6 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

Air fryers have become popular in the last few years because of their convenience. They’re practically this generation’s George Foreman grill. Air fryers are easy to use and are a great way to fry foods more healthily. These machines require much less oil than a pan or deep fryer, but they still produce crispy, delicious foods. Here are six healthy air fryer recipes for you to try.

1. Homemade French Fries

Wait, how are these fries healthy? When you make homemade fries in an air fryer, you’re cutting down the calories you may get from restaurant fries, and you’re adding more nutrition and just as much flavor. 

For these air fryer French fries, you need potatoes, a high-smoke-point oil (like avocado oil) and some seasonings. Slice the potatoes to your preferred size and toss the fries with the seasonings and oil. After 20 minutes in the air fryer, they’re crispy and ready. Potatoes are nutritious, so these fries have a good amount of protein and fiber in every serving.

2. Carrot Fries

Try air frying some carrot fries if you want something a little bit lighter than potatoes. Your method will be similar to the homemade French fries recipe. Cut the carrots into fry-size pieces and toss them with oil and your preferred seasonings. Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes, and they’ll come out crispy and sweet. Cooking carrots oxidizes the sugar inside, bringing out their sweet flavor.

3. Chicken Wings

Chicken wings have become a staple for tailgates, Super Bowl parties and more. Now, you don’t need a grill or a deep fryer to make them. These air fryer spicy chicken wings are sure to be a hit for any party you bring them to.

For these wings, you’ll need baking powder, seasonings, butter, lemon zest and juice, honey, hot sauce and sriracha sauce. Take some time to let the wings sit in the baking powder and seasonings because it’ll be worth it when the wings turn out crispy and delicious. When the wings have finished cooking, toss them with the sweet and spicy sauce that takes this recipe over the top.

4. Salmon

Healthy air fryer recipes don’t get much better than a high-protein salmon dish ready in about 10 minutes. A beneficial part about air fryer recipes is it requires little effort from you, the chef. So this is an easy dinner for a weeknight when you’re tired. 

Drizzle oil on the salmon and season the fillets. Air fry them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7-9 minutes, and you’re ready to dive in. They taste great with grains like rice and vegetables like broccoli. This dish is ideal for meal prep, saving time and energy throughout the week.

5. Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is a favorite among vegetarians and anybody who enjoys Italian-inspired cuisine. Cooking it in your air fryer cleans up the calorie count while keeping that savory taste.

For this air-fried eggplant Parmesan recipe, season the sliced eggplant and cook it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 minutes. Layer marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese and air fry for a couple more minutes to melt the cheese. If you’re feeling ambitious, air fry some chunks of bread with oil, garlic and seasoning to make bread crumbs for toppings. This eggplant Parmesan is a terrific meatless option for dinner if you’re looking to save money or reduce your meat consumption.

6. Taco Kabobs

Again, who needs a tailgate when you can make the food in your air fryer at home? These air fryer taco kabobs are bursting with flavor and taste as if they came off the grill. 

Start by marinating your cubed sirloin steak in oil, taco seasoning and tomato juice. This mixture will help tenderize and flavor the steak while it sits in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, put the steak on skewers with tomatoes, peppers and onions and cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or your preferred doneness for the steak. These kabobs are excellent sources of protein and vegetables.

Cooking Made Easier and Healthier

Making foods in an air fryer is a great way to cut down on calories while still making the delicious meals you love. Air fryers use less oil but still provide the crispy taste for your fries, fish, wings and tasty vegetables. As a bonus, these recipes require minimal effort, making dinners or parties easy. Use these six healthy air fryer recipes to get the ball rolling on ideas for your next meal.