Our tastiest air-fryer recipes | Jamie Oliver (2024)

Air fryers have quickly become a much-loved piece of kitchen kit; and our easy air-fryer recipes will help you save time and energy. These tasty recipes prove that air fryers aren’t just for chips — there are so many ways to maximise their potential.

From crispy air-fryer chicken and salmon to soft aubergine and tender squash, there’s plenty to be inspired by. Join the air-fryer revolution with our handy guide. Check out the Tips section of these recipes for how to incorporate the air fryer into your cooking.

Ultimate bacon sarnies

How do you like your bacon sarnie? Try two delicious versions, both with juicy smoked bacon between two slices of white bread… but that’s where the similarities end. The possibilities are endless — whether you like yours with brown sauce or ketchup or mustard, nothing beats the iconic bacon sarnie. It’s quick and easy to make your bacon beautifully crispy with our air-fryer tip.

Crispy salmon tacos

Crispy salmon pairs beautifully with a fresh rainbow salsa — speedy and simple to prepare, the riot of colours and crunchy texture of this dish make it something really special. If you want to go all-out, try making the tortillas at home. For extra-crispy salmon skin, our handy air-fryer tip has you covered.

The humble potato chip can be something truly magical. If you’re going to treat yourself to some, you need to do it right, and these are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle, even when cooked in an air fryer!

Jumbo fish fingers

Family favourite fish fingers, but scaled up a size? Yes please! Making fish fingers at home is easy and more nutritious. Coated in flavoured breadcrumbs, these are so tasty, and perfect for building up your freezer stash. Jamie uses salmon here, but you can switch up the fish depending on what’s in season. It’s super-simple to cook these by popping them in the air fryer.

Buddy's crispy chicken

Juicy chicken is made even more tender by bashing it before coating it in garlicky breadcrumbs, creating a beautiful crispy layer. It’s so simple, delicious, and kids will love making it. It’s perfect for a midweek meal — serve with a chopped salad, potato wedges or a crunchy slaw for maximum deliciousness. The crumbed chicken is ideal in an air fryer.

Moreish aubergine salad

Tender aubergine is the hero ingredient of this vibrant salad, but the pesto-style dressing with runny honey, zingy lemon, crunchy almonds and salty feta is definitely something to shout about. It’s colourful, full of out-of-this-world flavour and involves minimal prep, with the oven doing the hard work for you — what’s not to love? For extra soft aubergines, try making them in the air fryer.

BRILLIANT BAKED POTATO

For a simple, straightforward and comforting meal, nothing beats a baked potato. When cooked to perfection, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, they’re perfect for adding a huge variety of tasty fillings. From fancy tuna mayo to rainbow slaw; our filling ideas are sure to inspire, but feel free to get creative and come up with your own. Cooking the baked potatoes in the air fryer will speed up the process.

Harissa squash salad

With soft squash, silky avocado and creamy mozzarella, this rainbow-bright salad is packed with flavour. Using just five ingredients, it’s so quick and straightforward to whiz together and is sure to hit the spot for a no-fuss midweek lunch. Cooking the chunks of squash in an air fryer will give you extra tender results.

Chargrilled veg kebabs

Kids will have a great time making these kebabs. These beauties are packed with lots of colourful veg, and are guaranteed to be a hit, even among meat-lovers — an absolute game changer! Bring them out to add the perfect veggie component to any barbecue. Sunshine on a plate! And they’re super-simple to make in an air fryer.

Smoky mixed-potato wedges

Transform the humble potato into something next-level — there’s nothing quite like good, homemade wedges. Seasoned with paprika, these are packed with flavour. It’s a great, and really easy recipe to make with kids. Bake in the oven or cook in an air fryer until they’ve reached golden perfection.

Make the most of any veg you have lying about with this cracker of a recipe. Jamie uses onion, squash and paneer here; but you can swap in whatever veg or cheese you like. Drizzled with coriander yoghurt for that hit of freshness, these bhaji flatbreads are next-level. Try making the bhajis in an air fryer and cook until crispy and delicious.

