12 Breakfast Foods That Are Way Better In The Air Fryer
A healthy way to fry food sounds almost too good to be true. Thanks to the invention of the air fryer, this idea has become a reality for many household kitchens. Air fryers have become a popular household appliance in recent years for good reason. This appliance circulates hot air around the food, allowing it to crisp up evenly on each side. Air fryers not only cook food evenly and get meals perfectly crispy, but they also use much less oil than traditional frying. They are an affordable appliance to add to your kitchen, and there are many health benefits of cooking with an air fryer, such as taking in less unhealthy fats and calories into your diet.
Air fryers are not just for making crispy french fries and reviving restaurant leftovers anymore. They are a great way to give a healthy spin on the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is vital to keep you going throughout the day, but a heavy morning meal may make you want to crawl right back to bed for a nap. Lighten up some of your breakfast time favorites in the air fryer by losing all the oil without sacrificing the flavor.
1. Eggs
Eggs are an essential item for the breakfast table. They are packed with protein to keep you going all day long and can be cooked in many different ways. The origins of eating eggs for breakfast in Western Civilization date as far back as early 17th century England, where poached and scrambled eggs were the preferred method of preparation. Eggs did not make their way to American breakfast tables until the 19th century but have stuck around as a morning staple ever since.
Air fryers make cooking eggs quick and easy, no matter how you prepare them. There are many delicious ways to cook eggs in the air fryer. Scrambled eggs may just be the most popular style of egg served for breakfast. Whisk eggs in an oven-safe dish and cook in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring every minute. In a similar way, crack eggs in small pie pans or ramekins and air fry for five minutes for perfect sunny-side-up eggs.
Need protein on the go? Egg muffins are like portable omelets and are easy to make in the air fryer. Whisk eggs together with the mix-ins of your choice; bacon, sausage, ham, bell peppers, onion, tomato, and cheese all make delicious combinations. Pour the mixture into silicone muffin cups or a muffin tin small enough to fit inside your air fryer and cook for 10 minutes. Egg muffins are perfect for meal prep to grab and go when you need something quick.
2. Avocado toast
Avocado toast is one of those dishes that seems to have gained culinary stardom overnight. People love avocado toast because of its nutritious ingredients. The avocado provides fiber and healthy fats, while a piece of whole-grain bread and protein-rich egg on top can take the dish to the next level. Avocado toast is easy to make, versatile, customizable, and can be seasoned any way you please.
The key to good avocado toast is a perfectly ripe avocado, but avocados can be a fickle piece of produce. If your avocado is underripe, you can ripen it fast in a paper bag with bananas or apples. For a more convenient way to make avocado toast, keep a stock of pre-packaged avocado spread in the refrigerator to make this balanced breakfast any day of the week.
Air fryer avocado toast is a quick way to bring a healthy breakfast into your morning routine. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash a ripe avocado with a fork and spread onto a piece of bread. Form a well in the mashed avocado and crack an egg in the center. Air fry for five minutes, season with a little salt and pepper, and you have perfect avocado toast. Add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes for an extra kick of spice.
3. Donuts
Whether you are taking a trip to your local coffee shop or a coworker surprised the office with a morning treat, donuts are a delicious, sweet start to the day that pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee. Traditionally deep fried and covered with sugary toppings, they are not the easiest dish to make at home — or the healthiest for that matter. The air fryer can make cooking scratch-made donuts at home a breeze and give a healthier spin on the sweet treat without all the excess oil.
Cooking donuts in the air fryer is simple with a can of biscuit or crescent dough from the grocery store. Shape each piece of dough into a classic donut shape and cut a small hole out of the center of the dough. Place the dough into the air fryer basket and cook for six minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown. The canned dough creates buttery, flaky layers with a crispy exterior and pillowy interior. Top the donuts with your favorite toppings like cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, frosting, and sprinkles. To give your air fryer donuts a fancier flair, slice the donuts in half and sandwich some Bavarian cream or another filling of your choice between the two donut slices. Pair with a hot cup of coffee to put that classic donut shop spin on your breakfast.
