Best air fryer recipes for beginners are perfect for all air fryer lovers, from beginners to seasoned air fryer users. Sometimes buying a new kitchen appliance can be intimidating. Take it easy.
I’m here to let you know that air fryers are easy to use and perfect for cooks of all skill levels! The first time I used it I was a bit confused, but it proved to me that these are easy air fryer recipes for beginners ever. You will make everything from meat to fish to seafood, vegetables, breakfast, and so much more in a quick, simple but big flavor.
I even included some of my favorite frozen foods in simple air fryer recipes for beginners because they cook incredibly quickly and require basically no cooking skills!
These healthy air fryer recipes for beginners, meat lovers, and vegetarians are not left out. Start out!
What is an Air Fryer?
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
Tips for cooking the most can't-resist air fryer oven recipes for beginners
- Oil your basket properly
It’s not an absolute necessity, but if you want to make sure everything is golden brown, you should oil or invest in an oil sprayer.
- Don’t put too much in the basket
Try to leave space between your food if possible. That helps the food get crispy on all sides.
- Shake or turn your food halfway through cooking
This will help the food cook more evenly.
- Resist the urge to heat up
Your food may dry out if you try to cook on the highest setting. I made this mistake with air fryer oven recipes for beginners. But now, I realize how delicious these best air fryer recipes for beginners are from turning off the stove and not trying to cook everything on the highest heat.
- Stop the white smoke
When you’re cooking high-fat meat like bacon, place a slice of bread under the basket to catch any grease that might fall off.
3 Best Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners That You Can't-Miss
Easy Air Fryer Ground Turkey Tacos Recipe
- Prepare: 15 Mins
- Cook: 4 Mins
- Difficult: Easy
- Serving: 1
- Cost per serving: $3.50
- CUISINE: American
- Nutrition: for each serving
- Calories: 237
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 42mg
- Sodium: 101mg
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 6g
- Protein: 15g
Ingredients
- 12 Hard and Crispy Corn Taco Shells
- 1 lb Ground Turkey or Beef Taco Meat
- 1 Package Regular Taco Seasoning or Gluten Free
- Lettuce, Shredded
- Black Beans, Rinsed & Drained
- Mexican Cheese, Shredded
- Tomatoes, Onions, and Salsa
Instructions
- Step 1:
Put the turkey and brown in a medium-sized skillet, then drain
- Step 2:
Follow the instruction on the package and seasoning and add in the taco seasoning
- Step 3:
Make taco with the shell, cooked meat, lettuce, beans, and cheese.
- Step 4:
Place the tacos in the air fryer (Optional: foil line it and then spray with non-stick cooking spray. Note: do not cover completely to allow air to circulate.
- Step 5:
Cook on 350*F or 360*F for 4 minutes or until it gets crispy.
Related Recipe: How to Make Air Fryer Tacos (Ninja Foodi)
NOTES:
- In these easy air fryer recipes for beginners, I prefer topping with all ingredients before cooking them in the air fryer. However, it is no problem to add toppings after if you like. If so, add the beef in the rinds, reheat them for 4 minutes at 355 degrees, then remove and top with your favorite toppings.
- The number of nutrients will vary depending on the ingredients and the amount used in the simple air fryer recipes for beginners.
- This dish is made with a pre-made hard shell. You just make them crispy in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Salmon Patty
- Prepare: 5 Mins
- Cook: 8 Mins
- Difficult: Easy
- Serving: 6
- Cost per serving: $10.25
- Nutrition: for each serving
- Calories: 104kcal
Ingredients
- 6oz fresh or canned salmon
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 spring onions, finely diced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Step 1:
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F- 360°F.
- Step 2:
If you’re using canned salmon, drain and remove the bones (you can leave them whole if you like; I really like the bones). If using fresh salmon, remove the bones and mince by hand.
- Step 3:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Step 4:
Build 6 patties of the same size.
- Step 5:
Add patties to the air fryer basket (Remember to leave a little space between the patties) and lightly spray with calorie-free cooking spray.
- Step 6:
Cook for 6-8 mins. Turning the patties over halfway through until they turn a little brown and crispy on the outside and warmed through on the inside.
Related Recipe: Air Fried Salmon Patties | Cakes | Croquettes Recipe | Cook’s Essentials
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Prepare: 10 Mins
- Cook: 12 Mins
- Difficult: Easy
- Serving: 4
- Cost per serving: $7.25
- Nutrition: for each serving
- Calories: 304kcal
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 368mg
- Sodium: 1237mg
- Potassium: 216mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
- Vitamin A: 119IU
- Vitamin C: 5mg
- Calcium: 188mg
- Iron: 4mg
Ingredients
- 1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray
- Sweet chili sauce for serving
Instructions
- Step 1:
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F-360°F. Mist the basket with cooking spray when heating.
- Step 2:
Prepare 3 shallow bowls: Mix flour, salt, and pepper in the first bowl; beat the eggs in the second bowl, and mix the shredded coconut and breadcrumbs in the third bowl.
- Step 3:
Dip each shrimp into the bowl containing the first flour mixture, shaking gently to remove any excess. Then dip into the eggs, and finally the panko mixture. Pay attention to gently pressing so that the shrimp evenly adheres
- Step 4:
Place the coconut shrimp in the air fryer with some empty space between them, then spray the top of the shrimp. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through for even yellow.
- Step 5:
Sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve immediately with sweet chili sauce.
Related Recipe: Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp in the Ninja Foodi (or any Air Fryer
NOTES:
- To store the leftovers: Storing leftovers in an airtight container can last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Can be heated in the microwave or air fryer
- To freeze: Coconut shrimp can be frozen for up to 3 months. First, let cool completely then store in an airtight bag. To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator overnight and bake in a 350°F oven until hot.
- Replaces: You’re better off following the original healthy air fryer recipes for beginners. However, there are still some ingredients that can be changed in one of these easy air fryer recipes for beginners. You can use flax eggs (mixture of 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed + 6 tablespoons) instead of 2 eggs. Remember to flax egg sit for about 10 minutes before dipping the shrimp in. You can also use non- or low-fat buttermilk. You can use any other flour instead of all-purpose flour. You can just use the shredded coconut instead of breadcrumbs (not be as crispy on the outside though).
Q&A
What Can I Cook in My Air Fryer for The First Time?
I am very pleased to tell you all that all the best air fryer recipes for beginners are very effortless, super-fast, and require minimal preparation. You can cook whatever you like such as Chicken, Fries, Beef, Fish, Vegetables, Seafood, and Potatoes. Here, we suggest my 3 favorites:
- Easy Air Fryer Ground Turkey Tacos Recipe
- Easy Air Fryer Salmon Patties Recipe
- Easy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe
What Cannot be Cooked in Airfryer?
Make sure you know these before starting the air fryer oven recipes for beginners
- Fried food with wet batter
- Broccoli
- Entire roasts or whole chickens
- Most cheese
- Hamburgers
- Rice
- Raw veggies
- Dry seasonings
- Olive oil
- Delicate leafy greens
- Too much food
- Chicken wings
- Toast
- Popcorn
- Salmon or other fish
- Most cuts of steak
- Cake
- Dehydrated food
- Bacon
What is Bad about Air Fryers?
Where Do You Put The Oil In an Air Fryer?
Final Verdict
Woohoo! We have gone through the 3 best air fryer recipes for beginners. I hope you find all these recipes easy and doable! Thank you for accompanying PGEW’s daily growth! Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love every day.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment here and Poor Girl Eats Well will help you out. Love y’all!
