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Fast and delicious
We know how much kids like deep-fried foods — heck, we grown-ups like them, too! But those premade meals, though good in a pinch, may not be the healthiest and cheapest choice for everyday meals. Instead, turn to your air fryer to make your kids’ favorite breakfasts, lunches and dinners. These kid-approved recipes are faster than the oven (and no need to heat up your house on warm days), healthier than deep-frying and cheaper than buying pre-packaged meals from the freezer section.
Scroll through the arrows above for some delicious ideas.
Air fryer french toast sticks
Kids will love helping you make these french toast sticks from Love Bakes Good Cakes. One of the best things (besides the flavor) is that you can make and freeze them for quick morning breakfasts. For the best results, make sure to use Texas toast — it’s super thick and holds up to air frying like a champ. Choose your favorite toppings, such as syrup, jam or chocolate spread.
Pop-Tarts
What kid doesn’t love a Pop-Tart in the morning? Flaky pastry stuffed with jam and covered in frosting makes for a sweet and delicious snack or breakfast treat. Show Me the Yummy uses refrigerated pie crust and strawberry jam to make an air fryer version. The kids will love assembling their Pop-Tarts and decorating them with homemade glaze and sprinkles. You can use any flavor of jam you have on hand, or even stuff them with nut butter (or both!).
Cauliflower tater tots
Whether you serve them as a snack or side dish, Blue Jean Chef‘s cauliflower tots are a healthier and delicious alternative to traditional tater tots. Kids won’t notice the difference, and it’s a great way to sneak in a little extra veg into your meals. Serve these tots with traditional ketchup, or with ranch dressing for a fun twist. They are a bit more delicate than the “real thing,” so handle them with care while you are preparing them.
Easy air fryer doughnuts with biscuit dough
Who doesn’t love a doughnut for breakfast?! Air Fryer Fanatics shows us how to make your own using canned biscuit dough. These are a bit healthier than the “real thing,” plus you can get super creative with the toppings. Choose different colors and shapes of sprinkles, chocolate frosting, jam or plain old sugar. You even get cute little doughnut holes out of the recipe!
Veggie fries
It’s time to up your french fry game. These fries from The Clever Carrot are healthier (without the deep frying), but they also incorporate different veggies to get you out of your potato rut. Sweet potatoes, parsnips and carrots not only add flavor and color, but additional nutrients to your meal. To ensure all of your fries are perfectly crisp, make sure to cut them the same size.
Air fryer fish
You can use your favorite type of fish fillets to make crispy fish sticks using this recipe from Little Sunny Kitchen. We recommend using fresh or frozen (and thawed) cod, halibut, tilapia or even salmon. Then, serve them with your favorite dipping sauce: ketchup, tartar or ranch. Add some cauliflower tots or veggie fries and your meal is complete!
Chicken taquitos
I don’t know about you, but my kids could eat taquitos every night of the week. Crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside, with just enough spice to make it interesting but still appealing to kids. Make your own healthier and cheaper version, as Layla at Gimme Delicious does. You can use leftover shredded chicken as the recipe calls for, or swap it out with pork or beef. If you like, keep it vegetarian with extra cheese and a few veggies.
Cheeseburgers
Forget about firing up the grill — it’s time to fire up the air fryer! Courtney Sweet‘s burgers fry up perfectly cooked and juicy, and only take a few minutes. Using 90 percent ground beef is the healthiest option and will create less of a mess in your air fryer. Break out your favorite condiments, and dinner is on. Don’t forget to “fry” up some cauliflower tots or veggie fries to serve alongside.
Fried ravioli
Fried ravioli happy lands anywhere along the snack, lunch and dinner continuum. Show Me the Yummy takes refrigerated cheese ravioli, coats them in breadcrumbs and cheese, then air-fries them for a delicious treat. The kids will no doubt love helping you make them, because they can get a little bit messy. They taste divine dipped in your favorite sauce, such as marinara.
Chicken nuggets
The quintessential lunch or dinner (heck, we even eat these for breakfast at my house) … chicken nuggets! You can make your own in less time than it takes to heat up the oven and pull the store-bought box from the freezer using this recipe from Crunchy Creamy Sweet. We suggest making a double batch because these will disappear fast.