4. Pancakes
Nothing beats a fluffy stack of homemade pancakes in the morning. Pancakes are a snap to make on a griddle, but it may be hard to imagine how to cook pancakes in the air fryer. It isn't as difficult as it may seem. The trick to making perfect air fryer pancakes is using the right size oven-safe dish. Small pie tins are perfect for these pancakes. Pie tins are safe to use in the air fryer, and they are stackable, meaning you can make many pancakes in the air fryer at a time.
Buttermilk pancakes make for a fluffy and tasty breakfast in the air fryer, or use your favorite boxed pancake mix for effortless air-fried flapjacks. Grease aluminum pie tins with nonstick cooking spray and pour in the pancake batter. The aluminum pie tins help create the perfect circular pancake shape as they cook. These pancakes will need to be made in batches using this method. If you are worried about your pancakes getting cold, set your oven to the lowest temperature, place the pancakes on an oven-safe plate or cookie sheet, and leave them in the oven until all the pancakes are ready. Serve with butter and syrup, or make a toppings bar with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and your other favorite pancake toppings. These air fryer pancakes are sure to be the star of your breakfast table.
5. Bacon
Breakfast and bacon are synonymous with each other. The salty, rich flavor of bacon makes it a perfect pairing with most breakfast foods, and it is hard to imagine a hearty morning meal without it. While greasy strips of bacon may not be the healthiest start to the day, the air fryer can help remove excess oil from bacon during the cooking process. The hot air surrounding the bacon and cooking it renders the fat perfectly, delivering crispy bacon strips every time. Simply cook bacon for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in the air fryer to have a delicious side dish ready for your breakfast table.
If you are cooking bacon for a crowd, make this breakfast side a showstopper by twisting the bacon slices. This method can help you make the most of your air fryer basket space and cook more strips in one batch. Not only do they look amazing, but they also cook up perfectly crispy in the air fryer. Try making candied bacon by brushing syrup and sugar on uncooked bacon twists, or add a little heat with spicy candied bacon. It is important to clean the grease out of your air fryer between batches of air-fried bacon, or the excess grease can cause smoke.
6. Fruit
Fruit is a healthy accompaniment to any breakfast. It is not only delicious and refreshing but also a great way to get essential vitamins and nutrients into your body for a balanced start to the day. When you are looking for a break from your usual morning meal, roasted fruit can upgrade your breakfast thanks to your air fryer. The air fryer's circulating heat caramelizes fruit, making the sweet and deeply rich flavors shine. Many fruits are delicious in the air fryer, like apples, bananas, pineapples, peaches, and strawberries. Roasted fruit is delicious in yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, and waffles as a side dish.
Almond butter toast with air fryer roasted fruit is a delicious way to get protein and fiber in the morning. Spread almond butter on a piece of bread and top with chopped fruit. Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the fruit is caramelized, then drizzle with honey. This healthy air fryer breakfast will keep you running throughout the day.
7. Frittata
When scrambled eggs, just don't cut it; frittatas can switch up your normal breakfast routine. Packed with protein, vegetables, and flavor, frittatas are a great way to fuel up for your day. Frittatas are a hearty Italian breakfast similar to an omelet and a quiche made with a mixture of whisked eggs and your favorite vegetables, meats, cheeses, and seasonings, and baked in an oven.
Arguably easier to make than an omelet, you can make a frustration-free frittata easily in your air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare your mix-ins. Whisk four eggs and stir in your other ingredients like meat, vegetables, and seasonings. Bake in an oven-safe dish for 15 minutes until the frittata has set and the top is golden brown. The interior will be flavorful and custardy, perfect as a main course for a family brunch. Serve warm or room temperature with some freshly baked bread, sliced fruit, or even a vibrant green salad.
8. Oatmeal
A hot bowl of oatmeal is a healthy way to kickstart the day. Although it may seem like a boring breakfast at first, oatmeal has many health benefits that make it a superhero in the breakfast world. According to the European Journal of Nutrition, oatmeal helps lower cholesterol, is low in calories, and is a great source of dietary fiber. Making oatmeal in the air fryer is simple and quick while yielding a perfect piping hot batch without all of the stovetop stirring.
