Raise your hand if you’ve used your air fryer to whip up quick eats for your family. Now, raise your hand if you’ve ever considered using that all-powerful appliance for something different. While it might seem daunting to leave the realm of chicken nuggets and other frozen bites, what if we told you there’s a whole world of options available? From breakfast to fast snacks and even decadent desserts, the things you can make in an air fryer are vast, and we found some of the best.
For other fun ideas, check out our favorite air fryer recipes, the best chicken air fryer recipes, and Trader Joe’s air fryer recipes that’ll save your weeknight.
Savory Things to Make in an Air Fryer
Grilled Cheese
Make a perfectly crisp and gooey grilled cheese sandwich in under 10 minutes with this recipe from Food Lovin’ Family. This one is great for kids who feel comfortable using an air fryer but might not be ready to use a stove.
Corn on the Cob
Using an air fryer to make corn on the cob gives you that grill taste and flavor without having to turn on the grill, and it only takes 15 minutes from start to finish. We love this recipe from Jo Cooks.
Hard Boiled Eggs
Boiled eggs in an air fryer? What? Yup, you can make a perfect version without waiting for water to boil. No more cracked shells, underdone whites, or green yolks to be seen. Get the recipe from Erin Clarke at Well Plated.
Chicken Curry
Before you raise your eyebrows—hear us out. Chicken curry is a flavorful dish that’s perfect for introducing kids to Indian food, especially since you can manage the level of spiciness you want. For this recipe from Fabulessly Frugal, you’ll need an air fryer cake barrel for the sauce, and yes, while it takes a few moments to mix the ingredients, once you’ve done that, it takes about 10 minutes to cook up the rest.
Mac and Cheese
You can make a version of mac and cheese anywhere and it’ll taste good: the stove, the oven, the microwave… and now the air fryer! The best part about this recipe from My Forking Life is that you don’t have to boil the noodles. You just put all the ingredients together and in 25 minutes, you’ll have the perfect side dish—or dinner! A note: the cooking time depends on the type of air fryer you own. Be sure to get out the details in the recipe.
Crustless Quiche
Quiche is one of those dishes that looks complicated but is very simple. If you don’t feel like using your oven, this version from Fabulessly Frugal might be the ticket. It takes 10 minutes to assemble and 10 minutes to cook, and the eggs will be oh-so-fluffy. If you prefer your quiche with a crust, try this recipe from Entertaining with Beth.
Biscuits
Okay, so opening a can of biscuits and popping them in the oven isn’t hard. But what if you want them even faster and fluffier than an oven can make? That’s when an air fryer comes in handy. Check out this quick tutorial from Mindy’s Cooking Obsession about how to get quick biscuits in under 10 minutes.
Related: 13 Air Fryer Chicken Recipes So Good You’ll Make Them on Repeat
Sweet Things to Make in an Air Fryer
Donuts
Okay, so stopping at Dunkin’ or any local shop is easy. But did you know that you can make donuts at home with an air fryer? It might sound tricky but we found several easy recipes for you. As a bonus, air fryer donuts aren’t fried! See our favorites here.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
So you’re craving cookies but don’t want to make a whole batch. Enter chocolate chip cookies! This recipe from Gimmie Delicious allows you to make about four cookies that come out crisp on the outside and soft on the inside in just five minutes. Make a big batch of dough and freeze what you don’t need so you can have cookies any time.
French Toast
This French toast recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch is crispy, sweet, and perfect for a Sunday breakfast or an after-dinner snack! The best part? They take about 7 minutes from start to finish.
Molten Lava Cake
A homemade chocolate dessert in under 10 minutes? Yes, please! An air fryer works perfectly for a lava cake because it crisps up the outside without burning the inside. My Forking Life has the instructions. Note: You’ll need ramekins for this recipe!
