Healthy air fryer meals that will please the whole family and ready in 30 minutes or under

It’s the kitchen gadget that most families can’t live without these days – the humble air fryer. So much so, there’s a bundle of easy recipes to try and a dedicated TV show to ensure you’ve got the right one!

Air Fryers: Batch Cooking Made Easy will air on Sunday, 14 April, at 7pm on Channel 5, giving avid fans of the kitchen gadget fantastic new ideas. The appliance’s popularity is still on the rise, so it’s little wonder more of us are seeking out the ultimate delicious recipes to wow our guests, save time and pack in the goodness.

Versatile, quick and easy, fans love air fryer foods for healthy meals that can be created without compromising on taste and texture. Goodbye, oily, greasy stodge and hello fresh, crisp and nutrient-dense grub.

If you’re still in need of an air fryer or fancy an upgrade, then this popular Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK has dropped to £199 from £249.99 in a huge sale.

With a strong rating of 4.9 out of five, and over 5,900 rave reviews, it’s not hard to see why the Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK is one of the most popular cooking appliances out there, with shoppers calling it a ‘game-changer for tight schedules’ and ‘magical. ‘

We’ve also found this affordable 4L Manual Air Fryer from Dunelm that’s priced at just £30. Alternatively, you can grab this stylish Tefal EY905D40 Easy Fry Dual Zone Air Fryer and Grill for £129.99, down from £199.99.

The money and time-saving involved are undeniable, with energy costs far lower than using your conventional oven, and food cooked in a fraction of the time. Try these gorgeous air fryer ideas for fast food without the guilt…

Sticky sesame chicken

Delicious, and ready in 30 minutes – the whole family will love
(Image: Dan Jones)

Serves 2

Ingredients

3-4 tbsp cornflour 1 tsp garlic granules 1 tsp onion granules 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice 300g chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks 1 egg, beaten Low-calorie oil spray

For the sauce

1 tsp sesame oil 2 tbsp soy sauce 3 tbsp honey 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 tsp rice wine vinegar ½ tsp Chinese 5 spice 2 tbsp sriracha 1 tbsp garlic purée 1 tbsp ginger purée

To garnish

1 tbsp white sesame seeds 2 spring onions, chopped 2 red chillies, finely diced

1. Mix the cornflour, spices and granules in a bowl. Coat the chicken in the egg, then in the cornflour mix. Spray well with the oil and air fry for 14 minutes at 200°C.

2. Mix the sauce ingredients.

3. When the chicken is cooked, pour the sauce over the chicken and air fry for a further 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens, or add the sauce to a small pan to warm over a low heat then pour over the chicken.

4. Garnish with sesame seeds, spring onions and chillies.

Meatball and mozzarella orzo bake

The sweet addition of honey will transform this dish – and all easily achieved in your air fryer
(Image: Dan Jones)

Serves 2

Ingredients

400g lean beef mince 2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs 1 finely chopped onion Two handfuls of fresh basil leaves, one handful chopped 1 egg 2 tins of chopped tomatoes or 700g passata 1 tbsp tomato purée 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp honey 4 garlic cloves, crushed Salt and pepper, to taste 350ml hot chicken stock 175g orzo 60g mozzarella, torn

1. Combine the mince, breadcrumbs, onion, chopped basil and egg together in a large bowl, then mould into meatballs.

2. Air fry the meatballs for 7 minutes at 200°C, then add in the tomatoes/passata, tomato purée, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, some of the basil leaves, salt and pepper and cook for a further 3 minutes. If you have a large air fryer you can do this in an ovenproof dish, if not, use the air fryer basket without the tray in place.

3. Pour in the hot chicken stock, then move the meatballs to one side, add in the orzo and readjust so the meatballs are evenly spread. Air fry for a further 10 minutes.

4. Top with mozzarella, allowing the residual heat to melt it slightly. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with a side salad.

Sweet chilli prawn cocktail pitta

In under 10 minutes this delicious creation will go from air fryer to plate
(Image: Dan Jones)

Serves 2

Ingredients

170g raw, peeled prawns ½ tsp paprika Salt and pepper, to taste 2 pitta breads

For the sauce

2 tsp Dijon mustard 4 tbsp light mayo 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Juice of ½ lemon 1 tsp paprika

To serve

Cucumber slices Shredded lettuce Chopped chives ½ tsp chilli oil per pitta (optional)

1. Coat the prawns in the paprika and some salt and pepper, then air fry for 5–7 minutes at 180°C until they turn pink.

2. Mix together the sauce ingredients in a bowl.

3. Around 2 minutes before the prawns are ready, cut the pittas in half across the middle to create pockets, then air fry for

2 minutes so they give a warm and crunchy welcome to the prawns.

4. Toss the cooked prawns in the sauce so they are well-coated and assemble your pitta with the prawns, cucumber and lettuce, then garnish with chopped chives and a splash of chilli oil, if you like.