Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (2024)

By: Author Mason Woodruff

Posted on - Last updated:

Whether you’re brand new to the Instant Pot air fryer lid or a seasoned veteran, this recipe roundup should give you plenty of ideas for what to cook next. You’ll find everything from a Chick-Fil-A grilled chicken nuggets copycat and garlic butter steak bites to twice baked potatoes and six ways to air fry brussels sprouts!

The Instant Pot Air Fryer We Use for Recipes

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (1)

All the recipes in this guide were made in the 8-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp, which is the all-in-one option. If you have an Instant Pot air fryer lid, it should work the same, but you may need to make small adjustments if you’re using a 6-quart Instant Pot. The reduction in surface area may require an extra shake during air frying or a few extra minutes on the cook time.

How Does the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Compare to Other Air Fryers?

I’ve made tons of air fryer recipes in different air fryer models and have found the all-in-one appliances to be my favorite by far. The Instant Pot air fryer lid gets the job done just like every other air fryer out there, with the only small drawback being the size difference. But while it might be nice to have a giant XL air fryer, they take up too much space.

Not to mention, the ability to pressure cook something then use the air fryer lid to broil it for crispy edges (like my Instant Pot pulled chicken) is a game changer. All that to say, if you’re on the fence about getting the air fryer lid for your Instant Pot, it’s a no brainer. Get one and make these recipes!

15+ Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes

Proteins & Main Dishes

The Instant Pot air fryer is perfect for making quick work of protein prep. You can make everything from chicken nuggets and tenders to steak tips and chorizo stuffed jalapeño poppers.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (2)

Chicken Nuggets 7 Ways

What's better than 20-minute chicken nuggets? How about 7 flavors of low carb chicken nuggets, including a Chick-Fil-A grilled nuggets copycat.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (3)

Steak Bites

Lean top sirloin steak tips air fried with a simple steak seasoning and tossed in garlic butter.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (4)

Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (5)

Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers

Chipotle cerveza ground beef and pepper jack cheese stuffed inside bell peppers and air fried to tender perfection.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (6)

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders

A 20-minute recipe for crispy low carb chicken tenders air fried with olive oil, grated parmesan, and a simple blend of spices and herbs.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (7)

Air Fryer Quesadillas

If you have some leftover chicken, steak, or taco meat and need something to do with it, this recipe makes crispy golden brown quesadillas in under 15 minutes.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (8)

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Crispy bacon wrapped jalapeño peppers stuffed with a sweet and spicy blend of cream cheese and low fat chorizo. You can also use my chicken chorizo recipe to make them extra low calorie!

Side Dishes

Air frying in the Instant Pot really shines when it comes to making healthy sides. Any time I have a main dish in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, I have a side dish going in my air fryer.

Tender crisp citrus and garlic green beans tossed with parmesan, butter, and lemon juice.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (10)

Asparagus and Potatoes

Air frying asparagus is my favorite way to make roasted asparagus. And the crispy garlic rosemary potatoes in this recipe make things even better.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (11)

Twice Air Fried Potatoes

A healthier spin on twice baked potatoes with center cut bacon, cheddar cheese, tangy fat free Greek yogurt, and fresh parsley. This is also a great guide for making baked potatoes in your Instant Pot air fryer.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (12)

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Radishes

How to make crispy parmesan and garlic roasted radishes in the Instant Pot air fryer. They call them "keto" potatoes for a reason!

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (13)

Crispy Garlic Parmesan Red Potatoes

Crispy on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside red potato wedges air fried in a blend of olive oil, crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan.

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Balsamic Roasted Air Fryer Carrots

Carrots air fried to perfection in a blend of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It doesn't get much easier than this.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (15)

Air Fried Cauliflower Rice

Okay, maybe it does get easier. You can make a cauliflower rice stir fry with as little as one ingredient. Seriously!

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (16)

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts 5 Ways

A guide to making honey soy, fall friendly apple and feta, honey mustard, garlic parmesan, and zesty ranch roasted brussels sprouts in about 20 minutes.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (17)

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

Air fryer roasted brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes with a simple balsamic BBQ glaze.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (18)

Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

If you've never made roasted garlic, you have to try this recipe. It's as easy as drizzling olive oil over a few garlic bulbs, wrapping in foil, and air frying. The garlic caramelizes and transforms into something totally unique. You can serve on its own with crisp bread or crackers, or you can work it into other recipes like the twice baked potatoes.

