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

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

People getting rid of air fryers in favour of kitchen appliance that's cheaper to run. Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy.

What air fryer does Jamie Oliver recommend? ›

Jamie Oliver opted for the Tefal Easy Fry Dual Zone Air Fryer and Grill, which is currently reduced by £30 on Amazon, to cook his meals in the first instalment of the Channel 4 show, showcasing both the stainless steel and black models.

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

Why do chefs hate 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.

What is replacing air fryers? ›

A countertop oven is a quick fix

But I'll argue that the taste trade-offs are worth it, and that you'll still be heating food and cooking more quickly than you would in a large conventional oven.

Can you put foil in an air fryer? ›

The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil along with parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. Just remember that if it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work just fine in an air fryer.

What is the best frozen food to make in the air fryer? ›

Here are some of the best frozen food for the air fryer that can be cooked quickly and easily. They include fries, hash browns, tater tots, Trader Joe's snacks like samosa and gyoza, chicken snacks like popcorn chicken and nuggets, egg rolls, and kid-friendly snacks like pizza rolls.

Who makes the beautiful air fryer? ›

Below are the details of my Beautiful Air Fryer testing. Drew Barrymore's Beautiful kitchen collection is both beautiful and functional. This top-rated 6 qt. air fryer can reliably air fry, roast, reheat, or dehydrate and is available in 7 stylish colors, with more kitchen appliances available to match.

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 is air-fried food unhealthy? ›

Air fryer health risks

COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions. You may have also heard about polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogens that are produced as fumes when foods are cooked at a high temperature.

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.

What cannot be fried in an air fryer? ›

What can you not put in an air fryer? 11 items experts warn against cooking in your appliance
  • Water. ...
  • Cheese. ...
  • Roast chicken. ...
  • Wet batter. ...
  • Popcorn. ...
  • Vegetables with low water content such as broccoli and fresh greens. ...
  • Loose seasoning and breadcrumbs. ...
  • Red meat.
Jan 7, 2023

What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer? ›

Make homemade sweetcorn and spring onion fritters in the air fryer for easy, energy-efficient cooking. These would be perfect as a veggie lunch, starter or side.

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.

Are air fryers losing popularity? ›

Air fryers have maintained their spot as far and away the most popular kitchen gadget for Britons this year, while breadmakers and the tablecloth are disappearing from mealtimes, according to a report.

Why is everyone selling their air fryer? ›

Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy.

What is the problem with air fryer? ›

Issue: One of the most common problems with air fryers is the unit not heating up as it should, which results in undercooked or unevenly cooked food. Solution: Ensure that the air fryer is placed on a flat, stable surface. Also, make sure the basket is securely inserted and that the food is not overcrowded.

What is negative about air fryers? ›

What are Disadvantages of Using an Air Fryer? Air fryers vary in the amount of foods they can hold, but usually do not have a large capacity. Air fryers may not be convenient when cooking for large groups. Foods that are air fried have different sensory characteristics than foods that are deep fried.

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