I'm a trained chef and swear by these ridiculously easy recipes to cook in an air fryer when I'm short on time

As a trained chef, it might surprise you to hear that the air fryer is my favorite kitchen tool. It all started when I was living in a tiny apartment without an oven and working for a healthy recipe box company, writing air fryer recipes. I became obsessed with what I could cook in the air fryer, starting with roasted veggies and even attempting a full English roast dinner.

If you've just bought one of the best air fryers (or you're thinking about it) and you're unsure where to start, I've written six recipes that will make your busy life simpler, easier, and tastier.

Air fryers are ideal for quick, healthy recipes when you don't have the time or energy to cook. According to Instant, their air fryers are 70% faster than ovens and use 95% less oil than deep frying. Best of all, you don't have to lift a finger to create food that's crispy on the outside and tender within – just pop the ingredients in the drawer and you're all set.

From simple 'basket' bakes to easy desserts, these air fryer recipes keep me going throughout the week when I'm tired and in need of a quick fix. The best part is, these recipes use very few dishes and utensils, so cleaning up is a breeze, too.

My favorite air fryers

If you're late to the air fryer party, these are the top three models. You can cook delicious dishes in any of these air fryers.

1. Breakfast

The air fryer is your best friend for effortless, healthier breakfasts. I try to start my day with a protein-packed meal, but sometimes I'm just too tired or pressed for time. These 'make-ahead' air fryer recipes are so simple, you could make them half-asleep, and they cook in half the time it would take in the oven.

Blueberry & Almond Air Fryer Baked Oats

Start by mashing a small banana in a heatproof dish that fits inside your air fryer. Add ⅔ cup rolled oats, ⅔ cup milk, 50g frozen blueberries, ½ tablespoon runny honey, and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Mix to combine, then gently fold in 10g flaked almonds.

Carefully lower the dish into the basket and bake at 340°F (170°C) for 12–15 minutes, or until golden and set. I start checking at the 10-minute mark, as cooking times can vary between air fryers.

Chef's tip: This recipe serves two, so you can use individual ramekins. I serve mine topped with extra honey, greek yogurt, or almond butter for a sweet, warming breakfast.

Easy Air Fryer Egg Bites

The recipe makes four egg bites, and it starts with a bit of veggie prep, so grab your chopping board. Finely slice 40g fresh spinach and one spring onion. Dice half a bell pepper into bite-sized pieces. Heat a splash of olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the veggies for 5 minutes, until softened.

While that’s cooking, whisk 3 medium eggs with ½ tablespoon of milk and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk in 25g grated cheddar cheese, then add the cooked veggies and mix thoroughly.

Lightly spray 4 silicone muffin cups with oil (I use these non-stick, silicone baking cups from Silicone Kitchen and olive oil in a glass spray bottle, linked below). Pour the mixture into each cup. Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 7–10 minutes, or until puffed up and cooked through with a golden top.

Chef's tip: You can use any chopped vegetables you like (think: asparagus, tomatoes, leeks, mushrooms). You can also double my recipe to prep breakfast for the week ahead – to reheat, simply heat the air fryer to 350F and air fry for 5 minutes, until piping hot all the way through.

Oil Spray Bottle | $22.99 at Amazon I recommend one of these to everyone with an air fryer. It helps you avoid artificial oil sprays, control the spritz, and it looks nice on display, too.

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2. Easy lunches & dinners

My favorite air fryer recipes are the ones where I can just toss everything into the basket and let the machine do the hard work for me. Below are my go-tos for easy weeknight dinners and lunchboxes. I particularly love the 'air fryer' version of a classic chicken traybake; I make a variation on this almost every week, switching up the marinade and vegetables to create something new and exciting each time.

Spanish Chicken & Chorizo Basket Bake

Halve 200g mini new potatoes (quarter any that are on the chunky side). Thickly slice 1 bell pepper and cut 1 red onion into wedges. Slice 75g of chorizo sausage into rounds. Add everything to a large air fryer basket, along with 200g diced chicken breast.

Now for the good stuff. In a small cup, mix 2 tablespoons of sundried tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of dried thyme, 1 teaspoon of honey, and the juice from half a small orange. Season with a few grinds of black pepper and give it a good stir.

Pour the mixture over the meat and veg in the basket and toss (using silicone tongs) until coated. Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 22–25 minutes, tossing twice during cooking.

