The Air Fryer Is the Key to Quick Family Meals – and We’ve Got 20 Recipes to Prove It

This recipe takes basic frozen ravioli and gives it a deliciously-crisp crust with breadcrumbs, plenty of seasoning, and a little time in the air fryer. Trust us, your family will never look at frozen ravioli the same way again.

Get the recipe: Fried ravioli

This breakfast sausage makes more than enough to feed a (hungry) crowd, but it’s also heavy on the chili flakes and cayenne pepper. If you know your family isn’t into spice, cut back on those and up the other herbs a bit. You’ll end up with a mild sausage that still has plenty of flavor.

Get the recipe: Cajun breakfast sausage

This recipe utilizes the slow cooker (for the chicken) and the air fryer for crunchy taquitos that’ll please everyone at the table. We recommend making the chicken ahead of time to cut down on prep time when the week gets busy.

Get the recipe: Chicken taquitos

These fritters can be made in the oven, but they’re pure perfection when you make them in the air fryer. Serve them with the included mayo-based dip at dinner or with scrambled eggs in the morning.

Get the recipe: Zucchini fritters

If your family is so over chicken tenders, spice things up a bit with this honey-Sriracha version. This recipe makes enough for four people, so you could always whip up a second batch for leftovers while you’re devouring the first batch.

Get the recipe: Sweet and spicy walnut chicken tenders

We’re just going to assume your children love mozzarella sticks as much as we did when we were kids (OK, we still do). Cooking these in the air fryer means much less oil than traditional mozzarella sticks, making them part of a healthy meal or snack for your whole family.

Get the recipe: Mozzarella sticks

These salmon patties are perfect for busy nights because you can prep them ahead of time and cook them in the air fryer before anyone can yell, “Is dinner ready yet?” The red curry paste adds flavor and heat to this healthy meal, but feel free to dial it back or substitute your family’s favorite spices instead.

Get the recipe: Thai salmon patties

We still haven’t figured out how to get our kids to eat their vegetables, but they don’t seem to have any problem eating their potatoes. Especially when they’re crispy, perfectly-seasoned, air-fried, spiral-cut potatoes. These cook in only 15 minutes and they won’t last long, so you might as well make a double batch.

Get the recipe: Cajun curly French fries

If there’s one way to get your kids to eat broccoli, it’s adding lots of flavor and getting it nice and crispy in the air fryer. We’re pretty sure this Asian-inspired recipe will do the trick.

Get the recipe: Asian roasted broccoli

You didn’t think we forgot about dessert, did you? These cheesecake egg rolls are made with a cream cheese and fig jam filling that your family will love.

Get the recipe: Cheesecake egg rolls

Breakfast is served! These air-fried pop tarts transform refrigerated pie crust into your favorite childhood breakfast (and after-school snack if you were anything like we were). The recipe calls for strawberry jam, but if you prefer another flavor it should work just fine.

Get the recipe: Strawberry pop tarts

Stromboli is basically a pizza sandwich, which should help to contain any mess you have to clean up after dinner. This recipe is made with refrigerated pizza dough and cooks in only 15 minutes in the air fryer, saving you precious minutes when your kids are starving.

Get the recipe: Pepperoni and peppers stromboli

These are not the mushy, tasteless green beans you grew up on. Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs turn humdrum green beans into a veggie your kids might actually enjoy.

Get the recipe: Garlic parmesan green beans

Forget takeout – this burrito recipe serves six and comes together in only 20 minutes. What’s even better is you can customize the topping to suit your family’s tastes. We suggest a toppings bar with a few types of salsa, sour cream, avocado, and cilantro.

Get the recipe: Beef and bean burritos

We know they’re called breakfast potatoes, but this combo of potatoes, peppers, and onions would go just as well with chicken or steak as it would eggs and bacon. Better yet, serve them with breakfast and dinner!

Get the recipe: Breakfast potatoes

We’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love tater tots and you’ll love this healthier version. These tots taste deep-fried, but only need just a quick spray of oil thanks to the magical air fryer.

Get the recipe: Tater tots

If your family has a tendency to turn their noses up at chicken breast, you’ll be happily surprised when they scarf down this panko-crusted version. Sure, they may cover it in ketchup, but at least they’re eating something other than snacks.

Get the recipe: Crispy chicken breast

We’re firm believers that seafood should be served at least once a week (hello, health benefits). This blackened salmon is seriously good, and the cucumber-avocado salsa adds a pop of fresh flavor (and color).

Get the recipe: Blackened salmon with cucumber-avocado salsa

You haven’t truly experience homemade French fries until you’ve made them in the air fryer. Tender on this inside, crispy and golden on the outside – these fries will become a family staple after just one bite.

Get the recipe: French fries

If you’re going to make bacon, you might as well do it right. You (and your family) will be amazed by how this bacon is both tender and crispy after just a short spin in the air fryer.

Get the recipe: Air fryer bacon