There are so many reasons to love your air fryer, only one of which is its sheer versatility. You can whip up a frittata for breakfast, pork chops for dinner, Brussels sprouts to serve on the side and even chocolate chip cookies for dessert. And, while there are plenty of easy and delicious recipes that are well suited to this must-have gadget, there’s no denying that the air fryer is the appliance of choice when it comes to appetisers— especially golden-fried delicious ones! Whether you’re hosting dinner guests or entertaining a crowd, you’ll find that the air fryer is perfect for everyone's favourite small bites: stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, crispy taquitos and more.
Air Fryer Arancini
One of our favourite ways to put this countertop gadget to good use? These incredibly delicious arancini. The cheese-stuffed balls of risotto are rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs and air fried to perfection for an appetiser everyone is sure to enjoy.
Air Fryer Fried Prawns
These air-fryer prawns are perfectly crispy and easy to make without the hassle of heating up a large pot of oil. Serve with our spicy remoulade, or substitute any of your favourite condiments for dipping.
Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms stuffed with garlicky, cheesy breadcrumbs make a perfect appetiser for parties and gatherings. Best of all, there's no need for pots, pans or an oven!
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
You know you’ve reached buffalo cauliflower perfection when everyone proclaims these bites "as good as the best wings ever!" And that’s no big surprise: Cauliflower florets have the same crispy "fried" exterior and piquant buffalo flavor as the classic chicken variety. The secret lies in double breading each floret in cheesy breadcrumbs, then carefully coating every nook and cranny with nonstick spray. Serve this appetiser with your favourite ranch or blue cheese dressing and watch it disappear in minutes.
Air Fryer Mini Swedish Meatballs
If you are looking for a quick and easy appetizer that serves a crowd, this is it! Delicious Swedish meatballs take less than 10 minutes to cook in an air fryer and come out juicy and tender for irresistible party bites.
Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
The appeal of crab Rangoon is the contrast between the crispy fried wonton wrappers and melty cheese and crab filling. The handy air fryer combines the simplicity of baking (no spattering oil to deal with) and the flavour of deep-frying (hello crispy, craggy wonton shells) for irresistible results.
Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Chipotle Sauce
These deliciously crisp cakes are loaded with sweet crab. Not overmixing and allowing the mixture to rest before cooking helped the crab cakes hold their shape better, as did cooking them in an air fryer.
Air Fryer Taquitos and Charred Salsa
Taquitos are the ultimate finger food— mini rolled tacos that are warm, cheesy and super crunchy! An air fryer makes this crowd-pleasing appetiser surprisingly easy to cook up at home. We fill them with chunks of chicken and melty Colby Jack, but you can customise the ingredients to please even the pickiest of eaters with different proteins and cheeses. And while you have the air fryer fired up you can make a delicious charred salsa to serve alongside.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Skip the deep-fryer and forget soggy oven chicken wings. The air fryer offers the best of both worlds for crispy wings without extra fat!
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
You won't believe how crisp and crunchy these fried pickles get — with barely any oil!
Air Fryer Coconut Prawns
These air-fryer coconut prawns are the perfect combination of savoury and sweet. Serve with a sweet chile sauce, for dipping.
Takeout-style Air Fryer Egg Rolls
We created an air fryer version of egg rolls that’s crisp, savory and satisfying without all the oil of deep frying. We kept the filling classic with shredded cabbage, carrots, and strips of char siu, which you can buy from Chinese barbecue restaurants (you’ll likely see this red-tinged roast pork hanging on hooks in the window). Make a large batch and freeze extras so you can have this Chinese-American takeout favorite as an appetizer any time. They reheat very well in the air fryer. Just be sure to enjoy the egg rolls while still warm — the wrappers will soften as they cool.
Air Fryer Potato Puffs with Vodka Dipping Sauce
These bite-size potato puffs are so irresistible, everyone will be reaching for more at your next gathering. Inspired by classic potato gnocchi, the little dough balls are made from fork-tender russet potatoes and a touch of flour and egg, to just hold everything together. After a trip to the air fryer, the potato puffs emerge with a golden-brown exterior and soft, tender interior. Serve them as an appetiser with a creamy tomato vodka sauce for dipping.
