By Emmeline Kemperyd on , updated - 3 Comments
If you're new to the air fryer and wondering where to start, this collection of recipes is for you. Here you will find 50+ easy, delicious recipes that are perfect for beginners. From snacks and appetizers to side dishes, main courses and even breakfast - this collection of easy air fryer recipes for beginners will help you make delicious food in your air fyer, all day long!
Jump to:
- What are the best foods to cook in an air fryer?
- What cannot be cooked in an air fryer?
- What should I make first in my air fryer?
- 9 Air Fryer Snacks and Appetizers for Beginners
- 12 Air Fryer Potato Sides for Beginners
- 9 Vegetable Sides for Beginners
- 26 Air Fryer Main Courses for Beginners
- 4 Air Fryer Breakfasts for Beginners
- Reviews
So you got an air fryer - congratulations! It's a great investment, and you will find a lot of good uses for this new appliance. And this post, full of easy air fryer recipes, is sure to help you on this journey.
If you are completely new to the air fryer, I also recommend you check out my Air Fryer Get Started Guide, and boomark my Air Fryer FAQ and Air Fryer Troubleshooting Guide for when you need them. And if you didn't get your air fryer yet? I have a guide to just which Air fryer is right for you.
What are the best foods to cook in an air fryer?
The air fryer is great for cooking most of the things you would otherwise deep fat fry, pan fry or oven bake. Some of the best foods I've found to cook in an air fryer are:
- Frozen snacks and appetizers. They heat up quicker and more evenly than when baking in the oven, and with much less fat than when deep fat frying
- Steaks and pork chops. They cook perfectly and evenly without any greasy mess
- Potato sides. You can bake potatoes, make potato wedges, French fries and roast potatoes in less time than it takes to bake them, and with much less oil needed.
- Chicken. Either ground chicken patties or full cuts, from fresh or from frozen. Or even chicken sausages!
- Veggies. Green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts are just some of the veggies that cook really well in the air fryer - both from fresh and frozen.
- Breakfast! So many breakfast foods cook up quickly & deliciously in the air fryer - check out my guide to the best air fryer breakfast recipes.
What cannot be cooked in an air fryer?
While an air fryer is great for lots of things, some things are better to avoid:
- Water. You can not use it to boil water.
- Anything with a wet batter. The batter will drip and you will not get the crispy result you're after. Use a deep fat fryer instead!
- Boiled rice, pasta or other grains, You need to boil in water and this is not something you can do with yourair fryer*
- Leafy greenslike spinach or arugula. Worst case, they can fly around yourair fryer*and get stuck in the heating elements, and even if they stay put they will not cook well.
- Cheese without a coating. It will just melt and drip through your basket. Coated cheese likemozzarella sticksis fine though!
What should I make first in my air fryer?
In this post you will find loads of great ideas for what to make first in your air fryer. But if you're looking for a more condensed list of easy air fryer recipes for beginners, these are my top 5:
- French fries. Just skip the oven baking from now on and use the air fryer.
- Bacon. Same as for French fries, just make the air fryer your default method from now on.
- Potato wedges. Crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside - just the way they should be.
- Rib eye steak. Try it, and you'll see why it's my favorite way of cooking it!
- Frozen salmon. You'll be amazed at how perfectly and evenly it cooks, straight from frozen!
9 Air Fryer Snacks and Appetizers for Beginners
Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
With basically no prep & 4 minutes of cooking you can make Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks. Perfectly cooked and ready to serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
Withminimal prep & less than 10 minutes of cookingyou can make the bestAir Fryer Frozen Onion Rings. Perfectly crispy and golden, and all ready toserve with your favorite sauce!
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Make homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips in under 10 minutes - and forget all about the storebought kind. With just a little bit of oil and a sprinkle of salt, they come out crispy and golden - and perfect for all your dipping needs.
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Air Fryer Texas Toast
Make Air Fryer Texas Toast in just a few minutes - crispy, buttery and filled with garlic flavor! With the best garlic butter made from simple ingredients, it's all done with just a few simple steps. Get ready to meet your new favorite easy side dish!
