Looking to start off the new year on the right foot? Got an air fryer as a gift over the holidays and curious as to what you can make with it? Take a look at these crave-worthy, easy air fryer recipes for beginners. Conveniently enjoy healthy recipes that are juicy on the inside, with the perfect texture of crispy on the outside!

Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

During Christmas 2017, I jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon only to use it maybe twice. Ever. It’s a great appliance, but I just find myself loving the slow cooked goodness of the Crock-pot. This past Christmas, I had every intention to jump on the air fryer bandwagon too, but as the mom of a family of seven, I could not find a good deal on a fryer big enough for our family (if you are a large family, PLEASE let me know the air fryer that is best for a family this large!) So despite my cart still holding my air fryer, I began to get together some easy recipes for our family. After all, a girl can dream — isn’t that what Pinterest is for?

Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

There were so many recipes I was excited about that were easy and great for beginners. Did you know there’s a slew of air fryer pizza recipes out there? Not to mention air fryer salmon recipes? Yum! I was so inspired by a food blogger who even made eggplant dip in the air fryer! I also was inspired by all the air fryer chicken recipes, air fryer wings to chicken nuggets. And for my veggie lovers, air fryer Brussels sprouts! And this isn’t even beginning to scrape the surface of the air fryer dinner recipes your appliance can make!

Is the Air Fryer healthier than the oven?

The recent spike in popularity for the air fryer naturally prompts the debate of “air fryer vs oven”. While using the air fryer is far healthier than deep frying the traditional way, like using your air fryer to make french fries or fried chicken instead of deep frying, the air fryer unit simply gets so hot that it gets food super crispy without having to add any oil. So, your air fryer is basically like an oven, but way hotter! This means it’s not necessarily any healthier than using your oven. That being said, the air fryer’s heat capability makes it far more efficient to create delicious “fried” dishes without having to wait forever for them to get crispy. As a busy mom, my air fryer has quickly become my favorite appliance for creating delicious dishes my family loves in way less time!

Enjoy all these recipes and let me know your family’s favorite!

Air Fryer Times & Temps Cheat Sheet

First of all, if you’re new to the air fryer, this Air Fryer Cheat Sheet is a must have. It’s got all the info you need to make amazing air fryer dinner recipes  in one spot. I keep a copy of these Air Fryer Tips in my Recipe Binder. (Another suggestion would be to laminate this cheat sheet and keep it beside your air fryer. Laminating this air fryer tip guide will keep it clean and make it easy to wipe any kitchen mess off.)

AIR FRYER CHEAT SHEET DIGITAL DOWNLOADWe also provide an easy set of three – Instant Pot, Air Fryer and Baking Hack cheat sheets all in one! See more in our Baking Hacks and Tips.

You could also grab this magnetic Air Fryer Cheat Sheet to keep it on the side of your air fryer at all times!

Five Air Fryer Accessories

Beyond that Air Fryer Hack Sheet, you will also want to invest in these Air Fryer Accessories.

First, you’ll need this Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle for more than your Air Fryer. Mine is practically attached at the hip when I’m in the kitchen. It’s refillable, so you can use it with any brand of olive oil you have on hand.

Second, this digital internal temp reader is the best way to test if your food is ready. This is a must in the kitchen, not just for the air fryer.

Third, I am all for easy clean up. I much prefer cooking and letting someone else clean up my mess, unless it fits in the dishwasher! These Air Fryer Liners will keep the mess under control. You’re welcome in advance!

Fourth, get something to cut potatoes into waffle fries or string fries. Air fryers are the absolute best way to get your french fry fix without all the extra calories! Here’s a commercial grade french fry cutter, a hand held french fry cutter, and the potato cage of cutting (trust me, you’re going to want to check this one out!)

Finally, a good pair of tongs are a must in my kitchen. These are hands down the BEST tongs ever — OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Locking Tongs with Nylon Heads. They store so well because of how they lock (as in, they won’t get your drawer stuck!)

Best Air Fryer Recipes

Read on for the best air fryer dinner recipes, air fryer breakfast recipes, and everything in between — all beginner friendly!

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

First up, our own Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are an easy crowd pleaser!

