12 Dishes I Cook in the Air Fryer When I Want to Save Time and Money
If you’ve finally picked up your first deep fryer, let me start by saying how excited I am for you. I’ve been cooking and frying in mine for a few years now, and I’ve put a lot of stuff in that basket. Not everything has worked out (this is not a steamer, folks), but many of my experiments have been so delicious and reliably repeatable that they’ve now become staples in my home.
Below are 12 of my favorite air fryer recipes that save me time, money, or both. (If you’re still unsure about getting an air fryer and are reading this as research, let me recommend a few of my favorite air fryer models and why they might be perfect for your kitchen.)
Giant Crispy Potato
Potatoes are especially good in the air fryer. In fact, if you bought an air fryer solely to reheat restaurant leftovers or freeze French fries, no one would judge you. That’s smart. But don’t miss out on this version of the king of potatoes, air fryer fries. It’s an easy way to rough up a potato so that the starchy exterior becomes golden and crispy in the fryer. These are the best potato-crusted fries I’ve ever had. And they make a great side dish for under a dollar.
Store bought donuts
I don’t know exactly what I was thinking that day, but I put Entenmann’s donuts in the fryer, and what came out was nothing short of miraculous. They went from dusty and dry to crispy and caramelized. While I love the texture right away, I think most people might enjoy this trick as a way to revive their stale donuts after the box has been open for a few days.
Gnocchi and meatballs
You can cook a full meal in one air frying session. Not to mention, there are even dual-basket air fryers made specifically for this purpose. (Here’s one of my favorite dual-basket air fryers .) One of my favorite examples is air-fried gnocchi and frozen meatballs . They cook at the same rate, so you don’t have to worry about different temperatures or fan settings. Just pop them in the fryer at 385℉ for about 10 minutes and add the tasty bits to the warm tomato sauce for a delicious meal.
Pork tenderloin
Weeknight roasts usually have a “long cooking time” label, but an air fryer can cook a large piece of meat quickly. Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite roasts because it’s an affordable cut, relatively small (compared to ham or chicken), and doesn’t require a long cook time in a countertop convection oven. Simply marinate it a few hours ahead of time, throw it in the air fryer at 350℉, and bake for about 20 minutes. A juicy, impressive pork roast will be ready in the time it takes you to change out of your “work clothes” and into your “cooling clothes.”
Pepper
I love roasted red peppers. They are great in sauces, in salads or in soups. Unfortunately, roasting them in the oven for 40 minutes or frying them on the stove was a chore. Luckily, an air fryer makes tender roasted peppers in a fraction of the time. Just put a whole pepper or two in the air fryer basket , no need to add oil or anything, and fry them in the air for five to seven minutes. You will have perfectly roasted peppers, ready to use.
Leftover egg roll
One of my favorite ways to make leftovers interesting again is to wrap them in egg roll wrappers . Almost any type of leftover meal makes a delicious filling for egg rolls, and you can get a crispy crust in the air fryer. Simply fill and roll the egg rolls and brush a thin layer of oil on the outside of the shell. Fry them in an air fryer at 375℉ for 12 to 15 minutes.
Sausage and other sausage products
I can’t say that hot dogs, sausages, and other types of wieners are difficult to cook. The hard part is done for you, so you can boil them or even microwave them, but there’s something to be said for air frying them. My partner and I have air-fried both fridge-chilled and nearly frozen hot dogs, and they take about the same amount of time to heat up – about three minutes. Three. When cooking thicker sausages, like air fryer sausage , I suggest making diagonal slices on the sides and letting them brown and crisp up in the air fryer for a full 10 minutes.
Most of the freezer aisle
It’s not a revelation, but air frying frozen entrees is the biggest time saver when I need them most. The frozen food section of any grocery store is filled with pre-made meal packages, frozen veggies, breakfasts, and desserts. Many of them are the perfect size to cook in a regular oven. Well, an air fryer is like a miniature oven on steroids. All those delicious midnight snacks cook faster in the air fryer, but now I don’t have to wait 40 minutes. I can have my air fried fish sticks, mini pizzas, tater tots, jalapeño poppers, mozzarella sticks (honestly, any frozen TGIFridays), garlic bread, or tiny White Castle burgers right when the clock strikes 12.
Canned mushrooms
My favorite air fryer snack lately is mushroom chips . They’re full of umami and crispy like pork rinds. You can make a bowl of this crispy, salty snack from a simple can of mushrooms. Just drain and toss with a little oil. Fry them for a few minutes at 390℉ until crispy and browned.
Seafood
Seafood also cooks well in the air fryer, and I don’t just mean breaded shrimp (of course, breaded shrimp). I can fry frozen shrimp to tender, seasoned perfection in just a few minutes. Fry a lobster tail in under 10 minutes for a weeknight treat. My Instant Vortex Air Fryer is a beast when it comes to cooking these sea creatures. It happens so fast, they don’t have time to dry out. But be sure to set a timer and check them ahead of time, because they’ll be done before you know it. If you’re looking for a great, affordable, mid-size air fryer, the Instant Vortex is one of my favorites. Read my full review here .
Soggy fried chicken
Technically, yes, soggy fried chicken can fall into the “leftover” category, but it can also be a special case. If you’ve ever ordered takeout or delivery from Popeye’s, then you know that soggy fried chicken isn’t leftover or cold. It’s just wet. Luckily, the air fryer allows me to revive this nearly defeated chicken . Unwrap any disappointingly limp fried chicken (including sandwiches, just remove the chicken from the bun first) and pop it in the air fryer for five to ten minutes at 400℉. Your fried chicken will be better than ever.
Meatloaf
Another inexpensive, filling, comforting main dish is meatloaf , and (surprise!) the air fryer cooks it on my plate in record time. I make sure the meatloaf is a size that will fit in my oven-style basket or fryer. Set the fryer to 375℉ and bake for about 10 minutes (flipping halfway through) or until the internal temperature is equal to the doneness of the meat mixture you used. Say hello to dinner for four in record time.