I also make desserts in my air fryer, like molten lava cakes and apple hand pies .
When everyone else was buying air fryers years ago, I held out. I still hauled out my deep-fat fryer and gallons of oil or wrestled with various frying pans and griddles.
Eventually, though, I gave in and bought a Gourmia 7-quart digital air fryer — I was astounded and delighted by how easy it was to use. Now, I love cooking with the appliance so much that I've even bought a second one.
From breakfast to dessert, here are some of my favorite things to make in an air fryer .
Stuffed portobello mushrooms make for a quick, tasty dinner.
Aefa Mulholland
There's no end to the list of things you can pile on a portobello cap and pop in the air fryer.
A recipe from the blog Spend With Pennies pairs them with cheddar and bacon, but I know some people swear by spinach and cream cheese or garlic and Parmesan. I've also been inspired by crab-stuffed mushrooms with Gouda or ones that are a play on French onion soup.
I make mine with whatever I have on hand, but I particularly liked the batch I made with feta, cheddar, spinach, artichokes, breadcrumbs, and lemon.
I pop the caps in the air fryer for a few minutes, gill-side down, to let any water drain out before flipping them and adding toppings.
Breaded or panko-crusted shrimp turns out incredibly well in an air fryer.
Panko-crusted shrimp is an incredibly easy appetizer and can be rustled up in minutes. Aefa Mulholland
There are tons of recipes out there for air-fried breaded shrimp.
I prefer mine served with a hint of heat, like the "bang bang" shrimp recipe from the recipe blog Stay Snatched . I also like the shrimp paired with lemon aioli.
Setting up a three-bowl dipping station is the best way to bread the shrimp quickly and efficiently — one bowl for flour, one for a whisked egg (sometimes I add mustard or mayo), and one for panko.
However, I've also made crispy shrimp by simply dipping lightly oiled shrimp in panko before tossing them in the air fryer.
I put nut-crusted chicken on the menu again and again.
Aefa Mulholland
Air-fried, nut-crusted chicken comes out moist, delicious, and with a perfect crust in just 20 minutes.
Depending on what kind of air fryer you have, it might take a little more or less time — I've found my basket air fryer cooks faster and my convection-oven air fryer takes slightly longer.
The blog Where Is My Spoon has a delicious, easy recipe for panko-breaded chicken. I adapted it by using half crushed nuts and half panko and adding smoked paprika and Parmesan for extra flavor.
Crab cakes with fire-roasted green chiles are my favorite appetizer.
Aefa Mulholland
Crab cakes are one of the tastiest things I've cooked since getting an air fryer.
I followed a Food Network recipe , substituting a can of fire-roasted green chiles and chipotle powder for the listed chipotle chiles and adobo sauce, just for convenience.
A creamy, lemony chipotle sauce is the perfect accompaniment. It's so tangy and delicious that I could drink it.
Crispy tofu can be made with or without cornstarch.
Aefa Mulholland
I like the simple recipe for cornstarch-free, garlic-and-soy sauce tofu on the blog Live Eat Learn . It reminded me how much better the texture is after pressing the moisture out of the tofu before cooking (I used a heavy Dutch oven to squash my block).
I've also made crispy fried tofu with a ginger, tamari, and garlic marinade, finished with sesame seeds for extra crunch. The resulting tangy saltiness makes it a good bacon substitute for vegetarians and a delicious addition to Buddha bowls.
Corn "ribs" are an excellent air-fried option for vegetarians.
Aefa Mulholland
You can make corn "ribs" in an air fryer using all sorts of recipes.
I've used one from the blog Plant Based Folk . These corn "ribs" can be paired with elote-style seasoning, barbecue sauce, or even masala spice for an Indian-inspired take on the trend.
Pro tip: Microwave the cobs for seven to nine minutes before cutting them to make quartering easier.
Every batch of Buffalo cauliflower I make is devoured almost immediately in my house.
Aefa Mulholland
Buffalo cauliflower "wings" are a top choice any night of the week — it takes just 15 minutes to make crispy, spicy florets.
Simply whisk hot sauce, oil, garlic powder, and salt, and use the mixture to coat the cauliflower before tossing it into a single layer in the air fryer. I found the recipe I usually follow on Live Eat Learn .
Serve with blue cheese or another creamy dip.
Grilled cheese is a quick, simple air-fryer favorite.
Aefa Mulholland
Air-fried grilled cheese is a good, quick lunch. Larger air fryers easily fit a few sandwiches, or you can chop them into half-sized sandwiches to cram more in a smaller basket.
My favorite grilled cheese is a take on a recipe from The Kitchn , but with added apple slices.
I also love rustling up any cheese and jam, jelly, or fruit combination; a current favorite is ham, cheddar, and banana.
Pro tip: Cook at a lower temperature until the cheese melts, and then turn the heat up to toast the bread for an extra few minutes.
I throw garlic in alongside whatever vegetables I'm roasting.
Aefa Mulholland
Cooking garlic in the air fryer takes half as long as cooking it in a regular oven.
One writer from the blog Tasty Oven suggests slicing off the bottom of each head of garlic, cooking a big batch, and freezing the extras.
I like cooking the heads alongside roasted vegetables such as honeyed parsnips or carrots and then crushing the cloves to make garlic bread .
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