10 Air Fryer Recipes That Are Mess-Free And Delicious
10 Air Fryer Recipes That Are Mess-Free And Delicious
Weeknight dinners just got easier.
By Ron Published on February 7, 2025
Air fryers have a way about them—they transform our favorite foods, making them crisp and crunchy on the outside with a tender, juicy inside. There's less oily mess than trying to fry on a stovetop, and air frying generally takes way less time than cooking in a conventional oven.
Rapid circulation of very hot air within a confined space makes air frying work wonders. Most typical fried dishes like French fries, fried okra, and chicken tenders fare well, especially if preparing in modest quantities. But you can even make fried green tomatoes in your air fryer (yes, really!).
So if you're not using an air fryer yet, set the cast-iron skillet aside and get started. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert await with this all-in-one convenient countertop appliance.
When we think of grilled cheese, we think of perfectly melted gooey cheese and golden, toasty bread. We traditionally do this on our stovetop in a skillet or frying pan, but using the air fryer creates a whole new level of opportunity.
These perfectly poppable air fryer popcorn shrimp make a fun party snack or even a light meal when served with a side dish or tossed into a salad. Best of all, using an air fryer results in shrimp that are light and crunchy, without being greasy.
Air fryer BBQ chicken is proof that this small appliance can be a home cook's secret weapon. A simple spice mix is rubbed all over the chicken, and the chicken drumsticks are cooked until the skin is crispy and nearly charred. That charred flavor will convince you this meal was cooked on the grill for sure.
This simple recipe for Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (which will also work with white potatoes) makes four generous servings out of two medium-sized sweet potatoes, just one tablespoon of olive oil, and salt. While kosher salt will work just fine, flaky salt adds an extra crunch that makes the fries a little more special.
Air fryer asparagus is every bit as crisp-tender as oven-roasted asparagus, but it's faster and easier, especially if you've got the oven full of something else.
These Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings call for only five ingredients! A butter base creates just the right amount of sauce to pair with the tangy flavor from lemon pepper seasoning. It's almost impossible to just eat one.
The air fryer method of cooking Brussels sprouts is arguably the best—perfectly crispy and toasty, you'll only make them this way from now on.
Air fryer baked potatoes cook up crispy on the outside with a fluffy, tender interior that's just begging for butter.
Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
Air fryer fried green tomatoes remain tart and fresh on the inside with a delicately crisp crust of cornmeal and flour. The air fryer is the perfect way to cook fried green tomatoes. Serve with comeback sauce, for a treat.
