I'm a chef who loves using my air fryer. Here are my 8 favorite meals to make in it.
As a chef, I use my air fryer often to make easy, delicious meals.
Some of my best air-fryer meals are grilled cheese, chicken Parmesan, and crispy tofu.
I also like to air fry salmon, steak, or a whole chicken for an impressive meal.
As a trained chef, I keep my air fryer on the counter at all times and use it for a variety of things, including toasting bread and re-crisping leftovers.
Air fryers work like tiny, mighty convection ovens, which makes them highly versatile and efficient for many dishes you know and love.
If you're considering investing in a new countertop appliance or just looking to expand your repertoire beyond wings, these are some of my favorite things to make in an air fryer.
Air-fried halloumi can be the star of a salad.
I can't get enough halloumi.
Yes, it tastes like salty rubber. To me, though, it's the best, most satisfying rubber — especially when it's crispy on the outside and gooey in the center, fresh from the air fryer.
For lunch or a light dinner, I'll slice up a loaf of halloumi, spray it with cooking spray, and air fry it for five or six minutes until it has some color on the edges.
I'll toss the hot cheese on a salad made with anything in my fridge for a fast vegetarian meal.
Salmon fillets cook nicely in an air fryer.
Cooking salmon in an air fryer is ideal because the fish's higher fat content makes it better insulated and, therefore, harder to overcook than more delicate options such as cod or bass.
I recommend air frying individual fillets of similar sizes rather than a larger side of salmon, as these cook faster and more evenly.
Top your fillets with anything you like, such as fresh lemon wheels or a dry spice rub, then air fry for seven to nine minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the fish is flaky and firm in the center.
As a bonus, toss a quick-cooking veggie such as broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus into the air-fryer basket alongside the salmon.
There are so many ways to dress up a grilled cheese.
There's no better lazy dinner than a gooey grilled cheese. Plus, when you make it in an air fryer, you get to skip the flipping and babysitting.
Just assemble your sandwich as you like — don't hold back on spreads and add-ins such as fig jam, pesto, thinly sliced apples, hot sauce, or asparagus.
Add plenty of your favorite melty cheese (my pick is sharp cheddar), and smush everything between bread. The cheese should get nice and gooey, and the bread should turn golden in about 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chicken Parmesan turns out nicely in an air fryer.
The key to juicy and tender air-fryer chicken Parmesan is using thinly sliced boneless chicken breasts that have been cut in half horizontally.
Dip each piece in flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs to coat. (For a lighter version, skip the breading.)
Air fry your chicken for about five minutes per side at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, add a spoonful of marinara sauce and a few slabs of fresh mozzarella to each piece. Cook for another few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
I like to serve chicken Parmesan with garlic bread, but pasta also works.
Prepare all components of your steak frites in an air fryer.
If you want the experience of an elegant French bistro without the price tag, your air fryer is your best friend.
Using an air fryer is the best way to make fries at home — plus, you can take a shortcut and use frozen ones.
Start by cooking your steaks to your desired doneness. For a 1-inch New York strip to become medium rare, it can take about six minutes per side at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the steaks rest, toss your fries into the basket and cook them at the same temperature for about 10 minutes or until they're golden and crisp.
It's easy to make shrimp rice bowls.
Shrimp cook quickly with most methods, but the air fryer frees up your hands so you can prepare other elements for a rice bowl.
Though you can use any seasonings and toppings, I like to go for a burrito-inspired dish.
First, I toss shrimp with taco seasoning or a homemade spice blend of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Large peeled and deveined shrimp can cook in about five minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
While they cook, I dice tomatoes and avocados and mince fresh cilantro. Once everything is ready, pile it onto white or brown rice. I like to flavor mine with lime.
I make crispy tofu in my air fryer.
For a delicious tofu dish that will turn skeptics into fans, use your air fryer.
The key is to remove as much moisture from the tofu as possible before cooking it.
Slice the tofu into planks, wrap them in a clean dish towel, and press them under something heavy, like a can of tomatoes, for at least 30 minutes. Then cut the planks into cubes and toss them in a light dusting of cornstarch — this really helps the tofu crisp up.
Before air frying, coat them in a sauce. I like teriyaki, either store-bought or made with soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar. You could just as easily use barbecue, Buffalo, or chimichurri sauce.
Your tofu should become crispy and golden in about eight minutes in a 400-degree Fahrenheit air fryer. After cooking, you can add more sauce for extra moisture and flavor.
It's possible to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer.
It's impressive to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, and I think it's easier than using an oven. Most 6-quart basket-style fryers can hold a 4-pound chicken.
After patting your bird dry, rub it with your preferred spice mix, and be sure to use plenty of salt. I like to use garlic, rosemary, and olive oil. You can stuff the cavity with fresh herbs and a halved lemon for extra moisture and flavor as well.
Air fry the bird for half an hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, flip, and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes, increasing the temp to 400 degrees for the last 10 if you like a crispy skin.
The chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Let it rest for five to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
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