Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

If you are new to Air Frying I have 20+ Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners! From breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even dessert. If you are looking at buying an Air Fryer, just received one, or maybe have had one I guarantee you will be an air fryer pro in no time!

Chicken in an air fryer, french fries, hot dogs, and pork and green beans with text on image for Pinterest.

If you are new to cooking with an Air Fryer I am here to share with you over 25 Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners. I’m also here to break down the different types of Air Fryers and some common frequently asked questions I get. I’ve been air frying for over two years now. I use my Air Fryer to cook something at almost every meal.

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Types of Air Fryers

There are two types of Air Fryers. You have the air fryer oven and the air fryer basket. Both get the job done, and both can be limited in space and what you can cook. When you are cooking for a family or even simply cooking for others you will want the largest air fryer possible.

I have the following air fryer models:

PowerXL Air Fryer – I have the VORTEX which is more of an oven type that has multiple trays.
Instant™ Vortex™ 5.7-quart Air Fryer which is the basket style and my favorite air fryer by far!
Instant Omni™ Pro 18L Toaster Oven and Air Fryer which is another oven style but also has a toaster oven built in too!

Air Fryer vs Air Fryer Oven

As you read above. I have both a traditional basket Air Fryer and an Air Fryer oven. I get the question a lot about what is an air fryer vs air fryer oven? A traditional Air Fryer is a countertop appliance that has a basket that you place food in. The Air Fryer Oven is more of a toaster oven style that is multi-use.

Air fryers Accessories

Are you looking for Air fryers Accessories? Check out this list of all the accessories that you can either buy or that come with Air Fryers.

Air Fryer Liners – If you want to minimize mess you will want to purchase a pack of the disposable air fryer liners.
Air Fryer Magnetic Cheat Sheet Set – This magnetic cheat sheet can come in very handy and be placed on your refrigerator to be used as a quick reference!
Oil Sprayer for Cooking – This is a must have in the kitchen when using an Air Fryer. You will save money having your own oil spray bottle verse buying the prepackaged. Plus less waste in the landfills!
Silicone Cord Holder – I like to place a silicone cord holder on the back to wrap the cord up nice and neat for storage.
Air Fryer Accessories from COSORI – COSORI is one of the leading Air Fryer companies and they have a set of 6 Accessories that fit for most 5.8Qt and larger fryers. This set includes: Oven Cake & Pizza Pan, Metal Holder, Skewer Rack & Skewers, etc. This set is BPA Free, Nonstick Coating, and Dishwasher Safe.

Air Fryer Questions

Got questions about the Air Fryer? I’m here to answer them!

What is the largest air fryer?

The 2 largest Air Fryers on the market are: Wolfgang Puck 9.7QT Air Fryer Stainless Steel, Large Single Basket Design and Paula Deen HF-9001D Family Size Air Fryer which has a 9.5 quart capacity. According to Consumer Reports though both of these Air Fryers actual quart capacity is around the 8 quart mark.

What is the easiest way to clean an air fryer?

Regardless of what style air fryer you own you will want to clean your air fryer right away. If you have the basket style you need to read the manual to see if you can fully submerge your basket. My Instant Brand basket can not be submerged.

If you have an oven, you will want to unplug it and let it cool down. Once cooled, you can wipe clean with a damp cloth. Then dry before you plug it in to cook again. You can also remove the bottom drip tray and clean that out.

If the basket is full of oil and food, I will put a little dish soap in the bottom of the basket and fill with about 2-3 inches of water to let it soak.

Always, clean your air fryer with a soft sponge that is non-abrasive so that you don’t scratch the non-stick surface. Always rinse well and dry immediately.

What should you not put in an air fryer?

There are a few items you should cook in an air fryer.
– Leafy Greens: These do not cook evenly and shrivel up and burn more then anything.
– Grains: You cannot cook rice or any other grain in the air fryer.
– Cheese: Any food that has an excessive amount of cheese will most likely melt off the food and fall in the drip tray causing not only a big mess for you to clean up, but also could burn.
– Battered Foods: If you have a battered ingredient the batter will most likely drip to the bottom causing the batter to burn and the possibility that your food won’t cook properly.
– Large Meat: Large meat such as a large whole chicken that is over 3 pounds. The chicken will burn before it’s cook through to the middle.

Can you put raw meat in Airfryer?

Yes, it is safe to put raw meat in the airfryer as long as it has been thawed and cooked to safe consumption temperature. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the protein is cooked through.

Top 10 Things to Cook in an Air Fryer

Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances that can make cooking easier and healthier by using less oil. Here are the top 10 things you can cook in an air fryer:

French Fries: Achieve crispy, golden fries with just a fraction of the oil compared to traditional frying methods.
Chicken Wings: Get perfectly crispy and juicy wings without the mess of deep frying.
Vegetable Chips: Make crunchy chips from kale, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and other vegetables.
Mozzarella Sticks: Enjoy gooey, cheesy sticks with a crisp coating, great for appetizers or snacks.
Salmon: Cook tender and flaky salmon fillets with a slight crisp on the outside.
Chicken Tenders: Breaded chicken tenders come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Shrimp: Perfectly cook shrimp for salads, tacos, or as a standalone dish.
Brussels Sprouts: Achieve caramelized, crispy Brussels sprouts with a nutty flavor.
Steak: Cook a juicy steak with a seared exterior, similar to grilling.
Hard-Boiled Eggs: Easily cook hard-boiled eggs with a creamy yolk and perfectly cooked white.

These dishes demonstrate the versatility of an air fryer, making it a useful tool for preparing a wide variety of meals and snacks.

Air Fryer Breakfast

Craving a quick and easy breakfast? Here are a few of my favorite recipes including my absolute favorite way to cook bacon.

Air Fryer Bacon

Square photo of a paper towel lined plate with crispy bacon

Make crispy crunchy bacon in minutes with my easy Air Fryer Bacon recipe. All you need is non-stick cooking spray, bacon, and an Air Fryer to make this recipe.

Types of Air Fryers

Air Fryer vs Air Fryer Oven

Air fryers Accessories

Air Fryer Questions

Top 10 Things to Cook in an Air Fryer

Air Fryer Breakfast

Air Fryer Dinner

Air Fryer Side Dishes

Air Fryer Dessert Recipes

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