What Falls Food Can You Make in an Air Fryer?

For my birthday, my boyfriend got me an air-fryer from Walmart. Luckily, they were having a sale and it only cost $50. I’ve had so much fun making yummy food that I used to feel guilty about — and now I  actually get to enjoy it. An air-fryer uses 70 percent to 80 percent less oil than a traditional deep fryer, but still gives you the same crispiness. Now, you can make french fries without dealing with the leftover oil and greasy residue left on the fries. Also, air-fryers don’t require pre-heating either, saving you some time. If you don’t like fried food, you can make all types of foods in an air-fryer besides just fried food. Here are a few fall recipes I’ve tried out and loved. I got these from The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook by Linda Larsen.

Breakfast

Asparagus Strata

Prep Time: 12 minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes

Ingredients:

6 asparagus spears, cut into 2-inch pieces

2 slices of bread, cut into ½-inch cubes

4 eggs

3 tablespoons milk

½ cup grated cheese (usually Havarti or Swiss)

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Pinch salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Place the pieces of asparagus in an oven-safe 6-inch pan with 1 tablespoon of water. Set fryer to 330 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes

2. Place bread cubes into a pan

3. Mix eggs, cheese and seasonings

4. Pour into pan

5. Set fryer to 330 degrees and cook for 11 to 14 minutes

Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in a microwave. Cover the piece of asparagus strata with a moist paper towel and cook until heated. 

Cranberry Beignets

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1½ cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons brown sugar

⅓ cup chopped dried cranberries

½ cup buttermilk

1 egg

3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Instructions:

1. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, sugar and dried cranberries

2. In a separate bowl stir eggs and buttermilk

3. Combine wet and dry mixtures until a dough is formed

4. Cut 16 8 by 8 inch squares.

5. Brush on a thin layer of melted butter to each square

6. Place in air-fryer, not letting the squares touch at 330 degrees and cook for 5 to 8 minutes each

7. Dust powdered sugar on them when ready to serve

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Lunch

Mushroom Pita Pizzas

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

4 (3-inch) pitas

1 tablespoon olive oil

¾ cup pizza sauce

1 (4-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained

½ teaspoon basil

2 green onions, minced

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup sliced grape tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Brush the pita bread with oil and top with sauce

2. Add toppings

3. Set to 330 degrees and cook for 5 minutes

Yellow Squash Fritters

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 egg, beaten

½ teaspoon oregano

Pinch salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 medium yellow squash, grated

⅓ cup grated carrot

⅔ cup breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

1. Mix ingredients, adding breadcrumbs after everything else has been combined

2. Make ½ inch thick patties using 2 tablespoons of mixture. Brush fritters with oil

3. Set to 340 degrees and cook for 7 to 9 minutes   

Appetizers

Curried Sweet Potato Fries

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup sour cream

½ cup mango chutney

3 teaspoons curry powder, divided

4 cups frozen sweet potato fries

1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:

1. Mix the sour cream, chutney and ONLY 1 ½ teaspoon of curry powder

2. Coat fries in oil and remaining curry powder

3. Set to 390 degrees and cook for 12 minutes

4. Serve with dipping mixture on the side

These were my absolute favorite! I love sweet potato fries, and this curry sauce was delicious. I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture! 

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Dinner

Roasted Veggie Chicken Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 small red onion, sliced

1 orange bell pepper, sliced

1 cup sliced yellow squash

4 tablespoons honey mustard salad dressing, divided

½ teaspoon thyme

½ cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Place chicken and vegetables in a bowl

2. Toss in ONLY 1 tablespoon of dressing and thyme

3. Set to 400 degrees and cook for 13 minutes (Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees)

4. In a new bowl add fried mixture, remaining dressing, mayonnaise and lemon juice

5. Serve with or without lettuce

Unstuffed Cabbage

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1½ cups chopped green cabbage

16 precooked frozen meatballs

1 cup frozen cooked rice

2 tomatoes, chopped

½ teaspoon dried marjoram

Pinch salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Coat chopped onions with oil.

2. Place in an oven-safe container set fryer at 370 degrees and cook for 3 minutes

3. Add remaining ingredients and cook for 14 minutes, stirring once halfway through

Dessert

Apple Peach Cranberry Crisp

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

1 apple, peeled and chopped

2 peaches, peeled and chopped

⅓ cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons honey

⅓ cup brown sugar

¼ cup flour

½ cup oatmeal

3 tablespoons softened butter

Instructions:

1. In an oven-safe 6-inch pan combine apple, peaches, cranberries and honey (mix well)

2. In a separate container mix the rest of the ingredients into a crumble

3. Sprinkle crumble over the fruit

4. Set at 380 degrees and cook for 12 minutes. Serve warm.

Air fryers are super easy to utilize and have multiple uses beyond just fried food. We definitely recommend getting one and trying out any (or all) of these yummy recipes!

• cooking
• fall
• food
• kitchen