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On the JJ Barnes Blog, I get inspiration for exciting things to cook in your air fryer from experts at Ask Chef Dennis.
Air Fryers
Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, as we look for healthier ways to cook our favorite foods. Air fryers use hot air to cook food, which results in a crispy exterior without the need for oil, which is great for me because I like to try and eat healthily (most of the time).
To help me out, Chef Dennis Littley, a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, and his team at Ask Chef Dennis, sent over his tips!
Exciting Things To Cook In Your Air Fryer
For the modern cook, the air fryer is nothing short of a culinary superhero. Some people still don’t use their air fryer for more than the odd ‘frying’ task, but it can do SO much more. At Ask Chef Dennis, they decided to dive into some of the most unconventional uses of this kitchen marvel.
1. Doughnut Croutons
Think beyond bread. Dice up your leftover doughnuts into cubes and air fry until they’re crisp. They make a unique, sweet crunch for your soups and salads.
Ingredients:
- 6 stale doughnuts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, combine the doughnuts, olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Toss to coat.
- Spread the doughnut cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately.
2. Hard “Boiled” Eggs
Yes, you read that right. Place eggs in the air fryer basket and cook for about 15 minutes. They’ll come out perfectly cooked and surprisingly easy to peel.
Ingredients:
- 6 eggs
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the eggs in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 12-15 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked to your desired doneness.
- Remove the eggs from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before peeling.
3. Avocado Fries
For an experimental twist, slice ripe avocados, coat them in breadcrumbs, and air fry until golden. The creamy interior contrasting with the crispy exterior is simply divine.
Ingredients:
- 2 avocados, halved and pitted
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Dip the avocado halves in the olive oil, then coat them in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place the avocado halves in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
4. Air Fried Banana Bread
Prepare your favorite banana bread batter, pour it into an air fryer-friendly pan, and let the magic happen. The result is a moist, fluffy bread with a delightful crust.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a 7×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and oil until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Fold in the mashed bananas and the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the air fryer for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Pasta Chips
Got leftover cooked pasta? Toss them in olive oil and seasoning, then air fry. The result? Crunchy, addictive pasta chips. Who knew!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked pasta, such as penne or macaroni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss to coat.
- Spread the pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
6. Ravioli Snacks
Air fry store-bought ravioli until they puff up and become crispy. Serve with marinara and voila – a quick, experimental snack.
Ingredients:
- 1 package frozen ravioli, thawed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, combine the thawed ravioli, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss to coat.
- Spread the ravioli in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately.
7. Fried Ice Cream
While it sounds impossible, hear us out. Scoop your ice cream into balls, freeze solid, coat in crushed cereal, and then quickly air fry for just a couple of minutes. The crispy exterior with a melting core is an experience.
Ingredients:
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup sprinkles, optional
Instructions:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a shallow dish, combine the flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt.
- In a separate shallow dish, whisk together the milk and oil.
- Dip the ice cream balls in the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the flour mixture again.
- Place the coated ice cream balls on the prepared baking sheet.
- Freeze the ice cream balls for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Cook the ice cream balls in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Sprinkle with sprinkles, if desired.
- Serve immediately.
As the culinary world continues to evolve, the humble air fryer proves time and again its versatility and potential for innovation. These quirky experiments are just the tip of the iceberg. The true potential? Limited only by imagination.
Chef Dennis Littley
Chef Dennis encourages culinary enthusiasts to push boundaries and embrace the unexpected. Who knows? Your next air fryer experiment might just become the next viral sensation.
Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen. Ask Chef Dennis is his site to share his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.
Conclusion
I am ridiculously excited by all these ideas, and my ten year old has demanded we try the pasta chips IMMEDIATELY! I am definitely feeling inspired to be bold and try more things in my air fryer, and I’m excited for a new world of tasty food to open up in front of me.
What are you planning on cooking in your air fryer?
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