When I decided to live off-campus this semester, the thing that I was the most worried about was cooking for myself. Thinking about buying groceries and figuring out what to make on top of all the school work I would have was really stressing me out, so I began to scour the internet for help. Something I noticed when I was looking for recipes on Pinterest and TikTok was that many of them involved an air fryer. I had never heard of an air fryer before, but as I did more research I realized it might be a great investment to make! The basic concept behind an air fryer is that instead of frying in a pan or baking, the air fryer circulates hot air around the basket where you place the food, in turn making the food crispy. I use my air fryer almost every day, and the possibilities for what you can make in it are endless! Here are my top 10 air fryer recipes.
- Air Fryer French Toast
-
These air fryer french toasts sticks are so good for when you’re craving something sweet in the morning but don’t have a ton of time. You just prepare them like normal french toast, then pop them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 8 minutes and they’re done! These are also great to freeze and heat up in the morning!
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
-
Air fryers are great for sweet things, as well as savory! Air frying vegetables is a great way to ensure you’re eating enough veggies, but making sure they taste good! These particular zucchini chips are breaded, but there are many options for ones without breading if you’re looking for a healthier version. All you need for this recipe is zucchini, egg, breadcrumbs, and whatever seasoning you like. After breading the zucchini chips, air fry them for about 13 minutes and they’re done!
- Crispy Chicken Tenders
-
When I was searching for recipes to make in my air fryer, I was shocked to see that a ton of them used meat! I was a bit wary to try this because I didn’t think that an air fryer could get hot enough to cook meat all the way through. But I tried this recipe and was shocked at how good (and simple) it was! A tip for this recipe is to cut your chicken into smaller pieces because they will cook faster. Once the chicken is breaded, it only takes about 4-5 minutes per side to cook the chicken all the way through.
- Air Fryer Green Bean Fries
-
Green beans are another great vegetable option for the air fryer! This particular recipe mixes ranch into the egg for the breading, giving the green beans even more flavor! Bread the green beans and then pop them into the air fryer for 5 minutes, shaking them around a little in between in order to get all sides crispy.
- Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer French Fries
-
One of my favorite things to make in the air fryer is potatoes because they get so crispy and good! Cutting the potatoes super thin before seasoning them and air frying them helps to get them super crispy. Another tip is to put fewer potatoes in the basket, so they are more exposed to the air. Due to the way an air fryer is designed, the areas that are exposed to the air will get crispy, so they won’t cook as well if they are all on top of each other.
- “Deep Fried” Air Fryer Oreos
-
A classic fair food, fried Oreos are the perfect sweet treat–and you can make them in the air fryer! This particular recipe combines greek yogurt and flour for the dough. After wrapping the Oreo in the dough, place in the air fryer for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for 2 more minutes, and then they are done! Top with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup for a delicious (and easy) treat.
- Crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
-
This is one of my favorite things to make in the air fryer because it is so simple and good! I love tortilla chips from a bag, but these taste so much better! Simply cut tortillas into small triangles, spray with cooking spray, cover with salt, and place in the air fryer. You can either use corn or flour tortillas, but I prefer corn. They come out super crispy and delicious!
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
-
This is a great recipe for a weeknight side dish because it is super easy! Simply coat the potatoes in olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice. I like rosemary and thyme, but you could use any seasoning! Place in the air fryer and cook for about 25 minutes, shaking the basket about three times during the total cooking time. The potatoes should come out crispy and delicious!
- Air Fryer Fried Pickles
-
I love fried pickles, but I had never made them at home before. The air fryer makes it super simple! Similarly to other recipes using vegetables, simply bread the pickles and pop them in the air fryer! I prefer to use dill pickle chips because I think they get crispiest, but you could use any style or flavor of pickle.
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi
-
This is another one of my favorite air fryer recipes because I love the cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. The gnocchi can be microwaved, but air frying it makes it more crispy. It takes a little longer than the microwave, about 15-20 minutes, but I think it is completely worth it! I love topping it with tomato sauce or pesto, and it makes for a great and easy meal!
Getting an air fryer was one of the best purchases I have ever made, and it has made cooking for myself super easy! I highly recommend all of these recipes, and there are tons more out there! Happy cooking!
Want to keep up with HCBU? Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, check out our Pinterest board, and read our latest Tweets!