Takeout for a family of four can easily top $40 to $60 a night. That’s a lot of money for a meal you could make at home in less time than delivery takes to arrive.
Every air fryer dinner recipe below feeds a family for under $10 total, and many are copycats of restaurant favorites. You get the flavors you’d order out, made fresh in your air fryer for a fraction of the price.
Why the Air Fryer Wins at Dinner
- Faster than delivery: Most of these dinners are on the table in 20 to 35 minutes.
- Fried flavor, less oil: Wings, tenders and shrimp come out crispy without a pot of hot oil.
- Cheap cuts shine: Chicken, ground beef and cube steak turn juicy and crispy instead of dry.
- Easy cleanup: One basket instead of a stack of pans on a busy weeknight.
10 Cheap Air Fryer Dinner Recipes Under $10
Costs are approximate totals for the whole recipe at typical U.S. grocery prices, assuming you already have pantry basics like oil, flour, sauces and spices. Prices vary by store and region, so watch for sales on meat.
1. Air Fryer Beef Bulgogi Bowls (about $9 to $10 for 4 servings)
Sweet-savory Korean-style beef served over rice with scallions, sesame seeds and crunchy cucumber, ready in about 20 minutes. Thinly sliced beef stretches a long way once it’s over a big bowl of rice.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Beef Bulgogi Bowls
2. Ninja Crispi Stuffed Peppers (about $9 for 4 servings)
Bell peppers stuffed with a hearty filling and topped with melted Colby Jack, ready in about 30 minutes. It’s a classic family dinner that uses inexpensive staples.
Get the recipe: Ninja Crispi Stuffed Peppers
3. Copycat Wendy’s Taco Salad, Air Fryer Method (about $9 for 4 servings)
Seasoned ground beef, crunchy chips, cheese and all the toppings piled high, just like the drive-thru version. It’s a fun build-your-own dinner the whole family can customize.
Get the recipe: Copycat Wendy’s Taco Salad (Air Fryer Method)
4. Air Fryer Ground Beef Taco Night (about $7 for 4 servings)
Brown a pound of ground beef right in the air fryer with no splattering skillet, then build tacos, nachos or rice bowls. It’s one of the cheapest ways to get a crowd-pleasing dinner on the table.
Get the recipe: How to Cook Air Fryer Ground Beef
5. Copycat Pizza Hut Boneless Wings (about $8 for 4 servings)
Crispy boneless bites made from chicken breast and tossed in your favorite sauce. Serve with ranch, celery and carrot sticks for a fakeout-takeout night.
Get the recipe: Copycat Pizza Hut Boneless Wings
6. Copycat Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders (about $8 for 4 servings)
Golden, hand-breaded tenders with honey mustard and ranch for dipping, plus a Nashville Hot option if you like some heat. Kids and adults both love these.
Get the recipe: Copycat Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders
7. Denny’s Country Fried Steak & Eggs Copycat (about $9 for 4 servings)
Budget-friendly cube steak, breaded and crisped in the air fryer, then smothered in country gravy. Breakfast-for-dinner comfort food in about 35 minutes.
Get the recipe: Denny’s Country Fried Steak & Eggs Copycat
8. Copycat Wingstop Garlic Parmesan Wings (about $9 for 4 servings)
Crispy wings tossed in buttery garlic and Parmesan, made at home for far less than a wing-shop order. Buy a family pack of wings on sale to keep costs down.
Get the recipe: Copycat Wingstop Garlic Parmesan Wings
9. Copycat Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings (about $9 for 4 servings)
Crispy wings tossed in a sticky, sweet-and-spicy chili sauce. Make them alongside the garlic Parmesan wings for a two-flavor wing night.
Get the recipe: Copycat Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings
10. Air Fryer Outback Bloomin’ Fried Shrimp (about $9 for 4 servings)
Crispy fried shrimp with that signature Outback flavor and none of the deep-fryer mess. Frozen raw shrimp keeps this restaurant favorite well under the price of a night out.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Outback Bloomin’ Fried Shrimp
5 Tips to Keep Air Fryer Dinners Cheap
- Buy family packs and freeze. Chicken, wings and ground beef are cheapest in bulk; portion and freeze them in 1-pound bags.
- Stretch the protein. Serve meat over rice, in tacos or on salads so a pound feeds the whole family.
- Shop the sales. Plan the week around whichever meat is on sale and swap it into these recipes.
- Make your own sauces. Copycat sauces and seasonings cost a fraction of bottled versions.
- Cook extra for lunch. Leftover tenders and taco meat become tomorrow’s wraps and salads.
Air Fryer Dinner FAQs
Can I cook a full family dinner in the air fryer? Yes. Most of these recipes serve four. For bigger batches, cook in rounds and keep finished food warm in a low oven.
What’s the cheapest air fryer dinner? Air fryer ground beef taco night is the cheapest on this list, at under $2 per serving.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer for dinner recipes? It depends on the recipe and your model. Follow each recipe’s directions and check food a minute or two early the first time.
Can I make restaurant copycats in the air fryer? Absolutely. Wings, tenders, fried shrimp and country fried steak all get crispy in the air fryer with far less oil than deep frying.
Skip the Takeout Tonight
You don’t need a big budget to put a great dinner on the table. With these 10 air fryer dinner recipes under $10, you can enjoy restaurant favorites at home and save hundreds of dollars this year.
Which dinner are you making first? Tell us in the comments, and pin this post for your next meal plan. Don’t miss the rest of the series: 10 Air Fryer Breakfasts Under $10 and 10 Air Fryer Lunches Under $10!
