If one of your new holiday gifts is an air fryer, you might be looking for some great tasting air fryer recipes to help you kick off the new year. Here are 25 healthy air fryer recipes that are high in nutrition and flavor!
After all of the holiday delights, we know January is a good month to get back to meal plans that won’t add to your waistline. But who wants to sacrifice taste? Not us! So we’ve put together a list of healthy air fryer recipes that taste decadent, but are actually pretty darn good for you! Keep reading to see all the delicious recipes!
And if you are looking for an air fryer to help with your new year diet resolutions, there are some fantastic choices. This air fryer is a great price and has a 5.8 quart sized basket that’s perfect for most dishes. And there’s this affordable and compact version if you just want dabble in occasional air frying and save space.
But our experience is that once you start, you will want to air fry many of your favorite foods regularly! Check out this multi-level air fryer from Nuwave that will help you cook the maximum quantity at once. And if you already have an Instant Pot, no need to get a whole new appliance! Here is an Instant Pot Air Fryer lid that will help you air fry, broil and bake! Keep scrolling to see the tasty yet healthy air fryer recipes!
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Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
We’ve rounded up everything from low carb Jalapeno Poppers and Crispy Salmon, to restaurant classics like General Tso’s Chicken and Crispy Shrimp! There are also amazing vegetarian dishes like cheesy eggplant sandwiches and cauliflower tacos. Read on to see all the flavorful air fryer recipes with none of the guilt!
Chicken Teriyaki Wings
Crispy, crunchy chicken wings can taste great without all the fat from butter and oil. This recipe for air fryer chicken teriyaki wings will satisfy your cravings without costing you a ton of calories. And this recipe has a bonus – it includes a sauce with no added sugar.
Keto Jalapeno Poppers
Who doesn’t love a dish that is fried, cheesy, salty and spicy? With this keto-friendly version of jalapeno poppers, you can savor all of those flavors and none of the shame. Cooked in the air fryer with no breading, these are the perfect alternative to the traditionally deep-fried game-day snack.
Crispy Shrimp
One of the tastiest fried foods are fried shrimp. Usually enjoyed after loads of breading and oil, you can make a healthier version with this crispy shrimp recipe. These shrimp are low carb and full of crunchy sweet flavors. They are sure to be a healthy family favorite!
Pizza Toast
We all definitely like to try to eat healthier and get more nutrients into our diet. But we don’t know anyone who wants to give up on their favorite foods like pizza. This gratifying air fryer pizza toast is a wholesome version of pizza that won’t ruin a healthy diet.
Orange Chicken
Do you love savory, crispy orange chicken, but don’t want all those excessive calories? This easy air fryer recipe is so fresh and tasty, you won’t miss the restaurant version at all! And this one has been kid tested, so it’s a great meal to cook that will please everyone in the house.
Honey Cinnamon Pears
Baked pears make for a nutritious and enjoyable sweet treat. This air fryer version only has four ingredients and is so easy to make. They are healthy way to end a meal and will help you include more fruit and fiber in your diet.
Cauliflower Tacos
Tacos can be full of nutrient rich foods and fresh vegetables. This air fryer recipe for cauliflower tacos is wholesome and flavorful. Air frying the cauliflower will give you a crispy hearty taco filling, and adding toppings like tomato, lettuce and other fresh veggies will increase the health benefits even more.
Power Banana Muffins
Baked goods can actually be good for us! These protein packed banana muffins are made in 30 minutes with your air fryer. They’ll give you a boost of power and energy while enjoying a tasty treat.
Crumbed Mushrooms
Crispy mushrooms sound like a decadent appetizer, but with this recipe they only taste that way. They are gluten-free, vegan and delectable! Cook them in your air fryer for just 12 minutes and you will be on your way to sustainable, healthy snacking.
Crispy Falafel
Protein packed falafel is full of flavor and great if you want to decrease your meat intake while getting healthy. But typically this dish is made by deep or pan frying these delicious balls in tons of oil. With this amazing air fryer version, you can enjoy these veggie filled sandwiches in a refreshing way! And bonus points because this recipe is gluten-free too.
