Right here’s my air fryer dinner recipes cheat sheet: 5 proteins prepared in quarter-hour or much less! Pair any protein with my salads and entire grains for a weeknight dinner that virtually makes itself.
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A Couple Cooks · Weeknight Playbook
The Air Fryer Dinner
Cheat Sheet
5 proteins. 5–quarter-hour every. One components that makes dinner simple each single night time of the week.
Hello there! As a working mother of two and busy particular person basically, I’m consistently searching for simple dinner concepts.
My husband Alex and I are cookbook authors, so we’re at all times arising with new concepts. However we’ve discovered that on the common, we hold touchdown on the identical components for wholesome dinners that really feel low effort. What’s the key? I’m sharing it with you at the moment.
My Go-To Simple Dinner Method
I’ve landed on a easy construction that makes weeknight dinner nearly automated: air fryer protein over an enormous salad, with a scoop of entire grains on the aspect if I need one thing extra substantial. It covers all the things: protein, greens, fiber, wholesome fat, with none difficult planning.
| Air Fryer Protein + Large Salad + Complete Grain (elective) |
The whole lot cooks at 400°F: that’s the one temperature you’ll want to keep in mind! Whereas the protein runs, make a salad or entire grain to go alongside: or have it prepped the night time earlier than.
Why air fryer? Properly, I’ve discovered it makes all the things fast and easy, with minimal clear up and feels tremendous doable for weeknights.
5 Air Fryer Protein Recipes: Cheat Sheet!
All recipes serve 4. Preheat the air fryer first: it makes an actual distinction for browning.
| PROTEIN | INGREDIENT | SEASONING (PER RECIPE) | COOK TIME |
| Rooster Breast | 2 boneless skinless rooster breasts (about 8 oz every) | 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp kosher salt ½ tsp garlic powder ½ tsp onion powder ½ tsp dried oregano ¼ tsp chili powder |
12–15 min Pound to even thickness. Relaxation 5 min. Accomplished at 165°F. |
| Rooster Thighs | 8 giant boneless rooster thighs (about 2 lbs) | ½ tbsp olive oil 1½ tsp kosher salt 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp cumin ½ tsp curry powder |
13–15 min Relaxation 5 min earlier than slicing. Accomplished at 170°F. |
| Salmon Bites | 1½ lbs salmon fillets, pores and skin eliminated, reduce into 1-inch items | 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp dried dill ½ tsp kosher salt 2 tbsp dietary yeast 2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs |
5–7 min No flip wanted. Pat dry for greatest crust. |
| Shrimp | 1½ lbs peeled medium-large shrimp (26/30), tail on or off | 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp dried dill ¾ tsp kosher salt |
5–6 min Shake basket after 3 min. Pat dry earlier than seasoning. |
| Tofu | 1 block (15 oz) extra-firm tofu, reduce into ¾-inch cubes | 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp soy sauce or tamari ½ tsp garlic powder ½ tsp onion powder ½ tsp kosher salt 1 tbsp cornstarch (toss final) |
10–12 min Shake after 6 min. Pat dry (no urgent wanted!) |
Tip: Unfold proteins in a single layer with respiration room. Crowding makes steaming as a substitute of browning. Cook dinner in two batches for giant portions.
Why I Love the Air Fryer for Weeknights
I used to be an air fryer skeptic for a very long time. However after cooking these proteins on repeat, I now can’t think about weeknight dinners with out it! Right here’s what I like in regards to the air fryer
| No babysitting Not like a skillet on the range, the air fryer does its factor with out you watching! You should use this time to do different meal prep. |
Sooner than the oven No 15-minute preheat, and it’s so quick: rooster thighs are achieved in 13 minutes, shrimp in 5. |
| Higher texture The new circulating air creates a calmly crispy exterior that you just actually can’t replicate in a daily oven or pan. | Barely any cleanup No oil splatters, no crusted sheet pan. The basket washes clear rapidly. |
The air fryer I take advantage of
I cook dinner with this large-basket air fryer (a minimum of 6.5 qt capability), which inserts all 8 rooster thighs or 1½ lbs of salmon in a single layer. In case your basket is smaller, simply plan to cook dinner in two batches.
Oven with air fryer mode
I even have an oven with an air fryer mode and basket: this works the identical manner for all these recipes! It offers you much more room so as to add greens alongside the protein on the similar time.
Tip: Parchment with holes (air fryer liners) can be utilized for salmon bites and shrimp to attenuate cleanup even additional.
10 Salads to Pair With Air Fryer Proteins
The protein goes straight from the basket over the salad. Heat, crispy protein plus a lot of veggies is the mixture I come again to each week.
- Mediterranean chickpea salad — chopped cucumber, tomatoes, chickpeas, olives, feta, lemon-herb French dressing.
- Dense bean salad — white beans, cannellini or combined beans with olive oil, herbs, and pink onion. Excessive fiber, filling, and adaptable.
- Easy arugula salad — child arugula, shaved parmesan, lemon, olive oil. Prepared in 3 minutes and pairs with something.
- Caesar salad — romaine, Caesar dressing, croutons. Each protein right here makes an amazing Caesar.
- Mediterranean quinoa salad — quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, pink onion, olives, feta.
- Greek salad — tomatoes, cucumber, Kalamata olives, pink onion, feta.
- Massaged kale salad — Tuscan kale, lemon, olive oil, garlic.
- Black bean and corn salad — black beans, candy corn, pink pepper, cilantro. Pairs particularly effectively with rooster and shrimp.
- Hearty farro salad — farro, roasted greens, recent herbs, lemony French dressing.
- Couscous salad — fluffy couscous, cucumber, tomatoes, herbs, lemon.
5 Complete Grains to Spherical Issues Out
On nights once I need one thing extra substantial, I add an entire grain alongside. You may batch-cook an enormous pot to make use of all week.
- Farro — nutty and chewy, my private favourite. It holds up effectively and is tremendous filling.
- Brown rice — the straightforward, dependable base. Works with each protein and each sauce.
- Quinoa — quick-cooking (quarter-hour), excessive protein, and lighter than rice.
- Couscous — technically a pasta, but it surely features like a grain and cooks in 5 minutes. Nice for when you’re in a rush.
- Bulgur — tender, nutty, and cooks in minutes. A staple of Mediterranean cooking with a pleasantly mild texture.
