Air Fryers Are Amazing... But What to Make? Try These Awesome Air Fryer Lunch Recipes

hen air fryers started to get more popular it was natural to wonder why? How could this tiny machine that can only hold so much be better than an oven or microwave? 

Well to answer this firstly the calories; many people love the deep fried taste, but obviously hate the number of calories that comes with that method. Air fryers use less oil, therefore less calories to still give your food that deep-fried texture.

Air fryers have the capability of heating up faster than an oven would take to preheat. No more do you have to bother waiting on the time spent waiting for the appliance to heat up. It is a simple process and on some air fryers, they even have specific categories for different foods. There may be a chicken wing icon, or pizza. 

Regardless of recipes, this is also a great tool to use to heat up leftovers as well. No more soggy microwave texture or waiting 15 minutes for your oven to heat up to 425 or less just to have some hot crispy leftovers. 

Not to mention the smaller size of it is easy to transport if needed whereas you typically don’t move around your oven or microwave. 

Let's get to the good stuff-- recipes 

There are tons of different recipes you can find that cater to using an air fryer and we have come up with some for you to pick and choose from. Level of difficulty will vary, but truly none are impossible to make. Just be sure to follow our directions!

Zesty Air-Fried Lunch Chicken Wings

Now this is for our spicy lovers out there. Let’s make some chicken wings.

What you will need:

1. 2lb. chicken wings
2. Ground black pepper
3. Kosher Salt
4. ¼ c. hot sauce of your choice
5. 4 tbsp. melted butter 
6. 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
7. ½ tsp. garlic powder 
8. Nonstick cooking spray
9. Sauce of your choosing to complement the chicken such as ranch
   

Now for the directions: 

1. Start off by spraying the inside of your air fryer with non-stick cooking spray.
2. You’re going to want to start off with seasoning your chicken wings with the salt and pepper. 
3. Set the temperature to 380° and cook the wings for twelve minutes. Flip the wings and then cook them for twelve more minutes. After this turn the temperature up to 400° and cook for five more minutes. 
4. Take a bowl out and combine the hot sauce, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder and then add that onto the chicken wings. Dip in whatever ranch you want. 

Hearty Air Fryer Steak Lunch

Who doesn’t love some real protein like steak from time to time? Well here’s how you can make it!

What you will need:

1. 1 (2lb.) bone-in ribeye
2. Ground black pepper
3. Kosher salt
4. 4 tbsp. of softened butter
5. 2 cloves of minced garlic
6. 2tsp. of chopped parsley
7. 1 tsp. chopped chives
8. 1 tsp. chopped thyme 
9. 1 tsp. chopped rosemary 
   

Directions:

1. Put all of your herbs and butter in a small bowl. Then put it all in the center of plastic wrap and roll it into a log. Twist the ends together to keep it all contained and then refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
2. Season both sides of your steak with the salt and pepper.
3. Put the temperature to 400 and put the steak in the air fryer, cook for twelve to fourteen minutes depending on thickness, and flip halfway through.
4. When it is done take it out and put the herb butter on top.

Crispy Air Fried Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts, while they may not be the most popular vegetable to cook, have much potential with the right ingredients. So swallow your pride and consider making some of these crispy vegetables! 

What you will need:

1. 1lb. of Brussel sprouts, both cut in half and then trimmed down
2. Ground black pepper
3. Kosher salt
4. Red pepper flakes
5. ½ lemon juice
6. 1 clove of minced garlic
7. 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
8. 1 tbsp. honey
9. 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
10. 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
    

Directions:

1. Put Brussel sprouts with oil and season it with your salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
2. Add the Brussel sprouts to the air fryer and set the temperature to 380° for eighteen minutes; stop and toss the Brussel sprouts halfway through.
3. Next, you will make a dressing by mixing your lemon juice, honey, vinegar, mustard, and garlic into a bowl. Season it with salt and pepper. 
4. After taking out the Brussel sprouts, pour the dressing on them and toss to mix. 

Mouthwatering Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Air Fryer Recipe

Anything wrapped in bacon is a seller, so this recipe is no different. And you barely need any ingredients!

