in Air Fryer, Appetizers, Course, Featured, Main Dishes, Method, Sides
byAlex Parksupdated 1.4k Views
Are you looking for a healthier alternative to deep-frying your favorite foods? Look no further than the air fryer! This innovative kitchen gadget uses hot air circulation to cook your meals, resulting in crispy and delicious dishes without the need for excess oil. In fact, studies have shown that air frying can significantly reduce the amount of oil used in cooking, making it a healthier option compared to traditional deep frying methods.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Concept of Healthy Cooking with Air Fryers
Healthy cooking with air fryers goes beyond just reducing the amount of oil used. It involves choosing nutritious ingredients and preparing them in a way that maximizes their health benefits. By using an air fryer, you can enjoy the flavors and textures of your favorite dishes while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Key Ingredients for Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
When it comes to creating healthy air fryer recipes, there are a few key ingredients that you should have in your pantry. Opt for lean protein sources such as chicken breast, fish fillets, or tofu. These ingredients are not only low in fat but also rich in essential nutrients. Incorporate a variety of colorful vegetables into your recipes, such as bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, as they provide a range of vitamins and minerals. Consider using whole grains as a healthier alternative to refined carbohydrates. Quinoa, brown rice, and whole wheat bread crumbs are great options for adding fiber and nutrients to your air-fried dishes.
Mouth-Watering Healthy Air Fryer Recipes to Try
Now that you understand the basics of healthy cooking with air fryers, let’s explore some delicious recipes that you can prepare at home. From appetizers to main courses and even desserts, the possibilities are endless with an air fryer. Here are 30 mouth-watering recipes to get you started:
1. Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Potatoe Wedges
Full Recipe : Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Potatoe Wedges
A healthy and delicious way to enjoy potatoes is by making garlic parmesan potato wedges in an air fryer. This dish is easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients, including potatoes, olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and salt. First, cut the potatoes into wedges and then toss them with olive oil. Next, add the Parmesan cheese, garlic, dried thyme, paprika and salt, and then air fry the potatoes until they are golden brown and crispy.
This dish is a great option for a healthy side or snack, and it can be enjoyed by everyone. Thanks to the air fryer, this dish is also low in fat and calories. So, if you’re looking for a healthy and delicious way to enjoy potatoes, give garlic parmesan potato wedges a try.
2. Air Fryer Lemon and Garlic Shrimp
Full receipe : Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp
Looking for a healthy air fryer recipes? Look no further than this delicious Air Fryer Garlic and Lemon Shrimp. This recipe is not only packed with flavor, but it’s also a healthier alternative to traditional fried shrimp.
By using an air fryer, you can achieve that crispy texture without all the added oil and calories. The garlic and lemon marinade adds a tangy and savory taste that complements the shrimp perfectly. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make, making it a great option for a weeknight dinner or a last-minute appetizer. Give this recipe a try and enjoy a guilt-free and tasty meal!
3. Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
Enjoy the classic flavors of eggplant Parmesan without the need for deep frying. This Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan recipe is a healthier twist on a beloved Italian dish. The eggplant is air fried to perfection, giving it a crispy texture without the excess oil. Layer it with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese for a delicious and satisfying meal.
4. Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan Air Fryer recipe, like the rest, comes out tasty and crispy from the oven. You only need about 18 minutes to get it ready. If your air fryer doesn’t come with a preheat function, something you can do is to insert the basket set the air fryer for 3 minutes. If this step is stressful for you, you can skip it and add 2 to 3 minutes to the cooking time. Full Recipe of Skinny Baked Chicken Parmesan
5. Air Fryer Wonton Mozzarella Sticks
Craving a cheesy and crispy snack? This Air Fryer Wonton Mozzarella Sticks are a crowd-pleaser. They are made by wrapping mozzarella string cheese in egg roll wrappers and air frying them until golden brown. Serve them with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping. It’s a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried mozzarella sticks.
6. Air Fryer Keto Low Carb Fried Chicken
To make your drumsticks crispy and irresistible, coat your chicken drumsticks in coconut flour, Wheat gluten, eggs, black pepper, Paprika, and Salt. And put them in the air fryer for twenty minutes. This results in each drumstick weighing at least 3 grams of carbohydrates.