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Air Fryer Nachos
Level up your snack game with these easy Air Fryer Nachos! Loaded vegetarian nachos with black beans that come together in less than 10 minutes? What’s better than that?! No Air Fryer? No problem. Conventional oven instructions are included as well.
Air Fryer Dumplings
Cook Dumplings, Pot Stickers & Gyoza in your Air Fryer and have a delicious snack or meal on the table in just 10 minutes. With a tiny bit of oil these dumplings come out perfectly cooked and slightly crispy on the edges - ready to dip in your favorite sauce.
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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese with Broccoli
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese made with sharp cheddar, finely chopped broccoli, and a pinch of chili flakes to bring some heat. This Broccoli grilled cheese is crisp, buttery, and the perfect quick and easy vegetarian sandwich.
AIr Fryer Italian Rice Balls (Arancini)
Making Italian Rice Balls at home is simple with this easy no-fry recipe. Try making Air Fryer Arancini, or oven bake your Risotto Balls for a delicious appetizer or main dish, without any deep frying and using minimal oil.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower wings will be your new favorite snack! Easy to make in under 30 minutes they come out spicy, crispy and totally addictive. A healthy-ish snack or meal that's best served with a blue cheese dip.
Check out this recipe
12 Air Fryer Potato Sides for Beginners
Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Make deliciously crispy and buttery Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes in under 30 minutes with super simple prep. It's the perfect flavor-packed side for any dinner!
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Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Make the best Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes with a quick prep and just 10-12 minutes of cooking. They're loaded with flavor and cooked to perfection, for a breakfast style side that's just as delicious any time of day!
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Air Fryer Potato Wedges
15 minutes is all you need to make the best air fryer potato wedges. Lightly seasoned with salt & olive oil they're baked to perfection i the easiest way possible - and a great healthier alternative.
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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
These Air Fryer Baked Potatoes have perfectly crisp exteriors with soft and fluffy centers. They are the perfect baked potatoes and could not be easier to make!
Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
Makedeliciously crispyair fryer roasted potatoes injust 45 minutes. With Mexican seasoning and topped with lime & cilantro this isa yummy side dish with a spicy kick- and at its best served with a cool sauce or sour cream.
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Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes are done in just 15 minutes and come out perfectly baked. Seasoned with cinnamon & salt they're a great side for fish and chicken - and a delicious snack on their own.
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Air Fryer Steak Fries
Make Air Fryer Steak Fries from scratch in just 25 minutes for the perfect rustic side dish for any meal. Easy to make with just a few steps, these fries are crispy on the outside, and perfectly baked on the inside.
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Air Fryer French Fries
These crispy and flavorful Air Fryer French Fries are easy and quick to make! They are low in calories and are made using little oil.
Ore Ida Fries in Air Fryer
Learn how to cook Ore Ida Fries in your air fryer, with minimal prep and 12-14 minutes of cooking. They come out perfectly crispy, and it's optional to add a tiny bit of olive oil.
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
These Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are all done in just 30 minutes for a quicker version of the classic Swedish side dish. With garlic butter and Parmesan cheese, this is a recipe everyone loves, and you are sure to come back to it over and over again.
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Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots
Learn how to make Tater Tots at home - easy to make and loaded with amazing taste. Seasoned with garlic & onion powder, salt & pepper they come out crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside.
This recipe includes both air fryer and oven instructions.
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots
These air fryer tater tots are made with just one ingredient in less than 15 minutes! They’re crunchy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. Try them out today!
9 Vegetable Sides for Beginners
Air Fryer Green Beans (Cooked from Frozen!)
With minimal prep & 4 minutes of cooking you can make the best Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans. Perfectly soft they're a great side for any dinner!
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower
With minimal prep & just 6-8 minutes of cooking you can make the best Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower. With a flavor packed rub with a bit of a spicy kick, this cauliflower is a great easy side for any meal.
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
With minimal prep & just 8 minutes of cooking you can make the best Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli. A little bit crispy at the edges and deliciously seasoned with olive oil and lemon pepper. A great side for any protein!
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
TheseAir Fryer*Brussel Sprouts with Bacon areeasy to make in just 20 minutes, and loaded with flavor.Salty, crunchy & sweet, with some acidityfrom balsamic vinegar it'sthe perfect side dish for the holidays- or any time of year.