What you will need:

1. 2 avocados
2. 16 slices of bacon
   

Directions: 

1. Slice your avocado in half and take out the pit. Peel the outside off and slice each avocado into four pieces. Each half sliced will total to sixteen slices. 
2. Wrap each avocado slice with a strip of bacon and do your best to cover the whole piece. 
3. Turn the temperature up to 400°.
4. Evenly place each avocado slice in your air fryer and depending on the size you may have to accomplish this dish in batches.
5. Bake for 4-6 minutes and add ranch to your side for flavor. 

Crunchy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Lunch Plate

Shrimp is a very popular food among many different types of seafood. So for all of our seafood lovers here is how you can cook some in your air fryer. 

What you will need: 

1. 12 ounces of uncooked medium shrimp that is peeled and deveined.
2. 2 large eggs
3. Cooking spray
4. 1 thinly sliced serrano chile
5. ½ cup of all purpose flour
6. 1 ½ tsp. grounded black pepper
7. ⅔ cup of unsweetened flaked coconut
8. ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
9. ¼ tsp. of honey
10. ¼ cup of lime juice
11. 2 tsp. of chopped fresh cilantro
    

Directions: 

1. Put flour and pepper in a bowl and stir together. Get two more bowls; in the one beat your eggs together and in the other, stir the coconut and panko. 
2. Holding the shrimp by the tail, dip in flour mix, then the bowl with the eggs and allow any excess to drip off. Then dip into the coconut mix and place on a separate plate. 
3. Coat inside the air fryer with the cooking spray. 
4. Turn the temperature up to 400° and place half of the shrimp in the fryer.
5. Cook for three minutes. 
6. Turn the shrimp over and cook for another 3 minutes, until it is golden. Season with the salt.
7. Combine the honey, lime juice, and chile in a bowl for a dip.
8. When the shrimp is cooked sprinkle cilantro on it and use the dip you created on the side.

Classic Potato Wedges for Lunch in Your Air Fryer

Potatoes are truly so amazing. Fries are great, so why not make em’ thicker! You can do that by making this very easy air fryer recipe. 

What you will need: 

1. Two Russet potatoes, cut into wedges
2. Ground black pepper
3. ½ tsp. paprika
4. 1 ½ tbsp. olive oil
5. ½ tsp. chili powder
6. ½ tsp. parsley flakes
7. ½ tsp. sea salt
   

Directions:

1. Turn the temperature to 400° 
2. Put the potato wedges in a bowl and add your oil, paprika, parsley, chili, salt, and pepper. Mix it all.
3. Put the eighth wedges in the air fryer.
4. Cook for ten minutes.
5. Flip the wedges and cook for five more minutes. 
6. Repeat with the last of the wedges.

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots Make an Tasty Air Fryer Lunch

Yes, another vegetable recipe because we think it’s important to have a good balance of the food groups. This way of cooking carrots will have you looking at the orange snack in an entirely different way. 

What you will need:

1. ½ lb of baby carrots
2. Cooking spray 
3. 1 tbsp. of melted butter
4. ½ tsp. of ground cardamom
5. 1 tbsp. of hot/spicy honey 
6. 1 tsp. of grated orange zest
7. 1 tbsp. of freshly squeezed orange juice.
8. 1 pinch of salt and black pepper.
   

Directions: 

1. Turn up the temperature to 400°.
2. Spray your air fryer with cooking spray.
3. Put the butter, honey, orange zest, and cardamom in a bowl and mix. Put aside one tablespoon of this mix in another bowl. Put carrots in the first bowl and coat them.
4. Put the carrots in the air fryer and allow them to cook for fifteen to twenty-two minutes. Toss them every seven minutes. 
5. Combine orange juice to the smaller portion of the honey-butter sauce. Toss that with the carrots and season it with the salt and pepper.

Go experiment!

As we stated before the air fryer is a very convenient appliance that can help to make these foods quickly and efficiently. If you already own one consider making one of these recipes. We are sure you will not regret it.