Air Fryer Pizza

This easy Air Fryer Pizza is so simple the kids could make it!

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

This Paleo and Whole30 friendly shrimp recipe is just as healthy as it is convenient. Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp get golden brown and delicious for a crispy, healthy, and super quick air fryer dinner recipe! | Real Food with Jessica

Air Fryer Fried Okra

Even my pickiest kids would love this. Sliced okra gets coated in spices and air fried until crunchy for one of the easiest air fryer vegetable recipes! | Piping Pot Curry

Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower

My family would pop these like popcorn. Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower is seasoned with lemon juice & sumac spice to make cauliflower interesting AND delicious| Cadry’s Kitchen

Air Fryer Pepperoni Pizza

What can’t the air fryer do? This Pepperoni Air Fryer Pizza is a quick and easy recipe with a crispy crust. It only takes 10 minutes, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights | Stay Snatched

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Did you know you can put a whole chicken in the air fryer? This Rotisserie Air Fryer Chicken is cooked in under an hour and comes out juicy and delicious. I’m adding it to my to-do list of air fryer dinner recipes as we speak! | Amy in the Kitchen

Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Instead of giving your kids frozen chicken nuggets made from who-knows-what, swap them for this recipe for air fryer chicken nuggets. We are sold! | Garnished Plate

Low Carb Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts

If you’re looking for great air fryer keto recipes, you’ll love this one. This is one of our favorite sides! These Low Carb Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts get perfectly tender on the inside and super crispy on the outside. | Low Carb with Jennifer

Air Fryer Squash Rings

We need to try these! Try these air fryer squash rings for a healthy alternative to fried potatoes. They’re dairy free, gluten free and paleo friendly! | Mitten Dietitian

Air Fryer “Baked” Salmon

Looking for air fryer recipes for fish? Try Air Fryer Baked Salmon. The air fryer is the key to the perfect cook on your salmon — who knew! | White on Rice Couple

Air Fryer Cajun Breakfast Sausage

If you’re on the hunt for no-guilt air fryer breakfast recipes, Homemade Cajun breakfast sausage cooked in an air fryer is the one for you. Plus, it’s paleo and gluten free! | Cotter Crunch

Super Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Yes, you can get super crispy air fried chicken wings without deep frying! They don’t even need flour! | Dine Like Shay

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cauliflower Patties

Hello flavor! You’ll love the cilantro ranch flavoring on these air fryer Sweet Potato Cauliflower Patties. A delicious addition to my air fryer vegetable recipes! | Cotter Crunch

Air Fryer Eggplant Dip

You can even make eggplant dip in the air fryer. It’s a great way to get nutrients into your kids’ after school snack! | Cadry’s Kitchen

Air Fryer Asian Chicken Nuggets

These Asian Chicken Nuggets are paleo AND low carb. The air fryer is the key to their golden crunch! | Food Faith and Fitness

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Hash

Another winner in the air fryer breakfast recipes category: Sweet Potato Hash. It only uses five ingredients and is Whole 30 and paleo friendly! | Stay Snatched

Going a healthy direction for the new year ? Conveniently enjoy these healthy, crave-worthy, easy air fryer recipes for beginners. #FrugalCouponLiving #recipes #airfryer Click to Tweet

Air Fryer Potato Peels

Don’t let your potato peels go to waste! Air fry them instead for the perfect crisp & salty snack. Pass the ketchup! | Cadry’s Kitchen

Air Fried Ravioli

These air fried raviolis are the best appetizer. Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and herbs jazz up regular ravioli for a fancy air fryer appetizer that transports you to an Italian restaurant. | Love and Risotto

Air Fried Chickpeas

I could eat these by the handful! These air fried chickpeas are actually addicting. | Vegan Huggs

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon

Another winner among the air fryer breakfast recipes. Crispy Air Fryer Bacon is a healthier version of everyone’s favorite breakfast food, and it turns out perfect every time. | Recipes from My Pantry

Air Fryer Croutons

All this talk of fried food making you crave a salad? It’s so easy and quick to make your own croutons in the air fryer! They’re full of flavor and made with just six simple ingredients! Try them on soup too. | Plant Power Couple

Check out these Whole30 Recipes for Beginners. Pin to Pinterest.

