Unique Things You Should Always Make In Your Air Fryer

You've got the basics down when it comes to whipping up foods in your air fryer. French fries? Obviously. Fried mozzarella sticks? You bet. Fried chicken? Check. Beer-battered shrimp? Clearly, that's a yes. You're not a novice when it comes to making slightly healthier (i.e., using less oil) foods in the handy, countertop contraption. 

But just like most things in life, there's always more to learn and new recipes to investigate. And really, there are lots of foods and recipes you can make in your air fryer that you probably haven't even thought of yet. Sure, you may realize the air fryer can be used as an alternative for roasting veggies (it offers that nice crispy finish!), or you may be generally aware that anything that's typically fried (like donuts or egg rolls) can be brought to life in the air fryer, too. But what about .. bananas? Or pasta? Or even cookies? Here's the thing: There are lots of ways to use your air fryer, and there are some foods you shouldn't ignore. The next time you're planning your weekly menu, add these unique air fryer ideas to your list.  

Meatloaf isn't necessarily a dish that makes your weekly roundup of favorite recipes, but when you're getting a hankering for a nostalgic dinner, it's easy (and surprisingly tasty) to make a loaf in your air fryer. 

The prep isn't all that different than making meatloaf in your oven. You simply mix together the loaf ingredients — ground beef (or another ground mat), an egg, panko breadcrumbs, milk, spices, and diced onion — form it into a loaf-like shape, and cook it in your air fryer for 25 minutes at 350 F. Then, add a glaze of barbecue sauce and ketchup, and cook for five more minutes to allow the outside of the loaf to get a little crispy and sticky (thanks to the sugar in the glaze). The air circulation in the air fryer helps deliver that slightly crisp texture on the outside with the moist, perfectly-cooked beef on the inside. 

When it's ready to go, simply slice it up and serve with mashed potatoes and green veggies. Or, if you're inclined, use the slices to make meatloaf sandwiches. You won't be disappointed. 

Again, French toast isn't necessarily something you'd think about putting in the air fryer. And yet, you know the perfect French toast is served with slightly crunchy, crispy edges, and that nice, soft interior. So, clearly, it's air fryer material. 

And luckily, it's incredibly easy to make. You need all the basic ingredients you'd expect in a French toast recipe — bread, eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla extract — then simply dip the slices of bread in a mix of the other ingredients, and air fry at 335 F for six minutes. You might want to flip the slices of bread halfway through the fry for a more even finish. Otherwise, the only tip to make the process easier is to line the air fryer with parchment paper to help prevent the French toast from sticking to the appliance. 

When it's ready to go, serve with a dash of cinnamon or powdered sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup, or fresh sliced fruit or berries. The result is even better than a pan-fried version.

Okay, so cooking a full-fledged apple pie in your air fryer might be a little tricky, but whipping up the handheld version is surprisingly simple. And given that the handheld pies are typically deep-fried to get that nice, crispy, and flaky crust, using your air fryer can help cut down on some of the added fat without skimping on flavor. 

All you need is pre-made pie crusts, apple pie filling, cinnamon, sugar, an egg, and a little bit of water. Simply roll out the pie crusts and cut them into squares that are roughly 5-inches wide. Dollop apple pie filling in the middle and fold them over diagonally, pinching the edges together to make your apple pies. Then, use the egg and a little bit of water to make an egg wash, brushing it over the top of the crust. Cut small slices in the crust to allow for venting (and to make the pies look pretty), and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the top. Finally, pop them in a preheated air fryer at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes. Just like that, you've got tasty hand-held apple pies. And yes, you can follow the same steps to make pretty much any pie you want. 

There are lots of ways to make hard-boiled eggs — so why not add an air fryer to the list of possible options? And really, the process couldn't be easier. Simply preheat your air fryer to 250 F. While it's preheating, soak the eggs in a bath of lukewarm water. This can help prevent cold eggs taken straight from the fridge from cracking during the cooking process. When the air fryer is ready, simply remove the eggs from the water and place them in the fryer. Let them cook for about 17 to 18 minutes before removing them and placing them in an ice bath for a few minutes to cool down and make them easier to peel. 

While you can cook a decent number of eggs in your air fryer (depending on its capacity), just keep in mind that you don't want to pack the eggs too close to each other as that can prevent the hot air from circulating evenly. Otherwise, this cooking method couldn't be easier!

If you've never made homemade bagels before, it probably hasn't crossed your mind that you could make a version of mini bagels in your air fryer. But with the right ingredients and about 25 minutes of your time, you can whip up a batch of mini bagels that pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee and a smear of cream cheese. 

All you need is flour, baking powder, salt, Greek yogurt, and an egg. Combine the dry ingredients, mixing them with a fork. Then, add the yogurt, continuing to mix with the fork until a dough forms. Use your hands to knead the dough, then divide it into pieces so that you can create half-inch thick "ropes" of dough that you can form into the round bagels a couple of inches in diameter. Beat the egg and use it as an egg wash, brushing the tops of the bagels to help give them a nice sheen. Finally, cook the mini bagels in your air fryer at 280 F for about 12 to 15 minutes, aiming to achieve a nice golden-brown color. Let them rest for 15 minutes before enjoying. 

You know you can cook up fried meats, like fried chicken, fried shrimp, or even chicken fried steak in your air fryer, but have you considered the fact that you can air fry ribs to absolute perfection as well? To get that country-style flavor, all you need is pork seasoning and barbecue sauce. 

