If your air fryer is the appliance that does the heavy lifting on busy weeknights — same. There’s something about pressing a couple of buttons and walking away that makes “what’s for dinner?” feel a lot less stressful. The recipes I’m rounding up below are all from Fork to Spoon, and Laurie’s whole site is basically a love letter to the air fryer. These are the ones I keep going back to when I want something quick, satisfying, and family-friendly.
Before we dive in, two quick reminders that apply to pretty much every air fryer recipe: check your manual to see if your model needs preheating (some do, some don’t), and don’t overcrowd the basket. Cram too much in and you’ll get soggy, steamed food instead of crisp, golden food. Work in batches if you need to — it’s worth it.
Click through any of the links to grab the full ingredient list and instructions on Fork to Spoon.
Air Fryer Cheesy Potatoes
These are the kind of side dish that ends up stealing the show. Tender potato chunks get tossed with seasonings and cheese, then the air fryer does its thing until everything is bubbly on top and crisp around the edges. Great alongside a roast chicken, but honestly I’d eat a bowl of them on their own.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cheesy Potatoes
Air Fryer Steakhouse Sweet Potato
A loaded baked sweet potato that genuinely tastes like something you’d order at a steakhouse for $14. The air fryer gets the skin crackly and the inside fluffy in a fraction of the time it’d take in the oven — perfect for piling high with butter, brown sugar, or whatever toppings you love.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Steakhouse Sweet Potato.
Easy 3-Ingredient Air Fryer Avocado Chips
If you’re low-carb, keto, or just bored of regular chips, these are a revelation. Just three ingredients, and they come out shockingly crispy. Excellent for scooping up dip or scattering over a salad like crunchy little croutons.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3-Ingredient Air Fryer Avocado Chips
Air Fryer Hot Dog Taquitos
Hot dogs rolled in tortillas with cheese, then air fried until crispy and golden. Done in 15 minutes, made from stuff you probably already have, and the kids will lose their minds. This is the kind of recipe you don’t tell anyone about at fancy dinner parties but secretly make every other Tuesday.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Hot Dog Taquitos
Air Fryer Two Ingredient Dough Breadsticks
Two ingredients. Breadsticks. The dough is self-rising flour and Greek yogurt, which sounds suspicious until you taste them and realize they’re soft, fluffy, and basically restaurant-quality. A weeknight pasta night essential.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Two Ingredient Dough Breadsticks
Crispy Panko Air Fryer Haddock
Haddock filets get a panko coating and a quick turn in the air fryer for fish that’s flaky inside with a proper crunchy crust. Way lighter than pan-frying in oil, and it doesn’t make your whole kitchen smell like fish for two days.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Panko Air Fryer Haddock
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Pasta
A creamy, spicy, buffalo-flavored pasta dish that comes together in the air fryer — yes, pasta in the air fryer, and it works. Bring this to a potluck and people will ask for the recipe. It hits all the comfort food notes without taking all night.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Easy Air Fryer Tex Mex Breakfast Burritos
Make a batch on Sunday, freeze them, and you’ve got grab-and-go breakfasts for the whole week. Eggs, cheese, beans, and all the Tex-Mex fixings wrapped up in a tortilla and crisped to perfection in the air fryer.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Tex Mex Breakfast Burritos
Easy Air Fryer Armadillo Eggs
These look fancy but they’re stupidly simple — jalapeños stuffed with cheese, wrapped in sausage, then wrapped again in bacon. The air fryer renders the bacon crispy without all the splattering grease on your stovetop. Perfect for game day.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Armadillo Eggs)
Air Fryer Blueberry Muffins
Yes, you can bake muffins in your air fryer, and yes, they come out beautifully — domed tops, tender crumb, bursts of blueberry. The whole batch is ready way faster than the oven version, which is dangerous information to have.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Blueberry Muffins
Easy Air Fryer Hot Italian Wraps
These Easy Air Fryer Hot Italian Wraps are loaded with savory deli meats, melty cheese, and tangy Italian seasonings, all wrapped in a soft tortilla and crisped to perfection. They make a quick, satisfying meal or snack that’s ready in just minutes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Hot Italian Wraps
Air Fryer Cherry Hand Pies
Buttery puff pastry, cherry filling, all puffed up and golden from the air fryer. This is the dessert you make when you want to impress people but you also want to be done in 20 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and accept the compliments.