Also get familiar with your Instant Pot and these Instant Pot Dinner Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Enjoy these fun holiday games. DOWNLOAD 16 HALLOWEEN MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES FOR ADULTS, KIDS & YOUTH . The printable Halloween games set includes party games instructions and a supply list.


Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!



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Create the easiest Air Fryer Pizza in about 10 minutes flat. It creates a quick and easy pizza that is perfect for the kids on Friday night. This Texas toast pizza has 4 simple ingredients.

Pizza is a popular food all around the world, with variations in toppings and sauces. Nowadays, there are even gluten-free and vegan pizza options! But one of my favorite things to do lately is make air fryer pizzas.

With an air fryer you can get that crispy crust without having to use a ton of oil or cook it for hours on end. This recipe makes three personal-sized mini pizzas but if you want to feed more people then just double the ingredients below. It’s super easy and quick – I promise it won’t take more than 15 minutes from start to finish!

Why Cooking Pizza in the Air Fryer is Better

The air fryer has been trending for a while now, but it’s not just the latest and greatest kitchen gadget. It cooks your food in a more healthy way than traditional ovens. Air frying uses less oil, making the food crispier and healthier because there is no added fat to create that delicious crunchy crust.

And when you use an air fryer to make pizza dough or pizza sauce, you’re also using less oil since those ingredients are typically baked on parchment paper. This air fryer garlic toast pizza recipe goes from the air fryer to the table in just minutes. Pizza night will never be the same again!

Air Fryer FAQs

As with most things when a new trend pops up there’s confusion around it. Here are some answers to questions you might have:

• Can you fit a pizza in the air fryer? Absolutely! The air fryer is a great way to make personal-sized pizzas. You can fit two or three mini pizzas depending on the size of your air fryer.
• How long does it take to cook pizza in the air fryer? Unlike a traditional oven, the air fryer doesn’t take as long to cook your food. If you’re making mini pizzas they’ll only take about 5-8 minutes. The actual cook time depends on the thickness of your pizza dough, so be sure to check it after about five minutes of cooking time.
• Is frozen pizza good in air fryer good? Yes! You can use any frozen pizza in your air fryer, whether it’s gluten-free or vegan.
  Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? Yes, you can use aluminum foil in most air fryers. However, you need to be careful not to scratch the non-stick coating of your air fryer. If you don’t use aluminum foil then be sure to spray the basket lightly with non-stick cooking oil or use parchment paper.
• Do I need to clean my air fryer after every use? Yes, it’s necessary to clean your air fryer after every use to make sure it functions properly. Be sure to wipe out any excess oil that might have spilled over or dried to the side of the basket.

How to Make Air Fryer Pizza

You’ll love how quick and easy this air fryer pepperoni pizza recipe is! What’s great about it is that since it’s made on Texas toast, you can make individual servings at lunchtime and the kids will not only love eating their individual pizza, but making it too!

Ingredients

• 3 slices frozen Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast Garlic

• ½ cup marinara sauce

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 9 slices pepperoni

Supplies

• Air Fryer

• Spatula or spoon

Instructions

First preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees and set to cook for 6 minutes.

Place each garlic bread in the basket of the air fryer and cook for 4 minutes.

Remove the basket and flip the Texas toast.

Using a spoon or spatula, spread a layer of sauce over the top of the toast, then top it with cheese and pepperoni.

Lastly, return the basket to the air fryer and cook for the remaining 2 minutes until your cheese is melted to the consistency that you like.

You’ve made easy and instant Texas Toast pizza from the Air Fryer!

Print

Save this recipe for later. Print your recipe and add it to your recipe box or recipe binder! This is my favorite Recipe Binder – I get tired of printing the same recipe over and over. A binder keeps me organized and gives me a place to store my recipes.

How to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer

What’s the best way to reheat leftover pizza? The air fryer. This is a quick and easy way to warm up slices of pizza without using any oil or butter, leaving you with less calories and fat than traditional methods like the oven or microwave.

