it did. The meat was perfectly cooked, and everything was flavorful and delicious. I served it over rice, and there was barely enough left for one serving of lunch leftovers. It was a hit in this house! Get the recipe for Air Fryer Asian Beef & Veggies here!

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#15 Taquitos/Flautas

Similar to my chimichangas above, but made with different tortillas and filling. I loved taquitos from the freezer section growing up, so I recently created an air fryer version that’s super easy to make at home!

Taquitos are usually made with small corn tortillas, while flautas are usually made with large flour tortillas, but either way works with a little avocado spray in your air fryer! Get the recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos/Flautas here!

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That’s it for the first 15 recipes I made with my air fryer! I love using my air fryer, so it’ll only be a matter of time before I’ve made another 15 recipes in that thing. Hope this article gives you some ideas on what to try first in your air fryer!

2024 Update: New Air Fryer Recipes

I wrote this article nearly 5 years ago, and not only have I upgraded my air fryer, I’ve got tons of new Air Fryer Recipes here on Project Meal Plan I think you should check out. Here are four of my favorites!

Favorite Air Fryer Recipes:

Air Fryer Boneless BBQ Chicken ThighsAir Fryer Apple Pie Crescent RollsAir Fryer Stuffed Chicken BreastAir Fryer French Toast Bites

All Air Fryer Recipes

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Cosori 5.8 Qt Air Fryer

This is my air fryer I use in my kitchen almost every day. I recommend it to all my friends and family!

See it on Amazon

Let me know in the comments what you try and how it goes! I’m always down to try a new air fryer recipe 🙂

The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (20)
The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer (2024)

FAQs

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

Make homemade sweetcorn and spring onion fritters in the air fryer for easy, energy-efficient cooking. These would be perfect as a veggie lunch, starter or side.

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 15 minute air fryer? ›

The Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer unlocks the ability to cook a complete, multi-textured meal in as little as 15 minutes, all in one pot.

What cannot be cooked in an air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  1. Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  2. Cheesy Items. ...
  3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  4. Baked Goods. ...
  5. Greens. ...
  6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  7. Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

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 is the trick for using an air fryer? ›

Shake it

One of the best tips I can offer you for how to use an air fryer is to periodically shake the basket during its cooking time. I'm not talking anything crazy – just a couple of good shakes during cooking to really move the food around and get that even, crispy coating on every single bite.

What is the best meat to air fry? ›

As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

Air fryers, once hailed as a kitchen revolution, are now being sidelined by some users. But why are people getting rid of air fryers? This concise exploration uncovers the primary concerns: they're bulky, they have limited cooking uses, and they often don't deliver on the promise of crispy, tasty food.

Can you put raw meat in an 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.

What is the easiest meat to air fry? ›

Some meats that work well in an air fryer include:
  • Chicken: Air fryers are excellent for cooking chicken wings, drumsticks, thighs, and breast fillets. ...
  • Fish: Fish fillets, shrimp, and other seafood can be air-fried to perfection. ...
  • Pork: Pork chops, tenderloin, and even small roasts can be cooked in the air fryer.
Mar 23, 2020

Can I airfry an egg? ›

Preheat an air fryer to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Place eggs in the air fryer basket. Cook eggs in the preheated air fryer for 15 minutes. Transfer eggs to a cold water bath until fully cooled, 8 to 10 minutes.

What does a 5 in 1 air fryer do? ›

Offering multiple ways to cook; use the control panel to set the time and temperature and select air fry, dehydrate, bake, roast or grill. Infuse meats and vegetables with chargrilled flavours and cook to perfection with adjustable temperature control upto 265 degrees.

Why should you never cook bacon in your air fryer? ›

Bacon is a high-fat food and releases a lot of grease as it cooks, which can coat the bottom and inside of your air fryer (and isn't fun to scrub out). Too much grease can also start smoking in the fryer, which is never what you want to see when you're cooking.

What is the best oil to use in a air fryer? ›

The Best Oil for Air Fryer Cooking

Olive oil: For foods cooked at 375 degrees or below. Canola oil: For cooking below 400 degrees. Baking spray: For sweet treats fried below 400 degrees. Grapeseed oil: For cooking up to 420 degrees.

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.

How do you arrange food in an air fryer? ›

Don't overcrowd the fryer basket. In fact, the results are best when you arrange foods in a single layer if possible. This ensures foods like Trader Joe's shrimp pops (an employee favorite), come out with a light and crispy, non-soggy exterior.

How do you layer food in an air fryer? ›

Aim to cook things in a single layer, without stacking, overlapping or squashing items together. This may sometimes mean you'll need to cook in batches. It's worth checking the instructions, because you can use foil or baking paper in some air fryers, while special liners are needed for others.

Should I oil before air frying? ›

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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