Are your weeknights overwhelmingly busy with work, family, and home commitments? These 7 must-have weeknight air fryer recipes will help you to still eat healthy, delicious food even when you and your family are constantly on the run. Grab your air fryer (or purchase a great one here) and get ready to eat delicious dinners in 30 minutes or less.
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Air fryers have increased in popularity over the last few years because of their ability to take up a limited amount of space in your kitchen and make really delicious meals of every kind. As a mom of 2 young kids, I originally bought our air fryer to make super simple air fryer meals I knew they would eat, like nuggets and meatballs.
But over time I started to experiment with dinners for my husband and I as well. Simple air fryer salmon and simple air fryer chicken became staples in our home. That’s when I realized Pinterest had thousands of easy, kid friendly air fryer recipes for families like ours.
Each of these weeknight air fryer recipes are easy to start when you get home at 5 o’clock and have on the dinner table by 5:30. They require a minimal amount of ingredients and preparation – PLUS you can adapt them all in some way to ensure that your kids will eat them.
Best Simple Air Fryer
Don’t have an air fryer yet? We’ve always loved Ninja products, so we purchased the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer. It’s super simple to use and right at the $100 mark, the price was a no-brainer. I’ve found that it cooks our meals evenly and consistently.
Now that we’re making so many of our meals each weeknight in the air fryer, I’m looking at the Ninja DZ550 DualZone Smart XL Air Fryer, because you can cook more than one item at once. I’ve heard great things about it, and it would be a dream to cook my main dish and a side at the same time. Who knows, maybe Santa (my husband) will bring it to me this Christmas!
Lastly, I know there have been some concerns over the last few years with Teflon usage and PSAs in air fryers. So if you want to check out options from a company that has promised to create products without these things, check out air fryers from Aria. Both the Aria Air Fryers AAO-890 10Qt Air Fryer Oven and the Aria Teflon-Free 7 Qt. Air Fryer are worth checking out.
Your must-have weeknight air fryer recipes
Okay, I won’t make you wait anymore! Here are a few of the absolute best air fryer recipes for beginners from around the web. Each one requires minimal ingredients and is perfect for easy weeknight meals that your kids will eat, too. Let’s eat!
1. Air Fryer Sesame Chicken
If you love Chinese food, this one from Air Fryer Fanatics is the recipe for you! This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes because it tastes just as good as takeout, but doesn’t make you feel nearly as crappy afterward. This is a kid-friendly recipe because kids love that the chicken is sweet with just the right amount of tang. Prep some instant rice to go with it and you’ll have dinner ready in no time.
Total prep/cook time: 35 minutes
2. Mini Air Fryer Pizzas
If there’s one thing that I can guarantee my kids will ALWAYS eat, it’s pizza. These mini pizzas give you the chance to customize each pizza and toppings from person to person. Not to mention there’s just something about the mini size that makes them feel so fun. If you make a bunch of these, they’re perfect for serving at parties, get-togethers, etc. You’ll want to experiment a little with the biscuit dough to get your pizza just the way you like it, but this recipe is a win.
Total prep/cook time: 15 minutes
3. Air Fryer Honey Mustard Salmon
Do you want a nice, fancy feeling but don’t have a lot of time? This is your recipe! This honey mustard salmon is so simple and it comes out perfect every time. Even if you’re not a big fish lover, you’re going to want to try this recipe out. Other than the salmon, you only need 5 ingredients – and they’re probably already in your kitchen! This salmon pairs perfectly with a simple side salad, some asparagus and garlic bread. Even my 3-year-old likes it – and that’s saying a lot.
Total prep/cook time: 10 minutes
4. 10 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Sausage and Veggies
Trying to eat healthier or getting into meal prepping? Check out this simple recipe! There’s a lot of recipes like this one around the web, but this particular one from Pinch Me Good is just consistently delicious. You can sub out the chicken sausage for whatever type you like for a different taste. Also, If your kids are picky eaters like mine, I’ve found that separating the meat from the veggies on their plates makes it a whole lot more inviting for them to dive in and try this one.
5. Air Fryer Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw
Looking for an air fryer recipe that is super easy but sure to impress? For that I lean on these delicious Air Fryer Fish Tacos from Lemons and Zest. I typically use Tilapia from Aldi because it’s super affordable. The homemade cilantro lime slaw is super easy to whip together in a hurry. With a bowl of fresh guacamole, this is a delicious recipe for hosting – especially during the warmer months. My kids love the fish in this recipe, so for them I usually leave off the slaw and sprinkle a little cheese. A delicious, filling meal that genuinely only takes about 15 minutes!
Total prep/cook time: 15 minutes
6. Air Fried Pizza Bombs
Have tons of kids coming over for a play date? Want real food to pack in your kids lunches that they’ll actually eat? Look no further than these Air Fried Pizza Bombs from AirFried! These are similar to the mini pizzas, but the fact that they’re balls makes them easily portable – perfect for lunch boxes or grabbing on the go. You can fill your pizza bombs with whatever toppings you have around the house, or even leave out the cheese if you have someone with dairy sensitivities.
Total prep/cook time: 12 minutes
7. Steak and Shrimp Kabobs in Air Fryer
Picture this – you’re dying for some delicious cook out food… but it’s a rainy day. Or you want a delicious meal, but don’t have that “going out” budget right now. In either scenario, this recipe is your solution. All you need to make these delicious Steak and Shrimp Kabobs is a pound of steak and shrimp, skewers and a little seasoning! While you will want to plan ahead to soak your skewers for awhile, once you start cooking, this recipe legit takes about 6 minutes. You cannot beat that, y’all! I love to serve these with corn, baked potatoes or a fresh, delicious salad.
Total prep/cook time: 10-ish minutes
I don’t know about you, but I am good and hungry now and ready to eat! These are 7 must-have weeknight air fryer recipes that our family cooks on the regular. I hope that you try each of them out and find your new favorites that will save you time during your busiest weeks! Which of these recipes looks the most delicious to you? Have you tried any of these out yet? Let me know.
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