Say goodbye to midweek cooking stress, and hello to quick and easy 15-minute meals for the whole family

How To Cook Chicken Breast In An Air Fryer: The Proper Time, Temperature For A Perfect Cook

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39 Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

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Air Fryer Magic

There's nothing more frustrating than buying a kitchen gadget, tool, or appliance to find that you never use it. Thankfully, that won't be the case for your air fryer, especially once you try some of these highly rated — and creative — recipes.

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Parmesan "Fried" Tortellini

Inexpensive pasta is the heart of this dish, billed as "the Italian snack of your dreams."

Recipe: Delish

(Also, we know that cleaning an air fryer can be a chore, so here's our helpful guide on how to clean your air fryer.)

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Un-Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is a picnic staple, so will Un-Fried Chicken be the next big thing? If you use Trisha Yearwood's recipe, it just might be. One five-star reviewer proclaimed: "One of the best chicken recipes I have ever had."

Recipe: Food Network

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Juicy Air-Fryer Hamburgers

Not only is this a gluten-free recipe, but it also has plenty of enthusiastic tips on preparation, nutrition, and pleasing fussy kids: "I feel like we should drop everything, whip up a batch or two of these juicy burgers and tuck right in. Who's with me?" Um, we are.

Recipe: Recipes from a Pantry

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Crispy Avocado Fries

This air-fried take on traditional fries makes a healthy snack. Even better, these "good-fat" nibbles can be on the table in 15 minutes.

Recipe: Delish

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Fried Apple Pies

Food personality Paula Deen notes that, "As a Southerner, I can't help but love fried foods. Of course, I've had to cut back on them over the past few years — until now! I've got a new way to enjoy my beloved fried foods with less fat and oils: air frying." She shares favorites in her air fryer cookbook, featuring a few on her website including this one, which has our mouths watering.

Recipe: Paula Deen

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Fried Rice With Sesame-Sriracha Sauce

This flavorful vegetarian dish could serve as entrée or side. Either way, no wok needed. If you're a fan of heat, you can always increase the amount of Sriracha in the sauce — or dial it back if you're looking for a milder option.

Recipe: Food Network

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Ratatouille, Italian-Style

This dish features eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and is both nutritious and delicious. The air fryer keeps the vegetables from getting soggy without using too much oil.

Recipe: Allrecipes

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Sweet Potato Hash

Liven up your breakfast plate without a trip to the diner. This recipe spotlights sweet potatoes in a dish ideal for brunch. Switch to turkey bacon for a healthier pick if you prefer. One reviewer noted it has "great flavor from the variety of seasonings."

Recipe: Allrecipes

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Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Even if it's nowhere near Thanksgiving when you make this, the recipe may prove such a winner you'll be serving up the big bird more than once a year.

Recipe: Passionate Penny Pincher

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Breakfast Frittata

Funny how plain old eggs seem special when you give them a fancy name like frittata, right? This version is filled with everyday items you probably already have in your kitchen.

Recipe: Allrecipes

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5-Ingredient Salmon and Broccoli Stir-Fry

This recipe makes the healthy choice with frozen salmon and reduced-sodium soy sauce. It adds up to a healthy main course at 265 calories and 240mg sodium per serving.

Recipe: Food Network

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Mozzarella Sticks

The kids will eat only fast-food mozzarella sticks? They'll change their tune once they taste these — and only you will be in on the healthy secret of their prep.

Recipe: Show Me The Yummy

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Crumbled Chicken Tenderloins

Forget greasy chicken nuggets from the drive-through window. This recipe offers a healthy (253 calories per serving) alternative that will please the adults, too.

Recipe: Allrecipes

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Falafel Burger

Vegetarians will delight in this recipe that can easily be custom-spiced to reflect a variety of cuisines, from Moroccan to Mexican, Thai to Indian. It's already connected with more than 1,000 home cooks.

Recipe: Recipe This

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Zucchini-Parmesan Chips

The crunch and salt factor are high in this snack packed with protein, good fats, vitamin B6, zinc, and calcium — and it takes just five ingredients and around 10-minutes to pull off.

Recipe: Gimme Delicious

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Air Fryer Bacon

While this might be the tastiest way to make bacon, the real win has nothing to do with flavor. Instead of getting grease all over the inside of your oven or splattered around your stovetop, this method is not only easy, but makes cleanup a snap.

Recipe: A Pinch of Healthy

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Meatloaf

Cooking meatloaf in an air fryer may be unexpected, but give it a try. This five star-reviewed recipe includes shredded carrots and chopped mushrooms.

Recipe: My Forking Life

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Air-Fryer Pickles

Your waistline won't get into a pickle with this snack. This Test Kitchen-approved recipe is a clever at-home alternative to the popular restaurant (and state fair) splurge.

