10 quick and easy air fryer recipes for the perfect weeknight dinner

Air fryers have steadily become the talk of the town. And why not? These nifty devices not only fry, but also bake, and roast. And unlike convection ovens or OTGs, they do so with little to no oil or fat. What’s more, dishes that would take hours to prepare can now be ready in a matter of minutes.

With air fryers doing the bulk of the heavy lifting, weeknight dinner preparations no longer need to be a chore. To give you an idea of just how versatile this appliance is, here are 10 lip-smacking recipes that can be prepared quickly and with little effort.

ALSO READ: Best appliances that make for the perfect gifts this festive season

1. Grilled chicken

Who doesn’t love a juicy, tender piece of chicken breast with some sauteed vegetables on the side? Lightly seasoned and flavoured using olive oil, this succulent dish is not just tasty, but incredibly healthy.

2. Chilly cheese toasts

Crispy pieces of bread topped with cheese, and a mild topping of garlic, chilly flakes, and oregano. What’s not to like, right? Except maybe the large amounts of butter and oil required to cook them. But with an air fryer, a light brushing of liquified butter should be more than enough.

3. Tandoori chicken

Chicken Tandoori is traditionally cooked by roasting marinated chicken in a tandoor. Air fryers though, are a great modern-day substitute for the cylindrical ovens, and can also cook the chicken in about 15-20 minutes with a fraction of the oil/butter.

4. Paneer tikka

This one’s for all our vegetarian readers, featuring crisp paneer flavoured with spices, and grilled along with crunchy bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. It adds a touch of spice to otherwise bland weeknight dinners and takes under an hour to cook – including marination.

5. French fries

These crisp little wedges of potatoes topped with salt make for a great snack any time of the day. However, they live up to the name of a guilty pleasure, owing to the amount of oil used in preparation. Well, not anymore! An air fryer needs an ever-so-light drizzle of oil, and your not-so-guilty pleasure will be ready in minutes.

6. Veg Manchurian

We’ve all had that little hankering for roadside Chinese after a long day at work. But why not try and healthier and more hygienic version of it at home? This recipe consists of air fried veggies grated and rolled into a ball, with salt, black pepper, and cornstarch. Next up, prepare the sauce in a separate pan, while the balls are air fried, add to the sauce and enjoy!

7. Baked Pasta

Why don’t you kick things up a little with what is perhaps the ultimate comfort food? This dish is layered with pasta, veggies, meat, tomato sauce and loads of cheese, baked in an air fryer and at a fraction of the time it takes in a conventional OTG.

8. Aloo Gobi

Every once in a while, one feels a strange longing for home cooked meal. Aloo Gobi is one of the many dishes that reminds us of home. This air fryer recipe will take you back home, in just about 30 minutes. It is a super healthy and easy to prepare, and pairs well with any other vegetable, protein, or breads on the side.

9. Banana Chips

Perfect for those impromptu house parties on a weeknight, these savoury treats are a great, healthy snack that pairs with almost any drink you may like. What’s even better, you can cook this treat in under an hour, including prep time.

10. Chocolate Cake

There’s nothing a little chocolate can’t fix, right? But chocolate cakes, or any cakes for that matter, also take a lot of time to make – a luxury most of us may not have on a weeknight. With an air fryer though, you could bring down its total cooking time to about 50 minutes, excluding prep.

Which latest air fryer do I buy?

Now that we’ve told you of all these recipes you could try out on your air fryer, the next obvious question is which one to buy, right? While there are many options to choose from, among the latest ones is the Philips Air Fryer HD 9257.

ALSO READ: Philips Air Fryer HD9257 launched in India with see-through window

The latest offering from Philips features Rapid Air technology, a starfish design for the grill, and a see-through glass window so that you can keep an eye on your food while cooking.