With 3 minutes to go, add 50g of green olives and give everything one last mix. You’re looking for charred edges, tender potatoes, and chicken that’s cooked through (the juices should run clear, and it should hit 75°C with a thermometer). Serve with a spoonful of garlic yoghurt (I just stir some minced garlic into plain yoghurt), chopped parsley, or salad greens for freshness.

Chef's tip: If you don't have a stainless steel non-toxic air fryer, you need to use silicone tongs for tossing your traybake. This prevents scratching the non-stick basket lining.

Teriyaki salmon

In a large bowl, mix 2 tbsp soy sauce, 25g honey, 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp ginger paste and 1 tsp garlic paste. Add two salmon fillets and toss to coat. Place in the air fryer and pour the remaining teriyaki dressing over the top. Air fry at 400°F for 8-9 minutes, until the salmon is cooked through, flaky, and tender.

Chef's tip: This is my favorite restaurant dish, but I used to shy away from making it at home since I hate the lingering smell of pan-fried fish. The effect is reduced with this air fryer recipe. I also recommend the Instant Vortex Air Fryer with Odor Erase for people with sensitive noses.

3. Snacks & sweet treats

If you're craving a sweet treat or salty snack, but don't want to cook in bulk, you can use the air fryer to make a single portion. It saves on energy, as you don't have to heat the whole oven and the air fryer is so quick to preheat. These air fryer recipes are ideal for days when you're particularly tired or rushed off your feet, but you still want to eat well. I got the inspiration for the crispy chickpeas when I interviewed six nutritionists for their healthy air fryer secrets.

Crispy Smoky Chickpeas

This is the easiest air fryer recipe in the world. Simply drain 1 can of cooked chickpeas, rinse under water, and dry them with a paper towel. Add to a mixing bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, a sprinkle of spicy cayenne (to your taste) and a generous pinch of sea salt. Add the chickpeas to a lined basket and air fry at 390°F ( 200°C) for 12-14 minutes, tossing once or twice to get them evenly crisp. Cook for a couple of minutes longer, if you want them to be really crunchy.

Chef's tip: Use your crispy chickpeas to top soups and salads, or just pop them out in snacking bowls to munch on.

Cosori Paper Basket Air Fryer Liners | $13.99 at Amazon I use these disposable liners to catch crumbs, seasoning, sticky marinade, or melting cheese/chocolate. It saves me an extra cleaning task. Just make sure to measure your air fryer first to pick the correct size and shape.

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Chocolate Peanut Air-fried Bananas

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For years, I've been baking bananas in foil in the oven when I crave a sweet treat after dinner. Now I air fry them in just ten minutes, studded with toppings that take my fancy (raisins, sultanas, cinnamon, dark chocolate or nuts). This 'Elvis' style version is inspired by a recipe from @thrivingonplants on Instagram.

First, line your air fryer with a baking paper basket to catch the melty goodness. Then grab a banana from the fruit bowl and slice it in half lengthways. Place both halves in your air fryer and top the banana surface with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, coating it using the back of a spoon. Top each banana with a handful of chopped roasted peanuts and chocolate chips (to your taste).

Bake your banana in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for around 10 minutes, or until golden and gooey. Top with peanut butter or an indulgent scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Chef’s tip: If your air fryer has a dehydrate function, you can also make banana chips (or any kind of fruit crisps, for that matter). They make great snacks to eat on the go.

Air fryer recipe FAQS

• Sauces / liquids can seep into parts of the air fryer where it doesn't belong, potentially causing electrical malfunctions or short circuits
• A thin, wet batter could get blown around an air fryer and get into the heating elements or blow behind the fan, both which can lead to a fire. You might think it will get fried (like the 'air fryer' name suggests) but wet batter doesn't crisp under direct heat like it does in hot oil, so you won't get any benefits at all. Cakes and brownies are made with a thick, heavy batter so they should be ok, but check with your specific air fryer model first.
• Popcorn kernels can get blown around by the heating fans and cause irreversible damage if they get into the wrong place.
• Raw rice, pasta or grains require water or broth for proper absorption and tender cooking, which an air fryer, with its hot air circulation, cannot provide. Your rice would be undercooked, and the water could damage the machine. For perfectly cooked, quick rice and grains, stick to the best rice cookers.
• Artificial 'light' spray oils can damage the lining of your non-stick air fryer, according to air fryer expert Sam Milner. She recommends using olive oil in a spray bottle instead.

I hope you have found at least one or two air fryer recipes on this list that you'd like to try at home. I am constantly experimenting in my air fryer, so if I develop a fun new recipe, I'll be sure to add it here. If you're interested in knowing which air fryer I used for these recipes, it was the Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket.