Chefs share the 16 best foods to make in an air fryer

Dang said air fryers can turn slices of plain fruit into deliciously caramelized treats. She recommends using bananas. 

“I slice them in half lengthwise and add them to banana splits,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll brush them with a little coconut oil first for an extra-special treat.”

Whether you’re looking for the perfect salad topping or just want something healthy to snack on, air-fried chickpeas may be the answer. 

“Air-fried chickpeas are crispy, portable, and delicious,” Dang said. “You can easily toss in some spices and seasonings along with a small amount of oil to jazz them up a little.”

Za’atar, curry powder, or chili powder are perfect seasonings to experiment with if you want to add an extra kick of flavor to air-fried chickpeas. 

Skip the store-bought chicken nuggets and whip up your own batch at home with an air fryer. 

“The air fryer is terrific for keeping crunchy, coated chicken juicy and tender,” Polak said. “Just make sure to moisten your chicken with a swipe of olive oil or mustard to keep the breading adhered.”

It’s also important not to go overboard with breading — adding too much can lead to the coating being blown off by the airflow of the air fryer. 

Using an air fryer can help take some of the guesswork out of preparing seafood. It can also help you to avoid dry, overcooked fish. 

“I recommend using an air fryer for baked or breaded fish. The hot air gets the outside of the fish nice and crispy without overcooking the inside,” Polak told BI. 

Dang said air fryers are ideal for cooking small frozen or homemade pizzas.

“Because an air fryer has a small cavity that doesn’t require preheating, it gets the cheese bubbly and the bread toasted much faster than an oven would,” she told BI. 

Dang added that combining naan bread, tomato sauce, and mozzarella makes for a quick and tasty personal pizza that’s perfect for cooking in an air fryer. 

Since air fryers use extremely hot air to both cook and remove surface moisture from foods, they’re actually great for making kale chips. 

Cummings recommends tossing kale with coconut oil and sea salt before adding them to your air fryer.

“The air fryer brings out the aroma of the coconut while keeping the kale chips light,” he explained. 

Coat fresh zucchini coins or slices in breadcrumbs and pop them in an air fryer for a crunchy, plant-based snack.

“Fried zucchini is a healthy side dish that you can dress up with your favorite spices — or keep it simple with just some olive oil, salt, and pepper,” Knight told BI. 

Chicken wings are sometimes battered and cooked in oil, which can make them high-calorie and greasy. If you’re looking for a lighter alternative, Knight said, try air-frying your wings instead. 

“Chicken wings are great to cook in an air fryer as a snack or a whole meal,” Knight told BI. “Air-frying means that you still get crispy wings without the added calories of deep-frying.”

This story was originally published on June 30, 2020, and most recently updated on September 11, 2024.

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