Easy September Dump Air Fryer Meals

Make the most out of your air fryer with these healthy recipes to maximize its potential. You’ll love how quickly this modern appliance reduces cooking time by half while producing crave-worthy items like mozzarella sticks, bacon-wrapped filet mignon and crispy potato wedges!

Even when making sides or proteins you would typically cook in an oven or deep fryer, the pressure cooker can come to the rescue!

Garlic-Butter Steak

Butter may not seem like the obvious marinade choice, but it can add plenty of flavor to steak before and during its preparation. Herbed garlic butter makes an easy weeknight dinner option that coats the steak when resting and helps create an irresistibly golden crust.

This recipe calls for more than just butter to make a complete dinner: aromatic ingredients such as minced garlic cloves, lemon zest and fresh parsley add aromatic depth and an element of spice in the form of red pepper flakes. Serve alongside air fryer vegetables like potatoes, broccoli, squash or zucchini or mushrooms and onions or even make large batches for later enjoyment – or serve them by themselves for a tasty appetizer!

At the heart of this recipe is an irresistibly flavorful steak cut – lean cuts such as flat iron or top sirloin are both affordable and healthy! Salting your steak before it hits the pan can help tenderize it; be sure to use a meat thermometer* (affiliate link) as this ensures an even heat distribution during cooking; once finished, herbed butter makes a wonderful finishing sauce!

Chili-Lime Chickpeas

Chickpeas are nutritional powerhouses packed with fibre, plant protein, vitamins and minerals. Combining them with spicy chili powder and zesty lime adds an airier, crispier texture for an irresistibly satisfying snack that makes the perfect addition to salads, soup, tacos or quinoa dishes alike!

Start by rinsing and patting dry the chickpeas before roasting, as this allows them to bake more evenly while also helping the seasonings stick better. Next, toss them in a mixing bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper and lime zest/juice before placing them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet for roasting.

Trying substituting olive oil with another healthier cooking oil such as grapeseed oil, avocado oil or even coconut oil if that better fits into your diet. Make sure you stir your chickpeas every ten minutes while they’re in the oven so they cook evenly; once finished transfer to a wide bowl and add sea salt as garnish before serving!

Tuna Burgers

Tuna salad may be a weeknight staple for many people, but sometimes it’s nice to switch things up by creating delicious tuna burgers with an added zest! This quick and simple recipe uses ingredients most people already have in their pantry like eggs, bread crumbs and mayo; perfect for an impressive protein-rich dinner option!

To prepare this meal, combine canned tuna, egg, bread crumbs, onion, celery, garlic powder, dill, lemon juice and pepper together in a bowl until everything is evenly mixed. Use your hands to form four patties from this mixture before placing in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm them up and make them easier to handle when cooking.

Cook the burgers by heating a skillet over medium high heat with oil (either cooking spray or canola oil will work), using 3 to 4 minutes per side on both sides for grilling. For added flavor, mix mayonnaise and wasabi together before topping with pickled ginger for extra zesty bites and add your desired burger toppings before finishing them off with slices of toast bread and toppings of your choice – these portable sandwiches make perfect lunch boxes too!

Beef Tacos

This simple air fryer taco recipe is quick, nutritious, gluten- and dairy-free, making it the ideal way to quickly enjoy delicious tacos at home without breaking the bank! Ground beef cooks perfectly in just minutes on an air fryer (it will take longer on the stove) for delicious tacos, burritos, salads, soups or casseroles! For maximum flavor use Frontera Taco Skillet Sauce instead of packet dry seasoning to make air fryer tacos extra flavorful!

Preheat your air fryer to 375degF and place raw ground beef into your air fryer basket using wooden spoon or spatula for even distribution and break down. You could use a meat grinder if available to mince down even further before cooking for five minutes, until the beef has turned browned. Mix taco seasoning into your finished product thoroughly after adding taco seasoning as well.

For easy serving, scoop taco beef into tortilla shells or salad bowls and top them with desired toppings such as corn, avocado, light feta cheese and salsa. This meal can easily be made ahead of time for lunches that last 3-4 days in the fridge; plus it provides more lean protein thanks to beef being an abundant source of bioavailable heme iron!

Parmesan-Garlic Fries

For those of us who can’t get enough crispy and fried foods, these garlic Parmesan oven fries will surely please. A tasty upgrade to frozen fries with delicious additions of garlic, Parmesan cheese and parsley for a delicious weeknight dinner that air fries or bakes crisp potato goodness with soft potato insides that makes dipping deliciously enjoyable! Plus they come topped with both savory garlic and tart Parmesan for an unforgettable dipping experience.

To make these at home, cut your potatoes into thin strips or wedges to ensure even cooking. Choose floury varieties like russet and Yukon to get a more tender interior; waxy potatoes have more potential to become tough during oven baking.

If you want golden, crisp fries, par-boiling your potatoes prior to baking is key. Though it is optional, I find this step can really help create fluffy, light fries in the middle. Simply bring water to a boil and submerge your potatoes for around five minutes; pat dry, transfer to another bowl, add oil and spices as needed and enjoy your tasty fries!

Mix the fries until they are evenly coated. Spread in an even layer on a nonstick baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, flipping half way through. Garnish before serving with garlic, Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for extra flavour!

Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat often compared to skinless chicken breast. Since this delicate muscle runs along the spine without being used for movement, it tends to be much tastier than other cuts of pork. While relatively more expensive compared to other cuts of pork, its tenderness and flavor make it worth every cent spent. For optimal results when cooking pork tenderloin sear and roast it.

To achieve the best results with this recipe, season your pork tenderloin well with salt and pepper (and any additional spices or herbs that don’t contain too much sodium). Sear each side until golden brown in a skillet over high heat – this may take several minutes per side depending on its thickness, so be patient but be careful not to burn the surface!

Once seared, transfer the pork to an oven preheated to 350F and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into its center registers 145F for medium doneness (it will continue rising as it rests). Remove from the oven, allow to cool before cutting into slices or chop as desired and store any leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are often forgotten heroes in the protein realm, yet are often underappreciated. While more fatty than breasts, they offer more juicy texture and delicious flavor compared to their more finicky counterparts (which can turn from tender and juicy to bone-dry in mere moments).

For a delicious weeknight dinner option, thedailygourmet has created this Allrecipes All-Star recipe featuring buttermilk and maple syrup marinade paired with an amazing crunch of sweet and smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and onion powder – ready in under 30 minutes for maximum ease! This weeknight dinner can even be prepared in less than an hour!

Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels before brushing their skins with oil and seasoning both sides evenly with seasonings. Once preheated, place skin-side down in an air fryer in one layer for 10 minutes, before turning and cooking for an additional 4-6 minutes until meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F. Enjoy your cooked thighs as directed or freeze them up to three months for easy meal prepping! To meal prep: prepare this recipe up until Step 4, cover and store in refrigerator up to 24 hours later before freezing cooked thighs ready to enjoy within three months’ time.