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Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts
Take your frozen brussel sprouts to a new level with minimal prep & just 16 minutes of cooking! These Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts are coated in a honey balsamic vinaigrette, with a tiny kick from cayenne peper, and come out perfectly roasted with nice caramelization. A great side dish, and so tasty you'll want to have them on their own!
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Air Fryer Baby Carrots (Carrots Vichy)
Make delicious Air Fryer Baby Carrots inunder 20 minutesfrom start to finish, fora delicious side dish the whole familywill love.Coated in butter & honeythis is an air fryer version of the classic FrenchCarrots Vichy. Try them yourself - and experiencethe perfect combo of salt, sweet, & silky butter.
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Air Fryer Asparagus
Once you tasteAir Fryer Asparagus, you’ll never make it any other way! Deliciously tender and perfectly crisp, asparagus in the air fryer is a simple and speedy side dish.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
ThisAir Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagusis an easy and delicious side dish that is ready in a flash!Perfectly grilled and tender, this asparagus in the air fryer is so tasty and easy to meal prep.
Air Fryer Carrot Fries
With quick prep & 12-14 minutes of cooking you can make the best easy Air Fryer Carrot Fries. Crispy, sweet and salty this is a healthy snack or side that's all ready to serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Check out this recipe
26 Air Fryer Main Courses for Beginners
Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Make these air fryer chicken cutlets for aquick, easy, dinner any night of the week. Withcrispy, juicy, chickenyou'll definitely want seconds of, and asuper simple processthat will have you making it over and over.
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Air Fryer Ribeye Steak
This easy recipe for Air Fryer Ribeye Steak will have you making all your steaks in the air fryer! Juicy, flavor packed and less greasy (read: healthier!) this is the way to cook steak. All done in under 15 minutes, with just 1 minute of prep!
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Air Fryer Steak Tips
Make Air Fryer Steak Tips in just 10 minutes, for a delicious steak dinner any night of the week. With common seasonings you already have at home this is an easy meal the whole family will love.
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Air Fryer Flank Steak
Make perfectly tender Air Fryer Flank Steak with just 8-10 minutes of cooking. Our flavor-packed marinade tenderizes the meat for you, so you end up with a juicy steak in no time.
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Frozen Steak in Air Fryer
With no prep time & 10-15 minutes of cooking you can cook delicious, juicy, tender Frozen Steak in Air Fryer. The best way to cook frozen steak, and you will be surpried that it's just as good as fresh!
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Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops
Looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal that's packed with flavor? Look no further than these juicy, tender Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops! Best of all, this recipe requires just a handful of ingredients and is done in 25 minutes or less.
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Air Fryer Pork Chops (Cooked from Frozen!)
With minimal prep & 12 minutes of cooking you can cook the best frozen pork chops in your air fryer. Perfectly cooked pork chops, juicy and tender - and all ready to serve with your favorite sides for a quick and easy dinner.
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
The best Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are done in just 20 minutes after marinating in olive oil, lime juice and spices. They come out tender and perfectly cooked, with a slightly crispy exterior. You'll never make drumsticks any other way again!
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Air Fryer Sausage
Learn how to cook sausages in your air fryer in under 10 minutes. It's a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table in a hurry and doesn't require any oil or butter. This guide works for both thick and thin sausages!
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Air Fryer Italian Sausage
Cook up Italian Sausages in your air fryer inunder 10 minutes. It's aquick, easy, and less greasyway to get dinner on the table, all ready to serve with your favorite sauces and sides.
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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
These air fryer chicken thighs are absolutely crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy inside. Simple and ready in under 30 minutes, enjoy succulent chicken thighs seasoned with an easy mix of seasonings. Great for meal prep, versatile, and loaded with flavor. If you are looking for a quick way to…
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
Air fryer buffalo chicken thighs are quick, easy and so flavorful! These cook in 12 minutes and taste just like chicken wings! Perfect for dinner or game day.
BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
The easiest 15-minute air fryer bbq chicken breast recipe made with 3 ingredients. It’s healthy, tender and juicy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and covered in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (No Breading)
Tender and juicyAir Fryer Chicken Tenders With No Breadingis a fast and tasty recipe that is ready in only 20 minutes (including prep!). Enjoy this delicious air fryer chicken recipe with your favorite side dishes for a fast weeknight meal.
