I judge culinary competitions for a living. Here are 10 of my favorite things to make in the air fryer.

Chicken breast can dry out in a conventional oven but it emerges from the air fryer juicy and perfectly cooked.

I buy organic chicken breasts and give them a light coating of olive oil and a thick layer of fresh spices. Lately, I’m loving Middle Eastern blends like köfte baharat and khalta hara, which contain silk chile, black lime, coriander, and cumin.

I let the chicken marinate for half an hour before air-frying it for around 20 minutes, depending on its size.

While the cooked chicken is resting, I usually load broccoli florets into the fryer with a little more oil and spices. To finish the dish, I might drizzle some of the gorgeous reddish-orange köfte-baharat-infused oil drippings onto some rice.

Gnocchi, made from potatoes and flour, only resembles pasta in appearance. It can be boiled, poached, or pan-fried but I think the air fryer is the fastest, easiest cooking method for these tender dumplings.

First, I give the gnocchi a splash of olive oil and stir in garlic powder, paprika, a Scillian herb blend, salt, and pepper. After about 15 minutes, they’re fluffy and ready to serve.

Add some herb-and-spice coating and you might not even need sauce or cheese.

The air fryer is by far the best method of reheating leftover slices from my favorite pizzerias. The crust becomes impossibly crisp, the sauce sizzles, and the cheese melts to perfection.

I’ll also buy gluten-free frozen pies with an all-vegetable crust and let the air fryer work its magic. I recently tried a broccoli-crust pie with Mediterranean toppings and added a little extra Pecorino-Romano cheese for good measure, and the end result was delicious.

Just be sure to let air-fried pizza cool for a couple of minutes to avoid burning your upper palate, or the dreaded pizza flap.

Making toast in an air fryer sounds ludicrous and it takes approximately the same three minutes as it would in a toaster. But air-fryer toast emerges an even golden-brown color, crispy on the outside and chewy inside, ready to be slathered with butter, peanut butter, jam, or soft cheeses.

I wouldn’t bust out an air fryer just to toast some bread but if it’s already set up, it’s a fun change from an ordinary pop-up toaster.

Samosas, a savory, triangular pastry stuffed with potatoes, chiles, South-Asian spices, and green peas, are a filling snack or appetizer that can be upgraded in the air fryer.

I buy Trader Joe’s frozen samosas and put them right in the air fryer, no oil or seasoning needed. I cook them until the pastry darkens and when they’re finished, they’re flakier and crispier than they are from a conventional oven. I’ll also use this method with samosas from a restaurant as well.

They’re best served with sweet, tangy tamarind sauce or cucumber raita, both of which are a cooling accompaniment to the samosas’ heat and spice.

Other frozen light bites, like gyoza, shumai, and ravioli, also benefit from air-frying.

Puff pastry can make an impressive presentation as a pot-pie topper, a sweet dessert, or a savory snack and the air fryer crisps it perfectly.

I like to roll puff pastry up with a thin layer of a filling, like Parmesan cheese and crushed pink peppercorns, and cut it into inch-thick slices.

I pop the pastry rolls in the air fryer set to 375 degrees, and in 10 minutes they’re puffed, flaky, cheesy, and evenly cooked — everything they’re supposed to be.

This story was originally published on April 5, 2023, and most recently updated on September 4, 2024.