Indulge Without Guilt: 50 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes to Try (2024)

There’s a reason everyone loves fried foods – they’re crispy and delicious! However, deep fried foods can result in diabetes, heart disease, weight gain and other adverse health effects. Using an air fryer is a healthy alternative that allows you to get the flavour and texture of deep fried foods without all the risks. We’ve rounded up 50 healthy air fryer recipes you can work into your meal plan for healthy fried food that’s just as delicious as the real thing!

What Is An Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that fry foods by circulating hot air around the food to produce a crunchy, crispy exterior. It’s essentially a countertop convection oven that makes cooking faster, easier and more delicious.

Air fryers fry foods with considerably less oil than traditional deep fryers (one teaspoon versus three or more cups), while still delivering the same taste and texture. You can use an air fryer to pretty much replicate any deep fried food you can think of, such as French fries, chicken fingers and crispy vegetables.

Are Air Fryers Healthy?

Air fried foods are a healthy alternative to deep fried foods, since they have a lower fat content and calorie count. With an air fryer, all you need is a teaspoon of oil, compared to completely submerging food in up to 3 to 6 cups of oil like you would with a deep fryer. Using an air fryer can cut the fat content of fried foods up to 75 percent and also decrease calories that lead to weight gain.

5 Best Foods to Cook in an Air Fryer

1. Chicken
There are plenty of ways to use an air fryer to cook chicken. Whether you’re in the mood for chicken wings, chicken nuggets, or chicken breast with vegetables, an air fryer is the perfect way to get your chicken nice and crisp!

2. Potatoes
From breakfast potatoes to homemade potato chips to French fries, potatoes are one of the most popular foods to make in an air fryer. It will give your potatoes the nice crisp you’re looking for, adding a delicious side to your meal! Side note: You can also make other types of chips like kale chips in an air fryer!

50 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes We Love

These air fryer recipes are going to make a great addition to your meal plan round up! Add them in for a healthy, delicious and crispy addition to your meals!

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Indulge Without Guilt: 50 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes to Try (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat healthy with an air fryer? ›

Lean into plant foods like fruits, vegetables, herbs, legumes and nuts. You can use your air fryer to "sauté" greens like kale and Swiss chard, "roast" vegetables including carrots, asparagus and Brussels sprouts and "bake" lean cuts of protein like boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

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What is the healthiest fryer? ›

Generally, when compared to deep frying, the air fryer is a healthier option because it contributes fewer calories to the finished product and can result in less inflammation, potentially decreasing the risk for chronic disease down the line.

Are air fryers just for junk food? ›

Myth 3.

Think air fryers are just for cooking chips, nuggets and other frozen foods? Think again! "Air fryers can be used for cooking similar foods to what you cook in the oven, like roasting and grilling meats, vegetables, nuts and even reheating," Fiona explains.

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Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

Air fryers, once hailed as a kitchen revolution, are now being sidelined by some users. But why are people getting rid of air fryers? This concise exploration uncovers the primary concerns: they're bulky, they have limited cooking uses, and they often don't deliver on the promise of crispy, tasty food.

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Is it true air fryer is not healthy? ›

Air fryers may be better for you than deep fryers, but they're only as healthy as the food you put inside. They won't magically remove the saturated fat from bacon or the trans fats from a bag of processed chicken wings. To reap the benefits, reach for better-for-you options like vegetables and lean proteins.

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Can I use air fryer for weight loss? ›

But airfryers can support weight loss beyond helping you to reduce calories in your diet. Air fryers can be helpful for weight loss because using one makes home cooking from scratch quicker and easier, which may encourage you to make more meals at home.

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Can I eat air fryer food everyday? ›

Using air fryers can promote weight loss

A higher intake of fried foods has direct links with higher obesity risk. This is because deep fried foods tend to be high in fat and calories. Switching from deep-fried foods to air-fried foods and reducing regular intake of unhealthful oils can promote weight loss.

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Is there anything better than an air fryer? ›

your oven. Many electric ovens have a convection setting, which simply blows a fan into the oven, creating that circulation of air that helps get everything super crisp. It's built in and it's big enough to accommodate plenty of food for you and your family.

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Why don t chefs like air fryers? ›

Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.

Are air fryers healthier than microwaves? ›

Microwave Oven: This doesn't inherently promote healthier cooking, as it doesn't necessarily reduce oil usage or a method to reduce fat content. Air Fryer: Uses significantly less oil or even no oil, promoting a healthier cooking option by reducing the overall fat content of dishes.

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What is the easiest thing to cook in an air fryer? ›

Sausages can be cooked quickly and easily thanks to the air-fryer (and without the need for additional oil). Arrange the sausages in a single layer in the basket, set the air-fryer to 180C and cook for 10-15 mins, turning every 5 mins, until the sausages are cooked through.

Does Gordon Ramsay use an air fryer? ›

Though Gordon Ramsay is clearly a fan of using an air fryer to cook steak, at his restaurants, his go-to method involves using a pan instead. Because you can only cook steak one or two at a time in them, an air fryer isn't the best option if you're feeding a crowd.

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Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

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