10 Unexpected, Low-Effort Recipes for Your Air Fryer

Air fryers are a great appliance for older adults. Here's why, along with fun new recipes to try

Terry Ward,

AARP

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Published January 03, 2025

Sarah Bond

Air fryers, in case you haven’t noticed, are still having a moment, and they are an excellent choice for older adults, says enthusiastic home cook Pamela Stein, who shares her recipes on social media.

"Using an air fryer for cooking offers several benefits to older adults, which include ease of use as well as the ability for older adults to enjoy healthier meals," she says.

How does an air fryer work? Think of this kitchen tool like a mini convection oven with a fan that "blows the hot air around the food as it cooks," says Linda Larsen, who has authored six air-fryer recipe books, including The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook and Everyday Favorites Air Fryer. The hot air — along with a bit of oil that you can spray on the food or air fryer before cooking — creates a crisp and flavorful crust, she says.

Why an air fryer might be worthy of kitchen counter space

It's surprisingly versatile. "Any food that you can bake, pan-fry, deep-fry, grill, broil or sauté can be cooked in an air fryer," Larsen says — with the exception of liquid foods like soups and foods with wet batters (they won't harden quickly enough before your ingredients brown).

Saves on energy. Air fryers are also great for those on a fixed income since they use less energy than a traditional oven, she adds.

No pots or pans required. They're safer than using an oven, too (no heavy pots or pans to lift for those who have lost grip strength). "You just put the food in the basket or on racks and turn it on," Larsen says (preheating the air fryer is also recommended for some preparations).

Small enough for a countertop. Air fryers are substantially smaller than a conventional oven and can sit right on the counter, making them ideal for people who live in smaller residences, Stein says.

Quicker cook time. Recipes generally take 25 to 30 percent less time to cook in an air fryer than in an oven, and cleanup is easier.

Ready to get cooking? Here are 10 recipes for food you probably didn't know you could make in an air fryer.

1. Golden Corn Ribs

Most veggies work well in the air fryer, including potatoes, Brussels sprouts and asparagus. For something different, try this easy snack from Kimmy Nichols, who had a viral moment on TikTok with the recipe. Use a knife to make "corn ribs" by cutting an ear of corn into four or eight lengthwise thin ribs.

Rub the corn ribs with paprika, olive oil or butter, garlic powder, and salt and pepper, and let the air fryer work its magic (about 10 minutes on high or until the edges have browned) to render them crispy and even more golden and delicious. These work as well as a side dish as they do for picking up with your fingers for a different kind of party appetizer.

Kelly Peak

2. Baked Camembert

Transform a store-bought round of Camembert cheese into an oozing and shareable party pleaser in minutes. A holiday-season regular on TikTok, it can be customized to your taste when drizzled with honey, topped with jam or other ingredients. Kelly Peak-Robertson, of the food delivery service Peak & The Pantry, says to try air frying chopped pecans (about 2 tablespoons) at 350° Fahrenheit for three to four minutes. Then cut a wheel of camembert in half horizontally and spread Scotch bonnet jam on the lower half before sandwiching it back together. Place the cheese back into its wooden box then pop it like that into the air fryer basket and cook for eight to 10 minutes at 350°F. Top it with the pecans and two tablespoons of dried cranberries, then scoop up the gooey Camembert with crackers or crusty bread rounds for a perfect festive starter, Peak-Robertson says.

3. Deviled Eggs

The classic hits differently when the egg whites get breaded and fried in an air fryer before being filled and garnished to perfection.

Heather Johnson of TheFoodHussy.com was inspired to create her own recipe after trying the deep-fried deviled eggs at Old Lady Gang restaurant in Atlanta. "The crunchy texture of the egg whites adds a whole new dimension to a family favorite! Plus, topping with bacon and hot sauce makes them even more delicious!" she says.

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The first step in making air-fried deviled eggs is to make "hard-boiled" eggs in the air fryer by cooking them for 17 minutes at 250°F. Once you've cooled the cooked eggs in ice, then drained, peeled and rinsed them, remove the yolks and prepare the halved whites for another round in the air fryer.

A coating of delicious wing-inspired breading — made with panko, spicy hot wing sauce and beaten eggs — makes the difference for a recipe that kicks things up a notch from standard deviled eggs.

While the whites are getting a second stint in the air fryer, you can mash the yolks with your favorite combination of mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and spices to fill them when they come out and cool — all golden and crunchy on the outside.

Johnson says she loves serving them at holidays, family gatherings and Sunday brunch with friends — they might become a favorite at your next get-together, too.

Sarah Bond

4. Crisp Bloomin' Onion

Why should an Australian-themed steakhouse chain have all the petaled-onion fun?

With the convenience of an air fryer, you can achieve crispy and flavorful blooming onions right at home, says recipe developer and nutritionist Sarah Bond of vegetarian recipe website LiveEatLearn.com.

Large Vidalia onions, with their mild and sweet taste, work best with a crispy coating of flour mixed with milk and eggs and spices (garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne).

