These easy Air Fryer recipes for beginners are perfect for all air fryer lovers! Quick prep, simple ingredients and big flavor!
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Sometimes getting a new kitchen appliance can be intimidating, and I’m here to tell you that the air fryer is easy to use and perfect for cooks of all skill levels!
These Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners will show you that you can cook almost anything in the air fryer and you can get great results even when you’re just starting out (and you can ditch the deep fryer!).
These easy recipes use simple ingredients and don’t require a lot of prep.
They’re perfect when you’re just getting used to your air fryer!
Tips for cooking with an air fryer:
- Think of your air fryer as a countertop convection oven — it can do many of the same things!
- Most air fryers need to be preheated just like your oven. Check your manufacturer’s guide for instructions, but a good a rule of thumb is 5-10 minutes at the temperature you’ll be cooking at.
- Similar to cooking in the oven on convection mode, cooking in the air fryer is even faster than cooking in a regular oven. Some foods will cook up to twice as fast, so don’t be afraid to open up the basket and have a peek.
- Cooking in a single layer is best when possible, because it will allow the food to cook and brown evenly.
- Avoid aerosol non stick spray as it can damage your non stick basket. Opt instead for a brush of olive oil or other oil spray.
Air Fryer Recipes FAQs
You can use any tool in your air fryer that you can use in your oven — that means, parchment paper, foil, baking pans and casserole dishes or ramekins are all fair game!
An air fryer essentially has two important pieces: a heating element and a fan. When you put food into the basket (or on the racks, in an oven-style air fryer) and turn it on, the element heats and the fan forces the air around. This results in more even browning that other cooking methods, but with less oil for and a shorter bake time.
That depends on what you like! Our two favorites are Air Fryer Chicken Breast and Air Fryer Baked Potatoes — both recipes are below!
That depends on what you like! We have tried three or four different air fryers over the years, we found that we prefer the basket style over the oven style with the racks. We now own two Chefman air fryers, a 3.7 quart TurboFry and an XL 8 quart TurboFry. We love them both!
The BEST Air fryer recipes for beginners:
When you don’t know where to start, start here!
These are easy air fryer recipes that anyone can master, and will give you the confidence to try even more recipes!
From easy weeknight dinners, to healthy recipes the family will love, the air fryer is going to be your new favorite kitchen gadget 😉.
This Air Fryer Chicken Breast is so moist and flavorful! Made with a simple seasoning rub and cooked to golden perfection. Cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer is now our favorite way!
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are the real deal! They are fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and they cook in less time than if you’d baked them. An added bonus? You don’t have to heat the whole oven just to make a few potatoes in this air fryer version.
The air fryer is now our favorite way to cook meatballs! Can you believe you can make meatballs in the air fryer in just 7 minutes?
And check out that golden crust! This is one of our favorite easy air fryer meals.
When you’re going for potato wedges that are crispy on the outside, you can’t beat the air fryer! These air fryer potato wedges require no pre-cooking, just soak, dry, season and cook for perfectly dunkable potatoes. This healthier take on french fries will definitely satisfy!
When you don’t feel like starting up the grill, these Air Fryer Burgers are the perfect alternative! They have a crispy exterior but they stay so juicy on the inside. Perfectly seasoned and SO flavorful!
Making frozen french fries in the air fryer is a great way just to try it out without worrying about ruining dinner. These Air Fryer French Fries are foolproof because all you have to do is heat and crisp! Once you start cooking French Fries in the air fryer you’ll never go back 😉
When you need a few more veggies in your life, the air fryer is the best way to cook them. Check out the browned edges on these Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts!
And if you’re more of a tots person? These Air Fryer Tater Tots are another recipe that’s perfect for beginners because there’s no room for error — just cook until crispy!
Looking for something healthier? This Air Fryer Salmon is simply seasoned and cooks quickly, meaning you can have dinner on the table in about 12 minutes!
These Air Fryer Potatoes are so crispy I may never roast potatoes again. With a golden crust and a tender flesh, these potatoes cook in about half the time as they do in the oven! Crispy foods are some of the best ones to make in the air fryer. Plus, there are so many different ways to serve them!
Can you believe this Air Fryer Asparagus is ready in just 7 minutes? Perfectly cooked and full of flavor.
You’re a dark meat lover? Check out these Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs! Simple but flavorful, they cook in under 15 minutes! This makes for such juicy chicken.
When you don’t feel like messing around with water on the stove, these air fryer eggs will be perfectly cooked in under 20 minutes! Easy peel and no fuss. These are a great option for weekday meal prep!
Because crispy bacon is the only way! Air Fryer Bacon is perfect for eating on its own or garnished salads, pasta, pizza and more. No smoking or burning!
When you want a quick veggie side for any meal, it’s Air Fryer Green Beans to the rescue! Ready in less than 10 minutes, they add color and flavor to any plate.
Air Fryer Nachos have got to be one of the best recipes for beginners! Since nothing needs to be cooked through and we’re essentially just melting cheese on chips, anyone can do it. It’s the perfect recipe if you’re just getting started! Grab some tortilla chips and your favorite toppings.
Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners
written by Ashley Fehr
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jess says
I was just talking about this with my roommates and I didnt know that we could hard boil eggs in the air fryer – that is a game changer!
The Recipe Rebel says
Definitely a game changer!
Trang says
Thank you for compiling this list! We just got our air fryer so we haven’t been able to try every single recipe but so far the salmon, burgers and fries have been a hit with the family!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Trang! Hope you enjoy them!
Taylor says
So many delicious recipes, thank you! Can’t wait to try those meatballs and brussels sprouts 🙂
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Taylor! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this review!
Julie Ryberg says
Just got my first air fryer and will be making the burgers tomorrow with a lot more to follow! Thank you for all you do, and Happy New Year!
The Recipe Rebel says
How you enjoy them Julie! Happy New Year!
Sherri yoder says
Looks great
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks Sherri! Hope you get to try some of them!