Sweet Potato Chips
Snacking on fried potato chips can be satisfying for a brief moment, but then leave us feeling only full of remorse. But if you make this recipe for sweet potato chips in your air fryer, you’ll be snacking smart! The fiber and complex carbs in the sweet potatoes will help fill you up, and you’ll get a satisfying crunch without the guilt.
Breaded Tilapia
Fried fish is so crunchy and indulgent, but air fryer fish can taste that same way without all of the calories! Try this breaded tilapia recipe for your air fryer and you can make a beneficial version of a family favorite dinner. Serve it with a fresh salad or veggies for a nutrient rich meal.
Zucchini Fries
Getting healthy and staying that way is all about balance. You want to eat a variety of healthy foods, and make sure they are tasty and enjoyable so you stick with it! Try this simple and delicious recipe for air fryer zucchini fries. They are a fantastic healthy side dish or appetizer – low in excess fat and oil, and high on taste.
Crispy Juicy Salmon
If you have ever cooked fish on your stove top or in your oven, you know the most difficult part is getting it evenly cooked. But cooking it in your air fryer solves that problem by circulating the air all around the fish and sealing in moisture. Try this healthy and delicious air fryer salmon, and you will definitely want to add it to your weeknight dinner rotation. As far as air fryer recipes go, this one is a stand out!
Apple Crisps
Sure, you can buy apple chips at the supermarket, but why not make them on your own so you know exactly what goes into them. This quick and healthy apple crisp recipe can get you snacking in 15 minutes. Plus, it’s a fun activity to do with the kids to show them how healthy snacks are made.
Butternut Squash
We love when there is a way to make veggies sweeter and crispier. With this simple recipe for butternut squash, you can do both in just minutes. Cut into cubes or into fries, and enjoy them right out of the air fryer, knowing you are eating something very nutritious!
Broccoli Bites
Fried veggies can be so fun and a great way to get more vegetable into your diet. Instead of deep frying or pan frying in oil, you should try air fryer recipes like this one for broccoli bites that will save you a ton of fat and calories. It’s packed with so much flavor, it’s sure the please everyone in the family.
Crispy Taco Potatoes
Getting healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up on your favorite flavors. Who doesn’t love crispy potatoes and taco flavors? Here is a fantastic air fryer recipe that combines both! Use these potatoes are a side dish, appetizer or even mixed in with veggies, a salad or a breakfast hash.
Crunchy Chickpeas
Love to snack on crunchy, salty foods, and don’t want to give that up? You don’t have to with this protein packed crunchy chickpea recipe. This recipe offers you a healthy, spicy snack that you can make easily in your air fryer in only 15 minutes.
Spiced Shrimp
This spicy shrimp with dipping sauce might be something you’d eat on vacation, overlooking the ocean, but with this recipe you can easily make it right in your own kitchen! The garlic and paprika are perfect compliments to the sweet shrimp, but the real kicker here is the spicy “comeback sauce” for dipping. YUM!
Eggplant Sandwiches
When we think of eggplant, we often cook our go to recipe for fried eggplant parmesan. But if you air fry some eggplant rounds with this delicious recipe, you can create something better for you. Add the eggplant to a healthy bun and top with fresh veggies for a sandwich that tastes amazing and makes you feel good too!
General Tso’s Chicken
Chinese takeout can definitely add too many calories to your day. With this recipe for General Tso’s Chicken, you can make a health version at home. You can still have that flavorful sauce with crispy chicken, but without all of that salt and fat that comes with the restaurant version.
Onion Rings
Yes, you can make healthy onion rings! Onions are a great source of vitamins and help control blood sugar. And when you use air fryer recipes like this one to make a healthy version of onion rings, they can be enjoyed without the guilt!
Crunchy Broccoli Rabe
The best way to get eat your greens is definitely by cooking them in the air fryer. Make sure your broccoli rabe is crunchy and full of flavor with this recipe. And unlike the typical boiling, ice bowl then saute pan for broccoli rabe, this only requires one pot!
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Crispy Chicken Thighs
Nothing will cook your skin-on chicken like an air fryer. It makes the skin perfectly and evenly crispy, and keeps the chicken tender and juicy on the inside. Definitely give this recipe for crispy chicken thighs a try, and it will become a staple in your kitchen! We promise!
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