Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 16 Best Air Fryer Recipes That Are *Almost* Too Good to Be True Transform dinner with these recipes for air frying anything from sweet potatoes and zucchini to dumplings and meatballs—and yes, even s'mores. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 24, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Greg Dupree Is it possible to fry food using almost no oil...and eat it without needing a nap afterwards? If you've heard anything about the buzziest healthy-cooking appliance, the air fryer, then you know the answer is yes. Technically, air fryers are mini convection ovens, meaning they use convection fans to circulate hot air around foods (think: french fries, chicken wings, crispy Brussels sprouts). This gives them an irresistible fried-like texture with almost no oil. Air fried foods won't taste exactly like their deep-fried counterparts, but they'll have a crispy exterior thanks to the maillard reaction. What's that? The maillard reaction is the scientific name for the reaction taking place between amino acids and/or proteins and sugars when they're heated and transformed into something more delicious, usually meaning the food has browned or become crispy. We're big fans. That's why we've rounded up our best air fryer recipes that are Real Simple favorites. You'll find modified cooking instructions on each slide, but part of the beauty of this appliance is that you can easily pull out the fryer basket at any time to check on your food's cooking process, so don't hesitate to keep a watchful eye on those mozzarella sticks and meatballs. Most foods will brown more evenly if you give them a gentle shake at least once during the cooking process, so keep that in mind. And if you want to try converting a favorite roasting or baking recipe for the air fryer, try cooking the dish at a temp that's 25 degrees cooler than the recipe calls for, and check it halfway through the cooking process—sometimes it'll be perfect long before time is up. Air fryer models vary in size, shape, and technology, so cooking times and temperatures will vary, too. Remember: You only need a tablespoon or two of oil when cooking in an air fryer, so adjust recipe amounts accordingly. Happy air frying! 7 Brilliant Ways to Use Your Air Fryer for Meal Prep 01 of 16 Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas Antonis Achilleos Make chicken pot pie a to-go dish by stuffing all those goodies into an empanada crust that'll turn perfectly crispy in an air fryer. Using store-bought pie crust and rotisserie chicken makes this dish fast and easy to make in your air fryer. To convert the recipe, cook these in your air fryer at 375 degrees F for 12 to 20 minutes, or until the outsides are golden brown and crisp. 02 of 16 Air Fryer S'Mores Jamie Grill/Getty Images You don't need a campfire for an amazing take on the classic s'mores—pop half a graham cracker and a marshmallow into the air fryer at 390 degrees F for six to eight minutes, and top it with chocolate and graham crackers (or any other goodies you want). Get the Recipe 03 of 16 Cheesy Roasted Sweet Potatoes Marcus Nilsson We promise that these air-fried sweet potato fries sprinkled with two kinds of cheese will outshine any basic French fry recipe. Cook in your air fryer at 400 degrees F for 18 to 25 minutes. Give them a toss (and a quick check) at least once midway through cooking. Get the Recipe 04 of 16 Kale Chips Getty Images The air fryer is your secret weapon to turn one of the healthiest superfoods into a crispy (and delicious) snack. Cook them at 375 degrees F for just five minutes—so this is one recipe you can likely whip up for a quick late-night snack. get the recipe 05 of 16 Rosemary Honey Prosciutto Crisps Victor Protasio Give your next charcuterie board an extra punch of flavor with this easy recipe. Pop slices of prosciutto in your air fryer (350 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes), and then slather on rosemary-infused honey to add an extra note of sweetness. Get the Recipe 06 of 16 Poached Eggs Vaaseenaa/Getty Images Air fryers are known for making crispy foods, but they can work just as beautifully for a softer item—like poached eggs. This quick and easy hack makes creating poached eggs for dishes like Eggs Benedict so much easier. Get the Recipe 07 of 16 Ricotta Meatballs Victor Protasio Doubling down on the cheese with a combination of creamy ricotta and salty pecorino allows these delicious homemade meatballs to walk the fine line between rich and intensely savory. Air frying will help them stay on the "lighter" side. Cook them at 375 F for 10 to 15 minutes. Get the Recipe 08 of 16 Baked Eggplant Fries Greg DuPree The key to the coating on these crispy-yet-tender eggplant fries is a bath in frothy egg whites and then a toss in panko or Japanese breadcrumbs. To air fry, cook the eggplant fries at 400 F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they're evenly browned and crisp. Shake the fryer basket halfway through cooking. Get the Recipe 09 of 16 Graham-Crusted Chicken Tenders Caitlin Bensel Let's be honest: Adults and children are allowed to have the same taste in food. Some kids love brie cheese and tuna crudo, so why can't grown-ups get in on the crunchy chicken tender action? This recipe is pretty much perfect for all ages. Try "frying" them at 400 F for 16 to 18 minutes. Make sure to shake halfway through. Get the Recipe 10 of 16 Roasted Cod With Kale Salad Gentl & Hyers Here's one incredibly easy way to cook fish fillets: Season them with salt and pepper, top with crispy Panko bread crumbs and aromatic garlic, then bake in your air fryer at 400 F for about 10 minutes. Serve alongside sautéed kale and fresh-sliced tomatoes with a generous squeeze of lemon. Get the Recipe 11 of 16 Garlic-Roasted Potatoes Greg DuPree After just 15 minutes of chopping and prep work, you'll toss these delicious garlic-scented spuds in your air fryer basket at 350 F for 18 to 25 minutes. How easy is that? Just make sure not to forget to give them a shake halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning. Get the Recipe 12 of 16 Easy Pork Dumplings Greg DuPree To make these better-than-takeout pork dumplings in an air fryer, cook them at 375 F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they're lightly browned and crispy. Turn halfway through. Get the Recipe 13 of 16 Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders Greg DuPree Cooking these chicken strips in the air fryer instead of the deep fryer gives the finger food staple a healthy twist, and using panko bread crumbs makes for an extra crispy exterior that won't get soggy when sitting out. To air fry, cook at 400 F for 10 to 15 minutes and shake halfway through. Get the Recipe 14 of 16 Crispy Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta and Lemon Anna Williams We couldn't give you a roundup of air fryer recipes without a little browned Brussels sprouts number. This delicious side dish packs an umami-rich punch, thanks to a generous portion of pancetta, which also helps the Brussels caramelize. Air fry at 375 F for 8 to 12 minutes, and be sure to shake halfway through to help them brown evenly. Get the Recipe 15 of 16 Cornmeal-Crusted Mozzarella Sticks Greg DuPree These crispy, melty mozzarella sticks were made for air frying. Cook them at 400 F for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the outside is nicely crisp. Shake the fryer basket halfway through. Get the Recipe 16 of 16 Roasted Zucchini Brett Stevens/Getty Images With just two ingredients—zucchini and olive oil—you can have a healthy, seasonal side dish on the table in less than 15 minutes. Air fry the diced zucchini at 350 F for 8 to 12 minutes, tossing halfway through. To add some extra flavor, feel free to shower it with fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, or toasted bread crumbs. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit