6 Air Fryer Recipes Every College Student Needs
Image Courtesy: Strike FAU
Air fryers are arguably one of the best things to happen to us since electricity itself. You can literally make anything in an air fryer—pizza, toast, roasted veggies, baked salmon—I could go on. So, if you’re busy studying, you live in a dorm, or just can’t be bothered to spend time cooking elaborate meals, this guide is for you.
Note: For all recipes, spray the bottom of your air fryer lightly with oil before cooking to avoid sticking. Also, timing may vary upon the size of your air fryer; if yours is on the smaller side, cook for less time and vice versa.
Mini Pizza
You’ll need:
Pizza dough (or substitute an English muffin for an even easier and quicker base)
A few tablespoons of pizza sauce
Your favorite cheese (or plant-based cheese)
Whatever toppings your heart desires (optional)
To make your pizza:
If using dough, cut off a piece small enough to fit into your air fryer and then roll it out onto the cutting board. English muffins can just be placed in the fryer directly.
Put the base down on a cutting board or directly on the air fryer to make it even easier.
Assemble your pizza.
Once you have put all of the ingredients together, place your pizza in the air fryer and cook it at 370 degrees for a few minutes, depending on how big your air fryer is.
Cauliflower Wings
You’ll need:
Cauliflower florets
1 cup of flour
1 cup of milk (or plant milk)
Spices, such as paprika, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and anything else you’d like to add
Your favorite wing sauce
To make your wings:
First, cut off the florets of the cauliflower into “wing”-sized pieces.
Place the flour, spices, and milk into a bowl and mix.
Dip the florets in the mixture until they are all lightly coated.
Place them in your air fryer in a single layer and cook at 370 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Once they’re ready, you can eat them as is or toss them in your favorite sauce.
Note: This recipe can also be used to fry pretty much anything you want—mushrooms, green beans, fried pickles, zucchini, etc.
Roasted Balsamic Veggies
You’ll need:
Your favorite vegetables (I like to use brussels sprouts, broccoli, and sweet potatoes)
A drizzle of olive oil
Balsamic vinegar or reduction
Spices (a generous pinch of salt, pepper, garlic powder or fresh garlic, and basil)
To make your veggies:
First, wash and cut up your veggies into bite-sized pieces. If using brussels sprouts, cut off the bottoms and slice them in half.
Place all of your ingredients in a bowl and mix until all veggies are evenly coated.
Toss the veggies in your air fryer and cook at 370 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until crispy and lightly browned.
Easy Thick-Cut Sweet Potato Fries
You’ll need:
Sweet potatoes
Salt, pepper, and whatever else you’d like to season with
A drizzle of olive oil
To make your fries:
Wash your sweet potatoes, then cut them into thick wedges; cut in half, then cut the half into 3 long pieces.
Place the potatoes in a bowl and toss them in oil and seasonings until coated.
Place your fries in the air fryer in a single layer and cook at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Crispy Chickpeas
You’ll need:
A can of chickpeas
A drizzle of olive oil
A pinch of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
To make your chickpeas:
First, drain your can of chickpeas, and then lay them out onto a layer of paper towel and pat them dry (this is what makes them crispy).
Mix your dry chickpeas, oil, and spices in a bowl and toss them together.
Place them in the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
You’ll need:
A loaf of French bread, or any crusty bread
2 cloves of fresh garlic (or sub 1/2 tsp. garlic powder)
Italian seasoning and a generous pinch of salt
3 tbsp. butter or margarine
A handful of shredded cheese (optional)
To make your garlic bread:
Cut your bread into as many slices as you’d like.
Mix your butter, garlic, and seasoning in a small bowl until combined.
Spread the butter mixture on your slices of bread until lightly coated.
Place the slices into the air fryer in a single layer and cook at 350 degrees for about 3 minutes.
If you add cheese, sprinkle it on your bread halfway through the cooking time.
Serve alongside pasta, salad, or by itself.
Other tips for cooking in college:
If you live in a dorm, I would recommend investing in a rice cooker as well as an air fryer. Rice cookers can replace your whole stovetop; besides rice, you can boil pasta, sautee veggies, cook meat and fish, mac and cheese, and even make pancakes.
You can heat basically anything in an air fryer; if you don’t have the space or time to make the recipes above from scratch, opt for a frozen version at the grocery store and just pop them in the air fryer.
If you want frozen pizza but don’t have an oven or don’t want to wait for your oven to preheat, slice off a portion of the frozen pizza and pop it in the air fryer for half the time.
If you want to avoid a mess and don’t have the time to clean your air fryer after every use, line it with aluminum foil before placing your food.
Strike Out,
Emma Saunders
Boca Raton
Emma Saunders is a Content Writer and Photographer for Strike Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys saving the planet, drinking iced coffee, and listening to Red (Taylor’s Version only) on repeat. You can reach her at emmarose3900@icloud.com
