Easy and Cheap Air Fryer Recipes

Saving money and time are two things that the air fryer excels at. Of course, there is the health benefit of not having to use cooking oil. However, we all just want a delicious meal or snack and not have to budget for it; these easy and cheap air fryer recipes get that job done.

Use these easy and cheap air fryer recipes for lunch, dinner, snacks, and even for picky eaters we need to please at home. A great way to use less oil in cooking is to use an air fryer. Air fryers essentially create a vortex of hot air inside, which cooks food fast and makes it crispy.

The cooking process resembles frying in oil, which is why we call them air fryer dinners; they are fried with hot air. A little olive oil can help the process along, but we aren’t drowning our food in grease when we use an air fryer.

Another awesome benefit of air frying is that it allows us to get creative. There is no need to buy all of the ingredients to make a pizza dough; instead, use a tortilla. This is a great way to save money on easy weeknight dinners.

Being an air fryer newbie is also amazing. We have numerous opportunities to create our own cookbooks filled with our favorite air fryer recipes. Even smaller air fryers can get the job done.

We usually turn to things like slow cookers or Instant Pots to help us ditch the conventional oven and still get good food on the table during busy weeknights. We can add the air fryer to the list of kitchen appliances that have a right place among the best.

Easy and Cheap Air Fryer Recipes

Easy air fryer recipes can be things like Brussels sprouts, green beans, or sweet potatoes. They can also be things like homemade chicken katsu or BBQ chicken thighs. The idea of making food in an air fryer can seem like a whole lot, especially since it is relatively new.

We can’t simply pull from family recipes to make a healthy snack if we want to use an air fryer. Instead, we have to rely on trial and error most of the time. Luckily, these recipes have been tried, they have been enjoyed, and you will enjoy them, too.

The few minutes of prep time make a big difference when combined with the low cooking times of an air fryer. 

What is the Trick to Using an Air Fryer?

The first step is to allow the air fryer to preheat. The last thing we want to do is put chicken thighs in an air fryer basket and not cook the chicken properly. These BBQ chicken thighs will come out much better if you let the air fryer preheat for 3 minutes before adding the food.

Another important tip is to keep the inside of the air fryer as unobstructed as possible. The air fryer cooks food by creating a vortex of hot air. Blocking that air will make food take longer to cook.

Easy air-fryer recipes will become headaches if we obstruct the air with things like foil, parchment paper, or bowls. These things are recommended sometimes, but those recipes will take a bit longer than it would take to make things like lemon pepper chicken wings.

Lastly, clean the basket often. We want nice, even cooking in less than the usual time. That means keeping the basket clean and taking care of our kitchen gadgets. 

What is the Best Thing You Can Make in an Air Fryer?

​Easy and cheap air fryer recipes cover a wide range of food. Some people think air fryers are just for chicken and frozen fries. The air fryer does excel at making those things. Try this bacon-wrapped chicken tenders recipe to find out.

We can make many different things in an air fryer; it just comes down to creativity and the willingness to deal with trial and error. For example, someone out there was craving pizza but didn’t want to make a whole pizza or order out.

Instead, they found a way to make a thin crust pizza in an air fryer, and now we have this amazingly delicious air fryer tortilla pizza recipe to enjoy. The air fryer is capable of many things; we just need to use trial and error to create something new.

Air Fryer Snack Recipes

We can use easy and cheap air fryer recipes to make snacks as well as main courses. Want some mozzarella sticks? Make them from scratch using an air fryer mozzarella stick recipe. They will come out perfectly crispy and golden brown every single time.

Add a pinch of salt or some garlic powder, and you’ll have something truly amazing. Air fryer snacks come in all shapes and sizes. Mozzarella sticks are a perfect snack because they are healthy, though they feel like they are junk food.

We can get those same results with an air fryer ground beef quesadilla recipe. We don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the tasty dishes we love so much. The air fryer isn’t exactly the reason for those savings; it comes down to creativity and know-how.

However, we can’t make things like a fried sliced potatoes recipe or mini loaded meatloaves without the air fryer. Any of these recipes would make you a believer in the air fryer.

More Easy Recipes

Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes Anyone Can Make | Air fryers aren’t the only kitchen tools we can use to make meals easier.

Pork Loin Recipes For The Slow Cooker | Pork loin is so much better when it is given the time it needs to cook properly.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Freezer Meal Recipe | Teriyaki chicken is a classic dish that can be made in a slow cooker.

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Recipes | Chicken thighs pack more flavor than chicken breasts, so we should use them more often.

Easy Instant Pot Desserts For A Crowd | Dessert is a dish we often skip because we just don’t want to spend more time in the kitchen. Problem solved!