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The lunchtime meal, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated meals of the day. Yes, breakfast is important. The evening meal is, too. I tend to throw any ol’ thing together for lunch, though. Having invested in a few new kitchen gadgets and appliances, such as the much-loved air fryer, I decided to go on the hunt for interesting air fryer lunch ideas that I could whip up.
Because I’m super nice, I’m going to share them all with you. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
80 Air Fryer Lunch Ideas
Are you aware that you don’t even need to preheat your air fryer to cook delicious meals in it? That instantly shaves around 10 to 20 minutes off your cooking time, which makes it the ideal cooking appliance when you’re in a rush.
I think it’ll be a good idea to get things kicked off with the quickest recipes.
15-Minute Air Fryer Lunch Ideas
You make all these air fryer lunch ideas in 15 minutes or less, which makes them perfect for those times when you’re in a real rush. Or, you know, you just can’t really be bothered to stand around in the kitchen for ages.
Here’s another great trick the air fryer can perform, too: You can use it to heat up all the leftovers you have. It’ll be crispier than the microwave, and less time-consuming than the oven. What’s not to love about that?
- Salmon Patties by Recipes from a Pantry
- Ginger and Orange Chicken Kebabs by Pinch of Nom
- Chicken and Cheese Pinwheels by My Fussy Eater
- Ravioli by Bitz n Giggles
- 10-Minute Quesadillas by Easy Cheesy Vegetarian
- Fiorentina Pizza by Dom in the Kitchen
- Air Fryer Honey Feta Cubes with Rosemary by Nathan Anthony at The Happy Foodie
- Crab Rangoons by Recipes from a Pantry
- Tortilla Pizza by My Fussy Eater
- Spanish Garlic Prawns by Aldi
Air Fryer Lunch Ideas with Chicken
Here’s a quick tip that’ll help you out with your air fryer creations: Let your air fryer heat up for two to five minutes before cooking chicken or other meats. This, according to foodies and experts, will give you the best results. The meat will cook all the way through, resulting in juicy, tender meat that falls apart in your mouth.
Now that I’ve got your mouths watering, I think it’s time to bring you the best air fryer lunch ideas with chicken…
- Chicken Fajita Salad by The Novice Chef Blog
- French Onion Chicken Pastries by Taste
- Crispy Chicken Strips with Honey and Sriracha Glaze by Latoyah
- BBQ Chicken Nuggets by Pinch of Nom
- Chicken Breast Strips with Marmite Honey Sauce by Greedy Gourmet
- Chicken Kabobs (Skewers) by Love Food Not Cooking
- Crispy Panko Chicken in the Air Fryer by Momma Fit Lyndsey
- Sticky Chicken Bites by Taste
- Salt and Pepper Chicken Burgers by Pinch of Nom
- Chicken Taquitos by The Novice Chef Blog
Meaty Air Fryer Lunch Ideas
Sticking with the theme of meat, using a makeshift tray out of foil can help when cooking in an air fryer that has a wire basket or tray. This will catch all the drips from your delicious meats and will make the air fryer easier to clean.
Another thing that will help to keep your air fryer clean is a tray liner. These can be purchased for cheap, and they’ll cut down your cleaning time and make life easier. Here are a few meaty air fryer lunch ideas for you to practice the trick with:
- Toad in the Hole by Tesco Real Food
- Beef and Cauliflower-Stuffed Peppers by Recipes from a Pantry
- Pork and Apple Burgers by Recipe This
- Lemongrass Pork by Recipes from a Pantry
- Cheeseburger Nachos by Tesco Real Food
- Suya Beef Kebabs by Flawless Food
- Kielbasa by The Dinner Bite
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers by Tasty
- Ham and Cheese Sliders by Love Food Not Cooking
- Cheesy Chicken Sausage Rolls by Taste
Air Fryer Fish and Seafood Lunch Ideas
If fish and seafood air fryer lunch ideas are more your thing, I’ve found a few recipes that you should definitely try for yourself. Prawns, crab, salmon… Who knew there were so many different food types you can cook in an air fryer?
One thing you should always remember when cooking with an air fryer is, don’t stuff the tray full of food. Doing this will mean it doesn’t cook properly and evenly, and the cooking process will take longer. If your tray is consistently packed full, perhaps you should look at a larger capacity for better results?
- Popcorn Prawn with Burnt Chilli Mayo by Aldi
- Tandoori King Prawn Skewers by Flawless Food
- Crab Cakes with Chipotle Sauce by Food Network
- Roasted Salmon with Fennel Salad by Cooking Light
- Simple Salmon by Super Golden Bakes
Air Fryer Lunch Ideas with Eggs
If you have eggs in your fridge right now, you have the start of all the recipes below. Tasty, nutritious, and great for all meals of the day, the entire family will enjoy them, regardless of age.
