41 Air Fryer Recipes That'll Leave More Time For You To Enjoy The Party
Your air fryer can do it all, including appetizers!
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again—appetizers can really make or break a party. They’re also pretty important before a big holiday dinner to help ward off hunger and get guests excited for what’s to come. If you’re having a last-minute get-together though, they’re often the first thing to fall off the to-do list. No more—try making appetizers in your air fryer instead! They come together quickly and are just as flavorful and crispy as their non-air fried counterparts. Bonus: Cleanup is minimal, meaning you can spend more time with your guests. Check out our best air fryer appetizers for ideas, then get creative—we’ve very rarely been disappointed with what we’ve attempted in there.
The word appetizer can mean different things depending what kind of meal you’re having. Having a sit-down dinner? You could go for something shareable like our bloomin’ onion, or for bites that need a knife and fork to eat, like our crab cakes, our Caprese stuffed portobello mushrooms, or our miso-glazed scallops. These all look as good as they taste, perfect to get your guests jazzed for the main dish.
Having more of a cocktail party, where guests will need to eat their apps standing up (and with a drink in hand)? Check out our Tuscan stuffed mushrooms, our coconut shrimp, our egg rolls, our “fried” ravioli, or our lemon-garlic shrimp. They’re the perfect finger foods that’ll keep your guests mingling.
Looking for something to eat while you watch the game or during a movie night? Go for classics like our chicken wings, our bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, our chicken taquitos, or our mozzarella sticks. Air frying means you won’t have to miss any of the onscreen action.
Want even more air fryer inspiration? Check out our favorite vegan air fryer recipes and our top air fryer desserts, then our new bookazine, Easy + Healthy Air Fryer.
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
This shrimp is SO crispy, and the spicy mayo goes perfectly with the sweet coconut. Match made in heaven, made easier in your air fryer!
Get the Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp recipe.
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Since this recipe includes the not-so-traditional act of air frying, we figured we'd keep the filling classic with carrots, celery, cabbage, and crispy pork; however, any multitude of fillings could work (and we recommend you experiment)!
Get the Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe.
Air Fryer Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms
These poppable snacks harness umami to the power of three. Savory mushrooms, sweet and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and nutty Parmesan combine for irresistible bites you’ll be craving long after they’re gone (so make extra!).
Air Fryer Bloomin' Onion
We've already made a baked bloomin' onion, but we couldn't resist trying it out in the air fryer. Even after skipping the deep fry, this monster still comes out as insane as ever. It's crazy crispy and so fun as a pull-apart shared appetizer.
Get the Air Fryer Bloomin' Onion recipe.
Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole Bundles
We took our favorite green bean casserole and then wrapped individual portions in bacon. It's genius, really.
Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño poppers are one of the easiest, most satisfying party apps. Mix cream cheese with cheese, stuff it in jalapeños, and wrap it all in bacon. Pop them in the air fryer, and you've got crispy perfection in less than 15 minutes.
Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins
These loaded zucchini skins are a fresh twist on potato skins. They're stuffed with cheddar, tomato, and avocado for intense flavor you're gonna love.
Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp
This recipe is a flavor explosion thanks to a slightly spicy lemon-garlic marinade that infuses each bite with flavor. The quick-cooking shrimp (especially in your air fryer) are ideal served with cocktails or to begin a dinner party.
Get the Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp recipe.
Air Fryer Scallops
Who said you need a special occasion to eat scallops? Not us. These air-fried scallops are the perfect way to get a crispy fried treat any time, without any hot oil hassle. Don’t forget the remoulade!
Get the Air Fryer Scallops recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Fried chicken wings are delicious, but they make a big mess. These air fryer wings are super-easy, and they're just as crunchy as the deep-fried kind. We're hooked!
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe.
Spinach Artichoke Zucchini Bites
These little guys are the perfect healthy-ish appetizer. As the zucchini becomes tender, the spinach and artichoke topping gets nice and melty. Mmmm.
Air Fryer Tater Tots
The air fryer works some kind of magic on these tater tots. It gets them extra crispy and the homemade, shaggy look makes them better than any fast food chain could produce. The best part? These are completely gluten- and fat-free!
Get the Air Fryer Tater Tots recipe.
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks are the quintessential party appetizer. They're hot, crunchy, and oozing with molten cheese—what's not to love?! Dipped in homemade marinara sauce, we think there's no better snack.
Get the Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks recipe.
Crab Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
Everyone loves a good stuffed mushroom: They're easy to make and reheat, perfectly bite-sized, and ridiculously delicious. This version is even MORE irresistible with the addition of sweet, tender crab, fresh green onions, and rich cream cheese.
Air Fryer Buttermilk Onion Rings
Cornstarch and seltzer combine with buttermilk to keep the batter light, while the fine cornmeal and paprika give each bite a little more crunch and flavor that go nicely before a meal of red meat. Dip them in some spicy mayo (Kewpie is highly recommended) and ketchup, and get ready for the freshest onion rings you've ever tasted.
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Crab cakes are the best because you get all the deliciousness of crab without all of the tedious, messy work of pulling meat from the shells. Since you're already skipping that mess, go even further and skip the pan fry too. These are the ideal dish to cook in the air fryer, because you can get that perfect crispy texture without oil-logged cakes.
Get the Air Fryer Crab Cakes recipe.
Air Fryer Miso-Glazed Scallops
A riff on Nobu’s famous miso-glazed cod, these scallops are our new date night go-to. There’s something about them that feels kinda fancy, but they’re so easy to make (and so hard to screw up) that they're the perfect thing to serve when we’re in the mood to impress. Serve with rice and some simply sautéed spinach.
Air Fryer Kale and Feta Hand Pies
Heart-healthy olive oil gets brushed between layers of flaky phyllo dough that gets wrapped around spinach and feta for a spanakopita-inspired app you can make in less than TEN minutes in your air fryer.
Air Fryer Tostones with Creamy Mojo Dipping Sauce
Though they’re typically twice fried, these tostones are as crispy as the classic version with a fraction of the fat—and there's no scary pot full of hot oil! The mojo-inspired sauce is so good and easy, you’ll want to make it with or without the tostones. Keep it in your back pocket when you need a quick dip for veggies or chips.
Get the Air Fryer Tostones with Creamy Mojo Dipping Sauce recipe.
Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Air Fryer Baklava Granola
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
