Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 13 Best Air Fryer Recipes That Are *Almost* Too Good to Be True Transform dinner with these recipes for air frying anything from broccoli and zucchini to dumplings and meatballs. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is a food writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience working on titles such as Food Network Magazine, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping. She is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and is currently overseeing all food and nutritional content for Well+Good as senior food editor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 10, 2022 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 13 of 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. 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 13 Roasted Broccoli and White Bean Salad With Dijon-Caper Dressing Con Poulos This recipe tastes equally delicious, but it can be made so much faster when you roast the broccoli in your air fryer. Rather than waiting ages for your full-size oven to preheat, simply turn the dial on your air fryer to 425 F and cook the broccoli for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through. When the spears are lightly golden brown and crisp on the outside, toss them with the beans, greens, and fresh herbs before mixing with your homemade mustard dressing. 02 of 13 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 03 of 13 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 04 of 13 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 05 of 13 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 06 of 13 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 07 of 13 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 08 of 13 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 09 of 13 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 10 of 13 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 11 of 13 Spiced Beef Empanadas With Lime Sour Cream Con Poulos A slightly tart creamy dip balances out handheld empanadas filled with a delicious mixture of ground beef, raisins, onion, and cinnamon. Cook these in your air fryer at 375 F for 12 to 20 minutes, or until the outsides are golden brown and crisp. 12 of 13 Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Lime and Cilantro Danny Kim We promise that these air-fried sweet potato fries dusted with lime zest and fresh cilantro will outshine any basic French fry recipe. Cook in your air fryer at 375 F for 18 to 25 minutes. Give them a toss at least once midway through cooking. 13 of 13 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