Lock in taste with these recipes that pack a punch!
Delicious food on your table is a defining marker of the holidays. Whether you’re creating a spread to enjoy with family and friends or simply cooking for yourself, great food can be the best gift of all.
Air fryers have brought in a new era of juicy, yet crispy, cooking that’s hard to ignore. The beauty of this appliance is that, if you use it in place of frying food in oil, you can potentially cut your fat and caloric intake substantially. Your food tastes just as delectable and retains moisture for a flavorful punch.
What should you cook? Here are five top-reviewed air fryer recipes that are sure to please your own, and others’, taste buds.
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Roasting your chicken in the oven almost always produces delicious results. Air frying a whole chicken is similar but it locks in a bit more of the juices while providing that crispy exterior you seek. There’s also the added benefit of a clean oven and a smaller appliance to tidy up afterwards.
This recipe by Jennifer Banz calls for seasoning your chicken with black pepper, salt, garlic powder, paprika, basil, oregano, and thyme for a well-rounded flavor. Be sure to spray the air fryer basket before placing your chicken for faster clean-up.
Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Air fryers are ideal for cooking crispy, delicious potato wedges without all the oil. This recipe from Plated Cravings has you soak your wedges in cold water with ice cubes for about 30 minutes prior to cooking. Presumably this is done to prevent the potatoes from drying out during cooking.
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Organic russet potatoes are said to be best for wedges. Season with paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper prior to frying. Add parmesan and parsley to serve.
Air Fryer Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
An amazing invention, garlic bread done in the air fryer is an unexpected small slice of heaven in your hands. This recipe from Stay Snatched.com calls for sourdough bread of a size that will fit in your fryer. Slice off an end if you need to. Cut the bread in slices, avoiding the edges. Place a mixture of butter, cheese, and herbs between the slices and air fry your bread. Delicious.
Air Fryer Glazed Ham
Ham and the holidays go hand in hand! This glazed ham by Air Frying Foodie.com ensures a crispy exterior without drying out your main dish. The glaze calls for butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, which are glazed on the ham and kept in with tin foil until the final 3 minutes.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
This recipe from TwoSleevers.com calls for sweetening with truvia and seasoning with Chinese five spices. You could also use real brown sugar, if you prefer, of course. The perfect side dish, you can experiment with your favorite seasonings and herbs to find the effect you like most.
Cooking in an air fryer can potentially reduce your caloric intake and as well as your fat consumption, depending on the recipe. In all cases, your food results in a juicier texture coupled with a crispy exterior, as long as you don’t overcook. Dig in and enjoy!
photo credits: Cavan-Images/Shutterstock.com
