As technology continues to find its way into our kitchens, it improves our efficiency and makes our lives so much easier. One jewel that has made quite a life-changing impact on many families and home cooks around the world is the air fryer. This wondrous tool cooks your favourite dishes with minimum oil, all while keeping the taste and crispiness intact. The best part? It’s the ultimate time saver. For the nights when you just don’t have any time to spare, here are five fantastic air fryer recipes that will make your life deliciously uncomplicated.

1. Airfryer Lemon Garlic Salmon

If you’re looking to finish off your dish with the perfect protein, this light and healthy salmon recipe is just the thing you’re looking for. With just a couple of basic ingredients you can find in any refrigerator, you’ll be able to whip up this delicious meal in no time. After experiencing how easy it is, you’ll never go back to cooking fish any other way.

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 lemon, sliced

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh dill for garnish

Brush the salmon fillets with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Place the fillets in the air fryer basket, and top them with the lemon slices. Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 10 minutes total. Check for desired doneness, sprinkle with fresh dill, and serve while hot!

Image by cattalin from Pixabay

2. Sweet & Spicy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

The air fryer is the perfect tool for helping you create the most crispy, perfectly cooked chicken wings you’ve ever made in your life. This recipe yields an explosion of flavours, balancing the perfect amount of sweet honey and spicy sriracha for a delicious meal that definitely won’t be made just once.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of chicken wings

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• ½ cup of honey

• ¼ cup of sriracha sauce

• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish

To begin, pat dry the chicken wings and toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook in the air fryer at 380°F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by mixing honey, sriracha, soy sauce, and minced garlic in a pan over medium heat. Simmer until it thickens slightly.

Once the wings are cooked, toss them in the sweet and spicy sauce until well-coated. Return the wings to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 400°F. This will help the sauce to stick to the wings and become beautifully caramelized. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish. Serve while hot!

Photo by RitaE on Pixabay

3. Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini Chips

If you’re looking for a healthier take on chips, these crispy zucchini chips are sure to impress. Simple to make and requiring little to no ingredients, it’ll be the easiest thing you ever whipped up. After tasting how delicious they are, you’ll never go back to frozen fries.

Ingredients:

• 2 zucchinis

• ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, grated

• ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs

• Salt and pepper to taste

Slice the zucchini into thin rounds. Mix Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Dip each zucchini round into the mixture to coat, then place into the air fryer basket. Cook at 375°F for 15 minutes until golden and crispy.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

4. Air Fryer Falafel Pitas

For something a bit more outside of the box and creative, try this spin on the traditional falafel. By making fresh, crispy falafel balls with the air fryer, you’ll be shocked you made something this good. 

Ingredients:

• 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic

• Handful of fresh parsley

• 1 teaspoon of cumin

• Salt to taste

• 4 pita bread

For the sauce:

• ½ cup of Greek yogurt

• 2 tablespoons of tahini

• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

• Salt to taste

To make this easy falafel, blend the chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, and salt all in a food processor until combined. Roll them into small balls and place them in the air fryer. Cook at 375°F for 15 minutes until golden and crispy. Meanwhile, make the sauce by whisking together the Greek yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, and salt.

Once the falafel balls are ready, warm the pita bread and slice them open to form pockets. Fill with the falafel balls and drizzle with the sauce. All that’s left to do is eat!

Image by Firas Hassoun from Pixabay

5. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Why buy store-bought gnocchi when it’s so easy to make at home? With a delicious sweet potato twist, this dish will have you falling in love with this recipe. Who knew gourmet cooking could be this simple? 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato

• 1-2 cups of flour

• Salt to taste

For the sauce:

• 4 tablespoons of butter

• 6 sage leaves

Microwave the sweet potato until soft, then mash and let cool. Add salt and begin incorporating flour slowly until a dough forms. Roll the dough into thin logs, cut bite-sized pieces, and press with a fork to make grooves. Place the gnocchi in the air fryer and cook at 375°F for 15 minutes, until they’re slightly crispy and golden.

While the gnocchi is cooking, make your sauce. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat, add sage leaves, and cook until the butter is browned. Once the gnocchi is ready, toss them into the sage brown butter and mix well.

Image by Fabio Nincheri from Pixabay

Though you may never have thought of yourself as a cook, these quick and easy air fryer recipes will sure have you feeling like one! Both delicious and a great way to save time, these five recipes will surely make their way into your daily repertoire.