Simply preheat your air fryer to 370 F, then rub your ribs with the pork seasoning. Lay the ribs in an even layer in the air fryer basket (spray with non-stick cooking spray first), then cook for 10 minutes. Flip the ribs over to cook for an additional 10 minutes before brushing them with your favorite barbecue sauce, coating them fully. Turn up the heat on your air fryer to 400 F, and return the coated ribs back to the air fryer for eight to 10 more minutes. You want the barbecue to turn into a caramelized, slightly sticky (and mouth-wateringly delicious) glaze, with the edges of the ribs just crisping up. Just like that, you've got a batch of delicious ribs ready to enjoy for dinner in about 30 minutes flat. Never underestimate the power of the air fryer when it comes to cooking delicious and tender meats. 

Crab rangoon is a Chinese-American appetizer made popular in the 1950s, and undoubtedly one of the ultimate finger foods for parties and get-togethers. Everyone loves crab rangoon — even the people of TikTok. Traditionally, the dish is cooked in oil — lots of hot, hot oil — in order to deep-fry wonton skins stuffed with a mixture of cream cheese, scallion, and imitation crab meat. A host of problems can occur with this cooking technique — the oil can be too hot and burn your little crabby pillows, the wontons themselves can actually burst open, and most importantly, you run the risk of burning yourself because, you know, oil spatters.

Using an air fryer to make crab rangoon takes all the trepidation out of making these tasty little morsels. Simply mix the crab rangoon filling — cream cheese, surimi, scallions, and soy sauce — then fill your wonton wrappers. Preheat your air fryer to 350 F, making sure to spray the inside basket with nonstick spray. Place the crab rangoon pieces in the basket and spray the tops with the nonstick spray, cooking for eight to 10 minutes (or until golden brown). Finally, transfer them to a paper-towel lined plate to cool and serve the hot bites with a sweet chili dipping sauce.

Avocados are naturally high in all the good stuff your body needs like fiber, folate, potassium, and healthy fats. Bacon just makes everything taste better. That's why this pairing is a match made in heaven. On its own, bacon can sometimes be a bit salty, but the creaminess of the avocado balances it out (not to mention the combination is the perfect texture pairing). Bacon-wrapped avocado — also called bacon-wrapped avocado fries — are a great treat for parties, family meals, or, you know, self-care. 

Cooking bacon-avocado fries can take up to 45 minutes in the oven — that's a long time to wait for a few moments of taste satisfaction. The standard method requires you to flip the wedges halfway through the designated cooking time, which means that these little bacon-avo bombs can sometimes cook inconsistently. That's why using an air fryer is a foolproof hack.

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 F and then prep the ingredients; slice your avocado into wedges and wrap each one with bacon. After you've assembled the slices of heaven, place them on the tray in a single layer and cook them for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the bacon is nice and crispy. Once they're done, allow them to cool slightly on a parchment or paper-towel lined plate. These decadent fries can be served as is or with a creamy dipping sauce; try combining mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice for a tangy kick.

Ravioli cooked in an air fryer. Now, that's a rather unorthodox concept. As bizarre as it sounds, it's a healthy take on the typical pan-fried cooking method (and also pretty burn-proof). Pan-fried ravioli are crispy on the outside and hot n' cheesy on the inside, plus they make the perfect appetizer or party food, just like their foodie cohort crab rangoon.

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 F, then move on to breading the frozen ravioli. Dip each one in egg and then coat them with a mixture of panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Add the ravioli in a single layer, making sure that there's enough space for each ravioli to breathe — basically don't crowd them in the basket. Spray them with cooking oil and then cook them for seven minutes. If you don't mind the additional step, flip the ravioli at the three or four minute mark to make them extra crispy. Once they're done cooking, serve the crispy ravioli with a marinara dipping sauce. They'll disappear quickly, so make sure you've got another batch going once these are served. It'll spare you the food fight.  

Baked goods are probably not something you would consider making in an air fryer, but it's totally doable (and even better, they can be made in a fraction of the time). Peanut butter cookies are, in general, pretty darn easy to make. The simplest variation contains only three ingredients — peanut butter, sugar, and egg — and cooks in about 10 minutes, depending on your oven. 

One hitch about baking peanut butter cookies in an oven is that not all ranges are created equal. A 10-minute cook time in one oven could easily be eight minutes in another. With peanut butter cookies, it's also tough to see if they're cooked all the way through. Air fryers are basically compact convection ovens and they cook food by circulating super hot air inside the cooking chamber ... almost like a normal oven. The advantage is that food already begins to crisp (or brown) starting at around 320 F. 

Using an air fryer to bake peanut butter cookies cuts the cook-time almost in half. First, mix your peanut butter, sugar, and egg, and once you're done mixing your ingredients, place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of your air fryer basket. Measure out even dollops of dough, place them on the parchment paper, and then turn your air fryer to 400 F. Be sure to check the cookies at the four-minute mark. If you cook them for more than five minutes, they'll become crumbly and overdone.

Sometimes all you want is an individual portion of the ooey-gooey treat. Don't you hate it when you've got a hankering for a s'more, but there's no bonfire around? (A microwave certainly isn't going to cut it.) Having an air fryer in your kitchen — even if for just this reason — makes it totally worth it. An air fryer is like having instant access to an open flame without actually having the fire. If you have access to a fire pit — wood or gas —sure, you can go that route. But that's a lot of prep work for a little sweet treat (and a lot of cleaning). 

First, assemble your s'mores inside your air fryer, placing the graham cracker first, followed by the marshmallow. Fry it at 390 F for seven to eight minutes, or until you see the marshmallows begin to puff up and turn golden brown (around the four-minute mark). Carefully remove them from the basket and then top them off with a bar of chocolate and the remaining graham cracker. Sit back and enjoy your little homage to summer.