Air fryer fried ice cream flourishes in an air fryer, which quickly crisps up the cinnamon cereal crust before the ice cream interior melts. (Photo courtesy of alwaysdelicious.com)
Ideas that really deliver, from sugary decadence to healthy treats
There's a whole lot of experimentation going on out there in the air fryer world. Some wacky ideas wind up making sense, while others – we're talking about you, Kool-Aid deep fried dill pickles – are a bit bonkers.
For our list, we're only going with online recipes that have proven effective and popular with readers. And we'll start by offering a few tips to help you get the most out of air frying:
- Use the air fryer, not the microwave, to reheat foods like pizza and fries.
- Unless instructed, don't bother pre-heating your air fryer. It heats up fast.
- To help promote even cooking, remove the basket a few times and shake it.
- Resist using parchment or other non-stick products. For airflow, it's best to cook directly on the non-stick basket.
- Breading is better than a liquid batter, and take it easy on the oil.
Did you know? Using a small appliance can use up to 75% less energy, and air fryers offer both speed and healthier cooking than regular frying.
1. Air fryer s'mores
BC Hydro's Dave and Jaclyn taste-tested one version of this recipe and posted their delirium on TikTok. Their batch was simply marshmallows and chocolate, and required dipping in a cracker to complete.
Go ahead and try that one if the dip-and-dine style works for you. We're opting for a popular crackers-included recipe that leans in on the hack of breaking marshmallows in half and using the sticky side to glue it to a graham cracker to help ensure nothing flies away in the air fryer. It's a two-step process in which the chocolate is added in the second step, and the portions are a tad healthier compared to the temptation of Dave and Jaclyn's vat of delicious goo.
Super easy air fryer s'mores from myforkinglife
2. Air fryer avocado fries
The hilarious part of this recipe is the section on how to store leftovers. We don't think this will be an issue.
Air fryer avocado fries from girl with the iron cast
3. Air fryer pizza rolls
Anyone with a kid who's a big pizza fan will like this economical and delicious alternative that can be made from scratch with a Greek yogurt dough. Just keep the adults away until the kids get their share.
Air fryer pizza rolls from The Big Man's World
4. Air fryer churros
Lighter and less greasy than the deep-fried traditional version. One reviewer suggests rolling them in cinnamon before putting them in the air fryer. Her family taste-tested both options and came up with a clear winner.
Air fryer churros from Lifestyle of a Foodie
5. Air fryer fried pickles
This one involves no Kool-Aid (who really needs red pickles?) and doubles down on the crunch by frying small slices of pickle.
Zucchini chips carry only three grams of carbs per serving. Snack away. (Photo courtesy of blackberrybabe.com)
6. Air fryer zucchini chips (no breading)
Sub out those ultra-processed, store-bought potato chips with these plain and simple zucchini chips. Love the idea of adding sea salt and fresh rosemary.
Air fryer zucchini chips from Blackberry Babe
7. Air fryer stuffed peppers
This popular recipe calls for ground beef, onions, rice, spices and cheese in the pepper. Check out the comments section for a few nice add-ons, including subbing in cauliflower rice, or opting for Italian sausage over ground beef.
Air fryer stuffed peppers from Mommy Hates Cooking
8. Air fryer macaroni and cheese balls
Leftover mac and cheese – the baked version, not the in-the-box fake cheese variety – get an upgrade when crisped up in the air fryer. Perfect for the kids or as part of a retro appies platter.
Air fryer macaroni and cheese balls from My Forking Life
9. Ultra crispy air fryer chickpeas
You're 15 minutes away from a snack food extraordinaire with this super popular dish.
Air fryer chickpeas at Sweet Peas & Saffron
10. Air fryer salmon patties
Transform canned salmon into something special, especially when topped with yogurt or tzatziki and graced with lemon zest and dill.
Why cook lobster tails in an air fryer? It’s an easy path to juicy shellfish. (Photo courtesy of allrecipes.com and Dot Dash Meredith Food Studios)
11. Air fryer lobster tails
Moist, tender and easy. Don't forget the lemony garlic butter.
Air fryer lobster tails from All Recipes
12. Potato skin nachos
This is not a Hail Mary at your Super Bowl party. It's a highlight-reel, third-and-long conversion for a TD, with crispy potatoes carrying cheese, bacon, green onions, and sour cream to the goal line. Tastier and healthier than your usual nachos, which are now relegated to a backup role.
Potato skin nachos from slurrp.com
13. Air fryer bagels
With a 4.75 rating out of five from over 1,400 online ratings, this easy bagel recipe is a surprising delight that uses fat-free Greek yogurt and (if you prefer) gluten-free flour. And both the cook and many who commented agree that the air fryer version is best.
Easy bagel recipe from Skinny Taste
14. Air fryer roasted garlic
Rather than waste all that energy in cooking a small dish in a big oven, lean on the air fryer to “roast” your garlic. Mash it up and spread it on sourdough bread, or maybe even on an air fryer bagel.
Have you ever seen a more enticing onion ring? (Photo courtesy of skinnysouthernrecipes.com)
15. Air fryer bacon onion rings
Wow your guests with a keto-friendly dish that tastes as good as it looks.
Air fryer bacon-wrapped onion rings from Skinny Southern Recipes
16. Air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings
Hot wings are a mainstay in sports bars and in many homes. This one goes the healthier route without sacrificing taste – look mom! No breading – and it has hit home with hundreds who have tried this version.
Air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings from Live, Eat, Learn
17. Air fryer coconut shrimp
No heavy oil, no deep frying and basically irresistible.
Air fryer coconut shrimp from feelgoodfoodie
18. Air fryer roasted bananas
Is that carton of ice cream in your freezer looking for a friend? Go bananas.
Air fryer roasted bananas from allrecipes.com
19. Air fryer eggplant parmesan
Cook ‘em and eat them as is, or top them with marinara sauce. Yum.
Crispy rice is easy in the air fryer, and with smoked salmon and avocado aboard, it’s a dream. (Photo courtesy of iheartumami.com)
20. Air fryer crispy rice sushi
Yeah, you read that right. Smoked salmon, cucumbers, avocado and bang bang sauce on a bed of crispy rice.
Air fryer crispy rice sushi from I Heart Umami
21. Air fryer green tomatoes
Breaded in regular or gluten-free panko, pair this easy popular recipe with a garlic cilantro or tzatziki sauce.
Air fryer green tomatoes from Vegetarian Momma
22. Air fryer burnt Basque cheesecake
Basque cheesecake is a crustless option with a scorched caramelized top. The Vancouver mom who posted this recipe estimates a prep-to-finish time of 30 minutes, and her readers confirm this treat lives up to its name.
Easy air fryer burnt Basque burnt cheesecake from Nomss
23. Air fryer jalapeno poppers
"I thought there was no way I'd eat these all by myself…" writes one reviewer among the dozens who posted rave reviews for a dish big on cheese (cheddar, cream). Be careful slicing the pepper, and consider using gloves.
Air fryer jalapeno poppers from I Wash You Dry
24. Air fryer fried ice cream
Do you like creamy? Do you like crunch? Does it seem that blending the two is a good idea? Well, yeah! Frozen balls of ice cream are coated in egg and crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal before spending two minutes in the air fryer.
Air fryer fried ice cream from Always Delicious
25. Crispy air fryer tofu
Five hundred ratings and counting, this recipe has kept its 5-out-of-5 rating because it's easy, nutritious and loaded with flavour courtesy of it's combination of seasonings.