Here’s how to do it:

1. First, place a piece of parchment paper on one side of the cooking rack in the air fryer basket (make sure there is enough room so that it doesn’t touch the heating element).
2. Place your pieces of leftover pizza on top of the parchment paper.
3. Close the air fryer and set it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for two minutes.
4. Open the air fryer and check to make sure your pizza is cooked throughout, then repeat if necessary until crispy.

And you’re done! Now go enjoy your air fryer Texas toast pizza while it’s piping hot!

What better way to spend a Friday evening than cooking some pizza in the air fryer with your family? Just pop this delicious air fryer pizza in, turn on a movie, and you have a fun family night in the making!

If you’re looking for more easy air fryer meals for your family here are a few they’ll love:

Enjoy these Tasty and Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners. Pin to Pinterest to save for later.

Every beginner and expert needs a cheat sheet! Save this Air Fryer Cheat Sheet Download. Pin to Pinterest to save for later.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Enjoy these fun holiday games. DOWNLOAD 16 HALLOWEEN MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES FOR ADULTS, KIDS & YOUTH . The printable Halloween games set includes party games instructions and a supply list.


Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!



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Instant Pot Pesto Chicken Recipe – a tasty and easy dinner recipe for the entire family.

Instant Pot Pesto Chicken

I have five children. When it comes to week night dinners, two things are very important to me. First that my family loves the recipes and it fits the taste buds and dietary needs of all. Second, it is important to me that my time is used efficiently. During the dinner hour I am chauffeuring children, aiding in homework and balancing three babies. I need a quick, easy, and tasty meal. That is one reason I love this Instant Pot Pesto Chicken Recipe. Enjoy.

Instant Pot is a Programmable Pressure Cooker. It speeds up cooking by 2 – 10 times using up to 70% less energy and produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent fashion. Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 programmable cooker, it replaces 7 kitchen appliances as it has the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker & warmer. 14 built-in smart programs (Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Sauté, Steam, Rice, Porridge, Multigrain, Slow Cook, Keep-Warm, Yogurt, Pasteurize & Jiu Niang) cook your favorite dishes with the press of a button. ..

New to the Instant Pot? Could you use a sheet of Instant Pot Tips?  You will want this Instant Pot Cheat Sheet (and Baking Tips and Air Fryer Cheat Sheet too!)

GET THE INSTANT POT CHEAT SHEETTake a look at the different Instant Pot Cookers and Accessories HERE.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 C. pesto
• 1/2 C. mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1-2 tomatoes
• 1 C. chicken broth
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the Instant Pot and salt & pepper them.
2. Pour the chicken broth over the chicken.
3. Spread the pesto over the top of the chicken breasts.
4. Seal the lid shut and press the manual button and set the timer for 9 minutes. Allow it to vent naturally.
5. Once the Instant Pot has vented naturally, remove the cooked chicken breasts and place in a baking dish.
6. Cover the chicken with the shredded mozzarella cheese and place a tomato slice on top of each chicken breast.
7. Turn the broiler on low and place the chicken under the broiler.
8. Allow the cheese to melt and the tomato slices to warm.
9. Remove from the oven, let cool a few minutes and serve.

Print

New to the Instant Pot? Take a look at this set of Instant Pot Cheat Sheets! Guess what, it is magnetic! See more ideas in our Baking Tips and Hacks.

Looking for more Chicken Recipes? Take a look at these Instant Pot Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.

Looking for more Chicken Recipes? Take a look at these 9 Delicious Low Carb Keto Diet Chicken Recipes for Dinner. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Enjoy these fun holiday games. DOWNLOAD 16 HALLOWEEN MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES FOR ADULTS, KIDS & YOUTH . The printable Halloween games set includes party games instructions and a supply list.


Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!



Stay in the know with daily deals, recipes, crafts, life hacks and seasonal content on Frugal Coupon Living. Receive this and more in your inbox.

Are you looking for a gluten-free recipe that everyone in the family will love? These Veggie Loaded Chickpea Nuggets are the BEST. Since this recipe makes 30 veggie nuggets, there is more than plenty to go around. Plus, it’s the perfect way to load up the kids with extra veggies, too! 

We crave new and fun foods in our house. Maybe we’re a family of foodies, or maybe we just like to try new and exciting things. I really like this easy nugget recipe because the main ingredient is chickpeas and the kids literally have no idea.