Insanity burger

Brushing the burger with tangy mustard and spicy Tabasco chipotle sauce adds an incredible layer of flavour to this burger. With crispy bacon, melty Red Leicester cheese, lashings of ketchup and homemade burger sauce, it’s unbeatable. Swap the minced beef for pork or try a mixture of the two. Tasty served with potato wedges or a slaw. Ideal for cooking in the air fryer.

Plus: check out our tip for making crispy kale in the air-fryer: perfect for serving as a tasty side with meat or fish; or jazzing up a poached egg.

How to make crispy kale in an air fryer

Wash and remove the stalks from 180g of curly kale, then massage with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Place in the air fryer* in a single layer and cook at 200°C for 3 minutes, or until crisp, tossing halfway (you’ll need to do this in batches). If your air fryer has a basket rather than shelves, you can place all the kale in at once and cook for 3 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.

*Tested in a 4.2-litre air fryer. All air fryers are different, so results may vary.

Check out our air-fryer recipes for more inspiration

Our tastiest air-fryer recipes | Jamie Oliver (2024)

FAQs

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What tastes best cooked in an air fryer? ›

Some of the popular things to make in the air fryer are potatoes (chips, roasted, baked), muffins, scones, and cakes. It's also great for getting dinner on the table fast – we love to use our air fryer to make fritters, rissoles, nuggets, and pork belly (yes, you can cook raw meat in an air fryer).

What are the best foods to throw in an air fryer? ›

It's great at heating frozen foods, but it's also fantastic for from-scratch foods, like chicken wings, potato chips, donuts, and extra-crisp cookies. Here, we've rounded up 81 air fryer recipes to show just how versatile the appliance can be.

Why is Airfryer not healthy? ›

Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Why is air fried food not healthy? ›

In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.

Can you put raw meat in an airfryer? ›

It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

What meat tastes good in the air fryer? ›

As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

What cannot be fried in an air fryer? ›

8 Things You Probably Shouldn't Cook in an Air Fryer
  • Battered foods. Avoid placing wet batter in the air fryer. ...
  • Fresh greens. Leafy greens like spinach will cook unevenly because the machine uses high-speed air. ...
  • Whole roasts. ...
  • Cheese. ...
  • Raw grains. ...
  • Hamburgers. ...
  • Toast. ...
  • Popcorn.
Mar 11, 2024

What do chefs think of air fryers? ›

Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.

Can you put a paper towel down in an air fryer? ›

Airflow is essential to the machine, so while a paper towel is useful for cleaning, it should not be used while cooking food in the air fryer. It can restrict the airflow of the machine and even catch fire. It's important to remember that the air inside the air fryer can get very hot.

Can you throw eggs in the Airfryer? ›

Air fry for 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs with thoroughly cooked yolks. Alternatively, you can cook for 9 minutes for very soft with slightly runny whites, 11 minutes for jammy eggs, or 13 minutes for just slightly undercooked yolks.

What cannot be cooked in an airfryer? ›

8 Things You Probably Shouldn't Cook in an Air Fryer
  1. Battered foods. Avoid placing wet batter in the air fryer. ...
  2. Fresh greens. Leafy greens like spinach will cook unevenly because the machine uses high-speed air. ...
  3. Whole roasts. ...
  4. Cheese. ...
  5. Raw grains. ...
  6. Hamburgers. ...
  7. Toast. ...
  8. Popcorn.
Mar 11, 2024

What ruins an air fryer? ›

Putting a damp basket back into the air fryer can cause damage, such as affecting the time it takes for your air fryer to heat up or damaging the internal components. It is no secret that water and electricity do not go hand-in-hand.

Why should you never cook bacon in your air fryer? ›

“When using an air fryer, exercise caution as bacon contains high levels of fat, which can lead to smoking or even flames in certain air fryer models," according to the pro.

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