In recent years, the air fryer has taken the culinary world by storm, revolutionizing the way we prepare and enjoy our favourite meals. Celebrated for its ability to produce crispy, golden results using only a fraction of the oil required for traditional frying, this countertop appliance has quickly earned its place as a must-have tool in modern kitchens. Whether you’re cooking for one, feeding a family, or simply trying to eat a bit healthier, the air fryer offers a quicker, cleaner, and more energy-efficient way to create delicious meals at home.
One of the biggest advantages of the air fryer is its ability to replicate the texture and taste of fried foods, without the guilt. With rising food and energy costs, the air fryer also presents an economical option for home cooks, using less oil, less electricity than a conventional oven, and often cooking in less time. It’s no wonder people are making the switch!
But despite its growing popularity, the air fryer is still surrounded by a few persistent misconceptions. Many assume it’s only good for whipping up a batch of healthier chips or reheating leftovers. The truth? The air fryer is an incredibly versatile and powerful cooking tool capable of so much more than just fries and nuggets.
From perfectly roasted vegetables and flavour-packed breakfasts to crispy tofu, flaky pastries, and even gourmet desserts, the air fryer unlocks a whole world of culinary creativity. Even seasoned home cooks are often surprised by just how much this compact appliance can do.
In this post, we’re shining a spotlight on the unexpected side of air frying – sharing inventive, flavourful recipes that make the most of everyday ingredients. Get ready to transform your cooking routine and see your air fryer in a whole new light.
Breakfast Delights
Air Fryer Breakfast Muffins
Whip up a batch of air fried breakfast muffins in under 20 minutes with just a few simple ingredients. These are great for a lazy Sunday morning, a breakfast on the go, or as an option that you can batch cook and freeze for later. Versatile recipes like this are a great way to help get the best from your air fryer.
Gourmet Appetizers
Air Fryer Pear Tarts
These air fried puff pastry tarts make the perfect appetiser. They are ready in under 10 minutes, look and taste delicious and are loved by everyone. Using the air fryer to cook them makes them effortless. And means you get great results every time, fluffy flaky pastry, tangy feta cheese and the sweetness of the pear. A combination not to miss out on.
Unexpected Vegetables
Air Fryer Broccoli Bites
Finding new and delicious ways to get veggies into your diet, and into your family’s diet, is such a priority to enable a healthy lifestyle. And this recipe will not disappoint. Ready in just 8 minutes, cooked to perfection so they are crispy on the outside. These air fried broccoli and cauliflower bites will hep you to up the veg count for any meal. Using the air fryer means you get a much healthier addition to your meal versus cooking in lots of oil to achieve the same crisp texture and flavour. I often make these from Sunday lunch leftovers which also means I’ve got less food waste. Which is ultimately saving me money and ensuring I’m doing my bit for then environment.
Seafood Surprises
Air Fryer Prawn Skewers
Another of my surprising air fryer recipes is my prawn skewers. I absolutely love these on a summery evening. They are quick to make and create a light but delicious meal. With minimal oil needed to cook them in the air fryer you get a delicious healthy, mess free meal, that I’m sure the whole family will love.
Hearty Mains
Air Fryer Pork Shoulder
It’s absolutely fine to keep things a little simpler, and this air fried pork shoulder recipe is precisely that. You only need 3 core ingredients, all of which are going to be cooked in the air fryer and at the end of the process you have a delicious meal. The beauty of the air fryer here is that by using it you are going to cut down on the cooking time of the pork, saving you time, electricity and ultimately money. To do that and have a delicious meal at the end has to be a winner.
International Flavours
Air Fryer Spring Rolls
One of my absolute favourite things to order if we get a takeaway is spring rolls, so the fat that I can now make a much heathier version using the air fryer is a god send as it means I can have them more often and not be worried about eating something that has been drenched in oil. Using the air fryer significantly reduces the amount of oil that you need to cook with. But you still get the signature crunch to the filo pastry. This recipe is great because you can customise the filling to suit your taste buds.
Creative Desserts
Air Fryer Victoria Sponge
If you’re like me then you probably don’t even realise that you can cook cakes in the air fryer. It’s been an absolute revolution to me, and this is now my preferred way to make cakes, So I get consistent, delicious results every time. One of my favourite recipes is this air fried Victoria sponge, it’s a UK staple so one I just had to try. But I was not disappointed with the results, and you won’t be either.
So these are just a few surprising air fryer recipes to help you see just how versatile your air fryer really is. But with a little imagination and experimentation, the possibilities are endless.
For more inspiration check out my blogs on what to air fry and air fryer mistakes. To get more delicious recipes order a copy of my cookbook: The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook. Or check out my brand new Club App, with exclusive calorie-counted recipes added weekly, customisable meal plans, printable shopping lists and many many more useful features to make all your meal prepping so much easier!