It’s not that I’m trying to trick them, but let’s be honest. Getting the kids to eat more food with veggies is probably a daily struggle for most of us. Thankfully there are recipes like this Chickpea Nuggets that make this one less battle to have to fight.

Once the kids gobble them all down, it’s up to you to tell them that they’re just ate simple gluten-free chickpea nuggets. I say some things are just better left unsaid! Make sure to check out my Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes for even more yummy options.

How do you get rid of excess water from the shredded zucchini?

You’ll be amazed at how much water zucchini holds! Once you shred the zucchini, you need to get rid of as much of the water as possible. For this baking hack, I typically placed shredded zucchini in a paper towel give it a good squeeze and drain it out, which gets rid of a lot of it quickly.

What dipping sauces go well with chickpea nuggets?

This is all up to you and your dipping preferences! If you want a dip, get that sauce. Just be sure that whatever dip you’re using is gluten-free as well.

Some dips that people use include:

• ketchup
• ranch
• hot mustard
• salsa
• honey mustard

And those are just a few. You can even make a combination dip of all your favorite flavors or eat it without a dip and enjoy them as is.

Tips for Making these Chickpea Nuggets

Even though this recipe is pretty simple to do, there is one tip to keep in mind as you’re making it.

The mixture is going to be wet and sticky, so be sure to wet your hands down if it’s sticking to your hands while you’re forming them. This will make it less sticky and easier to handle.

Gluten-Free Veggie Nuggets

I think that you’ll find that once you make this simple nugget recipe, you’re going to put it on your meal planning radar asap to have it again.

Ingredients

To make nuggets at home, you’ll need to gather up the short list of ingredients to get started.

• 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained
• ½ cup shredded zucchini
• ½ cup shredded carrot
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ½ cup panko or breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if necessary)
• 2 large eggs

Additional optional spices include black paper or Italian seasoning.

 

Print

Directions to make Gluten-Free Veggie Chickpea Nuggets

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and set aside.

Place shredded zucchini in a paper towel or clean dish towel and squeeze over a bowl to remove as much liquid as possible. 

Place zucchini and all remaining ingredients in a food processor or blender.

Pulse to combine. Blend until the texture forms a dough. 

Using a measuring tablespoon, scoop out the mixture and roll it into a ball before flattening and shaping your chickpea mixture into nuggets. Place nuggets into the preheated oven and bake for 24-27 minutes, flipping halfway through to lightly brown both sides.

Once the outside of the nuggets are golden-brown, allow nuggets to cool for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauces.

Can I freeze Veggie Chickpea Nuggets?

It’s very easy to prep this recipe ahead and freeze any leftover vegan chicken nuggets. Simply store in an airtight freezer bag.

When you are ready to eat, recook the nuggets on a baking tray in the oven as you did before – 400 degrees, 24 to 27 minutes. You also can place your frozen vegan nuggets in the microwave. Arrange spread out as far as possible on a microwave safe plate. Heat 2 to 3 minutes depending on how many nuggets you have on a plate.

What do I serve with Chickpea Nuggets?

Diced potatoes, French fries or fitters are all great sides for nuggets. Using left over zucchini, you could even make these easy veggie fritters and get loads of veggie goodness in your kids. They will never know how healthy their lunch/dinner is!

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final recipe.  Leave a comment on Pinterest or share a photo on Instagram.

Save this recipe for later. Print your recipe and add it to your recipe box or recipe binder! This is my favorite Recipe Binder – I get tired of printing the same recipe over and over. A binder keeps me organized and gives me a place to store my recipes.

Make sure to check out my Simple Lunch Ideas for Kids as well. Pin to Pinterest for later.

Don’t miss out on these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Pin to Pinterest for later.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Enjoy these fun holiday games. DOWNLOAD 16 HALLOWEEN MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES FOR ADULTS, KIDS & YOUTH . The printable Halloween games set includes party games instructions and a supply list.


Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!



Stay in the know with daily deals, recipes, crafts, life hacks and seasonal content on Frugal Coupon Living. Receive this and more in your inbox.