What to Cook in an Air Fryer

An air fryer is best for foods that crisp, so fries, chicken wings and thighs, frozen snacks, and roasted vegetables all come out excellent, while it is poorly suited to wet batters, very saucy dishes, and light leafy greens. Knowing what to cook in an air fryer is really about matching the food to fast, circulating hot air. If you are still shopping for one, see our air fryer picks, or read on for what actually works.

Quick Verdict

Cook anything that benefits from crisping and dry heat: fries, chicken, frozen foods, and roasted vegetables are naturals. Avoid wet batters that drip, saucy dishes that make a mess, and delicate greens that blow around. A light coat of oil helps most foods brown, and cooking in a single layer is what gets everything crisp.

Why Trust This Guide

Chicken and fries are what I air fry most in my combo oven, so the favorites here are foods I actually cook rather than a generic list. Years of using the air fry function have made it clear which foods shine and which are better handled another way. A combo does even more; see combo cooker vs separate appliances.

Key Takeaways

• Air fryers excel at crisping with fast, circulating heat.
• Fries, chicken, frozen foods, and veggies are naturals.
• Avoid wet batters, very saucy dishes, and light greens.
• A light coat of oil helps most foods brown.
• Cook in a single layer so everything crisps evenly.

Best Air Fryer Foods, at a Glance

Best Foods to Cook in an Air Fryer

The standouts are foods that crisp and brown with dry heat. Fries and potato wedges are the classic, turning out crisp outside and fluffy inside, and chicken, whether wings, thighs, or breaded pieces, gets a crackly exterior without deep frying. These two are what I make most. Roasted vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and peppers caramelize nicely, and bacon and sausages cook up crisp with the fat draining away. A light coat of oil and a single layer are the two habits that make all of these work, since crowding blocks the airflow that does the crisping.

What Frozen Foods Work in an Air Fryer?

Frozen foods are some of the easiest and best air fryer wins. Frozen fries, nuggets, mozzarella sticks, spring rolls, and similar snacks are designed to crisp in hot air, so they come out better than in a microwave and faster than a full oven, usually with no preheating needed. Straight from the freezer into the basket, a shake partway through, and they are done. Because these foods are already coated and portioned for crisping, they are a reliable place to start with an air fryer. Just keep them in a single layer so the hot air reaches every piece.

What Not to Cook in an Air Fryer

Some foods simply fight the way an air fryer works. Wet batters, like a traditional beer batter, drip through the basket and never set, so they are a mess rather than a meal. Very saucy dishes splatter and burn onto the surfaces without improving. Light leafy greens and other very lightweight foods can blow around in the strong airflow and cook unevenly. Delicate fish that flakes apart can also struggle in the basket. None of this means the air fryer is limited; it just means these foods belong in a pan, pot, or oven instead.

Can You Cook a Full Meal in an Air Fryer Combo?

Yes, and a combo cooker widens what a single meal can include. On a basic air fryer you can cook a protein and a vegetable together if they share a temperature and time, staggering them so both finish at once. A combo oven goes further, since functions like bake and pizza let one unit handle a main, a side, and even a dessert or a pizza night. In my combo oven, being able to air fry, bake, and make pizza means most of a meal can come from one appliance, which is a big part of why a combo is so useful.

How to Get the Best Results in an Air Fryer

A few habits turn decent air fryer food into consistently great food. Cook in a single layer so hot air reaches every surface, since crowding is the fastest way to soggy, uneven results. Add a light coat of oil to foods that need help browning, like fresh-cut fries and vegetables, while going light on naturally fatty foods. Shake the basket or flip larger pieces partway through so both sides crisp evenly. Match the temperature to the food rather than blasting everything on high, and give thicker items more time at a slightly lower heat. These are the same habits I use on my combo oven for chicken and fries, and they matter far more than any single recipe, because they address how the appliance actually cooks.

Recommended Reading

• the best air fryers, our full picks.
• the best air fryer accessories, get more from it.
• how to use an air fryer combo cooker, running the functions.
• whether you need to preheat, before you cook.
• common air fryer mistakes, avoid soggy food.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overcrowding the basket

Too much food blocks airflow and steams instead of crisping. Cook in a single layer, in batches if you need to.

Skipping the oil entirely

A light coat of oil helps most foods brown and crisp. Naturally oily foods like wings need less, but a spritz helps veggies and fries.

Trying wet-battered foods

Runny batter drips through and never sets. Use breaded coatings instead, which crisp well in circulating heat.

Forgetting to shake or flip

One side browns more than the other without a turn. Shake the basket or flip food partway through for even results.

What to Cook in an Air Fryer FAQ

What are the best foods to cook in an air fryer?

Fries, chicken wings and thighs, frozen snacks, roasted vegetables, and bacon are among the best, since they all crisp well with dry, circulating heat. A light coat of oil and a single layer help them brown evenly.

Can you cook raw meat in an air fryer?

Yes. Chicken, sausages, bacon, and many cuts cook well, developing a crisp exterior while the fat drains away. Use a thermometer to confirm meats reach a safe internal temperature, just as you would with any cooking method.

What should you not put in an air fryer?

Avoid wet batters that drip, very saucy dishes that splatter, and light leafy greens that blow around in the airflow. These foods cook poorly or make a mess, and are better handled in a pan, pot, or oven.

Can you cook frozen food in an air fryer without thawing?

Yes, and frozen foods are among the best air fryer uses. Frozen fries, nuggets, and snacks go straight from the freezer to the basket, usually with no preheat, and crisp up better than in a microwave and faster than an oven.

Can you bake in an air fryer?

You can bake small items in a basket air fryer with a suitable pan, and a combo oven with a dedicated bake function does it properly. Baking benefits from preheating, unlike most air frying, so give the cooker time to heat first.

Do you need oil to air fry?

Not always, but a light coat helps most foods brown and crisp. Naturally fatty foods like chicken wings and bacon need little to none, while vegetables and fries benefit from a quick spritz of oil before cooking.

Can you reheat food in an air fryer?

Yes, and it beats a microwave for anything that should stay crisp, like fries, pizza, and fried chicken. Reheat at a moderate temperature for a few minutes, and the circulating heat restores texture rather than leaving food soggy the way a microwave often does.

Can you cook eggs in an air fryer?

You can, though it takes some experimenting. Hard-cooked eggs work by placing whole eggs in the basket, and baked egg dishes work in a small oven-safe dish. Delicate scrambled eggs are trickier and often easier in a pan.

Is air-fried food healthier than deep-fried?

Generally yes, because air frying uses far less oil than deep frying while still giving a crisp texture. You get similar results with a fraction of the added fat, which is a big part of why air fryers became popular for everyday cooking of fries and other crisp foods.

See the complete guide: the comprehensive choosing a stand mixer guide.