Quick and Delicious Weekday Air Fryer Recipes for Busy Nights
- Erika Doty
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
Oh my gosh! I had no idea how much of my adult life would revolve around planning what is for dinner, buying the ingredients for dinner, cooking the dinner, cleaning up after the dinner...I'm exhausted and annoyed just thinking about it.
Enter the Air Fryer.
This little countertop appliance has saved an evening or two in my household. So easy to use - literally dump the food in a push some buttons. And super easy to clean! Any foods that you want hot AND crispy...the air fryer is the answer.
Air fryers are all the rage these days. There a million different recipes out there. But we don't want to mess with the millions. We don't have time to figure out what's good and what's not. So we asked our Babble community for their favorite go-to air fryer recipes for weeknight dinners. Check out the list below. We also included a list of our favorite air fryers (in case you don't already have one).
If you have an air fryer recipe you can't wait to share with the Babble-verse, send it to us: erika@babblewithbrooke.com.
Sausage & Veggies
Ingredients:
Pre-cooked chicken sausage (I used Trader Joe’s but Aidells is also a great brand)
Brussels sprouts-
Bell pepper
Red onion
Avocado oil or olive oil
Sea salt and pepper
Italian seasoning
Directions:
The most difficult part is chopping the veggies! You will also sliced up the sausage into 1/2 inch rounds. Toss and coat with oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Toss it all into your air fryer!
I did not even divide up into batches, it all fit snuggly and still worked perfectly. You will cook at 390 for 15 minutes, opening at the 10 minute mark to toss around.
You end up with nicely browned veggies and sausage!
Pork Cutlets
Ingredients:
4 thin sliced lean pork sirloin cutlets
Seasoned salt (adobo)
2 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon sazon seasoning
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
Olive oil spray
Lime wedges for serving
Directions:
Season cutlets with seasoned salt. Place breadcrumbs in a shallow dish, in another beat egg whites with sazon seasoning mixed in. Dip cutlets in egg whites, then breadcrumbs. Preheat air fryer to400, then place cutlets in a single layer, spray with olive oil. Air fry for 4 minutes, flip, spray other side and air fry for another 4 minutes. Top with lim juice before serving.
Sazon Seasoning: Mix together 1 Tablespoon of each of the following: ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, garlic powder, salt. Then add 2 Tablespoons oregano and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Store in a small jar.
Nachos!
We want those nachos crispy not soggy! Cook them in your air fryer!
Ingredients:
2 to 3 cups tortilla chips
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 green onion sliced, whites and greens separated
¼ cup sliced black olives
½ cup diced fresh tomatoes
¼ cup diced jalapeños optional
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro optional
Directions:
Place the tortilla chips in a single layer in the air fryer basket making sure to overlap the chips so there are no gaps between them. Top the chips with half of the cheese and whites of the green onion. Add another layer of chips. Top with remaining cheese, green onions, jalapenos, and black olives (if using). Place in the air fryer to 320°F and cook the nachos for 3-5 minutes or until cheese has melted. Remove from the basket and top with diced tomatoes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
Salmon Fish Sticks
I discovered this recipe in the first SkinnyTaste cookbook I ever purchased: SkinnyTaste One & Done. I love a lot of the recipes in this cookbook, but this is one of my family's favorites!
Ingredients:
Sauce:
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
juice of 1/2 lime
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon chile-lime seasoning salt (like Tajin Clasico)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Fish Sticks:
1 3/4 pounds skinless salmon fillets, about 1-inch thick
2 teaspoons chile-lime seasoning salt
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh dill
2 large egg whites
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons panko bread crumbs (regular or gluten-free)
Directions:
Sauce: Combine all ingredients in small bowl and set aside.
Fish Sticks: Cut the salmon into 16 sticks that are about 4x1 inches. Season the fish with 1 teaspoon of the chile-lime salt and all the dill. Place the egg whites in a shallow bowl. In a second shallow bowl, combine the panko and remaining 1 teaspoon chile-lime salt. Dredge each piece of fish first in the egg whites, then the panko mixture, shaking off any excess as you go.
Preheat air fryer to 400. Add just enough breaded fish sticks to the air fryer basket to make a single layer without crowing. Cook for 8 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp. repeat with more batches as needed. Serve hot with the dipping sauce.
Pistachio Crusted Chicken Cutlets
Another family favorite brought to us by SkinnyTaste - this time from her SkinnyTaste Air Fryer Dinners cookbook. This recipe is seriously so easy, but tastes like you slaved away all day in the kitchen.
Ingredients:
1 lemon
1 cup raw unsalted pistachios
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
Salt & Pepper to taste
olive oil spray
Side Salad (optional): arugula, olive oil, shaved parmesan and salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Grate the zest from half the lemon and place on a large plate. Juice half the lemon then cut the other half into wedges, set aside. Pulse pistachios in a food processor a few times until they become course crumbs. Transfer to the plate with the lemon zest and mix.
Once at a time, press the cutlets into the nut mixture until completely covered on both sides. Spritz with oil spray. Air fry at 380 for about 3 minute per side.
For Salad: Toss together arugula, olive oil, reserved lemon juice, salt and pepper. When plating the salad, top with parmesan. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Classic From-Scratch Chicken Nuggets
Air fryers are AMAZING at heating up the frozen nuggets we all buy in the freezer section. But sometimes we want the fresh, real thing (and it's literally so easy, I don't know why we don't do this more often). Here is my go-to, made-from-scratch air fryer nugget recipe:
Ingredients:
1 large egg, beaten
6 Tablespoons Italian-seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs
2 Tablespoons panko bread crumbs
2 Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt + black pepper to taste
Olive oil spray
Directions:
Preheat air fryer to 400. Put egg in shallow bowl. In separate bowl combine the bread crumbs, panko and parmesan. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Working in batches, dredge the pieces first in the gg, then in the bread-crumb mixture. Put them on a work surface and spray with oil.
