Life
I am a huge fan of the air fryer. It makes the best, crispiest food without a ton of oil, and while people tout its ability to make crispy french fries, that's not all it can do. (Although homemade french fries are perfection.) These fall recipes for your air fryer prove that the appliance is way more versatile than you ever dreamed, and can give you some of your fall comfort foods.
The trick of the air fryer is adapting recipes that you would normally make in the oven or the deep fryer, without removing the flavor. Some things work better than others. While potatoes and fish are almost always a win, batter-fried foods that aren't par-fried (like frozen fish fillets) don't work as well — they end up sort of strangely baked, and not at all fried. However, breaded foods respond really well to the air fryer, as do meats with skin that you'd want to crisp up, and unexpected foods like bagels and rolls can even be made. I do suggest using some cooking spray to achieve the best texture, but keep it minimal. Use the oil only as you would a glaze, and make sure you use plenty of salt and pepper, as it really kicks up the flavor and adds to the overall success of the dishes.
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Boneless Country Style Ribs
Down wit Dee on YouTube makes the most delectable-looking country style ribs using just a few ingredients and her air fryer. The recipe is simple, but the order in which she adds the ingredients and her method of cooking makes the ribs fall-apart tender and super savory. They'd pair well with some creamy, spicy potato salad and maybe a big bowl of seasonal fresh-cut apples and pears. (I also tend to think that fruit goes with every meal, so do what you want.)
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Fried Chicken
Jo Cooks does air fryer fried chicken right in this recipe. It's crunchy and flaky, with plenty of flavor thanks to hot sauce and paprika. Although if you're like me, you're probably going to add some Accent, garlic and onion powders, and a little cayenne. Like the cod, this is one of those foods that you tend to see around Labor Day, but keeps going strong all the way until Thanksgiving. (Although, my MawMaw made it all year long. It's only the side dishes that shifted with the seasons.)
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Latkes
I worried about making latkes in the air fryer, but this recipe from The Kitchn has proven me wrong. You probably won't use this recipe on Hanukkah, but for the rest of the year, it adds another potato dish to your arsenal to add to your meals whenever the mood hits. Honestly, my main reason for loving latkes in the fall is because they are so freaking tasty served with super fresh, chunky applesauce and tart, cold sour cream.
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Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Sweet Potato Soul can make anything delicious, but I'll admit, I was dubious about air-fried cauliflower crust pizza. Thankfully, I was wrong. She knows what she's doing and it shows in this easy-to-follow plant-based recipe that bakes up in a jiffy, and can be altered and topped however you like. Cauliflower is plentiful in September and October, so now is the time to try this recipe economically.
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Spicy Eggplant
This air fryer spicy eggplant with jicama from Very Vegan Val is full of flavor, and the texture is out of this world. It is tossed with soy sauce, garlic, and chili peppers, and goes well with crispy tofu, fried chicken, or even a bowl of steamed, salted edamame. This hot and spicy eggplant dish gets very popular in the fall at my in-laws' house, because it really warms you up.
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Crispy Tofu
True story: I eat tofu almost every day, and so does my 12-year-old. We are creatures of habit. This recipe for air fryer tofu from Live, Eat, Learn has quickly become one of our favorite recipes. It is so easy to make, takes no time, and the tofu itself gets as crispy as it does in the pan. In the fall, we toss it with sturdy broccoli and Brussels sprouts for a hearty, autumnal dish.
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Chimichangas
I have a love affair with chimichangas. And oddly, it started with school lunch, which obviously makes me think of fall. Ours were... not great. But I loved them all the same.
While I prefer the bean variety, my kids like the version with beef, like this recipe from Air Fryer Fanatics. Serve it with some cilantro rice and a salad for a round meal. Or just serve the chimichangas and eat the leftovers over the sink at midnight with an ice cold beer. Whatever.
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Ranch Chicken
I love ranch-flavored everything. These air fryer ranch cheddar chicken tenders from Pillsbury are juicy and crispy, and yes, I do dip them in more ranch dressing, and that's how they should be eaten, don't @ me. I'm right. Just add a healthy dollop of hot sauce with that ranch. Switching from grilled chicken and rotisserie to breaded tenders and fried chicken screams, "it's getting colder, finally!" to me.
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Air Fryer Korean Style Beef Tacos
I adore Korean style tacos thanks to the Korilla truck being parked outside of my OB-GYN office, so when I found this recipe for air fryer Korean style beef tacos from Food52, I was pumped. They come together quickly and your kids can help you get them together. They are stunning topped with a fresh apple and jicama slaw, served beside a Korean squash stew.
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Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
To me, ribs are right up there with wings as game day food. Being originally from Canton, Ohio (The Pro Football Hall of Fame City) we had a ribs burn off with every new season, and I'm kind of an expert. (At eating them. In large quantities. While making a huge mess of myself in public.)
Sweet Savant makes ooey gooey, super tender, extra juicy baby back ribs in the air fryer. I know, it seems to go against everything you've heard about making ribs, but she's basically a kitchen sorceress, and this magical dish proves it.
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Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
Air fryer broccoli parmesan is easily one of my favorite side dishes on the planet and it's best in the fall when the broccoli season is at its zenith. This version from Happy Veggie Kitchen is more than worth your appreciation. I would pair it with easy grilled chicken or a white fish, or even a store-bought rotisserie chicken. My kids love it served over rice.
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Jerk Wings
I love Caribbean food. It is by far my favorite cuisine on the planet. I love the heat, the mix of sweet and savory, and the fact that carbs are sometimes doubled in a meal. (Hello rice and plantain!) And jerk chicken wings are perfect for air frying. This marinade from Jessica in the Kitchen blends all of the flavors beautifully. Make these any given Sunday for a real treat.
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Paratha
Did you know that paratha can be made in the air fryer? It can. Healthy Kadai takes you through it step-by-step, and it turns out beautifully. The air really gives the pockets in the dough lift and crunch. Serve it with dal or even some frozen palak paneer and that's your meal. Mostly, I make paratha to hold the meat from the boneless wings because I am a messy woman with a deep love of cultural fusion and also carbohydrates.
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Bagels
While I normally make way too many bagels to make them in the air fryer, if I just need a few, I use this recipe from Simply Scratch that uses yogurt, of all things. The recipe is made in just a few minutes, and stands up to any recipe you'd make in an oven. I add these here because they're so easy, they can be made before school. You read that right.
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Gold & Crispy Fish
My Forking Life does not mess around with her crispy fish. I swear, you can hear it crunch from a mile away, it's that wonderful. This recipe is about as perfect as it gets, but paired with crispy fries or tots and maybe a fresh broccoli salad? Pure heaven.
This recipe is great all year, but if you make it with a seasonal fish like walleye or catfish, you've in for some fierce flavor.
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Air Fryer Apple Pie
Like I would skip apple pie in the fall. Luckily for everyone, My Gadget Kitchen has a simple recipe for air fryer apple hand pies that will knock your socks off (and help you use up all those apples you picked with your kids in that overpriced bee-infested orchard).
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