Easy Air Fryer Shrimp and Spinach Salad
A genuinely healthy option for the lineup. Plump, perfectly cooked shrimp from the air fryer (which takes about 5 minutes) over a bed of fresh spinach. Great for a light lunch or when you want something a little more virtuous after a weekend of indulging.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Shrimp and Spinach Salad
Air Fryer Provolone Broccoli Rabe Sandwich
A grown-up sandwich worth getting excited about — slightly bitter broccoli rabe, melty provolone, all crisped up in the air fryer until the bread is golden. Tastes like something from an Italian deli but you made it yourself.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Provolone Broccoli Rabe Sandwich
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tempura
Light, crispy tempura without standing over a pot of hot oil — sign me up. These make a great side, a fun appetizer with dipping sauce, or just a snack when you want something crunchy that isn’t out of a bag..
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tempura
Easy Air Fryer Rustic Chicken Tart
Puff pastry, chicken, cherry tomatoes, herbs — basically a fancy-looking dinner that comes together with minimal effort. The air fryer gives the pastry that perfect flaky-golden quality without you having to babysit it.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Rustic Chicken Tart
Air Fryer Triple Berry Cobbler
Bubbly, jammy berries with a buttery cobbler topping. The air fryer makes this almost too easy — it’s the kind of dessert that feels like a hug, and it’s ready by the time you’ve finished clearing the dinner dishes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Triple Berry Cobbler
Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
A perfect sneak-some-veg-in dessert (or breakfast, no judgment here). Moist, chocolatey, and somehow virtuous-adjacent because there’s a zucchini in it. The air fryer makes a smaller loaf in a fraction of the oven time.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
Crockpot Southwest Chicken Chili
This chili combines shredded chicken, beans, corn, and spices for a hearty dinner. Slow cooking brings all the flavors together with minimal effort. It’s perfect for cold evenings and reheats well for leftovers. A great pick if you’re collecting Make Ahead Crockpot Dinner Ideas.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Southwest Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Turkey White Bean Chili
Lean turkey and white beans simmer together in a flavorful broth. This lighter chili is high in protein yet still filling enough for dinner. It’s easy to prepare in the morning and ready by evening. A healthier choice that belongs in Make Ahead Crockpot Dinner Ideas.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey White Bean Chili
Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Buffalo Wild Wings)
Creamy pasta, shredded chicken, and garlic parmesan sauce blend into one simple dish. The slow cooker ensures everything cooks evenly while you go about your day. It’s quick to prep, filling, and always a family favorite. Another smart option among Make Ahead Crockpot Dinner Ideas.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Buffalo Wild Wings)
Slow Cooker Homemade Pastrami
Brisket is cured with spices, then slow-cooked until tender for homemade pastrami. The result is flavorful meat perfect for sandwiches or serving on a charcuterie board. It’s a simple way to bring deli-style flavor into your own kitchen. Another creative pick for Make Ahead Crockpot Dinner Ideas.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Homemade Pastrami
Ninja Foodi Possible Slow Cooker Pro Cranberry Meatballs
Cranberry sauce and savory seasonings coat these meatballs as they cook slowly. The result is a tangy and slightly sweet dish that works well as an appetizer or light meal. Easy to prepare, it’s a nice change from traditional meatball recipes.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Foodi Possible Slow Cooker Pro Cranberry Meatballs
Slow Cooker Sweet Baby Rays Chicken
This Slow Cooker Sweet Baby Ray’s Chicken is the kind of set-it-and-forget-it dinner that saves your sanity on busy days—tender, saucy, and full of bold barbecue flavor. Toss everything in the crockpot, let it do the work, and come back to juicy chicken ready to pile onto sandwiches, rice, or mashed potatoes.
