Your air fryer can do far more than reheat pizza. Below are 20 weird, wonderful air fryer recipes from Fork to Spoon, grouped into snacks, savory dishes, and breakfast and sweets. Each one links to the Fork to Spoon roundup where you’ll find the full recipe.
Weird air fryer snacks
1. Hot Buttered Cheerios
Yes, cereal. Butter-coated Cheerios toast into a warm, salty snack that eats like popcorn. Get the recipe
2. Bacon Wrapped Pickle Dippers
Tangy pickle spears wrapped in bacon and crisped until smoky. A bar snack you can make at home. Get the recipe
3. Peanut Butter Brittle
Candy from an air fryer sounds odd, but this crunchy brittle comes together in a few simple steps. Get the recipe
4. Caramel Apple Trail Mix
Fall flavors in a snack mix, toasted right in the basket. Get the recipe
5. Caramel Chocolate Popcorn
Sweet, sticky popcorn without a stovetop pot. Get the recipe
6. Sea Salt Chickpeas
Canned chickpeas turn into a crunchy, salty snack that rivals chips. Get the recipe
7. Apple Chips
Thin apple slices dry out into crisp chips with no dehydrator required. Get the recipe
Weird savory air fryer recipes
8. Big Mac Egg Rolls
All the flavors of the famous burger, rolled into a crispy golden egg roll. Get the recipe
9. Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
A Mediterranean classic you’d never expect from an air fryer, and it comes out tender and flavorful. Get the recipe
10. Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole
That creamy buffet favorite, made at home in the basket. Get the recipe
11. Lobster Tails
Skip the boiling pot. Air-fried lobster tails feel fancy but take very little effort. Get the recipe
12. Copycat Bloomin’ Onion
The steakhouse showstopper, without a vat of oil. Get the recipe
13. Crispy Boursin Appetizer
A whole wheel of herby cheese turned into a crispy party appetizer. Get the recipe
14. Copycat Zaxby’s Fried Pickles
Crunchy, tangy fried pickles like the restaurant version. Get the recipe
Weird air fryer breakfasts and sweets
15. 2-Ingredient Bagels
Homemade bagels from just two ingredients, baked in the basket. Get the recipe
16. Spinach Quiche
Fluffy eggs, spinach, and melty cheese with a golden crust, no oven needed. Get the recipe
17. Linzer Cookies
Delicate jam-filled sandwich cookies with crisp edges. Get the recipe
18. Blueberry Donuts
Soft, fluffy donuts full of blueberries, with no deep frying. Get the recipe
19. Apple Fritters
Crisp outside, soft and cinnamon-spiced inside. Get the recipe
20. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Evenly golden bread and melted cheese without flipping in a pan. Get the recipe
Weird air fryer recipes FAQ
What is the weirdest thing you can make in an air fryer?
Cereal and candy surprise most people. Hot Buttered Cheerios and Peanut Butter Brittle both work well.
Can you bake in an air fryer?
Yes. Bagels, quiche, cookies, and donuts all bake well in the basket.
Can you cook seafood in an air fryer?
Yes. Lobster tails and crab casserole are two easy, impressive options.
Where can I find more unusual air fryer recipes?
Fork to Spoon has thousands of air fryer recipes on its air fryer recipe page.
Try something weird tonight
Pick one recipe from each section and see how far your air fryer can go. Start with Hot Buttered Cheerios for an easy win, then work up to Big Mac Egg Rolls or Lobster Tails. For more ideas, browse all of Fork to Spoon’s recipes.