Add chicken pieces to air fryer basket to make a single layer (don't over-crowd) and cook for 6-8 minutes, turning halfway. Repeat as needed with more batches.
Chicken Wings
This was the literal first thing I ever made in my air fryer - the recipe that convinced me I had made an excellent purchase with my air fryer. My family requests these wings all the time!
Adapted from SkinnyTaste One & Done
Ingredients:
3 garlic cloves
1-inch piece fresh ginger
1/4 cup chopped onion
4 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 Tablespoons gochujang
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
About a dozen chicken wings
Olive oil spray
Directions:
In a small blender, combine the first 8 ingredients, processing until smooth. Pour into a large ziplock bag and add chicken wings. Marinate for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Preheat air fryer to 400. Spray the basket with oil. Place wings in baskets in a single layer without crowding (will need to cook in batches). Air fry 16-18 minutes, turning halfway.
Potatoes!
Baked Potatoes
Use a fork to poke 5-10 holes all over each potato to allow steam to escape and prevent bursting.
Place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 5-8 minutes (turning halfway) until tender when pierced with a knife.
Carefully remove the hot potatoes. Rub with olive oil (or avocado oil) and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Place in the air fryer basket at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Blooming Baked Potato
Cut slits across the top (not all the way through), brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, garlic powder and paprika. Then air fry at 400 degrees for about 35-40 minutes until golden and crispy.
Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
Baby potatoes (Yukon gold)
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon dried herbs
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
Wash and pat dry potatoes – don’t peel. Preheat air fryer. Place potatoes in air fryer in a single layer, spray with olive oil and air fry at 400F 12-15 minutes (until tender). In small bowl mix remaining ingredients together. Remove from air fryer, then using a bowl or cup, smash the potatoes until flat but don’t press so hard they fall apart. Brush potatoes with herb mixture, on both sides, then return to air fryer and cook for 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.
Option: drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Tortellini Alfredo Bake & Roasted Garlic Broccoli
Ingredients:
1 head broccoli, cut in 1/2-inch florets
1 Tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 jar (15 ounces) alfredo sauce
3/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 pound plain tortellini
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 sprigs fresh basil, torn
Directions:
In a medium bowl, toss broccoli with olive oil, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt.
In separate bowl, whisk together alfredo sauce, water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and half the mozzarella cheese.
Place tortellini and sauce in the zone 1 basket (without a crisper plate installed). Sprinkle the panko bread crumbs and remaining mozzarella evenly over the top, then insert basket in unit. Install a crisper plate in the zone 2 basket, then place broccoli in the basket and insert basket in unit.
Bake zone 1 at 350 for 15 minutes; roast zone 2 at 400 for 15 minutes.
Can add cooked chicken for additional protein.
A Whole Chicken (Yes! Really!)
Ingredients:
1 whole chicken, about 3-4 pounds
Olive Oil and/or cooking spray
1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅙ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Directions:
Ensure the cavity of the chicken is empty and dab the skin dry.
Rub the skin with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning.
Place the chicken breast-side down into the air fryer basket. Turn the air fryer on to 350°F.
Cook for 30 minutes, flip the chicken over and cook for 20-30 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reaches 165°F.
Remove from the air fryer and rest 10 minutes before cutting.
Adapted from Spend With Pennies.
Fried Chicken
I honestly can't think of another way to prepare fried chicken that is as good and as easy to prepare and clean up as fried chicken in an air fryer. Just use your go-to fried chicken recipe and instead of frying it up in oil on the stove (and making a giant mess) pop it into your air fryer. You'll never go back.
Our Favorite Fried Chicken Recipe for the Air Fryer
Ingredients:
4-6 chicken thighs (with bone and skin)
Juice from 1 lemon
Salt and Pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried herb blend
Directions:
Season chicken with juice of lemon and season with spices. Rub well all over then transfer to air fryer. Spray with olive oil and air fry 400 degrees for 24 minutes, flipping halfway.
Alternative:
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs + 2 eggs whites + 2 cup breadcrumbs + all above ingredients
Mix together egg whites and lemon juice in shallow dish. In another shallow dish, mix together breadcrumbs and spices. Pat chicken with paper towel. Dredge chicken in egg/juice mix then in breadcrumb mixture. Place in air fryer, spray with olive oil and air fry 400 degrees for 22 minutes, flipping halfway.
Other Reasons I Cannot Live Without My Air Fryer
Any time we need to cook something we want crispy, not soggy or chewy from the microwave, we use our air fryer. Some of our favorites:
Reheated pizza - you'll never reheat pizza any other way again!
Any frozen food that you want crispy like nuggets, pizza rolls, fries, breakfast potatoes, corn dogs
Bacon - it can be so messy, and even though the oven method is great, it can take time to preheat that thing. Use your air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 11-12 minutes (check halfway through).
Air Fryer Cheat Sheet
This was sent to me by a friend who uses her air fryer weekly, if not daily.
Our Favorite Air Fryer Appliances
Our Place Wonder Air Fryer
Cosori
Several Babble Panel members have air fryers by this brand and all are happy with them.
Ninja
They made several different versions and, again, many on the Babble Panel have Ninja Air Fryers. All are happy with their performance.
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