19 unexpected recipes that prove your air fryer can do more

Air fryers quietly handle more than quick snacks once you start exploring their range. Each recipe in this collection shows how versatile this appliance can be in everyday cooking. You get a mix of sweets, mains, and crisp bites that stretch beyond the usual routine. Every dish is built to keep cooking efficient while adding variety.

Cinnamon sugar donut holes with a caramel dipping sauce in a bowl on a dark plate. — Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes with Caramel Sauce. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Blueberry Donut Holes

Iced blueberry cookies cooling on a wire rack, with some fresh blueberries in the background. — Air Fryer Blueberry Donut Holes. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Blueberry Donut Holes are small baked treats filled with fruit flavor. They take about 15 minutes to cook and use dough and blueberries. The taste is sweet and lightly fruity. Soft centers contrast with crisp outsides.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Blueberry Donut Holes

Crispy Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Italian Seasoning

Close-up of a plate of seasoned and grilled chicken wings garnished with herbs. Lemon wedges are visible in the background, adding a hint of color. The wings appear crispy and well-cooked, resting on a dark plate. — Crispy Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Italian Seasoning. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Crispy Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Italian Seasoning are seasoned wings cooked until golden. They take about 20 minutes to prepare and use chicken wings and herbs. The flavor is savory and aromatic. Crisp skin surrounds juicy meat.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Italian Seasoning

Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

A black plate holding several pieces of golden-brown, crispy fried chicken tenders garnished with chopped parsley, set on a rust-colored cloth with sauce and herbs visible in the background. — Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are breaded chicken strips coated in sweet heat. They take about 20 minutes to cook and use chicken, honey, and spices. The taste is sweet and spicy. Crisp coating seals in moisture.
Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze

A cabbage slice topped with crumbled feta cheese and drizzled with balsamic glaze, served on a white plate. — Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze are sliced vegetables topped with cheese. They take about 15 minutes to prepare and use cabbage, goat cheese, and glaze. The flavor is savory and tangy. Tender centers soften beneath crisp edges.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze

Air Fryer Cheese Bites

A plate of breaded chicken nuggets garnished with parsley. The nuggets are golden brown, and the dish is placed on a white surface with a striped cloth partially visible. — Air Fryer Cheese Bites. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Cheese Bites are small portions of melted cheese cooked until crisp. They take about 10 minutes to cook and use cheese and coating. The taste is savory and rich. Warm centers stretch slightly.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cheese Bites

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli

A hand dips a crispy, breaded zucchini chip into a bowl of marinara sauce. — Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli are breaded pasta pockets cooked until golden. They take about 12 minutes to prepare and use ravioli and breadcrumbs. The flavor is savory and mild. Crisp shells protect soft filling.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli

Air Fryer Funnel Cakes

A pile of powdered sugar-covered cookies with colorful sprinkles on a wooden tray. — Air Fryer Funnel Cakes. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Funnel Cakes are sweet fried-style pastries with powdered topping. They take about 15 minutes to cook and use batter and sugar. The taste is sweet and light. Crisp edges surround soft centers.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Funnel Cakes

Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Plate of bacon-wrapped peppers filled with cheese, garnished with parsley, next to a grated cheese block and grater on a wooden board. — Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers are stuffed peppers baked until tender. They take about 15 minutes to prepare and use jalapeños and cheese. The flavor is spicy and creamy. Warm filling softens the heat.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake

A partially sliced cake with light brown frosting and crumbled Lotus Biscoff cookies on top, displayed on a white cake stand. A blue cup sits in the background. — Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake is a small cake baked with spiced cookie spread. It takes about 20 minutes to cook and uses batter and Biscoff spread. The taste is sweet and caramel-like. Soft crumb stays moist.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake

Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma

Two grilled wraps are cut in half, showing fillings of grilled chicken, lettuce, cucumber, and other vegetables. The wraps have visible grill marks and are stacked on a plate with a blurred background. — Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma is seasoned meat cooked until lightly crisp. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare and uses chicken and spices. The flavor is savory and aromatic. Juices stay sealed inside.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma

Lemon Air Fryer Salmon

Four grilled salmon fillets garnished with fresh dill and lemon slices are arranged on a white oval platter. The fillets are seasoned with herbs and pepper. The edge of a striped cloth and a serving of broccoli are partially visible. — Lemon Air Fryer Salmon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Lemon Air Fryer Salmon is a fish fillet cooked with citrus seasoning. It takes about 12 minutes to cook and uses salmon and lemon. The taste is savory and bright. Tender flakes separate easily.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Air Fryer Salmon

Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken

A bowl of white rice topped with stir-fried chicken pieces and chopped green onions, with chopsticks beside it. — Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken is crispy chicken seasoned simply. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare and uses chicken and spices. The flavor is savory with mild heat. Crisp coating surrounds juicy pieces.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken

2-Ingredient Air Fryer Plantain Chips

A speckled bowl filled with tomato sauce in the center, surrounded by a ring of crispy, thinly sliced plantain chips on a light surface. — 2-Ingredient Air Fryer Plantain Chips. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

2-Ingredient Air Fryer Plantain Chips are thin slices cooked until crisp. They take about 10 minutes to prepare and use plantains and oil. The taste is lightly sweet and savory. Crunchy chips snap easily.
Get the Recipe: 2-Ingredient Air Fryer Plantain Chips

Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

A hand dips a fried zucchini fritter into a small bowl of white cream sauce on a gray plate. Other fritters and lemon wedges are arranged around the bowl on a marble surface. — Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta are vegetable patties cooked until golden. They take about 15 minutes to cook and use zucchini and feta. The flavor is savory and tangy. Crisp outsides hold soft centers.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

Air Fryer Spiced Tilapia

Air Fryer Spiced Tilapia is a seasoned fish fillet cooked quickly. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare and uses tilapia and spices. The taste is savory and mild. Tender flesh flakes cleanly.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Spiced Tilapia

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese

A bowl of macaroni and cheese with pieces of chicken, topped with a drizzle of brown sauce, sits on a white surface beside a fork and sprigs of parsley. — Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese is a baked pasta dish with meat. It takes about 20 minutes to cook and uses pasta, chicken, and sauce. The flavor is savory and smoky. Creamy sauce coats the noodles.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese

Air Fryer Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Four chocolate chunk cookies on parchment paper inside an air fryer basket. — Air Fryer Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Chocolate Chunk Cookies are small baked cookies with melted chocolate. They take about 12 minutes to prepare and use dough and chocolate. The taste is sweet and rich. Soft centers stay warm.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

Two roasted chicken thighs on a white plate garnished with sprigs of thyme. A ceramic jar is partially visible in the background on the left. — Air Fryer Turkey Thighs. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Turkey Thighs are seasoned poultry cooked until crisp. They take about 25 minutes to cook and use turkey and spices. The flavor is savory and hearty. Juicy meat rests beneath crisp skin.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes with Caramel Sauce

Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes with Caramel Sauce are sweet pastries served with dip. They take about 15 minutes to prepare and use dough, sugar, and caramel. The taste is sweet and spiced. Warm coating clings to each bite.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes with Caramel Sauce