Recipe: Taste of Home

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Pork Chops & Broccoli

Numerous readers have shared this recipe on social media, so it must be pretty tasty. Remember, it's a dish just "cooked all at once for juicy pork chops and toasty roasted broccoli."

Recipe: That Low Carb Life

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Rotisserie Chicken

Skip that rotisserie chicken at the grocery store for a quick dinner. Making a golden-brown bird at home is surprisingly easy to do, and it needs to cook for only 30 minutes.

Recipe: PaleOMG

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Tofu Rancheros With Veggies

Pump up the Mexican flavors with this spin on tofu. Cumin and chili powder give it a kick, and salsa adds even more heat.

Recipe: Healthy Slow Cooking

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Southern Style Catfish With Green Beans

Wondering if an air fryer can turn out crispy fish? This recipe makes a strong case — and you can have fish with a side of green beans on the table in less than half an hour.

Recipe: Cooklist

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Party Meatballs

Surprise your next gathering's guests with this fun and thrifty take on the meatball. Inexpensive ground beef's at the heart of the recipe, but it gets a jolt of flavor from a surprise ingredient – gingersnaps.

Recipe: Recipe This

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French Toast Sticks

Need a kid- or crowd-pleasing breakfast dish? This recipe can be made ahead and frozen for those time-crunched weekday mornings.

Recipe: Love Bakes Good Cakes

Related: Brunch Recipes for an Indulgent Feast at Home

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Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

Forget deep-frying then baking your eggplant. This air-fryer version of the restaurant favorite uses whole wheat flour and breadcrumbs for an even healthier turn.

Recipe: Watch What U Eat

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Steak Bites and Garlic Mushrooms

Steak cubes, mushrooms, butter … what's not to love? If you cook this popular recipe, remember you have to let the steak rest a few minutes before digging in.

Recipe: Best Recipe Box

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Bang Bang Panko Breaded Fried Shrimp

This version of the dish was inspired by a take on bang bang shrimp served at Bonefish Grill, but this keeps things lighter. The spicy chili sauce is served on the side, and the air fryer reduces oil for only 1 gram of fat per serving.

Recipe: Stay Snatched

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New York Style Egg Rolls (Shrimp & Pork)

Forget the oil leaking through the paper on the way home from the local restaurant. Here's a homemade version of the restaurant favorite has been shared by more than 18,000 Chinese food fans.

Recipe: This Old Gal

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Banana Bread

Who knew that the air fryer would work for desserts? Try the old-fashioned charm of this crowd-pleasing dish from Food Network Kitchen, with wheat germ or whole-wheat flour adding a healthy kick.

Recipe: Food Network

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Gingerbread Churros With Chocolate Sauce

A lighter twist on the classic churro, this treat features a cinnamon-sugar mixture that delivers the classic crunch. This recipe might take a bit of effort, but results are said to be well worth it. Dieters can skip the chocolate sauce.

Recipe: Cooking Light

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Air Fried Vegetables

This is a one-size-fits-all recipe for vegetables in the air fryer. It's incredibly straightforward — choose the veggie you prefer, from Brussels sprouts to carrots, cauliflower to broccoli.

Recipe: CookSmarts

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Crispy Artichoke Hearts With Horseradish Sauce

This appetizer or side dish dubbed "seriously delicious" uses frozen artichoke hearts, an easy and inexpensive ingredient that is readily available and easy to find.

Recipe: Health Starts In The Kitchen

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Sugar Doughnuts

Four minutes and four ingredients, including canned Pillsbury biscuits make for an inexpensive treat. While they may not be low in sugar, they're a quick and easy dessert. (For inspiration, check out these Unique Doughnuts You Have to Try.)

Recipe: Thrifty Nifty Mommy

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Perfect Personal Pizzas

Wait, you can make pizza in an air fryer? Yes, and the results are low in calories but still satisfying. Inexpensive ingredients and endless topping possibilities have us ready to toss out the takeout menu.

Recipe: Foodtastic Mom

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Basic Air Fryer Hot Dogs

When even turning on the grill or boiling a big pot of water seems too daunting, turn to the air fryer to toast buns and cook the dogs — and top with condiments of your choice. This recipe is so quick to prepare, you'd spend more time waiting in the drive-thru.

Recipe: Allrecipes

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Sweet and Salty Snack Mix

You're never going to say you made those Cheez Doodles yourself — but you can impress the afterschool crowd or those at your next cocktail party with this easy snack recipe.

Recipe: Blue Jean Chef

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Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

This recipe is ideal for last-minute guests or the devoted snacker. It's totally customizable — and ready in less than 15 minutes.