Cooking oatmeal in the air fryer only involves a few steps and is as easy as baking it in the oven. Mix the oats with water or milk and pour into an oven-safe dish. Cook in the air fryer at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. The results are a deliciously creamy batch of oatmeal that is sure to have you cooking this breakfast food in the air fryer more often. Dress up your oatmeal with a tasty array of toppings like fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, and cinnamon. Sprinkle on a little brown sugar or drizzle on some maple syrup or honey to add a little sweetness to your bowl of oatmeal.
9. Frozen breakfast sandwiches
When you need something quick in the morning on your way out the door, a convenient prepackaged frozen breakfast sandwich can do the trick in a pinch. Just pop it in the microwave for a piping-hot meal in minutes. Unfortunately, microwaves often do not give frozen breakfast sandwiches justice and can leave the bread flimsy and soggy after reheating. The air fryer does a much better job with even heating without compromising the integrity of the sandwich ingredients.
Although it may seem counterintuitive to deconstruct an already constructed sandwich, separating the layers ensures that all ingredients will be heated through properly. Crispy bread, melty cheese, and crunchy bacon can really make a difference with these frozen meals. Line your air fryer with parchment paper to avoid cheese becoming a gooey mess in the basket. Once the cheese melts, reassemble the sandwich and cook a little longer to heat throughout. This sandwich will curb your hunger and keep you full throughout the day. With the air fryer, a hot and steamy breakfast sandwich is always easy to prepare and ready in no time.
10. Hash browns
Hash browns are one of the best sides for a classic savory breakfast. Nothing can beat these tasty breakfast potatoes; they are a filling and satisfying comfort food that makes for the perfect accompaniment to eggs, bacon, and sausage, giving us that classic diner feel at first bite. It can be difficult to recreate diner-style hash browns in your kitchen at home, but the air fryer makes things so much easier. The air fryer takes hash browns to a whole new level of crispiness without all the excess splattering oil.
Making hash browns in the air fryer is similar to cooking other potato dishes in the appliance; the circulating heat helps make the crispiest hash browns, giving the edges a crispy crust while keeping the interior nice and creamy. Soaking the potatoes in cold matter beforehand helps remove some of the excess starch stuck on the outside of the potato shreds. Pat down the shreds to remove any leftover water. Air fry with a little oil and salt for a super crispy and flavorful side dish.
11. Granola
Granola is a delicious addition to greek yogurt and smoothie bowls. Layered with spoonfuls of yogurt and fresh fruit, a yogurt parfait with crunchy granola can be a delicious and refreshing start to your day. Store-bought granola is convenient, but making granola at home is easy, delicious, and you can customize the recipe to your heart's content with all sorts of add-ins to really make it your own.
One of the best tips for making granola is to fire up the air fryer. The air fryer makes cooking a batch of granola hassle-free and caramelizes the granola to give it the perfect crunchy texture. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix oats, a little oil, nuts, and your choice of sweetener together. Pour the mixture into the parchment-lined air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes. Add any extra mix-ins like chocolate chips or dried fruits after the granola has cooled. Enjoy air-fried granola in a bowl of yogurt for a healthy breakfast to get your morning off to a great start.
12. French toast
When you need to satisfy your sweet tooth at the start of your day, look no further than a morning meal of air fryer French toast. Rich, sweet slices of French toast make for a satisfying breakfast that you can customize any way you like. Whether you are cooking with brioche or making Hawaiian bread or French toast, this meal is easy to prepare with this kitchen appliance and is perfect for a weekend brunch.
Using sturdy, thick slices of bread helps ensure that they can hold up to the dipping process. Dip bread into a mixture of milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla before placing in the parchment-lined air fryer basket. The air fryer basket should be able to fit two large slices of bread at once, so cooking in batches is key if you are making breakfast for a crowd. Cook the French toast until browned on one side, then flip and continue cooking. Flipping ensures both sides get evenly brown and toasty. This breakfast is quick to make and tastes delicious when served with an array of toppings like fruit, syrup, and whipped cream.