7. Butter Marinated Air Fryer Whole Roasted Chicken
The Buttermilk-Marinated Air Fryer Whole Roasted Chicken is one meal that will leave you, your friends, and your family asking for more. The delicious and juicy taste is almost out of this world, and it’s also easy to prepare. You only need three ingredients to prepare it. It’s one of those fast foods that you can make to fill up an empty stomach in little time. It’s also one food that won’t bore you out of your mind if you decide to have it at least once every day.
We got inspiration to prepare this meal from Southern fried chicken, which is soaked throughout the night in buttermilk before it is fried. Prepare this recipe with a whole chicken without deep frying it. equally prepares it without flour. This is a meal that would be faster to prepare with an air fryer without heating your kitchen. Because of buttermilk and salt in the recipe, it turns brownish and more appealing to the eyes. You can decide to serve this means with a roasted potatoes, summer tomato salad, chopped Feta salad, or quick cabbage slaw.
8. Air Fryer Bagel
With how delicious this recipe is, it’s easy for one to get obsessed with it. It’s also a simple food that can be prepared quickly with an air fryer. It’s equally an excellent meal for people who are watching their weight. This meal is high in protein, and this can be accredited due to the addition of yogurt, which makes it tasty once it’s done.
9. Bacon Wrapped Avoca
Bacon Wrapped Avoca are crispy, yummy, and irresistible. And you can choose to eat them solo or put them on a burger. They are also free of gluten and Keto-friendly.
10. Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Indulge in the delicious flavors of Maryland-style crab cakes with this Air Fryer Crab Cakes recipe. Made with a handful of ingredients like mayo, egg, green onion, and Old Bay seasoning, these crab cakes are packed with flavor. The air fryer cooks them to perfection, giving them a crispy exterior and a tender interior. Serve them with a side of tartar sauce or a fresh salad for a satisfying meal.
11. Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas. The air fryer gives the bananas a crispy exterior while keeping the inside gooey and delicious. Garnish them with cinnamon, ice cream, or chopped walnuts for an extra touch of flavor. This dessert is quick to prepare, cost-effective, and a healthier alternative to traditional fried desserts.
12. Air Fryer Ground Beef Wellington
If you choose to prepare this recipe with an oven, the outcome is that it will be a little soggy, and this is due to the pate being used, but if you choose to prepare this pastry with an air fryer, it will be as crispy as you would want it to be. The air fryer is also big enough to contain whatever size of beef wellington you wish to prepare.
13. Air Fryer Cannoli
Serving cannoli is most Italian bakeries’ selling point. They have perfected the act over the years that its crispy shell and creamy appearance are irresistible once it’s served. They often come with chocolate chips or chopped pistachios.
14. Antipasto Egg Rolls
Delish and egg rolls are a mixture that compliments each other, and this recipe creates magic when place in the air fryer. And not only does the air fryer give you that remarkable appearance, but it also helps you cut down on calories. The critical point to note here is that most air fryer baskets cannot hold several egg rolls. In other words, it means you would have to prepare them one set after another. Most air fryers can only hold a maximum of 5 egg rolls. And it takes approximately an hour and some minutes to be ready.
15. Air fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies
To prepare this recipe, you’ll first need to melt butter to a lukewarm state. Add sugar to the melted butter and stir for a minute or two. Next, add egg yolk, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, salt, and then stir. You can also mix chocolate chips and walnuts into the mixture if you please. The next step is to split the dough into six equal portions and roll each into a ball. Then you would have to take each ball and place it on parchment paper and then flatten each to give a thick disc. After that, you’d have to bake in a 350-degree air fryer for at least six to eight minutes to be thoroughly done.
16. Healthy Zucchini Corn Fritters
You can enjoy this treat better by trying a combination of different flavors. It’s simple to prepare yet so yummy.
17. Air Fryer Crispy Tofu
Most crispy tofu treats that are gotten from takeout joints are usually greasy because a majority of them were made from deep-frying gadgets. If you would love to enjoy them ultra-crisp, put them in air fryers for a more delicious taste.
18. 15 Mins Cinnamon Rolls
These are simple and easy to prepare cinnamon rolls made within 15 minutes after being put in the air fryer. for 3 serving. You need 1 cup of self rising floor 70 grams of milk and 3 tbsp of melted butter for the dough. For the filling ; 1/4 cup of brown sugar , 1/2 tbsp cinnamon , 1/2 tbsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp melted butter.
19. Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Marmalade Sauce
Coconut-crusted shrimp is one hell of a classic appetizer. To make it even classier, prepare it with an air fryer. Note that you can do this without adding a drop of oil. For an extra drip of sauce, you can add zingy orange-tinged mustard. But if you’re mindful of sugar, then you can go for unsweetened coconut and all-fruit marmalade instead. Full Recipe at thesuburbansoapbox.
20. Copycat Taco Bell Crunch Wraps in Air Fryer
There is an unlimited amount of joy in recreating the same treats that we buy and enjoy from fast-foods at home. It also healthier compared to those made outside. To get a similar taste to the ones made in fast-foods, you can add a mixture of cheese, seasoned beef, sour cream, and tomatoes inside a flour air-fried tortilla. Full Recipe at by-pink.com
21. Air Baked Molten Lava Cakes
Lava cakes don’t require you to have veteran baker’s skills before it’s made in an air fryer. You only need to know how and when to include the five ingredients used in making it. And once all is said and done, then you’re only 10 minutes away from enjoying your molten chocolate.
22. Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings
It doesn’t matter if you’re gluten-free or you love exploring new ways to eat bacon; the bacon-wrapped onion rings are the missing puzzle to your ultimate satisfaction. Nine minutes is what stands between you and a great treat.
23. 4-Minute Air Fryer Sugar Doughnut Recipe
When it comes down to preparing this 10 minutes recipe, only four ingredients are needed, and they are as follows;
- A Can of Large Pillsbury Biscuits
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Tablespoon Cinnamon
- 5 Tablespoons Butter
Full Recipe at thriftyniftymommy
24. Air Fryer Pork Tater Tots Frozen
Air fryer tater tots have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried tater tots. Using an air fryer allows you to achieve that crispy texture without the need for excessive amounts of oil. By circulating hot air around the tots, the air fryer cooks them evenly and quickly, resulting in a delicious and guilt-free snack.
Air fryer tater tots offer a healthier and more convenient way to enjoy this classic snack. With their ability to produce crispy tots using minimal oil, air fryers have gained popularity among health-conscious individuals. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy snack or a delicious side dish, air fryer tater tots are sure to satisfy your cravings without the guilt.
25. Air Fryer Copycat Dunkin Donuts Stuffed Bagel Minis
This recipe is one of the easiest recipes to make. Virtually anyone can prepare it as it only requires two ingredients to be ready. It can be enjoyed with either hot chocolate or pumpkin as a breakfast treat after it has been air fried.
26. Copycat Red Lobster Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
If you’re looking for the ultimate appetizer to blow your guests away, then it has to be the Copycat Red Lobster Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms. It will be a mind-blowing experience for seafood lovers.
27. Healthy Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli
Asian stir-fries such as chicken and broccoli are examples of other healthy recipes that you can prepare with little oil in your air fryer. It’s easy and quick to make and also one that can be served during weeknights.
28. Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
A tasty chicken thigh that’s garnished with juicy meat is one recipe that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes which you and the whole family will enjoy when air fried.
29. Air Fryer Ravioli
Toasted ravioli is many people’s favorite from time immemorial. Once it’s air fried, its taste is out of this world. Many have also confessed its taste comes out best when it’s fried.
30. Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Making stir-fries from scratch is undoubtedly one of my favorite ways of preparing my dishes, but I occasionally switch it up by making various sauces and vegetables. I must say, one thing that has remained a constant is that I love making them with my air fryer.
Tips for successful air frying
- Preheat when necessary: While air fryers generally don’t require preheating, some recipes may benefit from a short preheating period to ensure even cooking.
- Avoid overcrowding: To achieve the best results, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leaving enough space between the food items allows the hot air to circulate properly, resulting in crispy and evenly cooked dishes.
- Shake or flip halfway through: To ensure even cooking and crispiness, shake the air fryer basket or flip the food halfway through the cooking time. This helps to prevent any uneven browning or sticking.
- Experiment with seasoning: Don’t be afraid to get creative with your seasoning choices. Explore different herbs, spices, and marinades to add flavor to your air-fried dishes.
- Clean and maintain your air fryer: Regularly clean your air fryer to prevent any buildup of grease or food particles. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific cleaning guidelines.
Conclusion
The thought of buying another gadget to add to your collection can be overwhelming sometimes, but this gadget (air fryer) won’t only save you time but will help make your meals healthier and more presentable. What’s not to love about it? Also, if you need something that will help you make everything from breakfast potatoes to savory burgers to blueberry crumble, then you should give it a thought.