Recipe: Simply Recipes

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Apple Chips

You don't have to be on NutriSystem to enjoy the recipes it features on The Leaf site. This easy, wholesome snack is destined to become a favorite.

Recipe: The Leaf

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Brazilian Grilled Pineapple

Yes, this dessert contains brown sugar and butter, but its main ingredient is healthy, naturally sweet pineapple. This grill-free dish is said to be "melt-in-your-mouth delicious" by fans, and pineapple is a sweet ending to any meal.

Recipe: Two Sleevers

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This article was originally published on Cheapism

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I've Made This Air Fryer Meal More Than 100 Times And It Never Gets Old

There's really no meal I won't at least consider cooking in the air fryer . OK, maybe not pasta or soup, but I make everything from filets of salmon to crispy chickpeas, and even grill classics like burgers and dogs. 

Despite all these air fryer success stories, there's one recipe that I come back to again and again. Air fryer chicken thighs are easy, fast and healthy, and they can be doctored in countless ways with sauces and spices. You can cook perfect air fryer chicken thighs for the rest of your life and not run out of flavor combinations to try. 

Nearly any cut of chicken works well in these speedy super-convection ovens. I've done wings, of course, but also whole chickens that cook faster and crispier than using the wall oven. Boneless, skinless thighs just might be the easiest and they can anchor any dinner (15-minute tacos, anyone?) or top a salad for lunch.

I did rough math and I've made this recipe well over 100 times in the 5-plus years I've owned an air fryer and I'm still not sick of it.

Why air fryer chicken thighs make the perfect easy meal The air fryer can caramelize chicken skin as well as the broiler. Nattawat Jindamaneesirikul/Getty

Chicken thigh meat has a higher fat content than breast so there's very little chance of your chicken thighs drying out when cooked with convection heat in an air fryer -- even if you accidentally leave them in too long. That makes them the perfect candidate for cooking in a blazing hot air fryer.

If the only recipe I was allowed to make in my air fryer was chicken thighs, I'd still buy one and give it the space on my counter. That's how much I like boneless skinless air fryer, chicken thighs, and how often they show up in my weekly meal routine.

And as with many of my favorite air fryer recipes, there's almost no mess to cleanup after. Air fryers typically have nonstick baskets that come clean with a few wipes of soapy hot water. 

Chicken thighs are the perfect air fryer food. David Watsky/CNETHere's how to make air fryer chicken thighs in 15 minutes

Step 1: Preheat air fryer to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Toss package of chicken thighs with seasoning mixture or simply with salt and pepper

Step 3: Cook chicken thighs for 15 minutes, flipping them after 8 (cook longer if you like a crispier outside)

Step 4: Let cool and serve over salad or with side of rice and vegetables.

You won't need more than 15 minutes to make this magic happen. Air fryer chicken thighsDo you need oil when cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer? You don't need oil when cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer, but a little won't hurt. Alina Bradford/CNET

I've tried cooking air fryer chicken thighs with and without oil and they turn out great either way. There's enough fat content in thighs to cook without oil. And if you're using a sauce, there's really no need to add oil on top of it. 

If you are planning to add cooking oil, don't use much. About a teaspoon per every four thighs should suffice.

Should you bread chicken before cooking in the air fryer? Chicken breasts do better in the air fryer when breaded but thighs have enough fat content to do without. David Watsky/CNET

Yes, I have and it's excellent for adding texture to this simple recipe. A quick coating of egg wash and breading gives air fryer chicken thighs a divine crunch, but also adds some extra carbs and calories. It also makes for more dishes to wash after and a dirtier air fryer basket, so I often go without. Use this method if you're making air fryer chicken Parmesan or for a fast fried chicken sandwich.

If you're cooking boneless chicken breast in the air fryer, I recommend breading them to keep the lean meat from drying out.

Whether you're adding some cooking oil to the chicken thighs or breading your cuts before air frying them, you'll need to clean out your appliance afterwards to make sure it keeps functioning efficiently the next time you want to cook up a quick meal. Here's our complete guide to cleaning your air fryer, so that you can keep your cookware at the top of its game.

Even this small 2-quart air fryer holds four to five chicken thighs.  David Watsky/CNET

For more, here's a complete guide to air fryers and seven things I'll never cook in the air fryer again.

FAQs

How long should I fry my chicken thighs?

While this particular recipe calls for you to air fry the chicken thighs for 15 minutes, you'll get the best result if you flip them over around halfway through the cooking time. This will make sure you get an even crisp on the outside and help prevent the meat from drying out.

Can I bread chicken before air frying it?

Yes, you can bread your chicken thighs before cooking them up in the air fryer. It adds some taste and texture to the recipe, but be aware that the breading will definitely ensure that you'll need to do some extra cleaning when you're finished cooking.

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