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
Minimal prep needed to make the best Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders. After marinating for 15 minutes in lime juice, olive oil & spices they just need 10 minutes in the air fryer. Juicy, tender & packed full of flavor!
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Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Make Air Fryer Orange Chicken that tastes just like takeout - but healthier, and cheaper! Perfectly air fried chicken is covered in the juiciest orange sauce, all done in under 30 minutes with a few simple steps.
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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Healthier Air Fryer chicken parmesan ready in under 20 minutes! The chicken turns out juicy from the inside, but so crispy on the outside.
Air Fryer Chicken Caprese
Chicken Caprese is an easy air fryer recipe featuring chicken breasts stuffed with tomatoes and mozzarella, then finished with balsamic glaze.
Chicken Patties in Air Fryer
Make the best & juiciest Chicken Patties in Air Fryer with a quick prep, a few easy steps, and 10 minutes of air frying. No chopping required thanks to powdered seasonings - and extra juicy with fresh lemon juice.
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Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Make the best & juiciest Air Fryer Turkey Burgers with just a quick prep, a few simple steps and 10 minutes in the air fryer. No chopping required as we use powdered seasonings and extra juicy thanks to a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
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Air Fryer Hamburgers
With quick prep & less 10 minutes of cooking you can make the best Hamburgers in Air Fryer. Juicy and perfectly cooked, and all ready to serve with your favorite burger toppings!
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Air Fryer Meatballs
These are without a doubt the best Air Fryer Meatballs! Easy to make without eggs & breadcrumbs, and done in under 1 hour. These Swedish style meatballs are juicy, tender - and prettier than any meatball you ever cooked any other way.
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Air Fryer Falafel
This easy Air Fryer Falafel recipe is a delicious and healthy alternative to deep fried. Made with soaked chickpeas, these vegan falafels are ready in just 15 minutes. No Air Fryer? No problem - you can make oven baked falafels instead.
Air Fryer Tofu
Crispy and easy Air Fryer Tofu is a speedy weeknight dinner. Packed with flavor this crispy fried tofu is the most delicious vegan or vegetarian recipe you can make in under 30 minutes.
Air Fryer Salmon (Cooked from Frozen!)
Learn how to cook Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer for a delicious, flavor packed, quick & easy dinner. The salmon comes out perfectly cooked with lots of lemon flavor, and tastes as good as when cooked from fresh.
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Air Fryer Shrimp (Cooked from Frozen!)
Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp are super easy to make and take under 5 minutes to cook. Marinating the frozen shrimp with garlic & paprika gives them incredible flavor, and it's all topped off with fresh parsley for a green touch.
Check out this recipe
4 Air Fryer Breakfasts for Beginners
Air Fryer Bacon
Air Fryer*Bacon isthe crispiest bacon you've ever had- and ahealthier treat with less fat. All done in10 minutesand you will never make bacon any other way again!
Check out this recipe
Frozen Bacon in Air Fryer
Cook bacon in your air fryer straight from frozen, it's all done with just 8 minutes of cooking! Cook frozen bacon in air fryer for super crispy bacon, that's so easy to make.
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer French Toast
This perfect air fryer French Toast recipe is an easy breakfast favorite that comes together in 30 minutes with basic pantry ingredients
Perfect Air Fryer Eggs - Hard or Soft Boiled
It’s easy as can be to make either hard boiled or soft boiled eggs in the air fryer. Get all the tips and tricks here!
Which recipe are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below and share what you're making on Instagram with the tag #alwaysusebutter!
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Italian Sausage
- Air Fryer Frozen Fish Fillets
- Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
- Air Fryer Salmon with Skin
About Emmeline Kemperyd
Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Donna
How about a recipe for air fryer chicken wings?
Reply
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi Donna! I'll have to add that to my list of recipes to create! There seem to be a lot of good options out there already on Google, unfortunately I haven't tried any of them yet.. /Emmeline
Reply
Donna Thompson
How about a recipe for air fryer chicken wings?dD
Reply
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