More Kinda Healthy Recipes

If you like the look of these recipes, I have even more using a similar appliance—the Ninja Foodi. I’ve tested the Instant Pot Duo Crisp side by side with the Foodi and have found all my recipes to be interchangeable. So you should be able to make all 21 Healthy Ninja Foodi Recipes in your Instant Pot air fryer without any modifications.

Or if you’re looking for more recipes to round out your repertoire, check out my ground turkey meal prep or high protein ground chicken recipe roundups.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the top 10 foods to cook in an air fryer? ›

Start air frying these 13 foods and watch your cooking time drop and your satisfaction in healthy meals skyrocket!
  • Chicken Breasts. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

Does the air fryer on an Instant Pot work well? ›

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid Multi-Cooker + Air Fryer does a decent job air frying, but we disliked its exposed heating element and didn't find it to be as convenient as a basket-style air fryer.

What is the difference between an air fryer and an instant pot air fryer? ›

Although both can take the fuss out of cooking some meals, these two appliances have many differences. Air fryers help crisp up food that you may otherwise cook in a deep fryer, while Instant Pots cook meals that need a liquid element like stews, soups and rice.

What is the trick for using an air fryer? ›

Shake it

One of the best tips I can offer you for how to use an air fryer is to periodically shake the basket during its cooking time. I'm not talking anything crazy – just a couple of good shakes during cooking to really move the food around and get that even, crispy coating on every single bite.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer? ›

Make homemade sweetcorn and spring onion fritters in the air fryer for easy, energy-efficient cooking. These would be perfect as a veggie lunch, starter or side.

Which Instant Pot air fryer should I buy? ›

The Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart Air Fryer has impressed us time and time again as the best air fryer available. It's the right balance of manageable size yet useful 6-quart capacity, blasting convection power necessary for crispy results, and, of course, the user-friendly interface.

Which is healthier pressure cooker or air fryer? ›

Since each appliance offers different benefits, this is an important metric when deciding between a pressure cooker and air fryer. With that in mind, here are the five biggest advantages of using an air fryer: Healthier food: With the reduction in oil, air fryers make healthier, more nutritious meals.

What's healthier, Instant Pot or air fryer? ›

Instant Pot uses pressure cooking method to make food faster and easier, while air fryer uses hot air method to make oil-free and healthier food. Yes, you can make healthy and oil-free recipes using Instant Pot, but you can also use it to make cakes and junk food.

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

Air fryers, once hailed as a kitchen revolution, are now being sidelined by some users. But why are people getting rid of air fryers? This concise exploration uncovers the primary concerns: they're bulky, they have limited cooking uses, and they often don't deliver on the promise of crispy, tasty food.

What is the trick to getting things extra crispy with an air fryer? ›

While we wish it were possible to fry without any oil, air fryers do need a little oil to make your food crispy (but you'll use a lot less than a traditional fryer). Toss your food with a small amount of oil (around a tablespoon or less) to coat it evenly, then add it to the air fryer basket.

Can I open my air fryer while it's cooking? ›

It's OK to Open the Air Fryer

Occasionally checking in on air fryer foods while they cook is A-OK. Sometimes, recipes call for flipping, shaking, or spraying food with oil mid-cook. Opening the basket is often an essential part of recipes and allows food to be evenly cooked and crisped to perfection.

Is the Ninja air fryer an Instant Pot? ›

This appliance can perform the key functions of several different appliances. It is a pressure cooker, dehydrator, and an air fryer all in one. That means the Ninja Foodi can do everything that the Instant Pot can do, namely slow cook, saute, and pressure cook, while also functioning as other popular appliances.

What is the difference between a pressure cooker and a ninja air fryer? ›

While both use high temperatures in the cooking process, a pressure cookers key method to cooking is high pressure. An air fryer actively reduces the pressure during cooking and relies on hot air circulation to cook foods. While both use some added liquid to help cook, they use different kinds and amounts.

What exactly does an Instant Pot do? ›

An Instant Pot, also called a multi-cooker or electric pressure cooker, is an appliance that can do the job of a rice cooker, a yogurt maker, a steamer, a pressure cooker, a saute pan and a slow cooker (some features vary depending on the model you buy — there are several).

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