Once the onion has been cut into petals, dredged and breaded, it only needs about 15 to 20 minutes in the air fryer at 300°F to complete the transformation.

Try serving it with a tangy dipping sauce of mayonnaise, creamy horseradish sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper.

5. Crispy Spiced Cauliflower

This sturdy vegetable gets a lovely golden glow in the air fryer when bathed in olive oil, turmeric, garlic powder, smoked paprika and Parmesan, says food blogger Farwin Simaak of Love and Other Spices. And while she points to this delicious cauliflower recipes as a favorite, Simaak says the air fryer is a "game changer" for most vegetables — including broccoli cooked crispy-tender — so you can feel free to experiment.

"You can roast vegetables quickly that are tender on the inside and perfectly crispy and charred on the outside," Simaak says.

Sarah Bond

6. Chickpeas

"Whenever I'm in a dinner pinch, I turn to air fryer chickpeas! They're ready quickly and can be seasoned to accompany almost any meal," Bond says. She tosses them in salads ("they're like little protein croutons") and uses them as a crunchy topping for soups, sprinkled over pastas like spaghetti Alfredo and spooned onto flatbread with tzatziki for a chickpea gyro.

Bond's recipe couldn't be easier.

Just drain a can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), mix with olive oil and salt, and air-fry about 8 to 12 minutes at 390°F until crispy and lightly browned.

Bond suggests seasoning them with a mix of unsweetened shredded coconut, curry powder and salt or making your own ranch seasoning (½ tsp. dried dill, ½ tsp. dried chives, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. onion powder, ¼ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper) to add some pizzazz.

7. Korean Glazed Chicken Meatballs

Anna Vocino, the best-selling author of cookbooks Eat Happy, Eat Happy Too and Eat Happy Italian, says meatballs work great in the air fryer since "the grease and excess fat just drips right off for the perfect texture of the meatball." They're an easy, last-minute party appetizer or for meatball subs.

Surprise guests when you opt for an Asian-inspired twist. Create delicious Korean Glazed Chicken Meatballs that incorporate ingredients like gochujang paste, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce and brown sugar for the good balance of spicy and sweet (you can substitute ground beef, pork or turkey for the ground chicken if you prefer).

8. Cheesecake Bites

Air-fryer cheesecake, like this recipe from EatingOnADime.com, is made using a springform pan that fits into an air fryer (7 to 8 inches usually works, but you’ll want to measure your air fryer to be sure). It has become a favorite for home chefs in a hurry. Most recipes use classic ingredients like graham cracker crust, cream cheese, and perhaps sour cream and condensed milk, and are pretty foolproof. They cook in about 20 minutes and come out the ideal consistency. You can top the cake with canned cherries or fresh berries for a pretty presentation.

If you don't have a springform pan, Laurie Fleming of ForkToSpoon.com has an air-fryer Lime Cheesecake Bites recipe that's a cinch to whip up with store-bought mini phyllo shells cooked till crispy in the air fryer (on low heat for 5 minutes). You then fill the shells with a mix of heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, lime juice and lime zest, and top with whipped cream and a lime slice for a dainty and elegant presentation.

Meghan Birnbaum

9. Crab Rangoon

Have you ever tried Crab Rangoon in a restaurant and wished you could replicate it at home? Enter the air fryer. And get ready for a healthier and fun process, too, when you make air fryer Crab Rangoon, says Meghan Birnbaum, who shares approachable air-fryer recipes for home cooks on her website, MeghanItUp.com.

"There's something really satisfying about folding them up, popping them in the air fryer, and getting that perfect crunch in just a few minutes. Way less hassle than deep frying, and they taste amazing," she says.

Her recipe uses wonton wrappers and a filling of crab meat (you can substitute with cooked and shredded chicken or canned tuna), green onion, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder.

"The best part? It’s so quick and easy. Just fill, fold, and air-fry," she says, adding that she usually cooks up a big batch and freezes any extras.

"It's perfect for when you want a quick, crispy snack ready anytime!"

10. S'mores

There's no beating a campfire for ambience. But did you know you can re-create this classic campout treat at home in your air fryer — and without the smell of smoke lingering in your hair and clothes for days?

Tanya Harris of MyForkingLife.com had the idea to make an air-fryer version when her daughter wanted a quick treat, but it was too cold to go outside to start a fire. "I figured we could do it quickly and easily in the air fryer, and it worked great! We enjoy it when we are at home and want a quick and easy dessert," she says.

Air-fryer s’mores make use of the traditional ingredients — halved graham crackers, marshmallows and squares from a chocolate bar — with a less hands-on preparation that will nonetheless be a grandkid-pleaser.

Place graham cracker halves in the bottom of your air fryer, then top with a halved marshmallow — sticky side down, so it stays fixed on the cracker.

Cook on high for 5 to 7 minutes or until the marshmallow is golden, then top with a piece of chocolate and the other graham cracker half for the classic sandwich presentation.

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