Speaking of families, make sure you buy an air fryer that is big enough to cook family-sized meals. Otherwise, you’ll need to cook the food in batches, which will take longer and could end up being just as energy-guzzling as an oven or other appliance.
- Soft Boiled Eggs by Herbs and Flour
- Devilled Eggs by Air Frying Foodie
- Tex-Mex Style Egg Muffins by Midwexican
- Broccoli and Cheese Quiche by Entertaining with Beth
- Scrambled Eggs by The Novice Chef Blog
- Low-Carb, Keto-Friendly Scotch Eggs by Best Recipe Box
- Pizza Egg Rolls by Air Frying Foodie
- Fried Eggs with Bacon and Tomatoes by Go Cooky Yummy
- Air Fryer Duck Eggs by Recipe This
- Breakfast Egg Tarts by Fork to Spoon
- Egg Bites by Hello Frozen Bananas
- Classic Frittata by Tesco Real Food
- Quiche Lorraine by Fork to Spoon
- Egg Toast with Bacon by Fast Food Bistro
- Avocado Bacon Egg Rolls by Air Frying Foodie
Vegetarian Air Fryer Ideas for Lunch
Don’t worry, veggies; I’ve got your back. You, too, can make delicious, quick, and easy meals with an air fryer… and they definitely do not need to be boring. Just don’t think that quick veggies mean no cleaning.
You should clean your air fryer out every time you use it. It doesn’t need a deep clean every time but give it a once-over and making sure no food bits remain is a smart idea. If you don’t, the food will burn, infuse the burnt taste into your food, and make everything smell unpleasant.
- Vegetarian Air Fryer Fajitas by Easy Cheesy Vegetarian
- Veggie Dippers by Pinch of Nom
- Grilled Cheese by Recipes from a Pantry
- Onion Bhaji by Krumpli
- Poblano and Black Bean Loaded Baked Potatoes by Good Housekeeping
- Stuffed Mushrooms by Recipes from a Pantry
- Teriyaki Tofu by The Rookie Cookie
- Carrots and Chickpeas with Ricotta by Delicious Magazine
- Shawarma-Spiced Squash and Veggie Sausage Bake by Waitrose
- Gluten-Free Salt and Pepper Tofu by Taste
Vegan Air Fryer Lunch Ideas
And, of course, I’ve also covered the vegans. There’s no need for you lot to miss out; there are plenty of vegan-friendly dishes you can make in yours.
Although it’s important to buy an air fryer that is big enough to feed all the people you plan to feed, it’s not recommended to purchase one that is much bigger than what you actually need. This will use more electricity to heat up and fan the larger space.
- Tofu Popcorn Nuggets by BBC Good Food
- Vegan Nuggets by Pinch of Nom
- Air Fried Butternut Squash by Recipes from a Pantry
- Black Bean Fritters (Veggie Burgers) by Delish
- Crispy Tofu by Love Food Not Cooking
- Broccoli with Cheese Sauce by Cooking Light
- Crispy Honey Soy Tofu by Tasty
- Moroccan-Style Parsnip and Green Olive Stew by Waitrose
- Spinach and Artichoke-Stuffed Backed Potatoes by Tasty
- Eggplant Parm by Delish
Other Air Fryer Ideas for Lunch
There are always a handful of recipes that belong on the list, but don’t belong in a certain category. That’s what I think, anyway. That’s why you’ll almost always find a little ‘others’ section at the end of most of the recipe collections you’ll find on Buzzy Kitchen.
My final tip to you, my fellow air fryin’ folk, is to use as little oil as possible. Rather than using a bottle, invest in a spray bottle, which will ensure you use a lot less. Some foods don’t even need oil, especially those that have been deep-fried and frozen already. This will include most store-bought frozen foods.
- Air Fryer All-in-One Weekend Brunch by Clare Andrews at The Happy Foodie
- Omelette Toast by My Fussy Eater
- Popcorn Shrimp by Eating Well
- Air Fryer Mac and Cheese by Super Golden Bakes
- Stuffed Mushrooms by Recipes from a Pantry
- Pizza Rolls by The Cookie Rookie
- Chicken Parmesan by The Cookie Rookie
- Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free Chicken Breast Salad by Delicious Magazine
- Chicken Wings with Pomegranate Glaze by Delicious Magazine
- Empanadas by Eating Well
And that’s that, people. What do you think? Have you found a little inspiration for dinner, lunch, breakfast, or any other meal you plan to use your air fryer for? Maybe you’ve got air fryer lunch ideas of your own that belongs on this list? I’d love to know! You can contact Buzzy Kitchen in two ways:
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a peek at these air fryer lunch ideas.
Enjoy!