Best Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners - [quick prep] The Recipe Rebel (2024)

These easy Air Fryer recipes for beginners are perfect if you just got an air fryer and you’re wondering “What can I make in the air fryer?”! These are basic air fryer dinners with quick prep, simple ingredients and big flavor!

Sometimes getting a new kitchen appliance can be intimidating, and I’m here to tell you that the air fryer is easy to use and perfect for cooks of all skill levels!

These Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners will show you that you can cook almost anything in the air fryer and you can get great results even when you’re just starting out (and you can ditch the deep fryer for good!).

These easy air fryer recipes use simple ingredients and don’t require a lot of prep.

So if you just got an air fryer or you’ve had one for a while but haven’t gotten started (or you tried and those recipes simply didn’t work out), here is my list of the most reliable basic air fryer recipes you need!

P.S. I’ve included lots more air fryer recipes tips down below all these recipes — check them out if you need extra help!

The BEST Air fryer recipes for beginners:

When you don’t know where to start, start here!

These are easy air fryer recipes that anyone can master, and will give you the confidence to try even more recipes!

From easy weeknight dinners, to healthy recipes the family will love, the air fryer is going to be your new favorite kitchen gadget 😉.

This Air Fryer Chicken Breast is so moist and flavorful! Made with a simple seasoning rub and cooked to golden perfection. Cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer is now our favorite way!

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are the real deal! They are fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and they cook in less time than if you’d baked them. An added bonus? You don’t have to heat the whole oven just to make a few potatoes in this air fryer version.

The air fryer is now our favorite way to cook meatballs! Can you believe you can make meatballs in the air fryer in just 7 minutes?

And check out that golden crust! This is one of our favorite easy air fryer meals.

When you’re going for potato wedges that are crispy on the outside, you can’t beat the air fryer! These air fryer potato wedges require no pre-cooking, just soak, dry, season and cook for perfectly dunkable potatoes. This healthier take on french fries will definitely satisfy!

When you don’t feel like starting up the grill, these Air Fryer Burgers are the perfect alternative! They have a crispy exterior but they stay so juicy on the inside. Perfectly seasoned and SO flavorful!

Making frozen french fries in the air fryer is a great way just to try it out without worrying about ruining dinner. These Air Fryer French Fries are foolproof because all you have to do is heat and crisp! Once you start cooking French Fries in the air fryer you’ll never go back 😉

Once you start making chicken wings in the air fryer, you may never go back! They cook so quickly and have this fabulous crispy crust that I am still dreaming about.

And if you’re more of a tots person? These Air Fryer Tater Tots are another recipe that’s perfect for beginners because there’s no room for error — just cook until crispy!

Looking for something healthier? This Air Fryer Salmon is simply seasoned and cooks quickly, meaning you can have dinner on the table in about 12 minutes!

These Air Fryer Potatoes are so crispy I may never roast potatoes again. With a golden crust and a tender flesh, these potatoes cook in about half the time as they do in the oven! Crispy foods are some of the best ones to make in the air fryer. Plus, there are so many different ways to serve them!

Want just a couple of pieces of French toast? The air fryer is the perfect way to cook it! It turns out golden on the outside and tender on the inside every time. (P.S. it’s also a great way to reheat leftover french toast!)

You’re a dark meat lover? Check out these Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs! Simple but flavorful, they cook in under 15 minutes! This makes for such juicy chicken.

When it’s too cold to get the grill out, these Air Fryer Hot Dogs are always a hit with the family! The exterior gets perfectly crisp and has the lovely snap, while the inside stays nice and juicy.

Because crispy bacon is the only way! Air Fryer Bacon is perfect for eating on its own or garnished salads, pasta, pizza and more. No smoking or burning!

These Air Fryer Hashbrowns have my heart with all their golden, crispy, salty deliciousness. If potatoes are your love language, too, you need to try these!

When you want a quick veggie side for any meal, it’s Air Fryer Green Beans to the rescue! Ready in about 15 minutes, they add color and flavor to any plate.

Want to swap out the beef for something lighter? Try these Air Fryer Turkey Burgers! They’re made with just a few simple ingredients but they’re big on flavor.

It’s hard to go wrong with a perfectly melty, cheesy quesadilla with the crispiest tortilla — and this Air Fryer Quesadilla recipe takes the cake there! No need to dirty a frying pan 😉

The air fryer is my favorite way to cook a lot of meat and proteins, and this Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin is no exception! It cooks super quickly and stays the juiciest.

Air Fryer Nachos have got to be one of the best recipes for beginners! Since nothing needs to be cooked through and we’re essentially just melting cheese on chips, anyone can do it. It’s the perfect recipe if you’re just getting started! Grab some tortilla chips and your favorite toppings.

Tips for cooking with an air fryer:

• Think of your air fryer as a countertop convection oven — it can do many of the same things!
• Most air fryers need to be preheated just like your oven. Check your manufacturer’s guide for instructions, but a good a rule of thumb is 5-10 minutes at the temperature you’ll be cooking at.
• Similar to cooking in the oven on convection mode, cooking in the air fryer is even faster than cooking in a regular oven. Some foods will cook up to twice as fast, so don’t be afraid to open up the basket and have a peek.
• Cooking in a single layer is best when possible, because it will allow the food to cook and brown evenly.
• Avoid aerosol non stick spray as it can damage your non stick basket. Opt instead for a brush of olive oil or other oil spray.

Air Fryer Recipes FAQs

What tools can I use in my air fryer:

You can use any tool in your air fryer that you can use in your oven — that means, parchment paper, foil, baking pans and casserole dishes or ramekins are all fair game!

How does an Air Fryer work?

An air fryer essentially has two important pieces: a heating element and a fan. When you put food into the basket (or on the racks, in an oven-style air fryer) and turn it on, the element heats and the fan forces the air around. This results in more even browning that other cooking methods, but with less oil for and a shorter bake time.

What’s the first thing I should cook in my air fryer?

That depends on what you like! Our two favorites are Air Fryer Chicken Breast and Air Fryer Baked Potatoes — both recipes are above!

What is the best air fryer?

That depends on what you like! We have tried three or four different air fryers over the years, we found that we prefer the basket style over the oven style with the racks. We now own two Chefman air fryers, a 3.7 quart TurboFry and an XL 8 quart TurboFry. We love them both!